15بخش

Dear Red,

if you’re reading this, you’ve gotten out.

And if you’ve come this far, maybe you’re willing to come a little further.

You remember the name of the town, don’t you?

Zihuatanejo.

I could use a good man to help me get my project on wheels.

I’ll keep an eye out for you and the chessboard ready.

Remember, Red,

hope is a good thing.

Maybe the best of things.

And no good thing ever dies.

I will be hoping that this letter finds you

and finds you well.

Your friend, Andy.

Get busy living or get busy dying.

That’s goddamn right.

For the second time in my life,

I’m guilty of committing a crime.

Parole violation.

Of course, I doubt they’ll toss up any roadblocks for that.

Not for an old crook like me.

Fort Hancock, Texas, please.

I find I’m so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head.

I think it’s the excitement only a free man can feel.

A free man at the start of a long journey

whose conclusion is uncertain.

I hope I can make it across the border.

I hope to see my friend and shake his hand.

I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams.

I hope.