,*APT] ,,XII

,BRIDG+ A ,GAP

  ,S* SURPRISE %[$ BO? ON ! FACE ( ,N$
,NEWTON & T (! MAN :O CALL$ HMF ,WALT]
,SIMPSON T X WD 2 H>D 6SAY : 0 9 ! GRT]
DEGREE4 ,=A MO;T ! NEWCOM] /OOD Z IF HE
_H RCVD ALL ELECTRIC %OCK1 & 0 9CAPA# (
MO;N4 ,!N1 Z ! E*OES ( ,N$'S VOICE DI$
AWAY &! "Y BANK CL]K1 2+ ! F/ 6RECOV] F
! %OCK1 MADE A MO;N T[>D ! UNWELCOME &
UN9VIT$ 9TRUD]1 ,SIMPSON EXCLAIM$4
  8,I W N BO!R N[4 ,"S O!R "T W D Z
WELL40
  ,!N1 )A HA/E T CD 2 CALL$ NO?+ LESS
?AN PRECIPITATE1 HE MADE A TURN & FAIRLY
%OT \ (! DOOR 0: HE _H 5T]$ ! TANK4
  8,"! HE GOES60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,B.S
MY SPE$OMET]1 B "! HE GOES60

8,I'LL /OP HM60 CRI$ ,N$4 8,WE'VE GOT
  6F9D \ M
AB HM6 ,I'LL GET HM1 ,TOM60

  ,TOM ,SWIFT 0 N "O 6LET A FR RU% AL"O
96:AT MI<T 2 DANG]4 ,HE R1LIZ$ IMMLY :AT
8 *UM M1NT :5 HE CALL$ \ ! ID5T;Y (!
9TRUD]1 &1 WI%+ 6CLE> UP "S (! MY/]Y ( :
HE 2CAME AW>E :5 ,S*W5 0 >RE/$ &! PAP]
%[+ A CORRESPOND;E ) ? ,SIMPSON 7 F.D1
,TOM D>T$ \ 6TRY 6ASSI/ 9 ! CAPTURE4

8,HE W5T ? WAY60 CRI$ ,N$1 :O 0 VISI# 9
  !
GL>E (! SE>*LI<T T / PLAY$ XS P[];L
B1MS OV] ! /]N (! TANK1 IF S* AN UNGA9LY
MA*9E C 2 SD 6H A B[ & /]N4 8,OV] ?
WAY60

  8,I'M ) Y60 CRI$ ,TOM4 8,SEE IF Y C
PICK UP T MAN :O J RAN \ ( "H60 HE CRI$
6! OP]ATOR (! SE>*LI<T 9 ! ELEVAT$
OBS]V,N SEC;N ( :AT CORRESPOND$ 6! CONN+
T[] (A SUBM>9E4 ,? 0 A SORT ( LOOK\T BOX
ON TOP (! TANK1 3TA9+1 AM;G O!R MA*9ES1
! SE>*LI<T4 8,PICK HM UP60 CRI$ ,TOM4
  ,! OP]ATOR FLA%$ ! 9T5SE :ITE B1M1 L A
F+] ( LI<T1 >.D 9 E35TRIC CIRCLES4 B ?\<
? BR"\ 96VIVID RELIEF ! 3FIGUR,N (!
FIELD & ROAD NE> : ! TANK 0 /ALL$1 X %[$
NO RUNN+ FUGITIVE4 ,TOM & ,N$ 7 OBS]V$--
%AD[S ( BLACK 9 ! GL>E--0,M>Y & H] FRS 9
! TANK1 B "! 0 NO "O ELSE4
  8,-E ON60 CRI$ ,N$4 8,WE C F9D HM1
,TOM60
  ,B ? 0 EASI] SD ?AN D"O4 ,EV5 ?\< !Y 7
AID$ 0! B"R LI<T1 !Y CAU<T NO GLIMPSE (!
MAN :O CALL$ HMF ,SIMPSON4
  8,GUESS HE GOT AWAY10 SD ,TOM1 :5 HE &
,N$ _H CIRCL$ AB & 9VE/IGAT$ _M CLUMPS (
BU%ES1 TREES1 /UMPS & O!R B>RI]S T MI<T
3C1L ! FUGITIVE4
  8,I GUESS S10 AGRE$ ,N$4 8,UN.S HE'S
HID+ 9 :AT WE MI<T CALL A %ELL CRAT]40
  8,H>DLY T10 & ,TOM SMIL$4 8,?\< IF ALL
GOES WELL ! M5 :O OP]ATE ? TANK LAT] MAY
2 SE>*+ = M5 9 R1L %ELL HOLES40
  8,IS ? "O GO+ 6! O!R SIDE80 ASK$ ,N$1
Z ! TWO WALK$ BACK T[>D ! TANK4
  8,I HOPE X W 2 ! F/ ( MY NEW MA*9ES ON
! ,WE/]N FRONT10 ,TOM ANSW]$4 8,B ,I'VE
/ GOT 6P]FECT X 9 "S DETAILS & !N TAKE X
A"P4 ,AF T1 IF X -ES UP 6EXPECT,NS1
WE'LL 2G9 MAK+ !M 9 QUANTITIES40
8,DID Y GET HM80 ASK$ ,MR4 ,DAMON
  EAG]LY1 Z ! TWO
"Y M5 CAME BACK 6JO9 ,M>Y & H] FRS4

  8,NO1 HE GOT AWAY10 ,TOM ANSW]$4
  8,DID HE TRY 6BL[ UP ! TANK80 ASK$
,MR4 ,NE/OR1 :O _H AN ABNORMAL FE> (
EXPLOSIVES4 8,WAS HE A ,G]MAN SPY80
  8,I ?9K HE'S T1 ALL "R10 SD ,N$
GRIMLY4 8,Z 6HIS 5D1VOR+ 6BL[ UP ,TOM'S
TANK1 ,I HELIEVE HM CAPA# ( X1 ?\< HE
DIDN'T TRY X TN--UN.S HE'S PLANT$ A "T
BOMB "S": AB1 ,TOM40
  8,H>DLY1 ,I GUESS10 ANSW]$ ! "Y
9V5TOR4 8,HE DIDN'T H A *.E 6D T4 ,ANYH[
WE WON'T REMA9 "H L;G4 ,N[1 ,N$1 :AT AB
? *AP8 ,IS HE RE,Y ! "O Y SAW UP 9 !
TREE80
  8,I N ONLY SAW HM B ,I FELT HM10
ANSW]$ ,N$1 )A
RUE;L LOOK AT 8 F+]S4 8,HE /EPP$ "R ON
ME4 ,& :5 HE CAME 9SIDE ! TANK TN ,I
KNEW HM AT ONCE4 ,I GUESS HE 0 Z
SURPRIS$ 6SEE ME Z ,I 0 6SEE HM40
  8,B :AT 0 8 OBJECT80 ASK$ ,MR4 ,NE/OR4
  8,HE M/ H "S 3NEC;N ) MY OLD 5EMY1
,BLAKESON10 ANSW]$ ,TOM1 8& WE "K HE'S
MIX$ UP ) ,S*W54 ,F ! LOOKS ( HM ,I %D
SAY T ? ,SIMPSON1 Z HE CALLS HMF1 IS !
DIRECT+ H1D (! :OLE BUSI;S4 ,HE LOOKS
6BE ! M"OY$ MAN1 &! BRA9S (! PLOTT]S4
,BLAKESON IS SM>T1 9 A ME*ANICAL WAY1 &
,S*W5 IS "O (! BE/ MA*9I/S ,I'VE "E
EMPLOY$4 ,B ? ,SIMPSON /RIKES ME Z 2+ !
SLICK "O (! TRIO40
  8,B :AT MADE HM -E "H1 & :AT DID HE
WANT80 ASK$ ,M>Y4 8,DE> ME6 X'S L "O (
^? MOV+ PICTURE PLOTS1 ONLY ,I N"E SAW
"O )A TANK 9 X 2F--,I M1N A TANK L YRS1
,TOM40
  8,YES1 X IS A BIT L MOV+ PICTURE--
ESPECI,Y *AS+ ,SIMPSON 0SE>*LI<T10 AGRE$
! "Y 9V5TOR4 8,Z 6:AT HE WANT$1 ,I
SUPPOSE HE CAME 6SPY \ "S ( MY SECRET
9V5;NS--DAD'S & M9E4 ,HE'S PROBABLY BE5
HID+ & SN1K+ >.D ! "WS "E S9CE WE >RE/$
,S*W54 ,"S ( MY M5 H REPORT$ SEE+
/RANG]S AB1 B ,I H KEPT ,%OP ,?IRTE5
WELL GU>D$4
  8,H["E1 ? FELL[ MAY H BE5 WAIT+
\TSIDE1 & HE MAY H FOLL[$ ! TANK :5 WE
/>T$ (F A LL :ILE AGO =! NI<T TE/4 ,!N1
:5 HE SAW \R MISHAP & NOTIC$ T WE 7
/ALL$1 HE CAME IN1 BOLDLY 5\<1 ?9K+1 ,I
SUPPOSE1 T1 Z ,I _H N"E SE5 HM1 HE WD
TAKE A *.E ON GETT+ Z M* 9=M,N Z HE CD 9
A HURRY40

8,B HE DIDN'T C.T ON ,N$'S 2+ "H60
  *UCKL$ ,MR4
,DAMON4

  8,NO2 T'S ": HE SLIPP$ A COG10 REM>K$
,MR4 ,NE/OR4 8,WELL1 ,TOM1 ,I L YR TANK1
:AT ,I'VE SE5 ( H]1 B X'S GETT+ LATE &
,I ?9K ,M>Y & ,I _H BETT] 2 GETT+ BACK
HOME40
  8,WE'LL 2 R1DY 6/>T 9 A LL :ILE10 ,TOM
SD1 AF A BRIEF 3SULT,N ) "O ( 8 M54 8,/1
P]H X WD 2 J Z WELL IF Y DIDN'T RIDE
BACK ) ME4 ,%E MAY G ALL "R1 & !N1 AG1
%E MAY N4 ,& Z X'S D>K1 & WE'RE 9 A R\<
"P (! FIELD1 Y MI<T 2 A BIT %AK5 UP4 ,N
T ! TANK M9DS X60 ! "Y 9V5TOR HA/5$ 6ADD
8,%E'S GOT 6D H] BIT OV] WORSE PLACES
?AN ?--M* WORSE--B ,I WANT 6GET H] 9 A
LL BETT] "W+ %APE F/4 ,S IF Y DON'T M9D1
,M>Y1 ,I'LL PO/P"O YR 9ITIAL TRIP40
  8,OH1 ,I DON'T M9D1 ,TOM6 ,I'M S GLAD
Y'VE MADE ?6 ,I WANT 6SEE ! W> 5D$1 & ,I
?9K MA*9ES L ? W HELP40
  8,I'LL RIDE BACK ) Y1 ,TOM1 IF Y DON'T
M9D10 PUT 9 ,N$4 8,I GUESS A LL %AK+ UP
WON'T HURT ME40
  8,ALL "R--/ICK4 ,WE'RE GO+ 6/>T V
SOON40
  8,WELL1 ,I'M -+ OV] TM 6H A LOOK AT X
0"DLI<T10 SD ,MR4 ,DAMON1 Z HE />T$ T[>D
8 C>4
  8,S AM ,I10 A4$ ,M>Y4 8,PL1SE CALL =
ME1 ,MR4 ,DAMON40
  8,I W10 HE PROMIS$40
  ,MR4 ,NE/OR1 8 DAU<T]1 & ,MR4 ,DAMON
W5T BACK 6! AUTOMOBILE1 :ILE ,N$ REMA9$
) ,TOM4 ,9 A LL :ILE ^? 9 ! C> HE>D ONCE
M ! RUMBL+ & RO>+ S.D & FELT ! E>?
TREM#4 ,!N1 )A FLA%+ ( LI<TS1 ! BIG1
UNGA9LY %APE (! TANK LIFT$ H]F \ (! LL
DIT* 9 : %E _H -E 6A HALT1 & 2GAN 6CLIMB
BACK 6! ROAD4
,N$ ,NEWTON /OOD 2S ,TOM 9 ! 3TROL T[]
  (!
GRT TANK Z %E />T$ ON H] HOMEW>D WAY4

  8,ISN'T X WOND];L60 MURMUR$ ,M>Y1 Z %E
SAW ,TANK ,A LUMB]+ AL;G T[>D ! ROAD4
8,OH1 & 6?9K T HUMAN 2+S MADE T ,6?9K T
,TOM %D "K H[ 6BUILD S* A WOND];L
MA*9E60
  8,& RUN X1 TOO1 ,M>Y6 ,T'S ! PO9T6
,MAKE X RUN60 CRI$ H] "F4 8,I TELL Y1 T
,TOM ,SWIFT IS A WOND]60
  8,B.S MY DIC;N>Y1 HE SURE IS60 AGRE$
,MR4 ,DAMON4
  ,AL;G ! ROAD1 BACK T[>D ! %OP :;E X _H
EM]G$1 RUM#D ! TANK4 ,! NOISE BR"\ 6_!
DOORS 9HABITANTS AL;G ! C.TRY ?OR\<F>E1
& "S ( !M 7 F"R5$ :5 !Y SAW ,TOM
,SWIFT'S LATE/ W> MA*9E1 ! DETAILS ( :
!Y CD ONLY GUESS AT 9 ! D>K;S4
  8,%E'LL BUTT OV] A H\SE IF X GETS 9 H]
PA?1 KNOCK D[N TREES1 *EW UP B>B$-WIRE1
& CLIMB D[N 96RAV9ES & \ AG1 & G OV] A
GD-SIZ$ /R1M )\T A :IMP]10 SD ,TOM1 Z HE
/E]$ ! GRT MA*9E4
  ,"! 0 LL *.E !N = ,N$ 6SEE M* (! 9SIDE
ME*ANISM (! TANK4 ,HE OBS]V$ T ,TOM1 /&+
9 ! =W>D T[]1 /E]$ X V EASILY 0A SMALL
:EEL OR 0A L"E1 ALT]NATELY1 & T HE
-MUNICAT$ )! 5G9E ROOM 0M1NS ( ELECTRIC
SIGNALS4
  8,& %E /E]S 0ELECTRIC;Y1 TOO10 ,TOM
TOLD 8 FR4 8,T 0 "O DI6ICULTY )! F/
TANKS4 ,!Y _H 6BE /E]$ 0BRUTE =CE1 S
6SP1K1 & X 0 A T]RIFIC /RA9 ON ! MAN 9 !
T[]4 ,N[ ,I C GUIDE ? 9 TWO WAYS3 0!
ELECTRIC ME*ANISM : SW+S ! TRAIL] :EELS
6EI SIDE1 OR 0V>Y+ ! SPE$ (! TWO MOTORS
T "W ! CAT]PILL> BELTS4 ,S IF "O BR1KS
D[N1 ,I H ! O!R40
  8,GOT ANY GUNS ABO>D H]--,I M1N MA*9E
GUNS80 ASK$ ,N$4
  8,N YET4 ,B ,I'M GO+ 69/ALL "S4 ,I
WANT$ 6GET ! TANK 9 PROP] "W+ ORD] F/4
,! GUNS >E ONLY 9CID5TAL1 ?\< ( C\RSE
!Y'RE VIT,Y NEC :5 %E GOES 96AC;N4 ,I'VE
GOT 'EM ALL R1DY 6PUT IN4 ,B F/ ,I'M GO+
6TRY ! GRIPP]S40
  8,OH1 Y M1N ! GAP-BRIDG]S80 ASK$ ,N$4
  8,T'S X10 ANSW]$ ,TOM4 8,LOOK \1 WE'RE
GO+ OV] A R\< SPOT N[40
  ,& !Y DID4 ,N$ 0 GRTLY %AK5 UP1 &
FAIRLY TOSS$ F SIDE 6SIDE (! /E]+ T[]4
,=! TANK 3TA9$ NO SPR+S1 EXCEPT S* Z 7
9/ALL$ >.D ! MO/ DELICATE MA*9]Y1 & X 0
L RID+ 9 A DUMP C>T OV] A V R\< ROAD4
  8,H["E1 T'S "P (! GAME10 ,TOM OBS]V$4
  ,TANK ,A R1*$ H] 8H>BOR0 SAFELY--IN
O!R ^WS1 ! MA*9E %OP 5CLOS$ 0! HI< F;E1
9SIDE ( : %E _H BE5 BUILT4
  ,TOM & ,N$ MADE "S 9QUIRIES ( ,KOKU &
,ERADICATE Z 6:E!R OR N "! _H BE5 ANY
UNUSUAL SI<TS OR S.DS AB ! PLACE4 ,!Y
FE>$ ,SIMPSON MI<T H -E 6! %OP 6TRY 6GET
POSSES.N ( IMPORTANT DRAW+S OR DATA4
  ,B ALL _H BE5 QUIET1 ,KOKU REPORT$
,NOR _H ,ERADICATE SE5 OR HE>D ANY?+ \
(! ORD9>Y4

8,!N ,I GUESS WE'LL LOCK UP & TURN IN10
  DECID$ ,TOM4
8,-E OV] TM1 ,N$40

  8,I W10 PROMIS$ ! "Y BANK CL]K4 8,I
WANT 6SEE M ( :AT MAKES ! :EELS G R.D40
,& HE LAU<$ AT 8 [N 9G5U\S;S4
  ,! NEXT "D ,TOM %[$ 8 FRS Z M* Z !Y
C>$ 6SEE AB ! "W+S (! TANK4 ,!Y 9SPECT$
! P[];L GASOL5E 5G9ES1 SAW H[ !Y "W$ !
5D.S BELTS MADE ( PLATES ( JO9T$ /EEL1
:1 RUNN+ OV] SPROCKET :EELS1 RE,Y GAVE !
TANK XS P[] 0PROVID+ GRT TRACTIVE =CE4
  ,ANY SELF-PROPELL$ VEHICLE DEP5DS = XS
P[]1 EI 6MOVE XF OR 6PU% OR 6PULL1 ON XS
TRACTIVE =CE--T IS1 ! GRIP X C GET ON !
GR.D4
  ,9 ! CASE (A BICYCLE LL TRACTIVE P[]
IS NE$$1 & ? IS PROVID$ 0! RU2] TIRES1 :
GRIP ! GR.D4 ,A LOCOMOTIVE DEP5DS = XS
TRACTIVE P[] ON XS WEI<T PRESS+ ON XS
DRIV+ :EELS1 &! M DRIV+ :EELS "! >E &!
H1VI] ! LOCOMOTIVE1 ! M X C PULL1 ?\< 9
T CASE SPE$ IS LO/4 ,? IS :Y FREI<T
LOCOMOTIVES >E S H1VY & H S _M L>GE
DRIV+ :EELS4 ,!Y PULL ! 5G9E AL;G1 &!
C>S AL1 0_! WEI<T PRESS+ ON ! RAILS4
  ,! 5D.S /EEL BELTS (A TANK >E1 ! SAME
Z ! :EELS (A LOCOMOTIVE4 ,&! BELTS1 2+ V
BROAD1 : GIVES !M A L>GE SURFACE ) :
6PRESS ON ! GR.D1 &! TANK 2+ V H1VY1 GRT
P[] 6ADV.E IS ?US OBTA9$1 ?\< AT !
SACRIFICE ( SPE$4 ,H["E1 ,TOM ,SWIFT _H
MADE 8 TANK S T X WD D AB T5 MILES & M
AN H\R1 NE>LY D\# ! PROGRESS OBTA9$ UP
6T "T 0! ,BRITI% MA*9ES4
  ,8 VISITORS SAW ! GRT MOTORS1 !Y
9SPECT$ ! -PACT B N V ATTRACTIVE LIV+
QU>T]S (! CREW1 = PROVI.N _H 6BE MADE =!
M5 6/AY 9 ! TANK IF1 P]*.E1 X 2CAME
/ALL$ 9 ,NO ,MAN'S ,L&1 SURR.D$ 0! 5EMY4
  ,! TANK 0 P[];LLY >MOR$ & WD 2 >M$4
,"! 7 A NUMB] ( MA*9E GUNS 6BE 9/ALL$1
QK-FIR]S ( V>I\S TYPES1 & 9 A4I;N ! TANK
CD C>RY A
NUMB] ( RIFLEM54
  ,X 0 ^U ! CRU%+ P[] (! TANK1 ?\<1 T
MO/ RELI.E 0 PLAC$4 ,?US X CD L1D ! WAY
= AN 9FANTRY ADV.E "? ! 5EMY'S L9ES1
MAK+ NO?+ ( B>B$ WIRE T WD TAKE AN
>TILL]Y FIRE ( S"EAL "DS 6CUT 6PIECES4





8,& N[1 ,N$10 SD ,TOM1 AB A WEEK AF !
  NI<T
TE/ (! TANK1 8,I'M GO+ 6TRY :AT %E'LL D
  9
BRIDG+ A GAP40

  8,H Y GOT H] 9 %APE AG80
  8,YES1 "EY?+ IS ALL "R4 ,I'VE TAK5 \ !
W1K "P 9 ! /E]+ GE> T NE>LY CAUS$ U 6RUN
Y D[N1 & WE'RE SAFE 9 T RESPECT N[4 ,&
,I'VE GOT ! GRIPP]S MADE4 ,X ONLY REMA9S
6SEE :E!R !Y'RE /R;G 5 6BE> ! WEI<T ( MY
LL BABY10 & ,TOM A6EC;NATELY PATT$ !
/EEL SIDES ( ,TANK ,A4
  ,:ILE 8 M5 7 GETT+ ! MA*9E R1DY =A TE/
\ ON ! ROAD1 &=A J\RNEY ACR A SMALL /R1M
N F> AWAY1 ,TORN TOLD 8 *UM AB 3CVG !
IDEA =! TANK & C>RY+ X \ SECRETLY )! AID
( 8 "F & C]TA9 "WM54
  8,T'S ! R1SON ! GOV]N;T EXEMPT$ ME F
5LI/+10 ,TOM SD4 8,!Y WANT$ ME 6F9I% ?
TANK4 ,I DIDN'T EXACTLY WANT TO1 B ,I
3SID]$ X MY ,8BIT40' ,AF ? ,I'M GO+ 96!
>MY1 ,N$40
  8,GLAD 6HE> X1 OLD MAN4 ,MAYBE 0T "T
,I'LL H ? ,LIB]TY ,BOND "W F9I%$1 &
,I'LL G ) Y4 ,WE'LL H GRT "TS TGR6 ,H Y
HE>D ANY?+ M ( ,SIMPSON1 ,BLAKESON &
,SC.DRELS80 ,& ,N$ LAU<$ Z HE "ND ?
8FIRM40

8,NO10 ANSW]$ ,TOM4 8,I GUESS WE SC>$ (F
  T SLICK
,G]MAN SPY40

  ,ONCE M ! TANK LUMB]$ \ AL;G ! ROAD4
,X 0 A MI<TY 5G9E ( W>1 & 9SIDE H] RODE
,TOM & ,N$4 ,M>Y & H] "F _H BE5 9VIT$1 B
! GIRL CD N Q GET H] C\RAGE 6! PO9T (
A3EPT+1 NOR DID ,MR4 ,NE/OR C>E 6G4 ,MR4
,DAMON1 H["E1 Z MI<T 2 GUESS$1 0 "!4
  8,B.S MY MONKEY WR5*1 ,TOM60 CRI$ !
E35TRIC MAN1 Z HE NOT$ _! ADV.E OV] "S
R\< GR.D1 8>E Y RE,Y GO+ 6MAKE ? MA*9E
CROSS ,T9KLE ,CREEK ON A BRIDGE ( /EEL Y
C>RY ) Y80
  8,I'M GO+ 6TRY1 ,MR4 ,DAMON40
  ,A LL LAT]1 AF A SU3ESS;L TE/ UP & D[N
A SMALL GULLY1 ,TANK ,A >RIV$ AT ! $GE (
,T9KLE ,CREEK1 A SMALL /R1M AB TW5TY
FEET WIDE1 N F> F ,TOM'S HOME4 ,AT !
PO9T SELECT$ =! TE/ ! BANKS 7 HI< &
/EEP4

8,IF %E BRIDGES T GAP %E'LL D ANY?+10
  MURMUR$
,N$1 Z ! TANK CAME 6A /OP ON ! $GE4


















