
    ,,*APT] ,,XVIII

    ,,F9I%+ ,,T\*ES
  ,TOM ,SWIFT & ,N$ ,NEWTON 7 S A3U/OM$
6ACT+ QKLY & 9 EM]G5CIES T X DID N TAKE
!M L;G 6RUN \ ! AIR%IP1 : ,TOM _H 9
R1DI;S1 N ESPECI,Y = ? EM]G5CY1 B
6DEMON/RATE 8 NEW APP>ATUS 6A -MITTEE (
FIRE "UWRIT]S :OM HE _H 9VIT$ 6CALL 9 A
FEW "DS4
  8,TAKE ?1 IF Y W1 ,MR4 ,BAXT]60 CRI$
,TOM1 GIV+ ! *EMI/ A METAL 3TA9]4 8,X'S
A LL DI6]5T -B9,N F ! EXT+UI%] ,I ALR H
9 ! MA*9E4 ,MAYBE ,I'LL GET A *.E 6TRY
X40
  8,Y'RE GO+ 6H ALL ! *.E Y WANT1 ,TOM1
0! LOOKS ( T BLAZE10 -;T$ ,N$ ,NEWTON4
  8,X DOES LOOK L Q A FIRE10 OBS]V$
,TOM1 Z HE GAZ$ UP AT ! SKY1 ": !
REFLEC;N 0 TURN+ 6A B"R] R$4
  ,\TSIDE 9 ! /REETS NE> ! ,SWIFT H\SE &
%OPS CD 2 HE>D ! RATTLE ( FIRE APP>ATUS1
! PATT] ( RUNN+ FEET1 & _M %\TS F EXCIT$
M5 & BOYS4
  8,ANY IDEA :AT X IS1 ,N$80 ASK$ ,TOM1
Z HE MO;N$ 6,MR4 ,BAXT] 6CLIMB 96!
AIRCRAFT4
  8,"S "O SD X 0 ! NEW ,NORMAL ,S*OOL4
,B T'S F>!R 6! NOR?10 0 ,N$'S ANSW]4
8,0! WAY ! BLAZE HAS 9CR1S$ S9CE ,I F/
SAW X1 ,I'D TAKE X 6BE ! LUMB]Y>D40
  8,T WD MAKE A MON/] BLAZE60 OBS]V$
,TOM4 8,I DON'T 2LIEVE ,I'LL H *EMICALS
5 = T10 & HE LOOK$ AT ! R SMALL SUPPLY 9
8 CRAFT4 8,H["E1 ,I HAV5'T "T 6GET ANY
M4 ,2SS1 !Y'LL H ! REGUL> DE"P;T ON !
JOB1 & ? ISN'T A SKYSCRAP]1 ANYH[40
  8,NO1 WE'LL H 6G 6,NEW ,YORK OR
,NEWM>KET = "O ( ^?10 OBS]V$ ,N$4 8,ALL
R1DY1 ,TOM80
  8,ALL R1DY10 SD ! "Y 9V5TOR1 Z ,N$
TOOK 8 PLACE 2S ,MR4 ,BAXT]4
  8,:AT'S ! MATT]1 ,TOM80 ASK$ ! VOICE (
,MR4 ,SWIFT1 Z HE CAME \ 96! Y>D1 HAV+
BE5 ATTRACT$ 0! FLA%+ LI<TS &! NOISE (!
AIRCRAFT MOTOR1 Z ,TOM GAVE X A
PRELIM9>Y TE/4
  8,"!'S A FIRE 9 T[N10 ,TOM ANSW]$4
8,I'M GO+ 6SEE IF !Y NE$ MY S]VICES40
  8,GUESS "! ISN'T ANY "Q AB T10 SD 8
BUSI;S MANAG]4
  ,TOM'S "F1 :O 0 SU6]+ ! 9FIRMITIES (
AGE1 0 9 ! HABIT ( RETIR+ E>LY1 & HE _H
DOZ$ (F 9 8 *AIR DIRECTLY AF SUPP]1 6BE
AWAK5$ 0! %\T+ & 3FU.N AB ! PLACE4
  8,TAKE C>E ( YRF1 MY BOY60 HE ADVIS$1
Z "! CAME A MO;T ( SIL;E 2F ! ?ROTTLE (!
AIRCRAFT 0 OP5$ 6S5D X ON XS UPW>D
J\RNEY4 8,DON'T TAKE TOO _M RISKS40
  8,I WON'T10 ,TOM PROMIS$4 8,WE'LL 2
BACK SOON40
  ,!N CAME ! RO> (! MOTOR Z ,TOM CUT \ !
MU6L] 6GA9 SPE$ &1 A MO;T LAT]1 HE & 8
TWO FRS 7 SAIL+ AL(T )A LOAD ( FIRE-
EXT+UI%+ *EMICALS4
  ,UP & UP ROSE ! AIRCRAFT4 ,X 0 N ! F/
"T ,MR4 ,BAXT] _H 5JOY$ ! S5S,N1 B HE 0
N 5 (A VET]AN 6BE IMMUNE 6! ?RILLS NOR
6BE ALT VOID ( FE>4 ,& X 0 8 F/ NI<T
TRIP4 ,/ HE GAVE FEW EVID;ES ( N]V\S;S4
  8,^! %E IS60 CRI$ ,N$1 = :5 ! EXHAU/ F
! MOTOR 0 S5T "? ! NEW MU6L] ,TOM _H
ATTA*$ X 0 POSSI# 6TALK ABO>D ! ,LUCIF]4
,! "Y MANAG] PO9T$ D[N T[>D ! E>?1 OV] :
! CRAFT 0 !N SKIMM+1 ?\< AT NO GRT
HEI<T4
  8,X IS ! LUMB]Y>D60 EXCLAIM$ ,MR4
,BAXT] PRES5TLY4
  8,X SURE IS10 ASS5T$ ,TOM4 8,I "K ,I
HAV5'T 5 /UFF 6COV] Z BIG A BLAZE Z T1 B
,I'LL D MY BE/4 ,=TUNATELY "! IS NO W9D
6SP1K (10 HE A4$1 Z HE GUID$ ! CRAFT 9 !
DIREC;N (! FIRE4
  8,:AT HAS T 6D ) X--,I M1N Z F> Z !
"W+ ( YR *EMICAL EXT+UI%] IS 3C]N$80
ASK$ ,MR4 ,BAXT]4 8,C'T Y DROP ! BOMB
3TA9]S A3URATELY 9 A W9D80
  8,WELL1 ! W9D HAS 6BE ALL[$ = 9 DROPP+
ANY?+ F AN AEROPLANE10 ,TOM ANSW]$4 8,&1
NATUR,Y1 X DOES SPOIL YR AIM 6AN EXT5T4
,B ! R1SON ,I'M GLAD "! IS NO W9D 6SP1K
( IS T ! *EMICAL BLANKET ,I HOPE 6SPR1D
OV] ! FIRE WON'T 2 S QKLY BL[N AWAY40
  8,OH1 ,I SEE10 SD ,MR4 ,BAXT]4 8,WELL1
,I'M GLAD T Y W 2 A# 6H A SU3ESS;L TE/ (
YR 9V5;N40
  8,! REGUL> L& APP>ATUS IS ON H&10
OBS]V$ ,N$1 = !Y 7 N[ S NE> ! FIRE T !Y
CD LOOK D[N &1 9 ! REFLEC;N F ! BLAZE1
CD SEE 5G9ES1 HOSE-WAGONS & HOOK & LA4]
TRUCKS >RIV+ & DEPLOY+ 6DI6]5T PLACES (
ADVANTAGE1 F : 6FI<T ! LUMB]Y>D FIRE T 0
N[ A RO>+ FURNACE ( FLAMES4
  8,NO SKYSCRAP] "W NE$$ "H10 OBS]V$
,TOM4 8,B X W GIVE ME A *.E 6USE ! LATE/
-B9,N ,I "W$ \4 ,I'LL TRY T F/4 ,>E Y
R1DY ) X1 ,MR4 ,BAXT]80
  8,YES10 0 ! ANSW]4
  ,! "Y 9V5TOR1 N HE$+ ! CRIES ( WOND] T
>OSE F 2L & PAY+ NO ATT5;N 6! UPLIFT$
H&S & >MS PO9T+ 6HM1 /E]$ 8 CRAFT 6A
CORN] (! Y>D ": "! 0 A SMALL ISOLAT$
FIRE 9 A PILE ( BO>DS4 ,X 0 ,TOM'S IDEA
6TRY 8 NEW *EMICAL F/ ON ? SPOT 6WAT* !
E6ECT4 ,!N HE WD TURN LOOSE ALL 8 O!R
3TA9]S (! *EMICAL MIXTURE T _H PROV$ S
E6ECTIVE 9 O!R TE/S4
  ,ATT5;N ( ^? :O _H GA!R$ 6LOOK AT !
FIRE 0 AB EV5LY DIVID$ 2T ! EF=TS (!
REGUL> DE"P;T &! P5D+ AC;N 0,TOM ,SWIFT4
,! LATT] 0 N L;G 9 TURN+ LOOSE 8 LATE/
S5S,N4
  8,LET X G60 HE CRI$ 6,MR4 ,BAXT]1 &
D[N 96! SEE?+ CALDRON ( FLAME DROPP$ A
?9 %EET-IRON 3TA9] ( P[];L *EMICALS4
,L1N+ OV] ! COCKPIT (! AIRCRAFT1 !
O3UPANTS WAT*$ ! E6ECT4 ,"! 0 A SLI<T
EXPLO.N HE>D1 EV5 ABV ! RO> (! FLAMES1
&! T;GUES ( FIRE 9 ! SEC;N ": ,TOM'S
EXT+UI%] _H FALL5 DI$ D[N4
  8,GD "W60 CRI$ ,N$4
  8,NO60 ANSW]$ ,TOM1 %AK+ 8 H1D4 8,I 0
A LL AFRAID ( ?4 ,N 5 C>BON DIOXIDE 9 ?
MIXTURE4 ,I'LL /ICK 6! "O ,I F.D MO/
E6ECTIVE40 ,=! FLAMES1 AF MO;T>ILY DY+
D[N1 BUR/ \ AG 9 ! SPOT ": HE _H DROPP$
! BOMB4
  ,TOM :EEL$ ! AIR%IP 9 A %>P1 BANK+
TURN1 & H1D$ =! HE>T (! FIRE 9 !
LUMB]Y>D4 ,X 0 CLE>LY GETT+ 2Y ! 3TROL
(! REGUL> DE"P;T4
  8,H[ AB Y1 ,N$80 CALL$ ,TOM1 = HE _H
GIV5 8 *UM *>GE ( DROPP+ ! REGUL> BOMBS
3TA9+ A L>GE QUANT;Y (! EXT+UI%] ,TOM _H
PRACTIC,Y ADOPT$4
  8,ALL R1DY10 0 ! ANSW]4
  8,LET 'EM G60 CAME ! -M&1 & D[N %OT !
D>K1 SPH]ICAL OBJECTS4 ,!Y BUR/ Z !Y HIT
! GR.D OR ! PILES ( BLAZ+ LUMB]1 & AT
ONCE ! P[];L GASES G5]AT$ 0! MIXTURE (
S"EAL DI6]5T *EMICALS 7 REL1S$4
  ,AG ! ?REE 9 ! AIR%IP L1N$ EAG]LY OV]
! SIDE (! COCKPIT 6WAT* ! E6ECT4 ,X 0
ALM MAGICAL 9 XS AC;N4
  ,! BOMBS _H BE5 DROPP$ 96! V FI]CE/
HE>T (! FIRE1 & X 0 ONLY AN 9/ANT 2F _!
AC;N 0 MADE MANIFE/4
  8,? W D ! TRICK60 CRI$ ,N$4 8,I'M
C]TA9 X W40
  8,I DIDN'T H M* FE> T X WDN'T10 SD
,TOM4 8,B ,I HOP$ ! O!R WD 2 BETT]1 = X
IS A M* *1P] MIXTURE 6MAKE1 & T W C.T :5
Y -E 6SELL X 6BIG CITIES40
  8,B ! FIRE IS C]TA9LY DY+ D[N10 DCLD
,MR4 ,BAXT]4
  ,& ? 0 TRUE4 ,Z 3TA9] AF 3TA9] (! BOMB
TYPE FELL 9 DI6]5T "PS (! BURN+
LUMB]Y>D1 :ILE ,TOM C\RS$ ABV X1 !
FLAMES 2GAN 6BE S"M$ 9 V>I\S SEC;NS4
  ,& F ! WAT*+ CR[DS1 Z WELL Z F ! H>D-
"W+ MEMB]S (! ,%OPTON FIRE DE"P;T1 CAME
*E]S ( DELI<T & 5C\RAGE;T Z !Y SAW ! "W
( ,TOM ,SWIFT'S AERIAL FIRE-FI<T+ MA*9E4
  ,= HE _H1 MO/ -PLETELY1 SUBDU$ :AT
?R1T5$ 6BE A GRT FIRE1 & :5 ! LA/ ( 8
BOMBS _H BE5 DROPP$1 S E6ECTIVE 0 !
BLANKET ( FIRE-DAMP5+ GASES SPR1D >.D T
! FLAMES J NATUR,Y EXPIR$1 Z X W]E4
  ,Z ,TOM _H SD1 ! ABS;E ( W9D 0 9 8
FAVOR1 =! G5]AT$ GASES REMA9$ J ": !Y 7
WANT$1 DIRECTLY OV] ! FIRE L AN EXT+UI%+
BLANKET1 & 7 N BL[N ASIDE Z WD O!RWISE H
BE5 ! CASE4
  ,&1 0! PECULI> MANN] 9 : 8 *EMICALS 7
MIX$1 ,TOM _H MADE !M PRACTIC,Y H>M.S =
HUMAN 2+S 6BR1!4 ,?\< ! FIRE-KILL+ GASES
7 UNPL1SANT1 "! 0
NO DANG] 6LIFE 9 !M1 & :ILE S"EAL (!
FIREM5 MADE WRY FACES1 & "O OR TWO 7
SLI<TLY ILL F 2+ TOO CLOSE 6! *EMICALS1
NO "O 0 S]I\SLY 9CONV5I;ED4
  8,WELL1 ,I4 GUESS T'S ALL10 SD ,TOM1
:5 ! F9AL BOMB _H BE5 DROPP$4 8,T 0 !
LA/ ( !M1 WASN'T X1 ,N$80
  8,YES1 B Y DON'T NE$ ANY M4 ,! FIRE'S
\--OR :AT ISN'T C 2 EASILY H&L$ 0! HOSE
L9ES40
  8,GD60 CRI$ ,TOM4 8,B1 ALL ! SAME1 ,I
WI% ,I _H BE5 A# 6MAKE ! F/ MIXTURE "W40
  8,P]H ,I C HELP Y ) T10 SU7E/$ ,MR4
,BAXT]4
  ,&! FOLL[+ "D1 AF ,TOM _H RCVD ! ?ANKS
(! T[N (FICIALS &(! FIRE DE"P;T = 8 "W 9
SUBDU+ ! LUMB]Y>D BLAZE1 ! "Y 9V5TOR
CALL$ ,JOSEPHUS ,BAXT] 9 3SULT,N4
  8,I FEEL T ,I NE$ YR HELP10 SD ! "Y
9V5TOR4 8,Y H BE5 AT ? *EMICAL /UDY L;G]
?AN ,I1 & ,I AM WILL+ 6PAY Y WELL = YR
"W4 ,( C\RSE ,I C'T MAKE UP 6Y ! LOSS (
YR DYE =MULAE4 ,B :ILE Y >E WAIT+ = "S?+
6TURN UP 9 REG>D 6!M1 Y MAY 2 GLAD
6ASSI/ ME40
  8,I W1 & )\T PAY10 SD ! *EMI/4
  ,B ,TOM WD N HE> ( T1 & TGR HE & ,MR4
,BAXT] SET AB PUTT+ ! F9I%+ T\*ES
6,TOM'S LATE/ 9V5;N4








