,*APT] ,,XXIV

,CAM\FLAG$

,TWO UTT].ES ,TOM ,SWIFT MADE :5 ! FACT
  (!
4APPE>.E (! TANK 2CAME "KN 6HM 7
"*I/IC (! "Y 9V5TOR4 ,! F/ WAS3

  8,H[ DID !Y GET X AWAY80
  ,&! SECOND WAS3
  8,-E ON1 LET'S GET AF 'EM60
  ,!N1 =A FEW MO;TS1 NO "O SD ANY?+4
,TOM1 ,N$1 & ,MR4 ,DAMON1 ) ,MRS4 ,BA7]T
9 ! BACKGR.D1 /OOD LOOK+ AT ! GRT EMPTY
MA*9E %OP4

8,WELL1 !Y GOT H]10 W5T ON ,TOM1 )A SI<4
  8,I 0
AFRAID ( ? Z SOON Z !Y LEFT ME AL"O AT !
FACTORY40

  8,IS ANY?+ WR;G80 FALT]$ ! H\SEKEEP]4
8,DIDN'T Y S5D =! TANK1 ,TOM80
  8,NO1 ,MRS4 ,BA7]T1 ,I DIDN'T10 ,TOM
ANSW]$4
  8,B ,I DON'T "U/&10 ! H\SEKEEP] SD4
8,A MAN CAME )A NOTE F Y1 ,TOM1 & 9 X Y
SD 6H HM TAKE ! TANK1 ) ,KOKU &! M5 :O
"K H[ 6RUN X4 ,WE 7 S GLAD 6HE> F Y1 &
"K T Y 7 ALL "R1 T WE DIDN'T ?9K ( ANY?+
ELSE1 YR "F & ,I4 ,S HE W5T \ & SAW T !
TANK GOT (F ALL "R4 ,KOKU 0 GLAD1 = X'S
! F/ *.E HE'D _H 6RIDE 9 X40
  8,:O 0 ! MAN :O BR"\ ! NOTE80 ASK$
,TOM1 & HE 0 /RIV+ 6BE CALM4 8,6?9K (
POOR OLD DAD PLAY+ "R 96! H&S (!
PLOTT]S60 HE A4$1 9 AN ASIDE 6,N$4
  8,WELL1 ,I DON'T "K :O ! MAN WAS10 SD
,MRS4 ,BA7]T4 8,HE SEEM$ ALL "R1 &(
C\RSE HAV+ A NOTE F Y--0
  8,:O HAS T NOTE N[80 ASK$ ,TOM QKLY4
  8,YR "F40
  8,-E ON10 & ,TOM L$ ! WAY BACK 6!
H\SE4 8,I'LL H A LOOK AT T DOCU;T1 : (
C\RSE ,I N"E WROTE1 & !N WE'LL GET AF !
PLOTT]S &! TANK40
  8,%E "\ 6BE EASY 6TRACE10 OBS]V$ ,MR4
,DAMON4 8,B.S MY F.TA9 P51 B %E "\ 6BE
EASY 6TRACE6 ,%E W L1VE A TRACK L A
GIANT BOA 3/RICTOR CRAWL+ AL;G40
  8,YES1 ,I GUESS WE C TRACE H]1 ALL
"R10 ASS5T$ ,TOM ,SWIFT2 8B ! PO9T IS1 W
"! 2 ANY?+ LEFT ( H]8 ,:AT'S :AT ,I'M
AFRAID ( N[40
  ,MR4 ,SWIFT 0 / EXCIT$1 B 8 WORRY _H
SUBSID$ Z SOON Z HE KNEW ,TOM 0 SAFE4
  8,! :OLE ?+ IS A =G]Y1 B FAIRLY WELL
D"O10 ,TOM SD1 Z HE LOOK$ AT ! PAP] 8 "F
GAVE HM--A BRIEF NOTE /AT+ T ,TOM 0
WELL1 B DETA9$ ON BUSI;S1 & T ! TANK 0
6BE BR"\ 6HM1 J ": ! BE>] (! NOTE WD
9DICATE4 ,KOKU1 ! GIANT1 & S"EAL (!
MA*9I/S1 :O KNEW H[ 6OP]ATE ! BIG MA*9E1
7 6G ) X1 ! NOTE SD4
  8,T MADE ME SURE "EY?+ 0 ALL "R10 SD
,MR4 ,SWIFT4 8,I KNEW1 ( C\RSE1 ,TOM1 T
PLOTT]S MI<T TRY 6GET HOLD ( YR W>
SECRET1 B ,I DIDN'T SEE H[ !Y CD IF
,KOKU & "S ( YR [N M5 7 9 POSSES.N40
  8,!Y CDN'T--Z L;G Z !Y REMA9$ 9
POSSES.N10 ,TOM SD4 8,B T'S ! TR\#4 ,I'M
AFRAID !Y HAV5'T4 ,:AT HAS PROBABLY
HAPP5$ IS T "U ! DIREC;N ( ? MAN1 :O
BR"\ ! =G$ NOTE F ME1 ,KOKU &! O!RS TOOK
! TANK ": HE DIRECT$ !M1 ?9K+ 6MEET ME4
,!N1 R1*+ ! PLACE ": ! RE/ (! PLOTT]S 7
3C1L$1 !Y OV]P[]$ ,KOKU &! O!RS & TOOK
POSSES.N (! MA*9E40
  8,!Y'D H TR\# ) ,KOKU10 SU7E/$ ,N$4
  8,YES1 B EV5 A GIANT C'T FI<T TOO BIG
A CR[D1 ESPECI,Y IF HE IS TAK5
0SURPRISE1 & T'S PROBABLY :AT HAPP5$10
REM>K$ ,TOM4 8,N[ ! "Q IS ": IS ! TANK1
& H[ C WE GET H] BACK8 ,E M9UTE C.TS4
,IF ^? ,G]MAN SPIES & _! HELP]S REMA9 9
POSSES.N L;G1 !Y'LL F9D \ 5 ( MY SECRETS
65A# !M 6DUPLICATE ! MA*9E1 & ESPECI,Y
"S (! MO/ EXCLUSIVE F1TURES4 ,WE'VE GOT
6GET AF 'EM60

8,!Y IMITAT$ YR WRIT+ PRETTY WELL1
  ,TOM10 ,OBS]V$
,N$1 Z HE LOOK$ AT ! =G$ NOTE4

  8,YES2 T'S :Y !Y TOOK ALL MY PAP]S
AWAY F ME--6GET SPECIM5S ( MY H&WRIT+4
,I HALF SUSPECT$ T1 B ,I DIDN'T Q FIGURE
\ :AT _! GAME WAS4 ,WELL1 WE "K ! WOR/
N[1 & T'S BETT] ?AN "W+ 9 ! D>K4 ,N[
,I'M GO+ 6H A BA? & GET 96"S DEC5T
CLO!S1 & WE'LL SEE :AT WE C D40
  8,C.T ON ME1 ,TOM60 EXCLAIM$ ,N$4
8,I'LL G ! LIMIT ) Y60
  8,I KNEW Y WD1 OLD MAN60
  8,& ME1 TOO60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,B.S
MY OP5 FIREPLACE1 B ,I'LL S5D ^W 6MY
WIFE T ,I'M N -+ HOME TN1 & WE C />T !
F/ ?+ 9 ! MORN+1 ,TOM40
  8,YES2 "! ISN'T M* USE 9 GO+ N[1 Z X W
SOON 2 D>K40

8,H[ >E Y GO+ 6TRACE ! TANK1 ,TOM80 ASK$
  ,N$1
:5 8 *UM _H BA!D & GOTT5 96FRE% CLO!S4

  8,I'M GO+ 6T\R ! C.TRY >.D "H 9 AN
AUTO4 ,! TANK C MAKE T5 MILES AN H\R1 B
T'S NO?+ 6:AT AN AUTO C D4 ,& WE "\N'T
6H M* TR\# 9 TRAC+ H]4 ,NO "O ^: H\SE %E
PASS$ WD =GET H] 9 A HURRY40

8,T'S S10 AGRE$ ,N$4 8,B IF !Y TOOK H]
  ACR
C.TRY--0
  8,A DI6]5T /ORY10 AGRE$ ,TOM4 8,-E
6?9K ( X1 MAYBE WE'D BETT] />T TN1 ,N$4
,WE C MAKE 9QUIRIES AF D>K Z WELL Z
0"DLI<T & GET R1DY = AN E>LY MORN+ HUNT0
  8,LET'S D X1 !N60 SU7E/$ 8 *UM4 8,I'M
R1DY4 ,I'LL S5D ^W T ,I'LL N 2 HOME TN40

8,GD60 CRI$ ! "Y 9V5TOR4 8,WE'LL H AN
  OLD-
FA%ION$ HUNT AF \R 5EMIES1 ,N$60

  8,& DON'T L1VE ME \60 BE7$ ,MR4
,DAMON4 ,HURRI$ PREP>,NS 7 MADE =! NI<T
TRIP4 ,TOM ORD]$ \ "O ( 8 SPE$IE/1 ?\< N
L>GE/1 AUTOMOBILES1 & TOLD 8 HELP] 6GET
! ,HAWK R1DY1 6H H] S %E CD />T AT A
MO;T'S NOTICE IF NE$$4
  8,Y'RE N GO+ 9 H]1 >E Y1 ,TOM80 ASK$
,N$4
  8,I MAY NE$ H] TM = "DLI<T HUNT+4 ,IF
! TANK'S HI45 "S":1 ,I C SPOT H] F ABV M
EASILY ?AN F ! GR.D4 ,S IF WE GET ANY
TRACE ( MY MA*9E1 ,I C PH"O 9 & H !
AEROPLANE BR"\ 6ME40
  8,T'S A GD IDEA60
  ,9QUIRY AT ! %OP ": ! TANK _H BE5
BUILT & KEPT 4CLOS$ ! FACT T1 9 A4I;N
6,KOKU1 ?REE ( ,TOM'S M5 _H G"O 9 H]
6HELP MANAGE ! MA*9E "U ! DIREC;N (! MAN
:O BORE ! =G$ NOTE4 ,T HE 0 "O (!
PLOTT]S N HI!RTO OBS]V$ 0EI ,N$ OR ,TOM
SEEM$ C]TA94
  8,& !Y TOOK ,KOKU & "S (! M5 M]ELY
6MAKE X LOOK NATURAL & Z IF X 7 ALL "R10
,TOM SD4 8,NATUR,Y T DCVD MY "F1 :O ?"\1
( C\RSE1 T ,I 0 WAIT+ =! MA*9E4 ,WELL1 X
0 A SLICK TRICK1 ,N$1 B WE MAY FOOL !M
YET40
  8,I HOPE S1 ,TOM40

,NI<T _H FULLY FALL5 :5 ,TOM1 ,N$1 &
  ,MR4 ,DAMON
/>T$ AWAY 9 ! T\R+ C>4

  ,\ ONTO ! ROAD ROLL$ ! AUTOMOBILE4
,DUR+ ! LL "DLI<T T _H REMA9$ AF 8
>RIVAL AT HOME & FOLL[+ ! 4COV]Y (! LOSS
(! TANK ,TOM & ,N$ _H TRAC$ X1 0! M>KS
(! BIG /EEL CAT]PILL> BELTS1 6! MA9
ROAD4 ,X _H G"O AL;G T "S 4T.E1 J H[ F>
CD N 2 SD4
  8,B 0US+ ! SE>*LI<T (! AUTO WE C TRACE
H] Z L;G Z !Y KEEP H] ON ! ROAD10 SD
,TOM4 8,AF T WE'LL H 6TRU/ 6LUCK1 & 6:AT
9QUIRIES WE C MAKE40
  ,! T\R+ C> C>RI$ A P[];L LAMP1 & 0XS
GL1MS X 0 EASY 6TRACE =A "T ! PROGRESS
(! POND]\S TANK4 ,"! 0 NO NE$ 6MAKE
9QUIRIES ( P]SONS LIV+ AL;G ! WAY1 ?\<
ONCE OR TWICE ,TOM DID GET \ 6ASK1
3FIRM+ ! FACT T ! BIG MA*9E _H RUM#D PA/
9 A DIREC;N AWAY F ! ,SWIFT HOME4
  8,I _H AN IDEA !Y MI<T H D\#D ON _!
TRACKS =A "T1 & BACK$ H] UP J 6FOOL U10
,TOM SD4 8,!Y MI<T D T1 KEEP+ H] 9 !
SAME TRACKS40
  ,B ?1 EVID5TLY1 _H N BE5 D"O1 &! TANK
0 MAK+ GD SPE$ AWAY F ! ,SWIFT ,L\SE4
,!Y KEPT UP ! SE>* UNTIL AB MIDNI<T1 &
!N A H1VY RA9 2GAN J 2F !Y R1*$ A PO9T
": S"EAL ROADS BRAN*$4
  8,LUCK'S ) !M60 EXCLAIM$ ,TOM4 8,? W
WA% AWAY ! M>KS1 & WE'LL H 6G X BL4
,MI<T Z WELL PUT UP "H =! NI<T10 HE A4$1
Z !Y CAME 6A VILLAGE HOTEL4
  ,X 0 EVID5T T LL M CD 2 D"O 9 ! RA9 &
D>K;S1 & "! 0 DANG] ( OV]-RUNN+ ! TRAIL
(! TANK IF !Y KEPT ON4 ,S !Y TURN$ 9 AT
! HOTEL & GOT :AT LL RE/ !Y CD 9 _!
ANXI\S /ATE ( M9DS4
  ,TOM TRI$ 6BE *E];L & 6LOOK =! BE/1 B
X 0 H>D "W4 ,! TANK 0 8 PET 9V5;N1 &1
MOREOV]1 T H] SECRETS %D FALL 96! H&S (!
5EMY & 2 US$ = ,G]_M & AG/ ! ,UNIT$
,/ATES EV5TU,Y1 MADE ! "Y 9V5TOR FEEL T
"EY?+ 0 GO+ WR;G4
  ,! RA9 KEPT UP ALL NI<T1 & ? WD MAKE X
CORRESPOND+LY H>D = !M 6PICK UP ! TRAIL
9 ! MORN+4
  8,! ONLY ?+ WE C D IS 6MAKE 9QUIRIES10
DECID$ ,TOM4 8,=TUNATELY1 ! TANK C'T
EASILY 2 HI4540
  ,!Y />T$ (F AF AN E>LY BR1KFA/4 ,!
ROADS 7 S MU4Y & WET T TRAVEL+ 0
DI6ICULT & DANG]\S =! AUTOMOBILE1 & !Y 7
4APPO9T$ 9 F9D+ NO "O :O _H SE5 OR HE>D
! TANK PASS UP 6A PO9T N F> F ! HOTEL ":
!Y _H /AY$ OV]NI<T4 ,F !N ON ! BIG MA*9E
SEEM$ 6H 4APPE>$4
  8,I "K :AT !Y'VE D"O10 ,TOM SD1 :5
NOON CAME & !Y _H F.D NO TRACE (!
POND]\S W> MA*9E4 8,!Y'VE LEFT ! ROAD &
TAK5 H] CROSS C.TRY1 & WE C'T F9D ! SPOT
": !Y DID ? 2C ! RA9 HAS WA%$ \ ! M>KS4
,WELL1 "!'S ONLY "O ?+ LEFT 6D40
  8,:AT'S T80 ASK$ ,N$4
  8,GET ! ,HAWK6 ,9 T WE C LOOK D[N &
OV] A BIG EXT5T ( C.TRY4 ,T'S :AT ,I'LL
D--,I'LL PH"O =! AIR%IP4 ,! RA9 IS
/OPP+1 ,I ?9K40
  ,! RA9 DID C1SE 0! "T "O ( ,TOM'S M5
BR"\ ! SPE$Y AIRCRAFT 6! PLACE "ND 0! "Y
9V5TOR 9 8 TELEPH"O MESSAGE4 ,"! 7 /
S"EAL H\RS ( "DLI<T LEFT1 & ,TOM C.T$ ON
!M 6ALL[ HM 6RISE 9 ! AIR & LOOK D[N ON
! TANKS POSSI# HID+ PLACE4
  8,"O ?+'S SURE10 HE TOLD ,N$3 8,I "K !
LIMIT ( H] SPE$1 & %E C'T 2 F>!R (F ?AN
AT "S PLACE )9 A CIRCLE ( AB "O HUNDR$ &
TW5TY-FIVE MILES F MY H\SE4 ,& X'S 9 !
DIREC;N WE'RE IN4 ,S IF ,I CIRCLE >.D UP
ABV1 ,I MAY SPOT H]40
  8,I HOPE S10 MURMUR$ ,N$4
  ,X 0 >RANG$ T ,MR4 ,DAMON %D TAKE !
AUTOMOBILE BACK1 ) ,TOM'S ME*ANICIAN 9
X1 & ,TOM & ,N$ WD SC\T >.D 9 !
AIRCRAFT1 : C>RI$ ONLY TWO4

8,Y "\ 6H A MA*9E GUN ) Y1 ,TOM1 IF Y
PLAN 6ATTACK ^? FELL[S 6GET BACK !
  TANK10 ,N$
SD4

  8,OH1 ,I DON'T IMAG9E ,I'LL NE$ X10 HE
SD4 8,ANYH[1 A MA*9E GUN WDN'T 2 ( M*
E6ECT AG/ ! TANK4 ,& !Y C'T FIRE ON U1 =
"! WASN'T ANY AMMUNI;N =! GUNS 9 ,TANK
,A1 UN.S !Y GOT "S ( _! [N1 & ,I H>DLY
2LIEVE !Y'D D T4 ,I'LL TAKE A *.E1
ANYH[40
  ,& S ! SE>* F ! AIR 2GAN4 ,X 0
4APPO9T+ AT F/4 ,>.D & >.D CIRCL$ ,TOM &
,N$1 _! EYES PE]+ EAG]LY D[N F ! HEI<TS
=A SI<T (! TANK1 POSSIBLY HI45 9 "S LL-
"KN RAV9E OR GULLY4
  ,BACK & =?1 L A SPECK 9 ! SKY1 ,TOM
GUID$ ! ,HAWK1 :ILE ,N$ TOOK OBS]V,N AF
OBS]V,N )! B9OCUL>S4
  ,AT LA/1 :5 ! L[-S9K+ SUN GAVE W>N+ T
NI<T WD SOON 2 ^U !M1 ,N$'S GLASSES
PICK$ UP "S?+ ON ! GR.D F> 2L T MADE HM
SIT SU45LY /RAI<T] 9 8 S1T4

8,:AT IS X80 ASK$ ,TOM "? ! SP1K+
  APP>ATUS1
FEEL+ ! MOVE;T ON ! "P ( 8 *UM4

  8,I SEE "S?+ D[N "!1 ,TOM10 0 ! ANSW]4
8,X DOESN'T LOOK L ! TANK1 & YET X
DOESN'T LOOK Z A CLUMP ( TREES & BU%ES
"\ 6LOOK4 ,H A PEEP
YRF4 ,X'S J 2Y T RIV]1 AG/ ! SIDE (!
HILL--A L"O"S PLACE1 TOO40
  ,TOM TOOK ! GLASSES :ILE ,N$ ASSUM$
3TROL (! ,HAWK1 "! 2+ A DUAL SY/EM =
OP]AT+ & /E]+ H]4
  ,NO SOON] _H ! "Y 9V5TOR GOT ! FOCUS
ON :AT ,N$ _H 9DICAT$ ?AN HE GAVE A CRY4
  8,:AT IS X80 ASK$ ! "Y BANK CL]K4
  8,CAM\FLAG$60 CRI$ ,TOM1 & )\T /OPP+
6EXPLA9 :AT HE M1NT1 HE H&$ ! B9OCUL>S
BACK 6,N$ & 2GAN 6GUIDE ! ,HAWK D[N T[>D
! E>? AT HI< SPE$4


