,,*APT] ,,XII ,,! ,,TRY ,,\

  ,ONCE ! CURR5T 0 CUT (F X 0 SAFE
6APPROA* ! BODY (! "Y 9V5TOR4 ,MR ,%>P
/OOP$ OV] & LIFT$ ,TOM'S =M F ! FLOOR1 =
,MR4 ,SWIFT 0 TOO EXCIT$ & TREM#D TOO M*
6BE ( ANY S]VICE4 ,\R H]O 0 Z "O D1D4 ,8
BODY 0 LIMP1 AF T F/ RIGID /RET*+ \1 Z !
CURR5T RAN "? HM2 8 EYES 7 CLOS$1 & 8
FACE 0 V PALE4
  8,IS--IS "! ANY HOPE80 FALT]$ ,MR4
,SWIFT4
  8,I ?9K S10 REPLI$ ! BALLOONI/4 8,HE
IS / BR1?+-FA9TLY4 ,WE M/ SUMMON A
DOCTOR AT ONCE4 ,W Y TELEPH"O = "O1 :ILE
,I C>RY HM 9 ! H\SE80
  ,Z ,MR4 ,%>P EM]G$ F ! %OP1 BE>+
,TOM'S BODY1 AN AUTOMOBILE DREW UP 9
FRONT (! PLACE4
  8,B.S MY S\L60 EXCLAIM$ A VOICE4
8,TOM'S HURT6 ,H[ DID X HAPP58 ,B.S MY V
EXI/;E60
  8,OH1 ,MR4 ,DAMON1 Y'RE J 9 "T60
EXCLAIM$ ,MR4 ,%>P1 8,TOM'S _H A BAD
%OCK4 ,W Y G =A DOCTOR 9 YR AUTO80
  8,BETT] ?AN T6 ,LET ME TAKE ,TOM 9 !
C> 6,DR4 ,:ITESIDE'S (FICE10 PROPOS$ !
E35TRIC MAN4 8,X W 2 BETT] T WAY40
  8,YES1 YES10 AGRE$ ,MR4 ,SWIFT EAG]LY4
8,PUT ,TOM 9 ! AUTO60
  8,IF ONLY X DOESN'T BR1K D[N10 A4$
,MR4 ,DAMON F]V5TLY4 8,B.S MY SP>K PLUG1
B X WD 2 J MY LUCK60
  ,B !Y />T$ (F ALL "R1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT RID+
9 FRONT ) ,MR4 ,DAMON1 & ,MR4 ,%>P
SUPPORT+ ,TOM 9 ! TONN1U4 ,ONLY A LL
FLUTT]+ (! EYELIDS1 &A SL[1 FA9T BR1?+
TOLD T ,TOM ,SWIFT / LIV$4
  ,MR4 ,DAMON N"E GUID$ A C> BETT] ?AN
HE DID 8 AUTO T "D4 ,S"EAL SPE$ LAWS 7
BROK51 B NO "O APPE>$ 6/OP !M1 &1 9
RECORD "T !Y _H ! "Y 9V5TOR AT !
PHYSICIAN'S H\SE4 ,=TUNATELY ,DR4
,:ITESIDE 0 AT HOME1 &1 "U 8 SKILL;L
TR1T;T ,TOM 0 SOON \ ( DANG]4 ,8 HE>T
AC;N 0 PROP]LY />T$1 & !N X 0 ONLY A "Q
( "T4 ,Z ! DOCTOR _H PL5TY ( ROOM X 0
DECID$ 6LET ! LAD REMA9 T NI<T1 & ,TOM 0
SOON 9/ALL$ 9 A SP>E B$ROOM1 )! DOCTOR'S
PRETTY DAU<T] 6WAIT ON HM O3A.N,Y4
  8,OH1 ,I'M ALL "R10 ! Y\? 9SI/$1 :5
,MISS ,:ITESIDE TOLD HM X 0 "T = 8
M$IC9E4 8,I'M ALL "R40
  8,Y'RE N60 %E DCLD4 8,I "\ 6"K1 = ,I'M
GO+ 6BE A NURSE1 "S "D1 & HELP PAPA4 ,N[
TAKE ? OR ,I'LL H 6HOLD YR NOSE1 Z !Y D
! BABY'S10 & %E HELD \ A SPOON;L (
UNPL1SANT LOOK+ MIXTURE1 EXT5D+ H] DA9TY
=EF+] & ?UMB ( H] O!R H&1 Z IF 6ADM9I/]
DIRE PUNI%;T 6,TOM1 IF HE DID N OBEY4
  8,WELL1 ,I GIVE 9 6SUP]IOR /R5G?10 HE
SD )A LAU<1 Z HE NOT$1 ) APPROVAL1 !
LAU<+ FACE ( 8 NURSE4
  ,!N HE FELL 96A DEEP SLEEP1 & 0 S M*
BETT] ! NEXT MORN+ T HE CD 2 TAK5 HOME 9
,MR4 ,DAMON'S AUTO4
  8,B M9D1 NO H>D "W = ?REE OR F\R "DS10
9SI/$ ! PHYSICIAN4 8,I WANT YR HE>T 6GET
9 %APE = T BIG RACE Y 7 TELL+ ME AB4 ,!
%OCK 0 A SEV]E /RA9 6X40
  ,TOM PROMIS$1 RELUCTANTLY1 &1 ?\< HE
DID NO "W1 8 F/ ACT1 ON R1*+ HOME1 0 6G
\ 6! %OP1 69SPECT ! BATT]Y & MOTOR4
,6HIS SURPRISE ! MOTOR 0 RUNN+ =! LAD _H
E/ABLI%$ ! 3NEC;N1 9 SPITE ( 8 %OCK & 8
"F & ,MR4 ,%>P _H DECID$ 6LET ! MA*9]Y
RUN UNTIL HE CAME BACK4
  8,& LOOK AT ! RECORD X'S MADE60 CRI$
,TOM DELI<T$LY Z HE GL.ED AT ! GAUGE
8,BETT] ?AN ,I FIGUR$ ON4 ,T BATT]Y IS A
WOND]4 ,I'LL H ! FA/E/ ELECTRIC RUNAB Y
"E SAW40
  8,IF ! WIRES DON'T GET CROSS$ AG10 PUT
9 ,MR4 ,%>P4 8,Y'D BETT] MAKE AN
EXAM9,N1 ,TOM10 &1 =! F/ "T1 ! "Y 9V5TOR
LE>N$ H[ HE _H BE5 %OCK$4
  8,CROSS$ WIRES6 ,I %D SAY !Y 7
CROSS$60 HE EXCLAIM$ Z HE LOOK$ AT !
SWIT*ES & COPP] 3DUCTORS4 8,"SBODY HAS
BE5 TAMP]+ ) !M4 ,NO WOND] ,I 0 %OCK$60
  8,:O DID X80 ASK$ ,MR4 ,%>P4
  ,TOM 3SID]$ =A MO;T1 2F ANSW]+4 ,!N HE
SD3
  8,I 2LIEVE X 0 ,A4ISON ,B]G4 ,HE M/ H
WANT$ 6D "S DAMAGE1 6GET EV5 ) U = GETT+
T TR1SURE AWAY F HM40
  8,B]G80 "Q$ ! BALLOONI/1 & ,TOM TOLD
(! NI<T HE _H BE5 TRIPP$ 96! BROOK1 &
EXHIBIT$ ! WAT* *>M HE
_H SECUR$4 ,MR4 ,%>P RECOGNIZ$ X AT
ONCE4 ,A FUR!R EXAM9,N 3FIRM$ ! 2LIEF T
! SUBM>9E AG5T _H SN1K$ 96,TOM'S "W%OP1
& _H ALT]$ ! WIRES4
  8,!Y 7 ALL "R :5 ,I CAME \ (! %OP T
NI<T10 DCLD ,TOM4 8,I LEFT ! OLD 3NEC;NS
J Z ,I ?"\ ,I _H >RANG$ !M1 & ONLY A4$ !
NEW "OS1 :5 ,I W5T 6TRY MY BATT]Y4 ,!
OLD 3NEC;NS 7 CROSS$1 B ,I DIDN'T NOTICE
X4 ,!N :5 ,I TURN$ ON ! CURR5T ,I GOT !
%OCK4 ,I DON'T S'POSE ,B]G ?"\ ,I'D 2 S
NE>LY KILL$4 ,PROBABLY HE WANT$ 6BURN \
MY MOTOR1 & SPOIL X4 ,IF X 0 ,&Y ,FOG]
,I CD "U/& X1 B A MAN L ,B]G--0
  8,HE'S PROBABLY WILD ) ANG] 2C 8
SUBM>9E GOT ! WOR/ ( X 9 ! RACE =!
GOLD10 9T]RUPT$ ! BALLOONI/4 8,WELL1
WE'LL H 6BE ON \R GU>D1 T'S ALL4 ,:AT 0
! MATT] ) ,ERADICATE1 T HE DIDN'T SEE HM
5T] ! %OP80
  8,RAD W5T 6A COLOR$ D.E T NI<T10 SD
,TOM4 8,I LET HM (F4 ,B AF ? ,I'LL H !
%OP GU>D$ NI<T & "D4 ,MY MOTOR MI<T H
BE5 RU9$1 IF T F/ *>GE _HN'T G"O "? MY
BODY 9/1D ( 96! MA*9]Y40 ,! IMPROP]
3NEC;NS 7 SOON REMOV$ & O!RS SUB/ITUT$4
  ,X 0 AGRE$ 2T ,TOM & ,MR4 ,%>P T !Y WD
SAY NO?+ REG>D+ ,MR4 ,B]G 6,MR4 ,SWIFT4
,! AERONAUT CAUS$ CAUTI\S 9QUIRIES 6BE
MADE1 & LE>N$ T ! AG5T _H BE5 4*>G$ 0!
SUBM>9E FIRM1 2C ( "S WR;G-DO+ 9 3NEC;N
)! CRAFT ,WOND]1 & X 0 SURMIS$ T ! AG5T
2LIEV$ ,TOM 6BE AT ! BOTTOM ( 8 TR\#S4
  ,9 A FEW "DS ! "Y 9V5TOR 0 HMF AG1 & Z
FUR!R TRIALS ( 8 BATT]Y %[$ X 6BE EV5
BETT] ?AN XS [N] HOP$1 >RANGE;TS 7 MADE
= TE/+ X 9 ! C> ON ! ROAD4
  ,! RUNAB 0 NE>LY F9I%$1 B X LACK$ A
COAT ( V>NI%1 & "S M9OR DETAILS1 :5
,TOM1 ASSI/$ 0HIS "F1 ,MR ,%>P & ,MR4
,JACKSON1 "O MORN+1 AB A WEEK LAT]1
9/ALL$ ! MOTOR & BATT]Y UNITS4 ,X DID N
TAKE L;G 6GE> UP ! MA*9]Y1 3NECT !
BATT]Y &1 ?\< ! C> 0 R A CRUDE LOOK+
A6AIR1 ,TOM DECID$ 6GIVE X A TRY-\
  8,WANT 6-E AL;G1 ,DAD80 HE ASK$1 Z HE
TI<T5$ UP "S B9D+ PO/S1 & LOOK$ 6SEE T !
/E]+ :EEL1 />T+ & REV]SE L"ES "W$
PROP]LY1 & T ! SIDE *A9S 7 WELL
LUBRICAT$4
  8,N ! F/ "T10 REPLI$ 8 "F4 8,LET'S SEE
H[ X RUNS ) Y1 F/40
  8,OH1 ,I WANT "S SORT (A LOAD 9 X10
W5T ON ! LAD4 8,X WON'T 2 A GD TE/ UN.S
,I H A C\PLE ( O!RS 2SS MYF4 ,H[ AB Y1
,MR4 ,DAMON80 =! OLD G5TLEMAN 0 SP5D+ A
FEW "DS AT ! ,SWIFT HOME/1D4
  8,B.S MY %OE BUTTONS6 ,I'LL -E60 0 !
R1DY ANSW]4 8,AF ! EXP]I;E ,I'VE BE5 "?
9 ! AIR%IP & SUBM>9E1 NO?+ C SC>E ME4
,L1D ON1 ,I'LL FOLL[60
  8,I DON'T SUPPOSE Y'LL HANG BACK AF T2
W Y1 ,MR4 ,%>P80 ASK$ ! LAD1 )A LAU<4
  8,I DON'T D>E TO1 =! SAKE ( MY
REPUT,N10 0 ! REPLY1 =! BALLOONI/ :O _H
MADE _M ASC5.NS1 & DROPP$ ?\S&S ( FEET 9
P>A*UTES1 0 NATUR,Y A BRAVE MAN4
  ,S HE & ,MR4 ,DAMON CLIMB$ 96! RE>
S1TS (! ODD-LOOK+ ELECTRIC C>1 :ILE ,TOM
TOOK 8 PLACE AT ! /E]+ :EEL4
  8,>E Y ALL R1DY80 HE ASK$4
  8,LET H] G60 FIR$ BACK ,MR4 ,%>P4
  8,B.S MY GALVANOMET]1 DON'T G TOO FA/
ON ! />T10 CAU;N$ ,MR4 ,DAMON1 N]V\SLY4
  8,I'LL N10 AGRE$ ! "Y 9V5TOR4 8,I WANT
6GET X W>M$ UP 2F ,I TRY ANY SPE$+40
  ,HE TURN$ ON ! CURR5T4 ,"! 0 A L[1
HUMM+ PURR1 : GRADU,Y 9CR1S$ 6A :9E1 &!
C> MOV$ SL[LY =W>D4 ,X ROLL$ AL;G !
GRAVEL DRIVEWAY 6! ROAD1 ,TOM LI/5+ 6E
S.D (! MA*9]Y1 Z A "M LI/5S 6! BR1?+ (A
*4
  8,%E'S MOV+60 HE CRI$4
  8,B N M* FA/] ?AN A :EELB>R[10 SD 8
"F1 :O "S"TS T1S$ 8 SON4
  8,WAIT60 CRI$ ! Y\?4
  ,TOM TURN$ M CURR5T 96! MOTOR4 ,!
PURR+ & HUMM+ 9CR1S$1 &! C> SEEM$ 6L1P
=W>D4 ,X 0 9 ! ROAD N[1 &1 ONCE ASSUR$ T
! /E]+ APP>ATUS 0 "W+
WELL1 ,TOM SU45LY TURN$ ON M* M SPE$4
  ,S QKLY DID ! ELECTRIC AUTO %OOT =W>D
T ,MR4 ,DAMON & ,MR4 ,%>P 7 J]K$ BACK
AG/ ! CU%IONS (! RE> S1TS4
  8,"H6 ,:AT >E Y DO+80 9QUIR$ ,MR4
,%>P4
  8,I'M GO+ 6%[ Y A LL SPE$10 ANSW]$
,TOM4
  ,! C> 0 N[ MOV+ RAPIDLY1 & "! 0 A
SMOO?;S & LI<T;S 6XS PROGRESS T 0 ABS5T
F A GASOL5E AUTO4 ,"! 0 NO VIBR,N F !
MOTOR4 ,FA/] & FA/] X RAN1 UNTIL X 0
MOV+ AT A SPE$ SC>CELY LESS ?AN T ( ,MR4
,DAMON'S C>1 :5 X 0 DO+ XS BE/4 ,( C\RSE
T 0 N SAY+ M*1 =! C> [N$ 0! ODD G5TLEMAN
0 N A V P[];L "O1 B X CD MAKE FA/ "T
O3A.N,Y4
  8,IS ? ! BE/ Y C D80 ASK$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
8,N T X ISN'T FA/10 HE HA/5$ 6ADD1 8& ,I
0 WOND]+ IF X 0 YR LIMIT40
  8,N HALF60 CRI$ ,TOM1 Z HE TURN$ ON A
LL M P[]4 8,I'M N TRY+ =A RECORD TD4 ,I
J WANT 6SEE H[ ! BATT]Y & MOTOR 2HAVES40
  8,PRETTY WELL1 ,I %D SAY10 -;T$ ,MR4
,%>P4
  8,I'M SATISFI$--S F>10 AGRE$ ! LAD4
  ,!Y 7 N[ MOV+ AL;G ! HI<WAY AT A GD
SPE$--MOV+ ALM SIL5TLY1 TOO1 =! MOTOR1
SAVE =A L[ HUM1 MADE NO NOISE4 ,S QUIET
0 ! C>1 9 FACT1 T X 0 NE>LY ! CAUSE (A
4A/]4 ,TOM 0 S 9T]E/$ 9 ! P]=M.E ( 8
LATE/ 9V5;N1 T1 2F HE KNEW X1 HE _H -E
UP 2H A F>M]1 DRIV+ A T1M ( SKITTI%
HORSES4 ,Z ! BIG MA*9E W5T PA/ !M1 GIV+
NO W>N+ ( XS APPROA*1 ! /E$S RE>$ UP1 &
WD H BOLT$1 B =! PROMPT AC;N (! DRIV]4
  8,HEY60 HE CRI$1 ANGRILY1 Z ,TOM SPE$$
PA/1 8DON'T Y "K Y GOT 6GIVE W>N9' :5
Y'RE -IN' ) "O ( !M !R GOL-SWIZZL$ ?+S6
,0,JEHOSSEPHAT ,I'LL H ?' LAW ON YE EF
YE D !T ;AG'960
  8,I =GOT 6R+ ! BELL10 APOLOGIZ$ ,TOM1
Z HE S5T \ A P1L F ! G;G1 & !N1 HE LET \
A FEW M AMP]ES1 &! SPE$ 9CR1S$4
  8,HOLD ON6 ,I GUESS ? IS FA/ 5\<60
CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON1 Z 8 HAT BLEW (F4
  8,FA/80 ANSW]$ ,TOM4 8,? IS NO?+ 6:AT
,I'LL D :5 ,I USE ! FULL P[]4 ,!N ,I'LL
--0
  ,HE 0 9T]RUPT$ 0A %>P REPORT1 &A VIVID
FLA% ( FIRE ON A SWIT* BO>D NE> ! /E]+
:EEL4 ,! MOTOR GAVE A SORT ( GROAN1 &
/OPP$1 ! C> ROLL+ ON A LL WAY1 & !N
2COM+ /,N>Y4
  8,B.S MY COLL> BUTTON60 EJACULAT$ ,MR4
,DAMON4
  8,:AT'S ! MATT]80 9QUIR$ ,MR4 ,%>P4
  8,"S SORT (A BL[-\10 ANSW]$ ,TOM
RUE;LLY1 Z HE %OV$ ! />T+ H&LE OV]1 TRY+
6MOVE ! C>4 ,B X WD N BUDGE4 ,! NEW AUTO
_H 8G"O D1D0 ON H] F/ TRY\T4 ,! "Y
9V5TOR 0 GRIEV\SLY 4APPO9T$4
























