              ,,*APT] ,,XV

  ,A ,,FEW M9UTES LAT] ,TOM 0 9 ! %OAL
WAT] (! B>1 WAD+ T[>D ! ,ILL9OIS %ORE4
,2F ! DEP? R1*$ 8 MI4LE HE 0 HALF-WAY
OV]2 ! CURR5T WD P]MIT NO M WAD+1 N[1 S
HE /RUCK \ 3FID5TLY 6SWIM ! REMA9+
HUNDR$ Y>DS4 ,HE SWAM QU>T]+ UP/R1M1 B /
0 SWEPT D[NW>D R FA/] ?AN HE _H EXPECT$4
,H["E1 HE R1*$ ! %ORE F9,Y1 & DRIFT$
AL;G TILL HE F.D A L[ PLACE & DREW HMF
\4 ,HE PUT 8 H& ON 8 JACKET POCKET1 F.D
8 PIECE ( B>K SAFE1 & !N /RUCK "? !
WOODS1 FOLL[+ ! %ORE1 ) /R1M+ G>;TS4
,%ORTLY 2F T5 O'C HE CAME \ 96AN OP5
PLACE OPPOSITE ! VILLAGE1 & SAW !
F]RYBOAT LY+ 9 ! %AD[ (! TREES &! HI<
BANK4 ,"EY?+ 0 QUIET "U ! BL9K+ />S4 ,HE
CREPT D[N ! BANK1 WAT*+ ) ALL 8 EYES1
SLIPP$ 96! WAT]1 SWAM ?REE OR F\R /ROKES
& CLIMB$ 96! SKIFF T DID 8YAWL0 DUTY AT
! BOAT'S /]N4 ,HE LAID HMF D[N "U !
?W>TS & WAIT$1 PANT+4
  ,PRES5TLY ! CRACK$ BELL TAPP$ &A VOICE
GAVE ! ORD] TO 8CA/ (F40 ,A M9UTE OR TWO
LAT] ! SKIFF'S H1D 0 /&+ HI< UP1 AG/ !
BOAT'S SWELL1 &! VOYAGE 0 2GUN4 ,TOM
FELT HAPPY 9 8 SU3ESS1 = HE KNEW X 0 !
BOAT'S LA/ TRIP =! NI<T4 ,AT ! 5D (A L;G
TWELVE OR FIFTE5 M9UTES ! :EELS /OPP$1 &
,TOM SLIPP$ OV]BO>D & SWAM A%ORE 9 !
DUSK1 L&+ FIFTY Y>DS D[N/R1M1 \ ( DANG]
( POSSI# /RA7L]S4
  ,HE FLEW AL;G UNFREQU5T$ ALLEYS1 &
%ORTLY F.D HMF AT 8 AUNT'S BACK F;E4 ,HE
CLIMB$ OV]1 APPROA*$ ! 8ELL10 & LOOK$ 9
AT ! SITT+-ROOM W9D[1 =A LI<T 0 BURN+
"!4 ,"! SAT ,AUNT ,POLLY1 ,SID1 ,M>Y1 &
,JOE ,H>P]'S "M1 GR\P$ TGR1 TALK+4 ,!Y 7
0! B$1 &! B$ 0 2T !M &! DOOR4 ,TOM W5T
6! DOOR & 2GAN 6S(TLY LIFT ! LAT*2 !N HE
PRESS$ G5TLY &! DOOR YIELD$ A CRACK2 HE
3T9U$ PU%+ CAUTI\SLY1 & QUAK+ E "T X
CR1K$1 TILL HE JUDG$ HE MI<T SQUEEZE "?
ON 8 KNEES2 S HE PUT 8 H1D "? & 2GAN1
W>ILY4
  8,:AT MAKES ! C&LE BL[ S80 SD ,AUNT
,POLLY4 ,TOM HURRI$ UP4 8,:Y1 T DOOR'S
OP51 ,I 2LIEVE4 ,:Y1 ( C\RSE X IS4 ,NO
5D ( /RANGE ?+S N[4 ,G 'L;G & %UT X1
,SID40
  ,TOM 4APPE>$ "U ! B$ J 9 "T4 ,HE LAY &
8BR1!D0 HMF =A "T1 & !N CREPT 6": HE CD
ALM T\* 8 AUNT'S FOOT4
  8,B Z ,I 0 SAY+10 SD ,AUNT ,POLLY1 8HE
W>N'T ,,BAD1 S 6SAY--ONLY MIS*,,EE,'V\S4
,ONLY J GI4Y1 & H>UM-SC>UM1 Y "K4 ,HE
W>N'T ANY M RESPONSI# ?AN A COLT4 ,,HE
N"E M1NT ANY H>M1 & HE 0 ! BE/-HE>T$ BOY
T "E WAS0--& %E 2GAN 6CRY4
  8,X 0 J S ) MY ,JOE--ALW FULL ( 8
DEVIL;T1 & UP 6E K9D ( MIS*IEF1 B HE 0 J
Z UNSELFI% & K9D Z HE CD BE--& LAWS B.S
ME1 6?9K ,I W5T & :IPP$ HM = TAK+ T
CR1M1 N"E ONCE RECOLLECT+ T ,I ?R[$ X \
MYF 2C X 0 S\R1 & ,I N"E 6SEE HM AG 9 ?
_W1 N"E1 N"E1 N"E1 POOR ABUS$ BOY60 ,&
,MRS4 ,H>P] SO2$ Z IF H] HE>T WD BR1K4
  8,I HOPE ,TOM'S BETT] (F ": HE IS10 SD
,SID1 8B IF HE'D BE5 BETT] 9 "S WAYS--0
  8,,SID60 ,TOM FELT ! GL>E (! OLD
LADY'S EYE1 ?\< HE CD N SEE X4 8,N A ^W
AG/ MY ,TOM1 N[ T HE'S G"O6 ,GOD'LL TAKE
C>E ( ,,HM--N"E Y TR\# ,,Y\R,'SELF1 SIR6
,OH1 ,MRS4 ,H>P]1 ,I DON'T "K H[ 6GIVE
HM UP6 ,I DON'T "K H[ 6GIVE HM UP6 ,HE 0
S* A -=T 6ME1 AL? HE TOR;T$ MY OLD HE>T
\ ( ME1 'MO/40
  8,! ,"L GIVE? &! ,"L HA? TAK5 AWAY--
,B.S$ 2 ! "N (! ,"L6 ,B X'S S H>D--,OH1
X'S S H>D6 ,ONLY LA/ ,SATUR"D MY ,JOE
BU/$ A FIRECRACK] "R "U MY NOSE & ,I
KNOCK$ HM SPRAWL+4 ,LL DID ,I "K !N1 H[
SOON--,OH1 IF X 0 6D OV] AG ,I'D HUG HM
& B.S HM = X40
  8,YES1 YES1 YES1 ,I "K J H[ Y FEEL1
,MRS4 ,H>P]1 ,I "K J EXACTLY H[ Y FEEL4
,NO L;G] AGO ?AN YE/]"D NOON1 MY ,TOM
TOOK & FILL$ ! CAT FULL ( ,PA9-KILL]1 &
,I DID ?9K ! CRETUR WD TE> ! H\SE D[N4
,& ,GOD =GIVE ME1 ,I CRACK$ ,TOM'S H1D )
MY ?IM#1 POOR BOY1 POOR D1D BOY4 ,B HE'S
\ ( ALL 8 TR\#S N[4 ,&! LA/ ^WS ,I "E
HE>D HM SAY 0 6REPROA*--0
  ,B ? MEMORY 0 TOO M* =! OLD LADY1 & %E
BROKE 5TIRELY D[N4 ,TOM 0 SNU6L+1 N[1
HMF--& M 9 P;Y ( HMF ?AN ANYBODY ELSE4
,HE CD HE> ,M>Y CRY+1 & PUTT+ 9 A K9DLY
^W = HM F "T 6"T4 ,HE 2GAN 6H A NO#R
OP9ION ( HMF ?AN "E 2F4 ,/1 HE 0
SU6ICI5TLY T\*$ 08 AUNT'S GRIEF 6L;G
6RU% \ F "U ! B$ & OV]:ELM H] ) JOY--&!
!ATRICAL GORGE\S;S (! ?+ APP1L$ /R;GLY
6HIS NATURE1 TOO1 B HE RESI/$ & LAY /4
  ,HE W5T ON LI/5+1 & GA!R$ 0O4S & 5DS T
X 0 3JECTUR$ AT F/ T ! BOYS _H GOT DR[N$
:ILE TAK+ A SWIM2 !N ! SMALL RAFT _H BE5
MISS$2 NEXT1 C]TA9 BOYS SD ! MISS+ LADS
_H PROMIS$ T ! VILLAGE %D 8HE> "S?+0
SOON2 ! WISE-H1DS _H 8PUT ? & T TGR0 &
DECID$ T ! LADS _H G"O (F ON T RAFT & WD
TURN UP AT ! NEXT T[N 2L1 PRES5TLY2 B
T[>D NOON ! RAFT _H BE5 F.D1 LODG$ AG/ !
,MISS\RI %ORE "S FIVE OR SIX MILES 2L !
VILLAGE--& !N HOPE P]I%$2 !Y M/ 2 DR[N$1
ELSE HUNG] WD H DRIV5 !M HOME 0NI<TFALL
IF N SOON]4 ,X 0 2LIEV$ T ! SE>* =!
BODIES _H BE5 A FRUIT.S EF=T M]ELY 2C !
DR[N+ M/ H O3URR$ 9 MID- *ANNEL1 S9CE !
BOYS1 2+ GD SWIMM]S1 WD O!RWISE H ESCAP$
6%ORE4 ,? 0 ,W$NES"D NI<T4 ,IF ! BODIES
3T9U$ MISS+ UNTIL ,SUN"D1 ALL HOPE WD 2
GIV5 OV]1 &! FUN]ALS WD 2 PR1*$ ON T
MORN+4 ,TOM %U4]$4
  ,MRS4 ,H>P] GAVE A SO2+ GD-NI<T &
TURN$ 6G4 ,!N )A MUTUAL IMPULSE ! TWO
2R1V$ WOM5 FLUNG !MVS 96EA* O!R'S >MS &
_H A GD1 3SOL+ CRY1 & !N "P$4 ,AUNT
,POLLY 0 T5D] F> 2Y H] WONT1 9 H] GD-
NI<T 6,SID & ,M>Y4 ,SID SNU6L$ A BIT &
,M>Y W5T (F CRY+ ) ALL H] HE>T4
  ,AUNT ,POLLY KNELT D[N & PRAY$ = ,TOM
S T\*+LY1 S APP1L+LY1 &) S* M1SURE.S
LOVE 9 H] ^WS & H] OLD TREMBL+ VOICE1 T
HE 0 WELT]+ 9 TE>S AG1 L;G 2F %E 0 "?4
  ,HE _H 6KEEP / L;G AF %E W5T 6B$1 = %E
KEPT MAK+ BROK5-HE>T$ EJACUL,NS F "T
6"T1 TOSS+ UNRE/;LLY1 & TURN+ OV]4 ,B AT
LA/ %E 0 /1 ONLY MOAN+ A LL 9 H] SLEEP4
,N[ ! BOY /OLE \1 ROSE GRADU,Y 0!
B$SIDE1 %AD$ ! C&LE-LI<T ) 8 H&1 & /OOD
REG>D+ H]4 ,8 HE>T 0 FULL ( P;Y = H]4
,HE TOOK \ 8 SYCAMORE SCROLL & PLAC$ X
0! C&LE4 ,B "S?+ O3URR$ 6HM1 & HE L+]$
3SID]+4 ,8 FACE LI<T$ )A HAPPY SOLU;N (
8 ?"\2 HE PUT ! B>K HA/ILY 9 8 POCKET4
,!N HE B5T OV] & KISS$ ! FAD$ LIPS1 &
/RAI<TWAY MADE 8 /1L?Y EXIT1 LAT*+ !
DOOR 2H HM4
  ,HE ?R1D$ 8 WAY BACK 6! F]RY L&+1 F.D
NOBODY AT L>GE "!1 & WALK$ BOLDLY ON
BO>D ! BOAT1 = HE KNEW %E 0 T5ANT.S
EXCEPT T "! 0 A WAT*MAN1 :O ALW TURN$ 9
& SLEPT L A GRAV5 IMAGE4 ,HE UNTI$ !
SKIFF AT ! /]N1 SLIPP$ 96X1 & 0 SOON R[+
CAUTI\SLY UP/R1M4 ,:5 HE _H PULL$ A MILE
ABV ! VILLAGE1 HE />T$ QU>T]+ ACR & B5T
HMF /\TLY 6HIS "W4 ,HE HIT ! L&+ ON !
O!R SIDE N1TLY1 = ? 0 A FAMILI> BIT ( "W
6HM4 ,HE 0 MOV$ 6CAPTURE ! SKIFF1 >GU+ T
X MI<T 2 3SID]$ A %IP & "!=E LEGITIMATE
PREY =A PIRATE1 B HE KNEW A ?OR\< SE>*
WD 2 MADE = X & T MI<T 5D 9 REVEL,NS4 ,S
HE /EPP$ A%ORE & 5T]$ ! WOODS4
  ,HE SAT D[N & TOOK A L;G RE/1 TORTUR+
HMF M1N:ILE 6KEEP AWAKE1 & !N />T$ W>ILY
D[N ! HOME-/RET*4 ,! NI<T 0 F> SP5T4 ,X
0 BROAD "DLI<T 2F HE F.D HMF FAIRLY
ABR1/ ! ISL& B>4 ,HE RE/$ AG UNTIL ! SUN
0 WELL UP & GILD+ ! GRT RIV] ) XS
SPL5DOR1 & !N HE PLUNG$ 96! /R1M4 ,A LL
LAT] HE PAUS$1 DRIPP+1 ^U ! ?RE%OLD (!
CAMP1 & HE>D ,JOE SAY3
  8,NO1 ,TOM'S TRUE-BLUE1 ,HUCK1 & HE'LL
-E BACK4
  ,HE WON'T DES]T4 ,HE "KS T WD 2 A
4GRACE 6A PIRATE1 & ,TOM'S TOO PR\D = T
SORT ( ?+4 ,HE'S UP 6"S?+ OR O!R4 ,N[ ,I
WOND] :AT80
  8,WELL1 ! ?+S IS \RS1 ANYWAY1 A9'T
!Y80
  ,PRETTY NE>1 B N YET1 ,HUCK4 ,! WRIT+
SAYS !Y >E IF HE A9'T BACK "H 6BR1KFA/40
  8,: HE IS60 EXCLAIM$ ,TOM1 ) F9E
DRAMATIC E6ECT1 /EPP+ GR&LY 96CAMP4
  ,A SUMPTU\S BR1KFA/ ( BACON & FI% 0
%ORTLY PROVID$1 & Z ! BOYS SET 6"W ^U X1
,TOM REC.T$ 7& ADORN$7 8 ADV5TURES4 ,!Y
7 A VA9 & BOA/;L -PANY ( H]OES :5 ! TALE
0 D"O4 ,!N ,TOM HID HMF AWAY 9 A %ADY
NOOK 6SLEEP TILL NOON1 &! O!R PIRATES
GOT R1DY 6FI% & EXPLORE4


