             ,,*APT] ,,VII
      ,,TOM ,,RESPECTS ,,! ,,FLEA

  8,NOON60 SAYS ,TOM1 & S X WAS4 ,8 %A4]
0 J A BLOT >.D 8 FEET4 ,WE LOOK$1 &!
,GR9NAGE CLOCK 0 S CLOSE 6TWELVE !
DI6];E DIDN'T AM.T 6NO?+4 ,S ,TOM SD
,LONDON 0 "R NOR? ( U OR "R S\? ( U1 "O
OR T'O!R1 & HE RECKON$ 0! W1!R &! S& &!
CAMELS X 0 NOR?2 &A GD _M MILES NOR?1
TOO2 Z _M Z F ,NEW ,YORK 6! C;Y (
,MEXICO1 HE GUESS$4
  ,JIM SD HE RECKON$ A BALLOON 0 A GD
D1L ! FA/E/ ?+ 9 ! _W1 UN.S X MI<T 2 "S
K9DS ( BIRDS--A WILD PIGEON1 MAYBE1 OR A
RAILROAD4
  ,B ,TOM SD HE _H R1D AB RAILROADS 9
,5GL& GO+ NE>LY A HUNDR$ MILES AN H\R =A
LL WAYS1 & "! N"E 0 A BIRD 9 ! _W T CD D
T--EXCEPT "O1 & T 0 A FLEA4
  8,A FLEA8 ,:Y1 ,M>S ,TOM1 9 DE FU/
PLACE HE A9'T A BIRD1 /RICKLY SP1K9'--0
  8,HE A9'T A BIRD1 EH8 ,WELL1 !N1 :AT
IS HE80
  8,I DON'T "RLY "K1 ,M>S ,TOM1 B ,I
SPECK HE'S ONLY JI/ A0' ANIMAL4 ,NO1 ,I
RECKON DAT WON'T D1 NU!R1 HE A9'T BIG 5
=A0' ANIMAL4 ,HE MUS' 2 A BUG4 ,YASSIR1
DAT'S :AT HE IS1 HE'S A BUG40
  8,I BET HE A9'T1 B LET X G4 ,:AT'S YR
SECOND PLACE80
  8,WELL1 9 DE SECOND PLACE1 BIRDS IS
CRETURS DAT GOES A L;G WAYS1 B A FLEA
DON'T40
  8,HE DON'T1 DON'T HE8 ,-E1 N[1 :AT
,,IS A L;G 4T.E1 IF Y "K80
  8,:Y1 X'S MILES1 & LOTS ( 'EM--ANYBODY
"KS DAT40
  8,C'T A MAN WALK MILES80
  8,YASSIR1 HE K940
  8,Z _M Z A RAILROAD80
  8,YASSIR1 IF Y GIVE HM "T40
  8,C'T A FLEA80
  8,WELL--,I S'POSE S--EF Y GIVES HM
H1PS ( "T40
  8,N[ Y 2G9 6SEE1 DON'T Y1 T ,,4T.E
A9'T ! ?+ 6JUDGE BY1 AT ALL2 X'S ! "T X
TAKES 6G ! 4T.E ,,9 T ,,C.TS1 A9'T X80
  8,WELL1 HIT D LOOK SORT] S1 B ,I WDN'T
,8A0' B'LIEV$ X1 ,M>S ,TOM40
  8,X'S A MATT] ( ,,PROPOR;N1 T'S :AT X
IS2 & :5 Y -E 6GAUGE A ?+'S SPE$ 0XS
SIZE1 ":'S YR BIRD & YR MAN & YR
RAILROAD1 AL;GSIDE (A FLEA8 ,! FA/E/ MAN
C'T RUN M ?AN AB T5 MILES 9 AN H\R--N M*
OV] T5 ?\S& "TS 8 [N L5G?4 ,B ALL !
BOOKS SAYS ANY -MON ORD9>Y ?IRD-CLASS
FLEA C JUMP A HUNDR$ & FIFTY "TS 8 [N
L5G?2 YES1 & HE C MAKE FIVE JUMPS A
SECOND TOO--SEV5 HUNDR$ & FIFTY "TS 8 [N
L5G?1 9 "O LL SECOND--= HE DON'T FOOL
AWAY ANY "T /OPP+ & />T+--HE DOES !M BO?
AT ! SAME "T2 Y'LL SEE1 IF Y TRY 6PUT YR
F+] ON HM4 ,N[ T'S A -MON1 ORD9>Y1 ?IRD-
CLASS FLEA'S GAIT2 B Y TAKE AN ,EYE-
TALIAN ,,F/,'-CLASS1 T'S BE5 ! PET (!
NOBIL;Y ALL 8 LIFE1 & HASN'T "E "K$ :AT
WANT OR SICK;S OR EXPOSURE WAS1 & HE C
JUMP M ?AN ?REE HUNDR$ "TS 8 [N L5G?1 &
KEEP X UP ALL "D1 FIVE S* JUMPS E
SECOND1 : IS FIFTE5 HUNDR$ "TS 8 [N
L5G?4 ,WELL1 SUPPOSE A MAN CD G FIFTE5
HUNDR$ "TS 8 [N L5G? 9 A SECOND--SAY1 A
MILE &A HALF4 ,X'S N9ETY MILES A M9UTE2
X'S 3SID]A# M ?AN FIVE ?\S& MILES AN
H\R4 ,":'S YR MAN ,,N[8--YES1 & YR BIRD1
& YR RAILROAD1 & YR BALLOON8 ,LAWS1 !Y
DON'T AM.T 6%UCKS ,8L;GSIDE (A FLEA4 ,A
FLEA IS J A -ET B'IL$ D[N SMALL40
  ,JIM 0 A GD D1L A/ONI%$1 & S 0 ,I4
,JIM SD3
  8,IS DEM FI7]S JI/ $JACKLY TRUE1 EN NO
JOK9' EN NO LIES1 ,M>S ,TOM80
  8,YES1 !Y >E2 !Y'RE P]FECTLY TRUE40
  8,WELL1 D51 H"OY1 A BODY'S GOT
6RESPEC0' A FLEA4 ,I A9'T _H NO RESPEC0'
= UM 2FO0'1 SCA'SELY1 B DEY A9'T NO
GITT9' R\N0' X1 DEY D DES]VE X1 DAT'S
C]TA940
  8,WELL1 ,I BET !Y D4 ,!Y'VE GOT "E S
M* M S5SE1 & BRA9S1 & B"R;S1 9 PROPOR;N
6_! SIZE1 ?AN ANY O!R CRETUR 9 ! _W4 ,A
P]SON C LE>N !M ,8MO/ ANY?+2 & !Y LE>N X
QK] ?AN ANY O!R CRETUR1 TOO4 ,!Y'VE BE5
LE>NT 6HAUL LL C>RIAGES 9 H>;S1 & G ?
WAY & T WAY & T'O!R WAY AC 6_! ORD]S2
YES1 & 6M>* & DRILL L SOLDI]S1 DO+ X Z
EXACT1 AC 6ORD]S1 Z SOLDI]S DOES X4
,!Y'VE BE5 LE>NT 6D ALL SORTS ( H>D &
TR\#"S ?+S4 ,S'POSE Y CD CULTIVATE A
FLEA UP 6! SIZE (A MAN1 & KEEP 8 NATURAL
SM>T;S A-GR[+ & A-GR[+ "R AL;G UP1 BI7]
& BI7]1 & KE5] & KE5]1 9 ! SAME PROPOR;N
--":'D ! HUMAN RACE BE1 D Y RECKON8 ,T
FLEA WD 2 ,PRESID5T (! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 &
Y CDN'T ANY M PREV5T X ?AN Y C PREV5T
LI<TN+40
  8,MY LAN0'1 ,M>S ,TOM1 ,I N"E "K$ DEY
0 S M* ,,6DE B1S0'4 ,NO1 SIR1 ,I N"E _H
NO IDEA ( X1 & DAT'S DE FAC0'40
  8,"!'S M 6HM1 0A L;G SI<T1 ?AN "! IS
6ANY O!R CRETUR1 MAN OR B1/1 9 PROPOR;N
6SIZE4 ,HE'S ! 9T]E/+E/ ( !M ALL4 ,P H S
M* 6SAY AB AN ANT'S /R5G?1 & AN
ELEPHANT'S1 &A LOCOMOTIVE'S4 ,%UCKS1 !Y
DON'T 2G9 )A FLEA4 ,HE C LIFT TWO OR
?REE HUNDR$ "TS 8 [N WEI<T4 ,& N"O ( !M
C -E ANY": NE> X4 ,&1 MOREOV]1 HE HAS
GOT NO;NS ( 8 [N1 & IS V "PICUL>1 & Y
C'T FOOL HM2 8 9/9CT1 OR 8 JUDG;T1 OR
:AT"E X IS1 IS P]FECTLY S.D & CLE>1 &
DON'T "E MAKE A MISTAKE4 ,P ?9K ALL
HUMANS >E ALIKE 6A FLEA4 ,X A9'T S4
,"!'S FOLKS T HE WON'T G NE>1 HUNGRY OR
N HUNGRY1 & ,I'M "O ( !M4 ,I'VE N"E _H
"O ( !M ON ME 9 MY LIFE40
  8,M>S ,TOM60
  8,X'S S2 ,I A9'T JOK+40
  8,WELL1 SAH1 ,I HA9'T "E HE>D DE LIKES
O' DAT 2FO0'40 ,JIM CDN'T 2LIEVE X1 & ,I
CDN'T2 S WE _H 6DROP D[N 6! S& & GIT A
SUPPLY & SEE4 ,TOM 0 "R4 ,!Y W5T = ME &
,JIM 0! ?\S&1 B N A "O ( !M LIT ON ,TOM4
,"! W>N'T NO EXPLA9+ X1 B "! X 0 & "!
W>N'T NO GETT+ >.D X4 ,HE SD X _H ALW
BE5 J S1 & HE'D J Z SOON 2 ": "! 0 A
MILLION ( !M Z N2 !Y'D N"E T\* HM NOR
BO!R HM4
  ,WE W5T UP 6! COLD W1!R 6FREEZE 'EM \1
& /AY$ A LL SPELL1 & !N -E BACK 6! -=TA#
W1!R & W5T LAZY+ AL;G TW5TY OR TW5TY-
FIVE MILES AN H\R1 ! WAY WE'D BE5 DO+ =!
LA/ FEW H\RS4 ,! R1SON WAS1 T ! L;G] WE
0 9 T SOLEMN1 P1CE;L DES]T1 ! M ! HURRY
& FUSS GOT K9D ( SOO!D D[N 9 U1 &! M
HAPPI] & 3T5T$ & SATISFI$ WE GOT 6FEEL+1
&! M WE GOT 6LIK+ ! DES]T1 & !N LOV+ X4
,S WE _H CRAMP$ ! SPE$ D[N1 Z ,I 0 SAY+1
& 0 HAV+ A MO/ NO# GD LAZY "T1 "S"TS
WAT*+ "? ! GLASSES1 "S"TS /RET*$ \ ON !
LOCK]S R1D+1 "S"TS TAK+ A NAP4
  ,X DIDN'T SEEM L WE 0 ! SAME LOT T 0 9
S* A /ATE 6F9D L& & GIT A%ORE1 B X WAS4
,B WE _H GOT OV] T--CL1N OV] X4 ,WE 0
US$ 6! BALLOON N[ & N AFRAID ANY M1 &
DIDN'T WANT 6BE ANY":S ELSE4 ,:Y1 X
SEEM$ J L HOME2 X ,8MO/ SEEM$ Z IF ,I _H
BE5 BORN & RAIS$ 9 X1 & ,JIM & ,TOM SD !
SAME4 ,& ALW ,I _H _H HATE;L P >.D ME1
A-NA7+ AT ME1 & PE/]+ ( ME1 & SCOLD+1 &
F9D+ FAULT1 & FUSS+ & BO!R+1 & /ICK+
6ME1 & KEEP+ AF ME1 & MAK+ ME D ?1 &
MAK+ ME D T & T'O!R1 & ALW SELECT+ \ !
?+S ,I DIDN'T WANT 6D1 & !N GIV+ ME ,SAM
,HILL 2C ,I %IRK$ & D"O "S?+ ELSE1 & J
A7RAVAT+ ! LIFE \ (A BODY ALL ! "T2 B UP
"H 9 ! SKY X 0 S / & SUN%9Y & LOVELY1 &
PL5TY 6EAT1 & PL5TY ( SLEEP1 & /RANGE
?+S 6SEE1 & NO NA7+ & NO PE/]+1 & NO GD
P1 & J HOLI"D ALL ! "T4 ,L&1 ,I W>N'T 9
NO HURRY 6GIT \ & BUCK AT CIVILIZ,N AG4
,N[1 "O (! WOR/ ?+S AB CIVILIZ,N IS1 T
ANYBODY T GITS A LR ) TR\# 9 X -ES &
TELLS Y ALL AB X & MAKES Y FEEL BAD1 &!
NEWSPAP]S FET*ES Y ! TR\#S ( "EYBODY ALL
OV] ! _W1 & KEEPS Y D[NHE>T$ & 4MAL
,8MO/ ALL ! "T1 & X'S S* A H1VY LOAD =A
P]SON4 ,I HATE !M NEWSPAP]S2 & ,I HATE
LRS2 & IF ,I _H MY WAY ,I WDN'T ALL[
NOBODY 6LOAD 8 TR\#S ON 6O!R FOLKS HE
A9'T ACQUA9T$ )1 ON T'O!R SIDE (! _W1 T
WAY4 ,WELL1 UP 9 A BALLOON "! A9'T ANY (
T1 & X'S ! D>L+E/ PLACE "! IS4
  ,WE _H SUPP]1 & T NI<T 0 "O (!
PRETTIE/ NI<TS ,I "E SEE4 ,! MOON MADE X
J L "DLI<T1 ONLY A H1P S(T]2 & ONCE WE
SEE A LION /&+ ALL AL"O 0HMF1 J ALL AL"O
ON ! E>?1 X SEEM$ L1 & 8 %A4] LAID ON !
S& 0HM L A PU4LE ( 9K4 ,T'S ! K9D (
MOONLI<T 6H4
  ,MA9LY WE LAID ON \R BACKS & TALK$2 WE
DIDN'T WANT 6G 6SLEEP4 ,TOM SD WE 0 "R 9
! MID/ (! ,>ABIAN ,NI<TS N[4 ,HE SD X 0
"R AL;G "H T "O (! CUTE/ ?+S 9 T BOOK
HAPP5$2 S WE LOOK$ D[N & WAT*$ :ILE HE
TOLD AB X1 2C "! A9'T ANY?+ T IS S
9T]E/+ 6LOOK AT Z A PLACE T A BOOK HAS
TALK$ AB4 ,X 0 A TALE AB A CAMEL-DRIV] T
_H LO/ 8 CAMEL1 & HE -E AL;G 9 ! DES]T &
MET A MAN1 & SAYS3
  8,H Y RUN ACR A /RAY CAMEL TO-"D80
  ,&! MAN SAYS3
  8,WAS HE BL 9 8 LEFT EYE80
  8,YES40
  8,_H HE LO/ AN UPP] FRONT TOO?80
  8,YES40
  8,WAS 8 (F H9D LEG LAME80
  8,YES40
  8,WAS HE LOAD$ ) MILLET-SE$ ON "O SIDE
& H"OY ON ! O!R80
  8,YES1 B Y NE$N'T G 96NO M DETAILS--
T'S ! "O1 & ,I'M 9 A HURRY4 ,": DID Y
SEE HM80
  8,I HA9'T SE5 HM AT ALL10 ! MAN SAYS4
  8,HA9'T SE5 HM AT ALL8 ,H[ C Y
DESCRIBE HM S CLOSE1 !N80
  8,2C :5 A P]SON "KS H[ 6USE 8 EYES1
"EY?+ HAS GOT A M1N+ 6X2 B MO/ P'S EYES
A9'T ANY GD 6!M4 ,I "K$ A CAMEL _H BE5
AL;G1 2C ,I SE5 8 TRACK4 ,I "K$ HE 0
LAME 9 8 (F H9D LEG 2C HE _H FAVOR$ T
FOOT & TROD LI<T ON X1 & 8 TRACK %[$ X4
,I "K$ HE 0 BL ON 8 LEFT SIDE 2C HE ONLY
NIB#D ! GRASS ON ! "R SIDE (! TRAIL4 ,I
"K$ HE _H LO/ AN UPP] FRONT TOO? 2C ":
HE BIT 96! SOD 8 TEE?-PR9T %[$ X4 ,!
MILLET-SE$ SIFT$ \ ON "O SIDE--! ANTS
TOLD ME T2 ! H"OY L1K$ \ ON ! O!R--!
FLIES TOLD ME T4 ,I "K ALL AB YR CAMEL1
B ,I HA9'T SE5 HM40
  ,JIM SAYS3
  8,G ON1 ,M>S ,TOM1 HIT'S A MI<TY GD
TALE1 & P[];L 9T]E/9'40
  8,T'S ALL10 ,TOM SAYS4
  8,,ALL80 SAYS ,JIM1 A/ONI%$4 8,:AT
,8-E O' DE CAMEL80
  8,I DON'T "K40
  8,M>S ,TOM1 DON'T DE TALE SAY80
  8,NO40
  ,JIM PUZZL$ A M9UTE1 !N HE SAYS3
  8,WELL6 ,EF DAT A9'T DE B1T5ES' TALE
"E ,I /RUCK4 ,JI/ GITS 6DE PLACE :AH DE
9TRU/ IS GITT9' R$-HOT1 EN D[N %E BR1KS4
,:Y1 ,M>S ,TOM1 DEY A9'T NO ,,S5SE 9 A
TALE DAT ACTS L DAT4 ,HA9'T Y GOT NO
,,IDEA :E!R DE MAN GOT DE CAMEL BACK ]
N80
  8,NO1 ,I HAV5'T40
  ,I SEE MYF "! W>N'T NO S5SE 9 ! TALE1
6*OP SQU>E (F T WAY 2F X -E 6ANY?+1 B ,I
W>N'T GO+ 6SAY S1 2C ,I CD SEE ,TOM 0
S\R+ UP PRETTY FA/ OV] ! WAY X FLATT$ \
&! WAY ,JIM _H POPP$ ON 6! W1K PLACE 9
X1 & ,I DON'T ?9K X'S FAIR = "EYBODY
6PILE ON 6A FELL] :5 HE'S D[N4 ,B ,TOM
HE :IRLS ON ME & SAYS3
  8,:AT D ,,Y ?9K (! TALE80
  ,( C\RSE1 !N1 ,I _H 6-E \ & MAKE A
CL1N BR1/ & SAY X DID SEEM 6ME1 TOO1
SAME Z X DID 6,JIM1 T Z L;G Z ! TALE
/OPP$ SQU>E 9 ! MI4LE & N"E GOT 6NO
PLACE1 X RE,Y W>N'T WOR? ! TR\# ( TELL+4
  ,TOM'S *9 DROPP$ ON 8 BR1/1 & ,8/1D (
2+ MAD1 Z ,I RECKON$ HE'D BE1 6HE> ME
SC(F AT 8 TALE T WAY1 HE SEEM$ 6BE ONLY
SAD2 & HE SAYS3
  8,"S P C SEE1 & "S C'T--J Z T MAN SD4
,LET AL"O A CAMEL1 IF A CYCL"O _H G"O
BY1 ,,Y DU6]S WDN'T ,8A0' NOTIC$ !
TRACK40
  ,I DON'T "K :AT HE M1NT 0T1 & HE
DIDN'T SAY2 X 0 J "O ( 8 IRRULEV.ES1 ,I
RECKON--HE 0 FULL ( !M1 "S"TS1 :5 HE 0 9
A CLOSE PLACE & CDN'T SEE NO O!R WAY \--
B ,I DIDN'T M9D4 ,WE'D SPOTT$ ! S(T
PLACE 9 T TALE %>P 5\<1 HE CDN'T GIT
AWAY F T LL FACT4 ,X GRAVEL$ HM L ! N,N1
TOO1 ,I RECKON1 M* Z HE TRI$ N 6LET ON4


