              ,,*APT] #AA
         ,WE ,R1* ,M.T ,SNE6ELS

  ,,STAPI IS A T[N 3SI/+ ( ?IRTY HUTS1
BUILT ON A L>GE PLA9 ( LAVA1 EXPOS$ 6!
RAYS (! SUN1 REFLECT$ F ! VOLCANO4 ,X
/RET*ES XS HUM# T5E;TS AL;G ! 5D (A LL
FJORD1 SURR.D$ 0A BASALTIC WALL (! MO/
S+UL> "*4
  ,BASALT IS A BR[N ROCK ( IGNE\S ORIG94
,X ASSUMES REGUL> =MS1 : A/ONI% 0_!
S+UL> APPE>.E4 ,"H WE F.D ,NATURE
PROCE$+ GEOMETRIC,Y1 & "W+ Q AF A HUMAN
FA%ION1 Z IF %E _H EMPLOY$ ! PLUMMET
L9E1 ! -PASS &! RULE4 ,IF ELSE": %E
PRODUCES GR& >TI/IC E6ECTS 0PIL+ UP HUGEMASSES )\T ORD] OR 3NEC;N- IF        #IC
ELSE": WE SEE TRUNCAT$ C"OS1 IMP]FECT
PYRAMIDS1 ) AN ODD SU3ES.N ( L9ES2 "H1 Z
IF WI%+ 6GIVE A LESSON 9 REGUL>;Y1 &
PREC$+ ! >*ITECTS (! E>LY AGES1 %E HAS
ERECT$ A SEV]E ORD] ( >*ITECTURE1 : NEI
! SPL5DORS ( ,BABYLON NOR ! M>VELS (
,GREECE "E SURPASS$4
  ,I _H (T5 HE>D (! ,GIANT'S ,CAUSEWAY 9
,IREL&1 &( ,F+AL'S ,CAVE 9 "O (!
,HEBRIDES1 B ! GR& SPECTACLE (A R1L
BASALTIC =M,N _H N"E YET -E 2F MY EYES4
  ,? AT ,/API GAVE U AN IDEA ( "O 9 ALL
XS WOND];L B1UTY & GRACE4
  ,! WALL (! FJORD1 L NE>LY ! :OLE (!
P59SULA1 3SI/$ (A S]IES ( V]TICAL
COLUMNS1 9 HEI<T AB ?IRTY FEET4 ,^! UP"R
PILL>S ( /"O1 (! F9E/ PROPOR;NS1
SUPPORT$ AN >*IVAULT ( HORIZONTAL
COLUMNS : =M$ A K9D ( HALF-VAULT$ RO(
ABV ! SEA4 ,AT C]TA9 9T]VALS1 & 2L ?
NATURAL BAS91 ! EYE 0 PL1S$ & SURPRIS$
0! SI<T ( OVAL OP5+S "? : ! \TW>D WAVES
CAME ?"U+ 9 VOLLEYS ( FOAM4 ,"S BANKS (
BASALT1 TORN F _! FA/5+S 0! FURY (!WAVES1 LAY SCATT]$ ON ! GR.D L !     #ID
RU9S ( AN ANCI5T TEMPLE- RU9S ET]N,Y "Y1
OV] : ! /ORMS ( AGES SWEPT )\T PRODUC+
ANY P]CEPTI# E6ECT6
  ,? 0 ! LA/ /AGE ( \R J\RNEY4 ,HANS _H
BR"\ U AL;G ) FIDEL;Y & 9TELLIG;E1 & ,I
2GAN 6FEEL "S:AT M -=TA# :5 ,I REFLECT$
T HE 0 6A3OMPANY U / F>!R ON \R WAY4
  ,:5 WE HALT$ 2F ! H\SE (! ,RECTOR1 A
SMALL & 9COMMODI\S CAB91 NEI H&"S NOR M
-=TA# ?AN ^? ( 8 NEI<BORS1 ,I SAW A MAN
9 ! ACT ( %OE+ A HORSE1 A HAMM] 9 8 H&1
&A L1!RN APRON TI$ R.D 8 WAI/4
  8,BE HAPPY10 SD ! EID]-D[N HUNT]1 US+
8 N,NAL SALUT,N 9 8 [N LANGUAGE4
  8,GOD DAG- GD "D60 REPLI$ ! =M]1 9
EXCELL5T ,DANI%4
  8,KYRKOH]DE10 CRI$ ,HANS1 TURN+ R.D &
9TRODUC+ HM 6MY UNCLE4
  HALF-VAULT$ RO( ABV ! SEA4 ,AT C]TA9
9T]VALS1 & 2L ? NATURAL BAS91 ! EYE 0
PL1S$ & SURPRIS$ 0! SI<T ( OVAL OP5+S "?
: ! \TW>D WAVES CAME ?"U+ 9 VOLLEYS (
FOAM4 ,"S BANKS ( BASALT1 TORN F _!
FA/5+S 0! FURY (! WAVES1 LAY SCATT]$ ON! GR.D L ! RU9S ( AN ANCI5T          #IE
TEMPLE- RU9S ET]N,Y "Y1 OV] : ! /ORMS (
AGES SWEPT )\T PRODUC+ ANY P]CEPTI#
E6ECT6
  ,? 0 ! LA/ /AGE ( \R J\RNEY4 ,HANS _H
BR"\ U AL;G ) FIDEL;Y & 9TELLIG;E1 & ,I
2GAN 6FEEL "S:AT M -=TA# :5 ,I REFLECT$
T HE 0 6A3OMPANY U / F>!R ON \R WAY4
  ,:5 WE HALT$ 2F ! H\SE (! ,RECTOR1 A
SMALL & 9COMMODI\S CAB91 NEI H&"S NOR M
-=TA# ?AN ^? ( 8 NEI<BORS1 ,I SAW A MAN
9 ! ACT ( %OE+ A HORSE1 A HAMM] 9 8 H&1
&A L1!RN APRON TI$ R.D 8 WAI/4
  8,BE HAPPY10 SD ! EID]-D[N HUNT]1 US+
8 N,NAL SALUT,N 9 8 [N LANGUAGE4
  8,GOD DAG- GD "D60 REPLI$ ! =M]1 9
EXCELL5T ,DANI%4
  8,KYRKOH]DE10 CRI$ ,HANS1 TURN+ R.D &
9TRODUC+ HM 6MY UNCLE4
  8,! ,RECTOR10 REP1T$ ! WOR?Y
,PROFESSOR2 8X APPE>S1 MY DE> ,H>RY1 T ?
WOR?Y MAN IS ! ,RECTOR1 & IS N ABV DO+ 8
[N "W40
  ,DUR+ ! SP1K+ ( ^! ^WS ! GUIDE 9TIMAT$
6! ,KYRKOH]DE :AT 0 ! TRUE /ATE (! CASE4,! GD MAN1 C1S+ F 8 O3UP,N1 GAVE A   #IF
K9D ( HALLOO1 ^U : A TALL WOMAN1 ALM A
GIANTESS1 CAME \ (! HUT4 ,%E 0 AT L1/
SIX FEET HI<1 : 9 T REGION IS "S?+
3SID]A#4
  ,MY F/ IMPRES.N 0 "O ( HORROR4 ,I ?"\
%E _H -E 6GIVE U ! ,ICEL&IC KISS4 ,I _H1
H["E1 NO?+ 6FE>1 = %E DID N EV5 %[ M*
9CL9,N 6RCV U 96H] H\SE4
  ,! ROOM DEVOT$ 6/RANG]S APPE>$ 6ME 6BE
0F> ! WOR/ 9 ! PRESBYT]Y2 X 0 N>R[1
DIRTY & (F5SIVE4 ,"! WAS1 H["E1 NO *OICE
AB ! MATT]4 ,! ,RECTOR _H NO NO;N (
PRACTIC+ ! USUAL CORDIAL & ANTIQUE
HOSPITAL;Y4 ,F> F X4 ,2F ! "D 0 OV]1 ,I
F.D WE _H 6D1L )A BLACKSMI?1 A FI%]MAN1
A HUNT]1 A C>P5T]1 ANY?+ B A CL]GYMAN4
,X M/ 2 SD 9 8 FAVOR T WE _H CAU<T HM ON
A WEEK"D2 PROBABLY HE APPE>$ 6GRT]
ADVANTAGE ON ! ,SUN"D4
  ,^! POOR PRIE/S RCV F ! ,DANI%
,GOV]N;T A MO/ RIDICUL\SLY 9ADEQUATE
SAL>Y1 & COLLECT "O QU>T] (! TI! ( _!
P>I%- N M ?AN SIXTY M>KS CURR5T1 OR AB
,L#C #AJ'S4 /]L+4 ,H;E ! NECESS;Y ( "W+6LIVE4 ,9 TRU?1 WE SOON F.D T \R     #IG
HO/ DID N C.T CIVIL;Y AM;G ! C>D9AL
VIRTUES4
  ,MY UNCLE SOON 2CAME AW>E (! K9D ( MAN
HE _H 6D1L )4 ,9/1D (A WOR?Y & LE>N$
S*OL>1 HE F.D A DULL ILL-MANN]$ P1SANT4
,HE "!=E RESOLV$ 6/>T ON 8 GRT EXP$I;N Z
SOON Z POSSI#4 ,HE DID N C>E AB FATIGUE1
& RESOLV$ 6SP5D A FEW "DS 9 ! M.TA9S4
  ,! PREP>,NS = \R DE"PURE 7 MADE ! V
NEXT "D AF \R >RIVAL AT ,/API2 ,HANS N[
HIR$ ?REE ,ICEL&]S 6TAKE ! PLACE (!
HORSES- : CD NO L;G] C>RY \R LU7AGE4
,:51 H["E1 ^! WOR?Y ISL&]S _H R1*$ !
BOTTOM (! CRAT]1 !Y 7 6G BACK & L1VE U
6\RVS4 ,? PO9T 0 SETTL$ 2F !Y WD AGREE
6/>T4
  ,ON ? O3A.N1 MY UNCLE "PLY 3FID$ 9
,HANS1 ! EID]-DUCK HUNT]1 & GAVE HM
6"U/& T X 0 8 9T5;N 63T9UE 8 EXPLOR,N (!
VOLCANO 6! LA/ POSSI# LIMITS4
  ,HANS LI/5$ CALMLY1 & !N NO4$ 8 H1D4
,6G "!1 OR ELSE":1 6BURY HMF 9 ! B[ELS (
! E>?1 OR 6TRAVEL OV] XS SUMMITS1 0 ALL
! SAME 6HM6 ,Z = ME1 AMUS$ & O3UPI$ 0!9CID5TS ( TRAVEL1 ,I _H 2GUN 6=GET   #IH
! 9EVITA# FUTURE2 B N[ ,I 0 ONCE M DE/9$
6R1LIZE ! ACTUAL /ATE ( A6AIRS4 ,:AT 0
6BE D"O8 ,RUN AWAY8 ,B IF ,I RE,Y _H
9T5D$ 6L1VE ,PROFESSOR ,H>DWIGG 6HIS
FATE1 X %D H BE5 AT ,HAMBURG & N AT !
FOOT ( ,SNE6ELS4
  ,"O IDEA1 ABV ALL O!RS1 2GAN 6TR\# ME3
A V T]RI# IDEA1 & "O CALCULAT$ 6%AKE !
N]VES (A MAN EV5 LESS S5SITIVE ?AN MYF4
  8,LET U 3SID] ! MATT]10 ,I SD 6MYF2
8WE >E GO+ 6ASC5D ! ,SNE6ELS M.TA94
,WELL & GD4 ,WE >E AB 6PAY A VISIT 6! V
BOTTOM (! CRAT]4 ,GD1 /4 ,O!RS H D"O X &
DID N P]I% F T C\RSE4
  8,T1 H["E1 IS N ! :OLE MATT] 6BE
3SID]$4 ,IF A ROAD DOES RE,Y PRES5T XF
0: 6DESC5D 96! D>K & SUBT]RANE\S B[ELS (
,"M ,E>?1 IF ? ?RICE UNHAPPY ,SAKNUSSEMM
HAS RE,Y TOLD ! TRU?1 WE % 2 MO/ C]TA9LY
LO/ 9 ! MID/ (! LABYR9? ( SUBT]RANE\S
GALL]IES (! VOLCANO4 ,N[1 WE H NO EVID;E
6PROVE T ,SNE6ELS IS RE,Y EXT9CT4 ,:AT
PRO( H WE T AN ERUP;N IS N %ORTLY AB
6TAKE PLACE8 ,2C ! MON/] HAS SLEPT S.DLYS9CE #ABAI1 DOES X FOLL[ T HE IS     #II
N"E 6WAKE8
  8,IF HE DOES WAKE :AT IS 62COME ( U80
  ,^! 7 "QS WOR? ?9K+ AB1 & ^U !M ,I
REFLECT$ L;G & DEEPLY4 ,I CD N LIE D[N 9
SE>* ( SLEEP )\T DR1M+ ( ERUP;NS4 ,! M
,I ?"\1 ! M ,I OBJECT$ 6BE REDUC$ 6!
/ATE ( DROSS & A%ES4
  ,I CD /& X NO L;G]2 S ,I DET]M9$ AT
LA/ 6SUBMIT ! :OLE CASE 6MY UNCLE1 9 !
MO/ ADROIT MANN] POSSI#1 & "U ! =M ( "S
TOT,Y IRRECONCILA# HYPO!SIS4
  ,I S"\ HM4 ,I LAID 2F HM MY FE>S1 & !N
DREW BACK 9 ORD] 6LET HM GET 8 PAS.N OV]
AT 8 EASE4
  8,I H BE5 ?9K+ AB ! MATT]10 HE SD1 9 !
QUIETE/ T"O 9 ! _W4
  ,:AT DID HE M1N8 ,0 HE AT LA/ AB 6LI/5
6! VOICE ( R1SON8 ,DID HE ?9K ( SUSP5D+
8 PROJECTS8 ,X 0 ALM TOO M* HAPPI;S 6BE
TRUE4
  ,I H["E MADE NO REM>K4 ,9 FACT1 ,I 0
ONLY TOO ANXI\S N 69T]RUPT HM1 & ALL[$
HM 6REFLECT AT 8 LEISURE4 ,AF "S MO;TS
HE SPOKE \4  8,I H BE5 ?9K+ AB ! MATT]10 HE    #AJJ
RESUM$4 8,"E S9CE WE H BE5 AT ,/API1 MY
M9D HAS BE5 ALM SOLELY O3UPI$ )! GRAVE
"Q : HAS BE5 SUBMITT$ 6ME 0YRF- = NO?+
WD 2 UNWIS] & M 9CONSI/5T ?AN 6ACT )
IMPRUD;E40
  8,I HE>TILY AGREE ) Y1 MY DE> UNCLE10
0 MY "S:AT HOPE;L REJO9D]4
  8,X IS N[ SIX HUNDR$ YE>S S9CE
,SNE6ELS HAS SPOK51 B ?\< N[ REDUC$ 6A
/ATE ( UTT] SIL;E1 HE MAY SP1K AG4 ,NEW
VOLCANIC ERUP;NS >E ALW PREC$$ 0P]FECTLY
WELL-"KN PH5OM5A4 ,I H CLOSELY EXAM9$ !
9HABITANTS ( ? REGION2 ,I H C>E;LLY
/UDI$ ! SOIL1 & ,I BEG 6TELL Y
EMPHATIC,Y1 MY DE> ,H>RY1 "! W 2 NO
ERUP;N AT PRES5T40
  ,Z ,I LI/5$ 6HIS POSITIVE A6IRM,NS1 ,I
0 /UPEFI$ & CD SAY NO?+4
  8,I SEE Y D\BT MY ^W10 SD MY UNCLE2
8FOLL[ ME40
  ,I OBEY$ ME*ANIC,Y4
  ,L1V+ ! PRESBYT]Y1 ! ,PROFESSOR TOOK A
ROAD "? AN OP5+ 9 ! BASALTIC ROCK1 : L$
F> AWAY F ! SEA4 ,WE 7 SOON 9 OP5 C.TRY1IF WE CD GIVE S* A "N 6A PLACE      #AJA
ALL COV]$ ) VOLCANIC DEPOSITS4 ,! :OLE
L& SEEM$ CRU%$ "U ! WEI<T ( ENORM\S
/"OS- ( TRAP1 ( BASALT1 ( GRANITE1 (
LAVA1 &( ALL O!R VOLCANIC SUB/.ES4
  ,I CD SEE _M SP\TS ( /1M RIS+ 9 ! AIR4
,^! :ITE VAPORS1 CALL$ 9 ! ,ICEL&IC
LANGUAGE 8REYKIR10 -E F HOT WAT] F.TA9S1
& 9DICATE 0_! VIOL;E ! VOLCANIC ACTIV;Y
(! SOIL4 ,N[ ! SI<T ( ^! APPE>$ 6JU/IFY
MY APPREH5.N4 ,I WAS1 "!=E1 ALL ! M
SURPRIS$ & MORTIFI$ :5 MY UNCLE ?US
A4RESS$ ME4
  8,Y SEE ALL ? SMOKE1 ,H>RY1 MY BOY80
  8,YES1 SIR40
  8,WELL1 Z L;G Z Y SEE !M ?US1 Y H NO?+
6FE> F ! VOLCANO40
  8,H[ C T BE80
  8,BE C>E;L 6REMEMB] ?10 3T9U$ !
,PROFESSOR4 8,AT ! APPROA* ( AN ERUP;N
^! SP\TS ( VAPOR RED\# _! ACTIV;Y-
64APPE> ALT DUR+ ! P]IOD ( VOLCANIC
ERUP;N2 =! ELA/IC FLUIDS1 NO L;G] HAV+ !
NEC T5.N1 SEEK REFUGE 9 ! 9T]IOR (!
CRAT]1 9/1D ( ESCAP+ "? ! FISSURES (!E>?4 ,IF1 !N1 ! /1M REMA9S 9 XS     #AJB
NORMAL OR HABITUAL /ATE1 IF _! 5]GY DOES
N 9CR1SE1 & IF Y ADD 6?1 ! REM>K T ! W9D
IS N REPLAC$ 0H1VY ATMOSPH]IC PRESSURE &
D1D CALM1 Y MAY 2 Q SURE T "! IS NO FE>
( ANY IMM ERUP;N40
  8,B-0
  8,5\<1 MY BOY4 ,:5 SCI;E HAS S5T =? H]
FIAT- X IS ONLY 6HE> & OBEY40
  ,I CAME BACK 6! H\SE Q D[NCA/ &
4APPO9T$4 ,MY UNCLE _H -PLETELY DEF1T$
ME ) 8 SCI5TIFIC >GU;TS4 ,N"E!.S1 ,I _H
/ "O HOPE1 & T WAS1 :5 ONCE WE 7 AT !
BOTTOM (! CRAT]1 T X WD 2 IMPOSSI# 9
DEFAULT (A GALL]Y OR TUNNEL1 6DESC5D ANY
DEEP]2 & ?1 DESPITE ALL ! LE>N$
,SAKNUSSEMMS 9 ! _W4
  ,I PASS$ ! :OLE (! FOLL[+ NI<T )A
NI<TM>E ON MY *E/6 &1 AF UNHE>D-(
MIS]IES & TORTURES1 F.D MYF 9 ! V DEP?S
(! E>?1 F : ,I 0 SU45LY LAUN*$
96PLANET>Y SPACE1 "U ! =M ( AN ERUPTIVE
ROCK6
  ,NEXT "D1 ,JUNE #BC;D1 ,HANS CALMLY
AWAIT$ U \TSIDE ! PRESBYT]Y ) 8 ?REE-PANIONS LOAD$ ) PROVI.NS1 TOOLS1   #AJC
& 9/RU;TS4 ,TWO IRON-%OD POLES1 TWO
GUNS1 & TWO L>GE GAME BAGS1 7 RES]V$ =
MY UNCLE & MYF4 ,HANS1 :O 0 A MAN :O N"E
=GOT EV5 ! M9UTE/ PRECAU;NS1 _H A4$ 6\R
BA7AGE A L>GE SK9 FULL ( WAT]1 Z AN
A4I;N 6\R G\RDS4 ,? ASSUR$ U WAT] = EI<T
"DS4
  ,X 0 N9E O'C 9 ! MORN+ :5 WE 7 Q R1DY4
,! RECTOR & 8 HUGE WIFE OR S]VANT1 ,I
N"E KNEW :1 /OOD AT ! DOOR 6SEE U (F4
,!Y APPE>$ 6BE AB 69FLICT ON U ! USUAL
F9AL KISS (! ,ICEL&]S4 ,6\R SUPREME
A/ONI%;T _! ADIEU TOOK ! %APE (A =MIDA#
BILL1 9 : !Y EV5 C.T$ ! USE (! PA/ORAL
H\SE1 RE,Y & TRULY ! MO/ ABOM9A# & DIRTY
PLACE ,I "E 0 IN4 ,! WOR?Y C\PLE *1T$ &
RO2$ U L A ,SWISS 9NKEEP]1 & MADE U
FEEL1 0! SUM WE _H 6PAY1 ! SPL5DORS ( _!
HOSPITAL;Y4
  ,MY UNCLE1 H["E1 PD )\T B>GA9+4 ,A MAN
:O _H MADE UP 8 M9D 6"UTAKE A VOYAGE 96!
,9T]IOR (! ,E>?1 IS N ! MAN 6HA7LE OV] A
FEW MIS]A# RIX-DOLL>S4
  ,? IMPORTANT MATT] SETTL$1 ,HANS GAVE! SIGNAL = DE"PURE1 & "S FEW        #AJD
MO;TS LAT] WE _H LEFT ,/API4

