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Three
Hello?Isthereanyonethere?Hello?"AndthenRichardputdownthephone,wentintohisbedroom,andputhisclotheson,becausehewascoldandna**dandscared,andtherewasn’treallyanythingelsehecoulddo.
Eventually,andaftersomedeliberation,hetooktheblacksportsbagfromunderthebedandputsocksintoit.Underpants.SomeT-shirts.Hispassport.Hiswallet.Hewaswearingjeans,sneakers,athicksweater.HerememberedthewaythegirlwhocalledherselfDoorhadsaidgood-bye.Thewayshehadpaused,thewayshehadsaidshewassorry...
"Youknew,"hesaidtotheemptyapartment."Youknewthiswouldhappen."Hewentintothekitchen,tooksomefruitfromthebowl,putthatintothebag.Thenhezippeditupandwalkedoutontothedarkenedstreet.
TheATMtookhiscardwithawhirr.PLEASEENTERYOURPINNUMBER,itsaid.Richardtypedinhissecretpinnumber(D-I-C-K).Thescreenwentblank.PLEASEWAIT,itsaid,andthescreenwentblank.Somewhereinthedepthsofthemachinesomethinggrumbledandgrowled.
THISCARDISNOTVALID.PLEASECONTACTCARDISSUER.Therewasachunkingnoise,andthecardslidoutagain.
"Spareanychange?"saidatiredvoicefrombehindhim.Richardturned:themanwasshortandoldandbalding,hisscragglybeardamattedtangleofyellowandgray.Thelinesofhisfacewereetcheddeeplyinblackdirt.Heworeafilthycoatovertheruinofadarkgraysweater.Hiseyesweregrayaswell,andrheumy.
Richardhandedthemanhiscard."Here,"hesaid."Keepit.There’saboutfifteenhundredpoundsinthere,ifyoucangettoit."
