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Spires and Gargoyles
OnthenightafterhisridetoLawrencevilleacrowdsalliedtoNewYorkinquestofadventure,andstartedbacktoPrincetonabouttwelveo’clockintwomachines.Ithadbeenagaypartyanddifferentstagesofsobrietywererepresented.Amorywasinthecarbehind;theyhadtakenthewrongroadandlosttheway,andsowerehurryingtocatchup.
ItwasaclearnightandtheexhilarationoftheroadwenttoAmory’shead.Hehadtheghostoftwostanzasofapoemforminginhismind....
Sothegraycarcreptnightwardinthedarkandtherewasnolife
stirredasitwentby....Asthestilloceanpathsbeforethe
sharkinstarredandglitteringwaterways,beauty-high,the
moon-swathedtreesdivided,paironpair,whileflapping
nightbirdscriedacrosstheair....
Amomentbyaninnoflampsandshades,ayellowinnundera
yellowmoon—thensilence,wherecrescendolaughterfades...the
carswungoutagaintothewindsofJune,mellowedtheshadows
wherethedistancegrew,thencrushedtheyellowshadowsinto
blue....
Theyjoltedtoastop,andAmorypeeredup,startled.Awomanwasstandingbesidetheroad,talkingtoAlecatthewheel.Afterwardherememberedtheharpyeffectthatheroldkimonogaveher,andthecrackedhollownessofhervoiceasshespoke:
"YouPrincetonboys?"
"Yes."
"Well,there’soneofyoukilledhere,andtwoothersaboutdead."
"MyGod!"
"Look!"Shepointedandtheygazedinhorror.Underthefulllightofaroadsidearc-lightlayaform,facedownwardinawideningcircleofblood.
Theysprangfromthecar.
