            ,,*APT] ,,XXXIX4
  ,,9 ! MORN+ WE W5T UP 6! VILLAGE & B"\
A WIRE RAT-TRAP & FET*$ X D[N1 & UN/OPP$
! BE/ RAT-HOLE1 & 9 AB AN H\R WE _H
FIFTE5 (! BULLIE/ K9D ( "OS2 & !N WE
TOOK X & PUT X 9 A SAFE PLACE "U ,AUNT
,S,Y'S B$4 ,B :ILE WE 0 G"O = SPID]S LL
,?OMAS ,FRANKL9 ,B5JAM9 ,JE6]SON ,ELEX&]
,PHELPS F.D X "!1 & OP5$ ! DOOR ( X 6SEE
IF ! RATS WD -E \1 & !Y DID2 & ,AUNT
,S,Y %E -E IN1 & :5 WE GOT BACK %E 0 A-
/&+ ON TOP (! B$ RAIS+ ,CA91 &! RATS 0
DO+ :AT !Y CD 6KEEP (F ! DULL "TS = H]4
,S %E TOOK & DU/$ U BO? )! HICKRY1 & WE
0 Z M* Z TWO H\RS CAT*+ ANO!R FIFTE5 OR
SIXTE51 DRAT T M$DLE"S CUB1 & !Y W>N'T !
LIKELIE/1 NU!R1 2C ! F/ HAUL 0 ! PICK (!
FLOCK4 ,I N"E SEE A LIKELI] LOT ( RATS
?AN :AT T F/ HAUL WAS4
  ,WE GOT A SPL5DID /OCK ( SORT$ SPID]S1
& BUGS1 & FROGS1 & CAT]PILL>S1 & "O ?+
OR ANO!R2 & WE L 6GOT A HORNET'S NE/1 B
WE DIDN'T4 ,! FAMILY 0 AT HOME4 ,WE
DIDN'T GIVE X "R UP1 B /AY$ ) !M Z L;G Z
WE CD2 2C WE ALL[$ WE'D TIRE !M \ OR
!Y'D GOT 6TIRE U \1 & !Y D"O X4 ,!N WE
GOT ALLYCUMPA9 & RU2$ ON ! PLACES1 & 0
PRETTY NE> ALL "R AG1 B CDN'T SET D[N
3V5I5T4 ,& S WE W5T =! SNAKES1 & GRA2$ A
C\PLE ( DOZ5 G>T]S & H\SE-SNAKES1 & PUT
!M 9 A BAG1 & PUT X 9 \R ROOM1 & 0T "T X
0 SUPP]"T1 &A RATTL+ GD H"O/ "D'S "W3 &
HUNGRY8--OH1 NO1 ,I RECKON N6 ,& "!
W>N'T A B.S$ SNAKE UP "! :5 WE W5T BACK
--WE DIDN'T HALF TIE ! SACK1 & !Y "W$ \
"SH[1 & LEFT4 ,B X DIDN'T MATT] M*1 2C
!Y 0 / ON ! PREMISES "S":S4 ,S WE JUDG$
WE CD GET "S ( !M AG4 ,NO1 "! W>N'T NO
R1L SC>C;Y ( SNAKES AB ! H\SE =A 3SID]A#
SPELL4 ,Y'D SEE !M DRIPP+ F ! RAFT]S &
PLACES E N[ & !N2 & !Y G5]LY L&$ 9 YR
PLATE1 OR D[N ! BACK ( YR NECK1 & MO/ (!
"T ": Y DIDN'T WANT !M4 ,WELL1 !Y 0 H&"S
& /RIP$1 & "! W>N'T NO H>M 9 A MILLION (
!M2 B T N"E MADE NO DI6];E 6,AUNT ,S,Y2
%E DESPIS$ SNAKES1 2 ! BRE$ :AT !Y MI<T1
& %E CDN'T /& !M NO WAY Y CD FIX X2 & E
"T "O ( !M FLOPP$ D[N ON H]1 X DIDN'T
MAKE NO DI6];E :AT %E 0 DO+1 %E WD J LAY
T "W D[N & LI<T \4 ,I N"E SEE S* A
WOMAN4 ,& Y CD HE> H] :OOP 6,J]I*O4 ,Y
CDN'T GET H] 6TAKE A-HOLT ( "O ( !M )!
T;GS4 ,& IF %E TURN$ OV] & F.D "O 9 B$
%E WD SCRAM# \ & LIFT A H[L T Y WD ?9K !
H\SE 0 AFIRE4 ,%E 4TURB$ ! OLD MAN S T
HE SD HE CD MO/ WI% "! _HN'T "E BE5 NO
SNAKES CR1T$4 ,:Y1 AF E LA/ SNAKE _H BE5
G"O CLE> \ (! H\SE = Z M* Z A WEEK ,AUNT
,S,Y W>N'T OV] X YET2 %E W>N'T NE> OV]
X2 :5 %E 0 SETT+ ?9K+ AB "S?+ Y CD T\*
H] ON ! BACK ( H] NECK )A F1!R & %E WD
JUMP "R \ ( H] /OCK+S4 ,X 0 V CURI\S4 ,B
,TOM SD ALL WOM5 0 J S4 ,HE SD !Y 0 MADE
T WAY = "S R1SON OR O!R4
  ,WE GOT A LICK+ E "T "O ( \R SNAKES -E
9 H] WAY1 & %E ALL[$ ^! LICK+S W>N'T
NO?+ 6:AT %E WD D IF WE "E LOAD$ UP !
PLACE AG ) !M4 ,I DIDN'T M9D ! LICK+S1
2C !Y DIDN'T AM.T 6NO?+2 B ,I M9D$ !
TR\# WE _H 6LAY 9 ANO!R LOT4 ,B WE GOT
!M LAID IN1 & ALL ! O!R ?+S2 & Y N"E SEE
A CAB9 Z BLI!"S Z ,JIM'S 0 :5 !Y'D ALL
SW>M \ = MUSIC & G = HM4 ,JIM DIDN'T L !
SPID]S1 &! SPID]S DIDN'T L ,JIM2 & S
!Y'D LAY = HM1 & MAKE X MI<TY W>M = HM4
,& HE SD T 2T ! RATS &! SNAKES &!
GR9D/"O "! W>N'T NO ROOM 9 B$ = HM1
SKASELY2 & :5 "! WAS1 A BODY CDN'T
SLEEP1 X 0 S LIVELY1 & X 0 ALW LIVELY1
HE SD1 2C ,,!Y N"E ALL SLEPT AT "O "T1 B
TOOK TURN AB1 S :5 ! SNAKES 0 ASLEEP !
RATS 0 ON DECK1 & :5 ! RATS TURN$ 9 !
SNAKES -E ON WAT*1 S HE ALW _H "O GANG
"U HM1 9 8 WAY1 & T'O!R GANG HAV+ A
CIRCUS OV] HM1 & IF HE GOT UP 6HUNT A
NEW PLACE ! SPID]S WD TAKE A *.E AT HM Z
HE CROSS$ OV]4 ,HE SD IF HE "E GOT \ ?
"T HE WDN'T "E 2 A PRISON] AG1 N =A
SAL>Y4
  ,WELL1 0! 5D ( ?REE WEEKS "EY?+ 0 9
PRETTY GD %APE4 ,! %IRT 0 S5T 9 E>LY1 9
A PIE1 & E "T A RAT BIT ,JIM HE WD GET
UP & WRITE A LL 9 8 J\RNAL :IL/ ! 9K 0
FRE%2 ! P5S 0 MADE1 ! 9SCRIP;NS & S ON 0
ALL C>V$ ON ! GR9D/"O2 ! B$-LEG 0 SAW$ 9
TWO1 & WE _H ET UP ! SAWDU/1 & X GIVE U
A MO/ AMAZ+ /OMA*-A*E4 ,WE RECKON$ WE 0
ALL GO+ 6DIE1 B DIDN'T4 ,X 0 ! MO/
UNDIGE/I# SAWDU/ ,I "E SEE2 & ,TOM SD !
SAME4 ,B Z ,I 0 SAY+1 WE'D GOT ALL ! "W
D"O N[1 AT LA/2 & WE 0 ALL PRETTY M*
FA7$ \1 TOO1 B MA9LY ,JIM4 ,! OLD MAN _H
WROTE A C\PLE ( "TS 6! PLANT,N 2L
,ORL1NS 6-E & GET _! RUNAWAY NI7]1 B
_HN'T GOT NO ANSW]1 2C "! W>N'T NO S*
PLANT,N2 S HE ALL[$ HE WD ADV]TISE ,JIM
9 ! ,/4 ,L\IS & ,NEW ,ORL1NS PAP]S2 & :5
HE M5;N$ ! ,/4 ,L\IS "OS X GIVE ME !
COLD %IV]S1 & ,I SEE WE _HN'T NO "T
6LOSE4 ,S ,TOM SD1 N[ =! NONNAM\S LRS4
  8,:AT'S !M80 ,I SAYS4
  8,W>N+S 6! P T "S?+ IS UP4 ,"S"TS X'S
D"O "O WAY1 "S"TS ANO!R4 ,B "!'S ALW
"SBODY SPY+ >.D T GIVES NOTICE 6!
GOV]NOR (! CA/LE4 ,:5 ,L\IS ,,XVI4 0 GO+
6LI<T \ (! ,TOOL]IES A S]VANT- GIRL D"O
X4 ,X'S A V GD WAY1 & S IS ! NONNAM\S
LRS4 ,WE'LL USE !M BO?4 ,& X'S USUAL =!
PRISON]'S "M 6*ANGE CLO!S ) HM1 & %E
/AYS IN1 & HE SLIDES \ 9 H] CLO!S4
,WE'LL D T1 TOO40
  8,B LOOKY "H1 ,TOM1 :AT D WE WANT
6,,W>N ANYBODY = T "S?+'S UP8 ,LET !M
F9D X \ = !MVS--X'S _! LOOK\T40
  8,YES1 ,I "K2 B Y C'T DEP5D ON !M4
,X'S ! WAY !Y'VE ACT$ F ! V />T--LEFT U
6D ,,"EY?+4 ,!Y'RE S 3FID+ & MULLET-
H1D$ !Y DON'T TAKE NOTICE ( NO?+ AT ALL4
,S IF WE DON'T ,,GIVE !M NOTICE "! WON'T
2 NOBODY NOR NO?+ 69T]F]E ) U1 & S AF
ALL \R H>D "W & TR\# ? ESCAPE 'LL G (F
P]FECTLY FLAT2 WON'T AM.T 6NO?+--WON'T 2
NO?+ ,,6X40
  8,WELL1 Z = ME1 ,TOM1 T'S ! WAY ,I'D
L40
  8,%UCKS60 HE SAYS1 & LOOK$ 4GU/$4 ,S
,I SAYS3
  8,B ,I A9'T GO+ 6MAKE NO -PLA9T4 ,ANY
WAY T SUITS Y SUITS ME4 ,:AT Y GO+ 6D AB
! S]VANT-GIRL80
  8,Y'LL 2 H]4 ,Y SLIDE IN1 9 ! MI4LE (!
NI<T1 & HOOK T YALL] GIRL'S FROCK40
  8,:Y1 ,TOM1 T 'LL MAKE TR\# NEXT
MORN+2 2C1 ( C\RSE1 %E PROB'BLY HA9'T
GOT ANY B T "O40
  8,I "K2 B Y DON'T WANT X B FIFTE5
M9UTES1 6C>RY ! NONNAM\S LR & %OVE X "U
! FRONT DOOR40
  8,ALL "R1 !N1 ,I'LL D X2 B ,I CD C>RY
X J Z H&Y 9 MY [N TOGS40
  8,Y WDN'T LOOK L A S]VANT-GIRL ,,!N1
WD Y80
  8,NO1 B "! WON'T 2 NOBODY 6SEE :AT ,I
LOOK L1 ,,ANYWAY40
  8,T A9'T GOT NO?+ 6D ) X4 ,! ?+ = U 6D
IS J 6D \R ,,DUTY1 & N WORRY AB :E!R
ANYBODY ,,SEES U D X OR N4 ,HA9'T Y GOT
NO PR9CIPLE AT ALL80
  8,ALL "R1 ,I A9'T SAY+ NO?+2 ,I'M !
S]VANT- GIRL4 ,:O'S ,JIM'S "M80
  8,I'M 8 "M4 ,I'LL HOOK A G[N F ,AUNT
,S,Y40
  8,WELL1 !N1 Y'LL H 6/AY 9 ! CAB9 :5 ME
& ,JIM L1VES40
  8,N M*4 ,I'LL /UFF ,JIM'S CLO!S FULL (
/RAW & LAY X ON 8 B$ 6REPRES5T 8 "M 9
4GUISE1 & ,JIM 'LL TAKE ! NI7] WOMAN'S
G[N (F ( ME & WE> X1 & WE'LL ALL EVADE
TGR4 ,:5 A PRISON] ( /YLE ESCAPES X'S
CALL$ AN EVA.N4 ,X'S ALW CALL$ S :5 A K+
ESCAPES1 F'R9/.E4 ,&! SAME )A K+'S SON2
X DON'T MAKE NO DI6];E :E!R HE'S A
NATURAL "O OR AN UNNATURAL "O40
  ,S ,TOM HE WROTE ! NONNAM\S LR1 & ,I
SM\*$ ! YALL] W5*'S FROCK T NI<T1 & PUT
X ON1 & %OV$ X "U ! FRONT DOOR1 ! WAY
,TOM TOLD ME TO4 ,X SD3
  ,2W>E4 ,TR\# IS BREW+4 ,KEEP A %>P
LOOK\T4 ,,UN"KN ,,FR4
  ,NEXT NI<T WE /UCK A PICTURE1 : ,TOM
DRAW$ 9 BLOOD1 (A SKULL & CROSSB"OS ON !
FRONT DOOR2 & NEXT NI<T ANO!R "O (A C(F9
ON ! BACK DOOR4 ,I N"E SEE A FAMILY 9 S*
A SW1T4 ,!Y CDN'T A BE5 WORSE SC>$ IF !
PLACE _H A BE5 FULL ( <O/S LAY+ = !M 2H
"EY?+ & "U ! B$S & %IV]+ "? ! AIR4 ,IF A
DOOR BANG$1 ,AUNT ,S,Y %E JUMP$ & SD
8\*60 IF ANY?+ FELL1 %E JUMP$ & SD 8\*60
IF Y HAPP5$ 6T\* H]1 :5 %E W>N'T NOTIC+1
%E D"O ! SAME2 %E CDN'T FACE NOWAY & 2
SATISFI$1 2C %E ALL[$ "! 0 "S?+ 2H H] E
"T--S %E 0 ALW A-:IRL+ >.D SU451 & SAY+
8\*10 & 2F %E'D GOT TWO-?IRDS >.D %E'D
:IRL BACK AG1 & SAY X AG2 & %E 0 AFRAID
6G 6B$1 B %E DASN'T SET UP4 ,S ! ?+ 0
"W+ V WELL1 ,TOM SD2 HE SD HE N"E SEE A
?+ "W M SATISFACTORY4 ,HE SD X %[$ X 0
D"O "R4
  ,S HE SD1 N[ =! GR& BULGE6 ,S ! V NEXT
MORN+ AT ! /R1K ( DAWN WE GOT ANO!R LR
R1DY1 & 0 WOND]+ :AT WE BETT] D ) X1 2C
WE HE>D !M SAY AT SUPP] !Y 0 GO+ 6H A
NI7] ON WAT* AT BO? DOORS ALL NI<T4 ,TOM
HE W5T D[N ! LI<TN+-ROD 6SPY >.D2 &!
NI7] AT ! BACK DOOR 0 ASLEEP1 & HE /UCK
X 9 ! BACK ( 8 NECK & -E BACK4 ,? LR SD3
  ,DON'T 2TRAY ME1 ,I WI% 6BE YR FR4 ,"!
IS A DESPRATE GANG ( CUT-?ROATS F OV] 9
! ,9DIAN ,T]RITORY GO+ 6/1L YR RUNAWAY
NI7] TO-NI<T1 & !Y H BE5 TRY+ 6SC>E Y S
Z Y W /AY 9 ! H\SE & N BO!R !M4 ,I AM "O
(! GANG1 B H GOT RELI7ION & WI% 6QUIT X
& L1D AN H"O/ LIFE AG1 & W 2TRAY ! HELI%
DESIGN4 ,!Y W SN1K D[N F NOR?>DS1 AL;G !
F;E1 AT MIDNI<T EXACT1 )A FALSE KEY1 & G
9 ! NI7]'S CAB9 6GET HM4 ,I AM 6BE (F A
PIECE & BL[ A T9 HORN IF ,I SEE ANY
DANG]2 B /1D ( T ,I W ,,BA L A %EEP SOON
Z !Y GET 9 & N BL[ AT ALL2 !N :IL/ !Y >E
GETT+ 8 *A9S LOOSE1 Y SLIP "! & LOCK !M
IN1 & C KILL !M AT YR L1SURE4 ,DON'T D
ANY?+ B J ! WAY ,I AM TELL+ Y2 IF Y D !Y
W SUSPICION "S?+ & RAISE :OOP-
JAMBOREEHOO4 ,I D N WI% ANY REW>D B 6"K
,I H D"O ! "R ?+4
  ,,UN"KN ,,FR4
