,*APT] ,,IX

  ,": 0 ,KOKU8
  ,TOM R1*$ UP SWIFTLY & PU%$ OV] ! L"E
T LOCK$ ! TWO W9D[ SA%ES4 ,9 DO+ ? HE
SET 8 [N PAT5T BURGL> AL>M4 ,IF T L"E 0
TURN$ BACK AG1 OR BROK51 ! BUZZ]S WD 2
SET R++ ALL OV] ! H\SE1 & 9 ,KOKU'S ROOM
OV] ! G>AGE4
  ,HE DID N 2LIEVE T ! M>AUD] ON ! RO(
(! POR* CD H SE5 ! FLA% ( 8 %IRT-SLEEV$
>M4 ,B HE TOOK NO *.E ( 2+ OBS]V$ F
\TSIDE 0RIS+ 6HIS FEET4
  ,ON 8 H&S & KNEES HE CREPT AWAY F !
W9D[1 & \ (! BA?ROOM4 ,ONCE "!1 HE /OOD
UP1 GRA2$ ! PORTFOLIO1 & )\T COAT OR VE/
& Z HE WAS1 DA%$ \ (! B$ROOM4 ,HE _H BE5
POSITIVE T NOBODY B HMF 0 A/IR 9 ! BIG
H\SE1 & HE 0 "R4
  ,HE DID N PUN* ! LI<T BUTTON :5 HE
5T]$ ! LIBR>Y4 ,HE KNEW ": 6PUT 8 H& ^U
AN ELECTRIC TOR* 9 ! TA# DRAW]1 & HE
GA9$ POSSES.N ( ?4
  ,!N HE W5T 6! SAFE & TWIRL$ ! KNOB &
WAT*$ ! 9DICATOR F9D ! F\R NUMB]S : 7 !
8OP5 SESAME0 6! BURGL> & FIRE-PRO( DOOR4
  ,HE FLUNG ! PORTFOLIO 96! 9N] -"P;T1
CLOS$ BO? DOORS1 & TWIRL$ ! -B9,N-KNOB4
,!N ,TOM TIPTO$ 6! FOOT (! FRONT /AIRS
6LI/54 ,HE CD HE> NO S.D F ABV4
  ,HE DID N WANT 8 "F 6BE />TL$1 IF !
5EMY DID BR1K IN2 & HE KNEW T OLD ,RAD1
AWAK5$ \ (A S.D SLEEP1 WD 2 WORSE ?AN
USE.S AT S* A "T4
  ,AF ALL1 ! GIANT1 ,KOKU1 0 8 MA9
DEP5D;E "U ^! CIRCUM/.ES4 ,TOM CREPT 6!
\T] DOOR1 OP5$ X C>E;LLY1 & SLIPP$ \1
LETT+ ! SPR+ LOCK CLICK 2H HM4 ,=! F/ "T
HE R1LIZ$ T HE 0 9 8 %IRT & TR\S]S &
WORE ONLY FELT SLIPP]S ON 8 FEET4
  ,B HE 0 LOCK$ \ N[4 ,HE _H NO KEY4 ,HE
M/ RUN ! RISK (! F9E RA9 &! *ILL (! NI<T
AIR4
  ,HE /EPP$4 (F ! 5D (! POR* & RAN >.D !
H\SE4 ,X 0 6! RO( (! RE> POR* T ! M>AUD]
_H CLIMB$4 ,B PE] Z HE MI<T F D[N 9 !
Y>D1 ,TOM CD SEE NO MOV+ FIGURE UP "!
NE> ! BA?ROOM W9D[4 ,X 0 PIT* D>K AG/ !
WALL (! H\SE4
  ,HE TURN$ 6GL.E UP AT ! W9D[ (! SLEEP+
ROOM OV] ! G>AGE ": ,KOKU 0 SUPPOS$
6SP5D ! NI<T4 ,B ,TOM KNEW ! GIANT 0
SELDOM "! DUR+ ! D>K H\RS4 ,HE 0 Z M* (A
NI<T-PR[L] Z A WILDCAT OR AN [L4
  ,"! 0 NO LI<T "! 9 ANY CASE4 ,B ,KOKU
DID N USE A LI<T M*4 ,HE CD SEE 9 ! D>K1
L A WILD ANIMAL4 ,TOM DID N WANT 6CALL
HM4 ,IF HE M/ H ,KOKU'S HELP1 HE WD H
6CLIMB ! /AIRS 6HIS B$SIDE4 ,! GIANT ALW
>\S$ Z WIDE AWAKE Z AT NOON"D4
  ,B :ILE ! "Y 9V5TOR HESITAT$ A SU451 B
MU6L$1 SNAP--! BR1K+ ( METAL--S.D$4 ,TOM
KNEW 9/ANTLY ! DIREC;N F : ! S.D CAME4
  ,AL? HE CD SEE NO?+ UP "! AT ! BA?ROOM
W9D[ 2C (! RA9 &! DEEP %AD[1 HE KNEW T !
SNAPP+ S.D M1NT ! S"E+ (! W9D[ LOCK T HE
_H S REC5TLY CLOS$4 ,"S 9/RU;T _H BE5
=C$ "U ! BOTTOM (! L[] SA% & PRESSURE 5
BE5 BR"\ 6BE> 6BR1K ! ?9 /EEL L"E4
  ,ON ! HEELS ( ? S.D CAME ANO!R4 ,A
MU6L$ BUZZ+ "S": 9 ! H\SE--AG6 AG6 ,&
!N1 />TL+LY CLE> F ! ROOM OV] ! G>AGE1 !
BURGL> AL>M W5T (F 9 ,KOKU'S *AMB]4
  8,X'S ALL (F N[60 GASP$ ,TOM1 & HE RAN
6! FOOT (! H"OYSUCKLE LA4] UP : HE KNEW
! 5EMY _H CLIMB$ 6GET 6! RO( (! POR*4
8,IF HE -ES D[N ,I'LL H HM60 MUTT]$
,TOM1 />+ UP 96! MI/ & GLOOM4
  8,FO' DE LAWSY'S SAKE6 ,8,TA9'T
MAWN90'1 IS X80 ,RAD'S SLEEPY VOICE 0
HE>D 6ANN\NCE4 8,NO1 X'S DA'K Z--0 ,&!
VOICE TRAIL$ (F 96SIL;E4
  8,TOM6 ,TOM60 ! "Y FELL[ HE>D 8 >\S$
"F %\T+4
  ,TOM KNEW T 8 "F 0 9 NO DANG]4 ,9 FACT
,MR4 ,SWIFT'S VOICE DID N EV5 2TRAY
APPREH5.N4 ,X WAS4 6! G>AGE ,TOM LOOK$ =
AN EXPLO.N4 ,B N"O CAME4
  ,IF ,KOKU 0 UP "! ! PROL;G$ BUZZ+ (!
AL>M DID N AWAKE HM4 ,"!=E HE CD N 2 "!4
,TOM R1LIZ$ T IF ! BURGL> 0 6BE TAK5 !
:OLE A6AIR FELL ^U 8 %\LD]S4
  8,& ,I'VE GOT MY H&S FULL1 IF X IS !
FELL[ )! BIG FEET T WE SAW ON !
,WAT]FIELD ,ROAD ! O!R "D10 MUTT]$ ! "Y
9V5TOR4
  ,NO?+ /IRR$ ON ! POR* RO(4 ,MO;T AF
MO;T SLIPP$ BY4 ,TOM 2GAN 6GR[ M ?AN
AMAZ$4 ,HE 0 WORRI$4 ,:AT WD HAPP5 NEXT8
  ,8 "F _H N CRI$ \ AG4 ,/EPP+ >.D 6! 5D
(! RO($ POR*1 ,TOM SAW A LI<T 9 ,MR4
,SWIFT'S ROOM4 ,RAD _H EVID5TLY G"O
6SLEEP AG4 ,X WD TAKE M ?AN AN 9T]MITT5T
BUZZ] 6R\SE FULLY T COLOR$ MAN4
  8,:5 OLD ,MORPHEUS HAS A /RANGLE HOLD
ON ,RAD1 ,GABRIEL'S TRUMP WD SC>CELY
AWAK5 HM10 ,TOM MUTT]$4
  ,:AT _H 2COME (! 5EMY8 ,IF X 0 AN
ORD9>Y BURGL> HE WD H FE>$ ! ELECTRIC
AL>M 9/ANTLY4 ,! BUZZ]S 7 / "W+4 ,B "! 0
NO SIGN (! MAN :O _H SET !M (F AT !
BA?ROOM W9D[4
  ,SU45LY ,TOM HE>D A DOOR SLAM4 ,X 0 F
! FRONT (! H\SE4 ,_H 8 "F -E D[N/AIRS
6LOOK >.D & SEE :AT ! MATT] WAS8
  ,! "Y FELL[ />T$ >.D ! H\SE ON A RUN4
,HE HE>D H1VY BOOTSOLES SPURN+ ! GRAVEL
(! PA? 6! FRONT GATE4 ,HE >RIV$ AT ! F>
CORN] (! H\SE 9 "T 6SEE A MAN DA% "? !
GATEWAY & RUN D[N ! /REET1 4APPE>+ F9,Y
96! FA/-DRIV+ RA94
  8,FOOL$ ME6 ,HE W5T 9 & "R "? & D[N !
/AIRS6 ,\ ! FRONT DOOR60 GASP$ ,TOM4
8,DID HE GET ANY?+8 ,I WOND]60
  ,HE SPRANG UP 6! FRONT POR* & TRI$ !
DOOR4 ,X 0 LOCK$ AG1 ( C\RSE4 ,%D HE R+
! BELL & GET ,RAD OR 8 "F D[N 6! DOOR8
  ,& !N1 (A SU451 ! PR9CIPAL MY/]Y ( ALL
? A6AIR BIT 96,TOM ,SWIFT'S M9D4 ,!
BURGL> _H MADE 8 ESCAPE4 ,HE CD RELIEVE
8 "F'S ANXIETY LAT]4 ,X 0 8 [N PUZZLE;T
( M9D T HE F/ WI%$ 6EASE4
  ,": 0 ,KOKU8
  ,EV5 _H ! GIANT BE5 CIRCL+ ! /OCKADE
>.D ! %OPS HE SURELY M/ H -E UP 6! HOME
PREMISES 0? "T4 ,8 KE5 E>S CD N FAIL
6HE> ! BUZZ]S4 ,!Y 7 / GO+ & WD G UNTIL
! SWIT* 0 TURN$4
  ,IF ! GIANT 0 9 8 ROOM--,TOM TURN$
SU45LY & />T$ ON A RUN =! RE> PREMISES4
,HE / C>RI$ ! H&-LAMP & X LIT 8 WAY 96!
G>AGE DOOR & UP ! N>R[ /AIRWAY4 ,HE %OT
! R.D B1M (! LAMP 96,KOKU'S ROOM4
  ,HE _H BE5 OBLIG$ 6H AN IRON B$/1D
MADE 6ORD] =! GIANT4 ,X /OOD AG/ "O WALL
(! ROOM4 ,! BUZZ] 0 SN>L+ L A HUGE
BUM#BEE ABV ! H1D (! C\*4 ,2L X SPRAWL$
! GIANT1 EYES TI<TLY CLOS$ & M\? SLI<TLY
AJ>4 ,F ! LIPS ( ,KOKU 7 EMITT$ S.DS
WOR?Y ( ,RAD ,SAMPSON 9 8 DEEPE/
SLUMB]S6
  8,ASLEEP80 GASP$ ,TOM1 /EPP+ CAT-L 96!
ROOM4
  ,& !N HE 0 SU45LY AW>E (A SICKI%1 H1VY
ODOR 9 ! *AMB]4 ,! W9D[ _H BE5 CLOS$4 ,B
X 0 "S?+ M ?AN /ALE AIR T ,TOM SMELL$4
  ,A FOLD$ CLO? LAY ON ! FLOOR 2S ! C\*4
,! "Y FELL[ SAW AT ONCE T X _H BE5
ORIG9,Y PLAC$ OV] ! GIANT'S FACE1 B _H
SLID (F4 ,& LUCKY = ,KOKU T X _H BE5
4LODG$6
  8,*LORO=M60 MUTT]$ ,TOM4 8,HE'S DRU7$4
,X IS NO WOND] HE DID N HE> ! BURGL>
AL>M40
  ,9 ANY EV5T1 ! 9CID5T MADE "O DEEP
IMPRES.N ON ,TOM'S M9D4 ,! SPIES :O HE
2LIEV$ 7 "W+ =! ,H5DRICKTON & ,WE/]N
,RAILROAD & XS [N]1 ,MONTAGNE ,LEWIS1 7
DESP]ATE M54 ,TOM CD N 2LIEVE T ! FELL[
)! BIG FEET 0 AL"O 9 ,%OPTON & 0 UNAID$
9 8 ATTEMPTS 6F9D \ :AT ,TOM 0 DO+4
  ,? ATTEMPT 6BURGL>IZE ! H\SE 2TRAY$ !
CALIB] (! 5EMY4 ,9 *LORO=M+ ,KOKU HE _H
TAK5 ! RISK ( MURD]+ ! GIANT4 ,ONLY !
FACT T ! PAD ( SATURAT$ CLO? _H FALL5 (F
,KOKU'S FACE _H1 P]H1 SAV$ ! MAN F
SU6OC,N4
  ,TOM DID N TELL ! GIANT :5 HE >\S$ :AT
! MATT] ) HM WAS4 ,KOKU 0 ILL 5\<6 ,HE 0
WR5*$ 09T]IOR SPASMS T SEEM$ ALM 6TE> 8
HUGE BODY 6PIECES4
  8,:AT D"O GOT 96DAT BIG LUMP O' B"O
AN' GRIZZLE80 DEM&$ ,ERADICATE4 8,HE
LOOKS L1 HE SWALL[$ A VOLCANO1 & X J GOT
6WO'K9' "R4 ,MY LAWSY60
  8,HE IS A SICK MAN1 ALL "R10 ADMITT$
,TOM4 8,LOOKS L HE WDN'T TRY 6/AB ME
6D1F WID NO SPE> NO MO'10 W5T ON ,RAD1
9CL9$ 6APPROVE ( ,KOKU'S SU6]+S4
  8,IF HE DI$ Y'D 2 MI<TY SORRY1 OLD
MAN10 DCLD ,TOM1 /]NLY4
  8,%O' WD4 ,2 A MI<TY H>D JOB 6BURY
HM10 0 ! CALL\S RESPONSE4
  ,J ! SAME1 ! CROT*ETY OLD COLOR$ MAN
2GAN 6HOP >.D 9 LIVELY FA%ION ) HOT
WAT]1 & LAT] ) C(FEE & O!R /IMULANTS2 &
HE NURS$ ,KOKU ALL "D Z ?\< HE 7 A BIG
BABY4
  ,KOKU1 :O _H N"E BE5 ILL 2F 9 8 LIFE1
0 9CL9$ 6LAY ! TR\# 6AN EVIL G5IUS ( "S
K9D4 ,P]H1 9 SPITE ( 8 HALF-CIVILIZ$
/ATE1 HE 0 / A DEVIL-WOR%IP]4 ,AT ANY
RATE1 HE _H A VITAL RESPECT =! =CES (
EVIL4
  ,NATUR,Y HE 3SID]$ ? UN"KN & UNEXPECT$
MIS]Y HE SU6]$ ! RESULT ( MALIGNANT
9FLU;ES ( "S K9D4 ,TOM DID N WANT HM
6SUSPECT T ! MAN )! BIG FEET _H ANY
POSSI# "P 9 ! MY/]Y4 ,_H ,KOKU SUSPECT$
?1 & _H HE GOT 8 H&S ON ! SPY1 ! LATT]
CD N"E H BE5 SU3ESS;LLY US$ 9 T SORT (
"W AG4 ,9 ALL PROBABIL;Y HE WD H SD T HE
_H _H 5\<4
  ,M1N:ILE ,TOM MADE A PO9T ( 3SID]+ EA*
/EP HE TOOK AL"O "!AF ) "PICUL> C>E4 ,HE
_H A BODYGU>D--USU,Y ! GIANT AF ! LATT]
_H RECOV]$--2T ! "WS &! H\SE4 ,HE DID N
BR+ HOME ANY M ! S*$ULES OR DRAW+S
3NECT$ )! ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE T HE
PROPOS$ 6H BUILT & 6TE/ 9SIDE ! /OCKADE
(! ,SWIFT ,3/RUC;N ,-PANY4
  ,HE EV5 PUT A PRIVATE DETECTIVE 6"W ON
! MATT] ( F9D+ A MAN "ND ,&Y ,O',MALLEY
:O MI<T 2 LURK+ >.D ,%OPTON4 ,HE _H A
PRETTY CLE> DESCRIP;N (! FELL[1 = HE _H
N ONLY SE5 HM ONCE1 FACE 6FACE 0"DLI<T1
B ,TOM _H WRITT5 6! PRESID5T (! ,H4 &
,P4 ,A4 & _H GOT F T G5TLEMAN A CLE>
PICTURE 9 ^WS (! SPY :OM ,MR4 ,B>?OLOMEW
2LIEV$ 0 "W+ 9 ! 9T]E/S ( ,MONTAGNE
,LEWIS4
  8,IF ,O',MALLEY APPE>S 9 ,%OPTON1 LOOK
\4 ,HE IS A BAD "*4 ,HE IS N ONLY A
NOTORI\S GUNMAN1 ) S"EAL W>RANTS \ = HM
9 ^! "PS1 B HE IS A CRUEL & DESP]ATE MAN
9 ANY EV5T4 ,! M9UTE Y M>K HM1 H HM
>RE/$ & TELEGRAPH ME4 ,WE'LL GET HM
EXTRADIT$ & PUT HM "? = T5 YE>S OR M "R
9 ? C.TY40 ,! PRIVATE 9VE/IGATOR1 H["E1
Z ! WEEKS W5T BY1 CD N F9D ANY MAN :O
FILL$ ,O',MALLEY'S DESCRIP;N4
  ,M1N:ILE ,TOM ,SWIFT _H GOT :AT HE
CALL$ 8A L1D0 & 0 "W+ "D & NI<T ^U !
9V5;N T HE 2LIEV$ MI<T MAKE EV5 ! ,J&EL
P RESPECT;L1 IF N A BIT 5VI\S4
  ,F/ ( ALL ,TOM _H >RANG$ 6H BUILT ALL
>.D 9SIDE ! /OCKADE A TRACK ( RAILS H1VY
5 6/& ! WE> & TE> (! H1VIE/ LOCOMOTIVE
BUILT4 ,M1N:ILE ! V>I\S "PS ( 8
LOCOMOTIVE 7 2+ BUILT 9 S"EAL %OPS1 B WD
2 %IPP$ 6! ,SWIFT ,3/RUC;N ,-PANY &
ASSEM#D 9 ,TOM'S TRY-\ %$4
  ,GRT SECRECY 0 ( C\RSE MA9TA9$4 ,ASIDE
F ! FACT T ! NEW 9V5;N _H "S?+ 6D )
ELECTRIC MOTIVE P[]1 NOBODY AB ! %OPS CD
SAY :AT ! NEW 9DU/RY PORT5D$4 ,SAVE1 (
C\RSE1 ! ,SWIFTS !MVS1 ,N$ ,NEWTON1 &
,MR4 ,DAMON1 :O 0 ! ,SWIFTS' CLOSE/ FR &
"S"TS _H FURNI%$ A4I;NAL CAPITAL =
,TOM'S EXP]I;TS4
  ,"! 0 A ?+ T ,MR4 ,DAMON FURNI%$ ,TOM
AT ? "T T PROV$ 9 ! 5D 6BE ( M*
IMPORT.E4 ,2F ,TOM _H SEIZ$ ^U ? IDEA (
8 E35TRIC FR1 & _H MADE PROP] USE ( X1
"S?+ HAPP5$ T CAME NE> 6WRECK+ UTT]LY
,TOM'S 9V5;N & -PLETELY PUTT+ AN 5D
6,TOM HMF Z AN 9V5TOR4








