
    ,,*APT] ,,XXIV
  ,?REE "DS LAT]1 ,"DLI<T RODE 6,B]KELEY
9 8 R$ C>4 ,X 0 =! LA/ "T1 = ON ! MORR[
! BIG MA*9E PASS$ 96ANO!R'S POSSES.N4 ,X
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BE5 ! BI7E/ ! PANIC _H PRECIPITAT$ 9
,CALI=NIA4 ,! PAP]S _H BE5 FILL$ ) X1 &A
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9T]E/S4 ,X 0 ^! FACTS1 -+ SL[LY 6LI<T1 T
GAVE RISE 6! WIDELY REP1T$ *>GE T
,"DLI<T _H G"O 9SANE4 ,X 0 ! UNANIM\S
3VIC;N AM;G BUSI;S M5 T NO SANE MAN CD
POSSIBLY 2HAVE 9 S* FA%ION4 ,ON ! O!R
H&1 NEI 8 PROL;G$ /1DY DR9K+ NOR 8 A6AIR
) ,DEDE 2CAME PUBLIC1 S ! ONLY 3CLU.N
ATTA9A# 0 T ! WILD F9ANCI] F ,ALASKA _H
G"O LUNATIC4 ,& ,"DLI<T _H GR9N$ &
3FIRM$ ! SUSPICION 0REFUS+ 6SEE !
REPORT]S4
  ,HE HALT$ ! AUTOMOBILE 2F ,DEDE'S
DOOR1 & MET H] ) 8 SAME RU%+ TACTICS1
5CLOS+ H] 9 8 >MS 2F A ^W CD 2 UTT]$4 ,N
UNTIL AFW1 :5 %E _H RECOV]$ H]F F HM &
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  8,I'VE D"O X10 HE ANN\NC$4 8,Y'VE SE5
! NEWSPAP]S1 ( C\RSE4 ,I'M PLUMB CL1N$
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SOON1 = X'S R1L EXP5SIVE LIV+ 9 ,OAKL&
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6! 5D (! WEEK1 & ,I C'T AF=D 6/AY AF T4
,& 2G9N+ ) TM ,I'VE GOT 6USE ! /REET
C>S1 & !Y SURE EAT UP ! NICKELS40
  ,HE PAUS$1 & WAIT$1 & LOOK$ AT H]4
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SMILE HE KNEW S WELL 2GAN 6GR[ ON H]
LIPS & 9 H] EYES1 UNTIL %E ?REW BACK H]
H1D & LAU<$ 9 ! OLD =?"R BOYI% WAY4
  8,:5 >E ^? M5 -+ 6PACK = ME80 %E ASK$4
  ,& AG %E LAU<$ & SIMULAT$ A VA9
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  8,DE> ,ELAM10 %E :ISP]$2 8DE> ,ELAM40
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  ,%E RAN H] H& C>ESS+LY "? 8 HAIR4
  8,YR EYES >E ALL GOLD "R N[10 HE SD4
8,I C LOOK 9 !M & TELL J H[ M* Y LOVE
ME40
  8,!Y H BE5 ALL GOLD = Y1 ,ELAM1 =A L;G
"T4 ,I ?9K1 ON \R LL RAN*1 !Y W ALW 2
ALL GOLD40
  8,YR HAIR HAS GOLD 9 X1 TOO1 A SORT (
FI]Y GOLD40 ,HE TURN$ H] FACE SU45LY &
HELD X 2T 8 H&S & LOOK$ L;G 96H] EYES4
8,& YR EYES 7 FULL ( GOLD ONLY ! O!R "D1
:5 Y SD Y WDN'T M>RY ME40
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?IRTY-MILLION TOY ) : Y _H GR[N TIR$ (
PLAY+4 ,& :5 ,I SD NO1 ,I KNEW ALL ! "T
X 0 YES4 ,& ,I AM SURE T MY EYES 7 GOLD5
ALL ! "T4 ,I _H ONLY "O FE>1 & T 0 T Y
WD FAIL 6LOSE "EY?+4 ,2C1 DE>1 ,I KNEW
,I %D M>RY Y ANYWAY1 & ,I DID S WANT J Y
&! RAN* & ,BOB & ,WOLF & ^? HORSE-HAIR
BRIDLES4 ,% ,I TELL Y A SECRET8 ,Z SOON
Z Y LEFT1 ,I TELEPHON$ ! MAN 6:OM ,I
SOLD ,MAB40
  ,%E HID H] FACE AG/ 8 BR1/ = AN 9/ANT1
& !N LOOK$ AT HM AG1 GLADLY RADIANT4
  8,Y SEE1 ,ELAM1 9 SPITE ( :AT MY LIPS
SD1 MY M9D 0 MADE UP !N4 ,I--,I SIMPLY
_H 6M>RY Y4 ,B ,I 0 PRAY+ Y WD SU3E$ 9
LOS+ "EY?+4 ,& S ,I TRI$ 6F9D :AT _H
2COME ( ,MAB4 ,B ! MAN _H SOLD H] & DID
N "K :AT _H 2COME ( H]4 ,Y SEE1 ,I WANT$
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! ,PI$MONT HILLS40
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Z ,MAB10 HE SD4
  ,B ,DEDE %OOK H] H1D1 & ON T "O PO9T
REFUS$ 6BE -=T$4
  8,N[1 ,I'VE GOT AN IDEA10 ,"DLI<T SD1
HA/5+ 6GET ! 3V]S,N ON LESS P]IL\S GR.D4
8,WE'RE RUNN+ AWAY F CITIES1 & Y H NO
KI? NOR K91 S X DON'T SEEM EXACTLY "R T
WE %D />T (F 0GETT+ M>RI$ 9 A C;Y4 ,S
"H'S ! IDEA3 ,I'LL RUN UP 6! RAN* & GET
?+S 9 %APE >.D ! H\SE & GIVE ! C>ETAK] 8
WALK+-PAP]S4 ,Y FOLL[ ME 9 A C\PLE (
"DS1 -+ ON ! MORN+ TRA94 ,I'LL
H ! PR1*] FIX$ & WAIT+4 ,& "H'S ANO!R
IDEA4 ,Y BR+ YR RID+ TOGS 9 A SUIT CASE4
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HOTEL & *ANGE4 ,!N \ Y -E1 & Y F9D ME
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OV] ! L&SCAPE S Z Y C SEE ! PRETTIE/ "PS
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RAN*4 ,& N[ T X'S SETTL$1 ,I'LL 2 WAIT+
= Y AT ! MORN+ TRA9 "D AF TM40
  ,DEDE BLU%$ Z %E SPOKE4
  8,Y >E S* A HURRICANE40
  8,WELL1 MA'AM10 HE DRAWL$1 8,I SURE
HATE 6BURN "DLI<T4 ,& Y & ,I H BURN$ A
H1P ( "DLI<T4 ,WE'VE BE5 SC&AL\SLY
EXTRAVAGANT4 ,WE MI<T H BE5 M>RI$ YE>S
AGO40
  ,TWO "DS LAT]1 ,"DLI<T /OOD WAIT+
\TSIDE ! LL ,GL5 ,ELL5 HOTEL4 ,! C]EMONY
0 OV]1 & HE _H LEFT ,DEDE 6G 9SIDE &
*ANGE 96H] RID+-HABIT :ILE HE BR"\ !
HORSES4 ,HE HELD !M N[1 ,BOB & ,MAB1 & 9
! %AD[ (! WAT]+-TR\< ,WOLF LAY & LOOK$
ON4 ,ALR TWO "DS ( >D5T ,CALI=NIA SUN _H
T\*$ ) NEW FIRES ! ANCI5T BRONZE 9
,"DLI<T'S FACE4 ,B W>M] / 0 ! GL[ T CAME
96HIS *EEKS & BURN$ 9 8 EYES Z HE SAW
,DEDE -+ \ ! DOOR1 RID+-:IP 9 H&1 CLAD 9
! FAMILI> CORDUROY SKIRT & LE7+S (! OLD
,PI$MONT "DS4 ,"! 0 W>M? & GL[ 9 H] [N
FACE Z %E ANSW]$ 8 GAZE & GL.ED ON PA/
HM 6! HORSES4 ,!N %E SAW ,MAB4 ,B H]
GAZE L1P$ BACK 6! MAN4
  8,OH1 ,ELAM60 %E BR1!D4
  ,X 0 ALM A PRAY]1 B A PRAY] T 9CLUD$ A
?\S& M1N+S ,"DLI<T /ROVE 6FEIGN
%EEPI%;S1 B 8 HE>T 0 S++ TOO WILD A S;G
= M]E PLAY;L;S4 ,ALL ?+S _H BE5 9 ! NAM+
( 8 "N--REPROA*1 REF9$ AWAY 0GRATITUDE1
& ALL -P.D$ ( JOY & LOVE4
  ,%E /EPP$ =W>D & C>ESS$ ! M>E1 & AG
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  8,OH1 ,ELAM6 0
  ,& ALL T 0 9 H] VOICE 0 9 H] EYES1 & 9
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WID] ?AN ANY SPEE* OR ?"\--! :OLE VA/
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  ,AG HE /ROVE = PLAY;L;S ( SPEE*1 B X 0
TOO GRT A MO;T = EV5 LOVE FRACTI\S;S
65T] IN4 ,NEI SPOKE4 ,%E GA!R$ ! RE9S1
&1 B5D+1 ,"DLI<T RCVD H] FOOT 9 8 H&4
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TROT1 !Y W5T UP ! HILL T L$ \ ( T[N--TWO
LOV]S ON TWO *E/NUT SORREL /E$S1 RID+ \
& AWAY 6H"OYMOON "? ! W>M SUMM] "D4
,"DLI<T FELT HMF DRUNK5 Z ) W9E4 ,HE 0
AT ! TOPMO/ P9NACLE ( LIFE4 ,HI<] ?AN ?
NO MAN CD CLIMB NOR _H "E CLIMB$4 ,X 0 8
"D ( "DS1 8 LOVE-"T & 8 MAT+-"T1 & ALL
CR[N$ 0? VIRG9AL POSSES.N (A MATE :O _H
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AT HM \ ( H] S\L Z %E _H LOOK$4
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WOOD$ KNOLLS ACR ! ROLL+ /RET*ES ( RIPE
GRA94
  8,!Y'RE \RS10 HE SD4 8,& !Y'RE ONLY A
SAMPLE (! RAN*4 ,WAIT TILL Y SEE ! BIG
CANON4 ,"! >E 'COONS D[N "!1 & BACK "H
ON ! ,SONOMA "! >E M9K4 ,& DE]6--:Y1 T
M.TA9'S SURE ?ICK ) !M1 & ,I RECKON WE C
SC>E UP A M.TA9-LION IF WE WANT 6R1L
H>D4 ,&1 SAY1 "!'S A LL M1D[ EQUALS
-WELL1 ,I A9'T GO+ 6TELL Y ANO!R ^W4 ,Y
WAIT & SEE = YRF40
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DELI<T Z ! W>M >OMA (! RIPE HAY ROSE 9
_! NO/RILS4 ,Z ON 8 F/ VISIT1 ! L>KS 7
UTT]+ _! RI* NOTES & FLUTT]+ UP 2F !
HORSES UNTIL ! WOODS &! FL[]-SCATT]$
GLADES 7 R1*$1 :5 ! L>KS GAVE WAY 6BLUE
JAYS & WOODPECK]S4
  8,WE'RE ON \R L& N[10 HE SD1 Z !Y LEFT
! HAYFIELD 2H4 8,X RUNS "R ACR C.TRY OV]
! R\<E/ "PS4 ,J Y WAIT & SEE40
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PRODIGI\S \TBUR/ ( :ITE WAX5 BELLS4 ,?
"T HE DID N 4M.T1 B L$ ! WAY 6! DEEP
CANON ": ! /R1M _H
CUT A PASSAGE AM;G ! KNOLLS4 ,HE _H BE5
AT "W "H1 &A /EEP & SLIPP]Y HORSE TRAIL
N[ CROSS$ ! CREEK1 S !Y RODE UP 2Y1 "? !
SOMB] R$WOOD TWILI<T1 &1 F>!R ON1 "? A
TANGL$ WOOD ( OAK & MADRONO4 ,!Y CAME 6A
SMALL CLE>+ ( S"EAL ACRES1 ": ! GRA9
/OOD WAI/ HI<4
  8,\RS10 ,"DLI<T SD4
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RIPE GRA91 & NIB#D X 2T H] TEE?4
  8,SWEET M.TA9 HAY10 %E CRI$4 8,! K9D
,MAB LIKES40
  ,& "?\T ! RIDE %E 3T9U$ 6UTT] CRIES &
EJACUL,NS ( SURPRISE & DELI<T4
  8,& Y N"E TOLD ME ALL ?60 %E REPROA*$
HM1 Z !Y LOOK$ ACR ! LL CLE>+ & OV] !
DESC5D+ SLOPES ( WOODS 6! GRT CURV+
SWEEP ( ,SONOMA ,VALLEY4
  8,-E10 HE SD2 & !Y TURN$ & W5T BACK "?
! =E/ %ADE1 CROSS$ ! /R1M & CAME 6! LILY
0! SPR+4
  ,"H1 AL1 ": ! WAY L$ UP ! TANGLE (!
/EEP HILL1 HE _H CUT A R\< HORSE TRAIL4
,Z !Y =C$ _! WAY UP ! ZIGZAGS1 !Y CAU<T
GLIMPSES \ & D[N "? ! SEA ( FOLIAGE4
,YET ALW 7 _! F>!/ GLIMPSES /OPP$ 0!
CLOS+ VI/AS ( GRE51 &1 YET ALW1 Z !Y
CLIMB$1 DID ! =E/ RO( >* OV]H1D1 ) ONLY
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SUNLI<T 6P5ETRATE4 ,& ALL AB !M 7 F]NS1
A SCORE ( V>IETIES1 F ! T9Y GOLD-BACKS &
MAID5HAIR 6HUGE BRAKES SIX & EI<T FEET
TALL4
  ,2L !M1 Z !Y M.T$1 !Y GLIMPS$ GRT
GN>L$ TRUNKS & BRAN*ES ( ANCI5T TREES1 &
ABV !M 7 SIMIL> GRT GN>L$ BRAN*ES4
  ,DEDE /OPP$ H] HORSE & SI<$ )! B1UTY (
X ALL4
  8,X IS Z IF WE >E SWIMM]S10 %E SD1
8RIS+ \ (A DEEP POOL ( GRE5 TRANQUILL;Y4
,UP ABV IS ! SKY &! SUN1 B ? IS A POOL1
& WE >E FA?OMS DEEP40
  ,!Y />T$ _! HORSES1 B A DOG-TOO?
VIOLET1 %\LD]+ AM;G/ ! MAID5HAIR1 CAU<T
H] EYE & MADE H] RE9 9 AG4
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96ANO!R _W1 = N[ !Y 7 9 ! ?ICKET (
VELVET-TRUNK$ "Y MADRONOS & LOOK+ D[N !
OP51 SUN-WA%$ HILLSIDE1 ACR ! NO4+
GRASSES1 6! DRIFTS ( BLUE & :ITE
NEMOPHILAE T C>PET$ ! T9Y M1D[ ON EI
SIDE ! T9Y /R1M4 ,DEDE CLAPP$ H] H&S4
  8,X'S SURE PRETTI] ?AN (FICE
FURNITURE10 ,"DLI<T REM>K$4
  8,X SURE IS10 %E ANSW]$4
  ,& ,"DLI<T1 :O KNEW 8 W1K;S 9 ! USE (!
"PICUL> ^W SURE1 KNEW T %E _H REP1T$ X
DELIB]ATELY &) LOVE4
  ,!Y CROSS$ ! /R1M & TOOK ! CATTLE
TRACK OV] ! L[ ROCKY HILL & "? ! SCRUB
=E/ ( MANZANITA1 TILL !Y EM]G$ ON ! NEXT
T9Y VALLEY ) XS M1D[-BORD]$ /R1MLET4
  8,IF WE DON'T RUN 96"S QUAIL PRETTY
SOON1 ,I'LL 2 SURPRIS$ "S10 ,"DLI<T SD4
  ,& Z ! ^WS LEFT 8 LIPS "! 0 A WILD
S]IES ( EXPLOSIVE ?RUMM+ Z ! OLD QUAIL
>OSE F ALL AB ,WOLF1 :ILE ! "Y "OS
SCUTTL$ = SAFETY & 4APPE>$ MIRACUL\SLY
2F ! SPECTATORS' V EYES4
  ,HE %[$ H] ! HAWK'S NE/ HE _H F.D 9 !
LI<TN+-%ATT]$ TOP (! R$WOOD1 & %E 4COV]$
A WOOD-RAT'S NE/ : HE _H N SE5 2F4 ,NEXT
!Y TOOK ! OLD WOOD-ROAD & CAME \ ON !
DOZ5 ACRES ( CLE>+ ": ! W9E GRAPES GREW
9 ! W9E-COLOR$ VOLCANIC SOIL4 ,!N !Y
FOLL[$ ! C[-PA? "? M WOODS & ?ICKETS &
SCATT]$ GLADES1 & DROPP$ D[N ! HILLSIDE
6": ! F>M-H\SE1 POIS$ ON ! LIP (! BIG
CANON1 CAME 96VIEW ONLY :5 !Y 7 "R ^U X4
  ,DEDE /OOD ON ! WIDE POR* T RAN ! L5G?
(! H\SE :ILE ,"DLI<T TI$ ! HORSES4
,6,DEDE X 0 V QUIET4 ,X 0 ! DRY1 W>M1
BR1?.S CALM ( ,CALI=NIA MID"D4 ,ALL ! _W
SEEM$ DOZ+4 ,F "S": PIGEONS 7 COO+
LAZILY4 ,)A DEEP SI< ( SATISFAC;N1
,WOLF1 :O _H DRUNK 8 FILL AT ALL ! /R1MS
AL;G ! WAY1 DROPP$ D[N 9 ! COOL %AD[ (!
POR*4 ,%E HE>D ! FOOT/EPS ( ,"DLI<T
RETURN+1 & CAU<T H] BR1? )A QK 9TAKE4
,HE TOOK H] H& 9 HIS1 &1 Z HE TURN$ !
DOOR-KNOB1 FELT H] HESITATE4 ,!N HE PUT
8 >M >.D H]2 ! DOOR SWUNG OP51 & TGR !Y
PASS$ IN4











