
    ,,*APT] ,,XV ,,9 ,,DANG]
  8,WELL1 ,TOM1 WE'RE MOV+60 CRI$ ,N$
,NEWTON1 CLAPP+ 8 *UM ON ! BACK1 Z HE
/OOD NE> HM 9 ! PILOT-H\SE4 8,WE'RE GO+
UP1 OLD SPORT60
  8,( C\RSE WE >E10 REPLI$ ,TOM4 8,Y
DIDN'T ?9K X WDN'T G UP1 DID Y80
  8,WELL1 ,I WASN'T Q SURE10 ,N$ 3FESS$4
8,Y "K Y 7 S WORRI$ AB--0
  8,N AB ! %IP SAIL+10 9T]RUPT$ ,TOM4
8,X 0 ONLY ! E6ECT ! FIR+ (! GUNS MI<T
H4 ,B ,I ?9K WE H T TAK5 C>E (40
  8,B.S MY P9 CU%ION60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON1
Z HE LOOK$ OV] ! RAIL AT ! E>? 2L4
8,WE'RE MOV+ FA/1 ,TOM40
  8,YES1 WE C MAKE A QK] ASC5T 9 ? ?AN 9
MO/ AEROPLANES10 ,TOM SD1 8= !Y H 6G UP
9 A SLANT+ DIREC;N4 ,B WE C'T Q EQUAL _!
LAT]AL SPE$40
  8,J H[ FA/ D Y ?9K Y C TRAVEL :5 Y >E
9 F/-CLASS %APE80 ASK$ ,LIEU T5ANT
,M>BURY1 Z HE NOT$ H[ ! ,M>S 0 2HAV+ ON
?1 ! F/ TRIP4
  8,WELL1 ,I SET A LIMIT ( SEV5TY-FIVE
MILES AN H\R10 ! "Y 9V5TOR REPLI$1 Z HE
%IFT$ V>I\S L"ES & H&LES1 6*ANGE ! SPE$
(! ME*ANISM4 8,B ,I'M AFRAID WE WON'T Q
EQUAL T ) ALL \R GUNS ON BO>D4 ,B ,I'M
SAFE 9 SAY+ SIXTY1 ,I ?9K40
  8,T W M ?AN SATISFY ! GOV]N;T
REQUIRE;TS10 ! (FIC] SD4 8,B1 ( C\RSE1
YR CRAFT W H 6-E UP 6EXPECT,NS &
REQUIRE;TS 9 ! MATT] ( >MA;T40
  8,I'LL GIVE Y E TE/ Y WANT10 DCLD
,TOM1 )A SMILE4 8,& N[ WE'LL SEE :AT !
,M>S C D :5 PUT 6X40
  ,UP & UP W5T ! BIG DIRIGI# AERIAL
W>%IP4 ,_H Y BE5 =TUNATE 5 6H SE5 H] Y
WD H OBS]V$ A CRAFT N UNLIKE1 9 %APE1 !
,G]MAN ,ZEPPEL9S4 ,B X DI6]$ F ^? W>
BALLOONS 9 S"EAL IMPORTANT "PICUL>S4
  ,TOM'S CRAFT 0 AB SIX HUNDR$ FEET L;G1
&! DIAMET] (! GAS BAG1 AMID%IPS1 0 SIXTY
FEET1 SLI<TLY L>G] ?AN ! L>GE/ ,ZEPPEL94
,2L ! BAG1 :1 Z ,I H EXPLA9$1 0 MADE UP
(A NUMB] ( GAS-TI<T -"P;TS1 HUNG F WIRE
CA#S ?REE CAB9S4 ,! =W>D "O 0 A SORT (
PILOT-H\SE1 3TA9+ V>I\S 9/RU;TS =
NAVIGAT+ ! %IP (! AIR1 OBS]V,N ROOMS1
GAUGES = CALCULAT+ FIR+ RANGES1 &! /E]+
APP>ATUS4
  ,AMID%IPS1 SUSP5D$ 2L ! GRT BAG1 7 !
LIV+ & SLEEP+ QU>T]S1 ": FOOD 0 COOK$ &
S]V$ & ": ^? :O OP]AT$ ! CRAFT CD SP5D
_! LEISURE "T4 ,EXTRA SUPPLIES 7 AL /OR$
"!4
  ,AT ! /]N (! BIG BAG 0 ! MOTOR-ROOM1
": GAS 0 G5]AT$ 6FILL ! BALLOON -"P;TS
:5 NEC1 ": ! GASOL9E & ELECTRICAL
APP>ATUS 7 9/ALL$1 & ": ! R1L MOTIVE P[]
(! CRAFT 0 LOCAT$4 ,"H1 AL1 0 C>RI$ !
L>GE QUANT;Y ( GASOL9E & OIL NE$$ =A L;G
VOYAGE4 ,! ,M>S CD C>RY SU6ICI5T FUEL
6LA/ = OV] A WEEK1 PROVID$ NO A3ID5TS
O3URR$4
  ,"! 0 AL AN >RANGE;T 9 ! MOTOR -"P;T1
S T ! %IP CD 2 /E]$ & OP]AT$ F "!4 ,? 0
9 CASE ! =W>D PILOT-H\SE %D 2 %OT AWAY
0AN 5EMY4 ,&1 AL1 9 ! MOTOR -"P;T 7 !
SLEEP+ QU>T]S =! CREW4
  ,ALL ?REE SUSP5D$ CAB9S 7 3NECT$ 0A
L;G COV]$ RUNWAY1 S T "O CD PASS F !
PILOT-H\SE 6! MOTOR-ROOM & BACK AG "? !
AMID%IP CAB9
  ,AT ! EXTREME 5D (! BIG BAG 7 ! V>I\S
RU4]S & PLANES1 DESIGN$ 6KEEP ! CRAFT ON
A LEVEL KEEL1 AUTOMATIC,Y1 & 65A# X
6MAKE H1DWAY AG/ A /R;G W9D4 ,! MOTIVE
P[] 3SI/$ ( ?REE D\#-BLAD$ WOOD5
PROPELL]S1 : CD 2 OP]AT$ TGR OR
9DEP5D5TLY4 ,A P[];L GASOL9E 5G9E 0 !
*IEF MOTIVE P[]1 ?\< "! 0 AN AUXILI>Y
/ORAGE BATT]Y1 : WD OP]ATE AN ELECTRICAL
MOTOR & S5D ! %IP AL;G = M ?AN TW5TY-F\R
H\RS 9 CASE ( A3ID5T 6! GASOL9E 5G9E4
  ,"! 7 _M O!R PIECES ( APP>ATUS ABO>D1
"S N -PLETELY 9/ALL$1 ! USES ( : ,I %
M5;N F "T 6"T1 Z ! /ORY PROGRESSES4 ,!
GAS-G5]AT+ MA*9E 0 ( IMPORT.E1 = "! WD 2
A L1KAGE & %R9K+ (! VAPOR F ! BIG BAG1 &
"S M1NS M/ 2 PROVID$ = REPL5I%+ X4
  8,Y DON'T SEEM 6H =GOTT5 ANY?+1 ,TOM10
SD ,N$ ADMIR+LY1 Z !Y SO>$ UPW>D4
  8,WE C TELL BETT] AF WE'VE FL[N AB A
BIT10 OBS]V$
! "Y 9V5TOR1 )A SMILE4 8,I EXPECT WE % H
6MAKE Q A NUMB] ( *ANGES40
  8,>E Y GO+ F>80 ASK$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,:Y1 Y'RE N F"R5$1 >E Y80 9QUIR$
,TOM4 8,Y H BE5 UP 9 AIR%IPS ) ME 2F40
  8,OH1 NO1 ,I'M N F"R5$60 EXCLAIM$ !
ODD MAN4 8,B.S MY SUSP5D]S1 NO6 ,B ,I
PROMIS$ MY WIFE ,I'D 2 BACK ? EV5+1 &
  8,WE'LL SAIL OV] T[>D ,WAT]=D10 BROKE
9 ,TOM1 8& ,I'LL DROP Y D[N 9 YR FRONT
Y>D40
  8,NO1 DON'T D T6 ,DON'T6 ,I BEG ( Y60
CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,Y SEE--]--,TOM1 MY
WIFE DOESN'T L ME 6MAKE ^! TRIPS4 ,(
C\RSE1 ,I "U/& "! IS NO DANG]1 & ,I L
!M4 ,B X'S J Z WELL N 6MAKE H] WORRY-Y
"U/&60
  8,OH1 ALL "R10 REPLI$ ,TOM1 )A LAU<4
8,WELL1 WE'RE N GO+ F> ON ? TRIP4 ,:AT
,I WANT 6D1 MO/ ( ALL1 IS 6TE/ ! GUNS1 &
SEE IF ! RECOIL *ECK W "W Z WELL :5 WE
>E AL(T Z X DID D[N ON ! GR.D4 ,Y "K A
BALLOON ISN'T A V /A# BASE =A GUN1 EV5
"O ( LI<T CALIB]40
  8,NO1 X C]TA9LY IS N10 AGRE$
,LIEUT5ANT ,M>BURY1 8& ,I AM 9T]E/$ 9
SEE+ H[ Y W OV]COME ! RECOIL40
  8,WE'LL H A TE/ SOON10 ANN\NC$ ,TOM4
  ,M1N:ILE ! ,M>S1 HAV+ R1*$ A 3SID]A#
HEI<T1 2+ UP S F>1 9 FACT1 T ! VILLAGE (
,%OPTON CD SC>CELY 2 4T+UI%$1 ,TOM SET !
SIGNAL T TOLD ! 5G9E-ROOM =CE 6/>T !
PROPELL]S4 ,? WD S5D !M AH1D4
  ,"S ( ,TOM'S MO/ TRU/$ "WM5 =M$ !
OP]AT+ CREW1 ! "Y 9V5TOR TAK+ *>GE (!
PILOT-H\SE HMF4
  8,WELL %E SEEMS 6RUN ALL "R10 OBS]V$
,LIEUT5ANT ,M>BURY1 Z ! BIG CRAFT SURG$
AH1D J 2L A /RATUM ( :ITE1 FLEECY CL\DS4
  8,YES1 B N Z FA/ Z ,I'D L 6SEE H] G1
,TOM REPLI$4 8,( C\RSE ! MA*9]Y IS NEW1
& X W TAKE "S LL "T = X 6WE> D[N SMOO?4
,I'LL SPE$ H] UP A LL N[40
  ,!Y _H BE5 RUNN+ = P]H T5 M9UTES :5
,TOM %OV$ OV] ! H& ( AN 9DICATOR T
-MUNICAT$ )! 5G9E-ROOM F ! PILOT-H\SE4
,AT ONCE ! ,M>S 9CR1S$ H] SPE$4
  8,%E C D X60 CRI$ ,N$4
  8,B.S MY-HAT6 ,I %D SAY S60 CRI$ ,MR4
,DAMON1 = HE 0 /&+ \TSIDE ! PILOT-H\SE J
!N1 ON ! 8BRIDGE10 &! SU45 9CR1SE ( SPE$
LIFT$ 8 HAT F 8 H1D4
  8,"! Y >E--CAU<T ON ! FLY60 CRI$ ,N$1
Z HE PUT UP 8 H& J 9 "T 6CAT* ! >TICLE 9
"Q4
  8,?ANKS6 ,GUESS ,I'D BETT] TIE X FA/10
REM>K$ ! ODD MAN1 PUTT+ 8 HAT ON TI<TLY4
  ,! AERIAL W>%IP 0 PUT "? S"EAL
EVOLU;NS 6TE/ H] /ABIL;Y1 & 6EA* "O %E
RESPOND$ WELL1 E>N+ ! PRAISE (! GOV]N;T
(FIC]4 ,UP & D[N1 6"O SIDE &! O!R1 >.D 9
BIG CIRCLES1 & EV5 REV]S+1 ,TOM S5T 8
CRAFT )A TRUE H& & EYE4 ,9 A SPE$ TE/
FIFTY-FIVE MILES 0 REGI/]$ AG/ A SLI<T
W9D1 &! "Y 9V5TOR SD HE KNEW HE CD D
BETT] ?AN T Z SOON Z "S (! MA*9]Y 0
RUNN+ M SMOO?LY4
  8,& N[ SUPPOSE WE GET R1DY =! GUN
TE/S10 SU7E/$ ,TOM1 :5 !Y _H BE5 RUNN+ =
AB AN H\R4
  8,T'S :AT ,I'M MO/LY 9T]E/$ IN10 SD
,LIEUT5ANT ,M>BURY4 8,X'S EASY 5 6GET
S"EAL GD TYPES ( DIRIGI# BALLOONS1 B FEW
( !M W /& HAV+ A GUN FIR$ F !M1 6SAY
NO?+ ( S"EAL GUNS40
  8,WELL1 ,I'M N MAK+ ANY RA% PROMISES10
,TOM W5T ON1 8B ,I ?9K WE C TURN !
TRICK40
  ,! >MA;T (! ,M>S 0 LOCAT$ >.D ! C5T]
CAB94 ,"! 7 TWO L>GE GUNS1 =E & AFT1
?R[+ A F\R-9* PROJECTILE1 & TWO SMALL]
CALIB]$ QK-FIR]S ON EI B1M4 ,! GUNS 7
M.T$ ON P$E/ALS T 5A#D ! W1PONS 6FIRE 9
ALM ANY DIREC;N1 SAVE /RAI<T UP1 &(
C\RSE ! BALLOON BAG 2+ ABV !M PREV5T$ ?4
,H["E1 "! 0 AN >RANGE;T ":BY A SMALL
AUTOMATIC QK-FIR] CD 2 S5T UP 6A PLAT=M
BUILT ON TOP (! GAS 5VELOPE XF1 &A MAN
/,N$ "! CD %OOT AT A RIVAL AIR%IP
DIRECTLY OV]H1D4
  ,B ! MA9 DECK GUNS CD 2 ELEVAT$ 6AN
ANGLE ( NE>LY =TY-FIVE DEGREES1 S !Y CD
TAKE C>E ( NE>LY ANY HO/ILE AIRCRAFT T
APPROA*$4
  8,B ": >E ! BOMBS ,I HE>D Y SP1K+ (80
ASK$ ,N$1 Z !Y F9I%$ LOOK+ AT ! GUNS4
  8,"H !Y >E10 SPOKE ,TOM1 Z HE PO9T$ 6A
SPACE 9 ! MI4LE (! MA9 CAB9 FLOOR4 ,HE
LIFT$ A BRASS PLATE1 & 4CLOS$ ?REE
HOLES1 COV]$ )A /R;G WIRE NETT+ T CD 2
REMOV$4 8,! BOMBS W 2 DROPP$ "? ^?
HOLES10 EXPLA9$ ! "Y 9V5TOR1 82+ REL1S$
0A MAGNETIC 3TROL :5 ! OP]ATOR ?9KS HE
HAS R1*$ A SPOT OV] ! 5EMY'S C;Y OR
=TIFIC,N ": ! MO/ DAMAGE W 2 D"O4 ,I'LL
%[ Y H[ !Y "W A LL LAT]4 ,N[ WE'LL H A
TE/ ( "S (! GUNS40
  ,TOM CALL$ = "S ( 8 M5 6TAKE *>GE (!
/E]+ & RUNN+ (! ,M>S :ILE HE &
,LIEUT5ANT ,M>BURY PREP>$ 6FIRE ! TWO
L>G] W1PONS4 ,? 0 6BE "O (! MO/
IMPORTANT TE/S4
  ,S]VICE *>GES _H BE5 PUT IN1 ?\<1 (
C\RSE1 NO PROJECTILES WD 2 US$1 S9CE !Y
7 !N FLY+ OV] A L>GE C;Y N F> F ,%OPTON4
  8,WE'LL H 6WAIT UNTIL WE GET \ OV] !
OC1N 6GIVE A -PLETE TE/1 )A BUR/+ %ELL10
,TOM SD4
  ,HE & ,LIEUT5ANT ,M>BURY 7 2S A GUN1 &
7 AB 6FIRE X1 :5 SU45LY1 F ! /]N (! %IP1
CAME A RIPP+1 TE>+ S.D1 &1 AT ! SAME "T1
3FUS$ %\TS CAME F ! CREW'S QU>T]S4
  8,:AT IS X80 CRI$ ,TOM4
  8,"O (! PROPELL]S60 0 ! ANSW]4 8,X'S
SPLIT1 & HAS TORN A BIG HOLE 9 ! GAS
BAG60
  8,B.S MY OV]%OES60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
8,WE'RE GO+ D[N60

,ALL ON BO>D ! ,M>S 2CAME AW>E (A SU45
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