              ,,*APT] ;,X
   ,A ,,/ORM ,,9 ,,! ,,URAL ,,M.TA9S

  ,,! ,URAL ,M.TA9S EXT5D 9 A L5G? ( OV]
TWO ?\S& MILES 2T ,EUROPE & ,ASIA4 ,:E!R
!Y >E CALL$ ! ,URALS1 : IS ! ,T>T>1 OR !
,POYAS1 : IS ! ,RUSSIAN "N1 !Y >E
CORRECTLY S T]M$2 = ^! "NS SIGNIFY8BELT0 9 BO? LANGUAGES4 ,RIS+ ON    #ACA
! %ORES (! ,>CTIC ,SEA1 !Y R1* ! BORD]S
(! ,CASPIAN4 ,? 0 ! B>RI] 6BE CROSS$
0,MI*AEL ,/ROG(F 2F HE CD 5T] ,SIB]IAN
,RUSSIA4 ,! M.TA9S CD 2 CROSS$ 9 "O
NI<T1 IF NO A3ID5T HAPP5$4 ,UN=TUNATELY1
?"U MUTT]+ 9 ! 4T.E ANN\NC$ T A /ORM 0
AT H&4 ,! ELECTRIC T5.N 0 S* T X CD N 2
4P]S$ )\T A TREM5D\S EXPLO.N1 : 9 !
PECULI> /ATE (! ATMOSPH]E WD 2 V T]RI#4
  ,MI*AEL TOOK C>E T 8 "Y -PANION %D 2 Z
WELL PROTECT$ Z POSSI#4 ,! HOOD1 : MI<T
H BE5 EASILY BL[N AWAY1 0 FA/5$ M
SECURELY ) ROPES1 CROSS$ ABV & AT !
BACK4 ,! TRACES 7 D\#D1 &1 Z AN A4I;NAL
PRECAU;N1 ! NAVE-BOXES 7 /U6$ ) /RAW1 Z
M* 69CR1SE ! /R5G? (! :EELS Z 6LESS5 !
JOLT+1 UNAVOIDA# ON A D>K NI<T4 ,LA/LY1
! =E & H9D] "PS1 3NECT$ SIMPLY 0! AXLES
6! BODY (! T>ANTASS1 7 JO9$ "O 6! O!R 0A
CROSSB>1 FIX$ 0M1NS ( P9S & SCREWS4
  ,NADIA RESUM$ H] PLACE 9 ! C>T1 &
,MI*AEL TOOK 8 S1T 2S H]4 ,2F ! L[]$
HOOD HUNG TWO L1!RN CURTA9S1 : WD 9 "S
DEGREE PROTECT ! TRAVEL]S AG/ ! W9D &RA94 ,TWO GRT LANT]NS1 SUSP5D$ F    #ACB
! IEMS*IK'S S1T1 ?REW A PALE GLIMM]
SC>CELY SU6ICI5T 6LI<T ! WAY1 B S]V+ Z
W>N+ LI<TS 6PREV5T ANY O!R C>RIAGE F
RUNN+ 96!M4
  ,X 0 WELL T ALL ^! PRECAU;NS 7 TAK51 9
EXPECT,N (A R\< NI<T4 ,! ROAD L$ !M UP
T[>DS D5SE MASSES ( CL\DS1 & %D ! CL\DS
N SOON RESOLVE 96RA91 ! FOG WD 2 S* T !
T>ANTASS WD 2 UNA# 6ADV.E )\T DANG] (
FALL+ OV] "S PRECIPICE4
  ,! ,URAL *A9 DOES N ATTA9 ANY V GRT
HEI<T1 ! HI<E/ SUMMIT N 2+ M ?AN FIVE
?\S& FEET4 ,ET]NAL SN[ IS "! UN"KN1 &
:AT IS PIL$ UP 0! ,SIB]IAN W9T] IS SOON
MELT$ 0! SUMM] SUN4 ,%RUBS & TREES GR[
6A 3SID]A# HEI<T4 ,! IRON & COPP] M9ES1
Z WELL Z ^? ( PRECI\S /"OS1 DRAW A
3SID]A# NUMB] ( "WM5 6T REGION4 ,AL1 ^?
VILLAGES T]M$ 8GAVODY0 >E "! MET )
PRETTY FREQU5TLY1 &! ROAD "? ! GRT
PASSES IS EASILY PRACTICA# = PO/-
C>RIAGES4
  ,B :AT IS EASY 5 9 F9E W1!R & BROAD
"DLI<T1 (F]S DI6ICULTIES & P]ILS :5 !ELE;TS >E 5GAG$ 9 FI]CE W>F>E1 &!   #ACC
TRAVEL] IS 9 ! MID/ ( X4 ,MI*AEL ,/ROG(F
KNEW F =M] EXP]I;E :AT A /ORM 9 ! M.TA9S
WAS1 & P]H ? WD 2 Z T]RI# Z ! SN[/ORMS :
BUR/ =? ) S* VEHEM;E 9 ! W9T]4
  ,RA9 0 N YET FALL+1 S ,MI*AEL RAIS$ !
L1!RN CURTA9S : PROTECT$ ! 9T]IOR (!
T>ANTASS & LOOK$ \1 WAT*+ ! SIDES (!
ROAD1 PEOPL$ ) FANTA/IC %AD[S1 CAUS$ 0!
WAV]+ LI<T (! LANT]NS4 ,NADIA1 MO;N.S1
H] >MS FOLD$1 GAZ$ =? AL1 ?\< )\T L1N+
=W>D1 :IL/ H] -PANION1 8 BODY HALF \ (!
C>RIAGE1 EXAM9$ BO? SKY & E>?4
  ,! CALM;S (! ATMOSPH]E 0 V ?R1T5+1 !
AIR 2+ P]FECTLY /4 ,X 0 J Z IF ,NATURE 7
HALF /IFL$1 & CD NO L;G] BR1!2 H] LUNGS1
T IS 6SAY ^? GLOOMY1 D5SE CL\DS1 N 2+ A#
6P]=M _! FUNC;NS4 ,! SIL;E WD H BE5
-PLETE B =! GR9D+S (! :EELS (! T>ANTASS
OV] ! ROAD1 ! CR1K+ (! AXLES1 ! SNORT+ (
! HORSES1 &! CLATT]+ ( _! IRON HO(S AM;G
! PEB#S1 SP>KS FLY+ \ ON E SIDE4
  ,! ROAD 0 P]FECTLY DES]T$4 ,! T>ANTASS
5C.T]$ NEI P$E/RIANS NOR HORSEM51 NOR A
VEHICLE ( ANY DESCRIP;N1 9 ! N>R[DEFILES (! ,URAL1 ON ? ?R1T5+       #ACD
NI<T4 ,N EV5 ! FIRE (A *>COAL- BURN] 0
VISI# 9 ! WOODS1 N AN 5CAMP;T ( M9]S NE>
! M9ES1 N A HUT AM;G ! BRU%WOOD4
  ,"U ^! PECULI> CIRCUM/.ES X MI<T H BE5
ALL[A# 6PO/P"O ! J\RNEY TILL ! MORN+4
,MI*AEL ,/ROG(F1 H["E1 _H N HESITAT$1 HE
_H NO "R 6/OP1 B !N--& X 2GAN 6CAUSE HM
"S ANXIETY--:AT POSSI# R1SON CD ^?
TRAVEL]S 9 ! TELGA AH1D H = 2+ S
IMPRUD5T8
  ,MI*AEL REMA9$ ?US ON ! LOOK-\ = "S
"T4 ,AB ELEV5 O'C LI<TN+ 2GAN 6BLAZE
3T9U\SLY 9 ! SKY4 ,! %AD[S ( HUGE P9ES
APPE>$ & 4APPE>$ 9 ! RAPID LI<T4 ,"S"TS
:5 ! T>ANTASS NE>$ ! SIDE (! ROAD1 DEEP
GULFS1 LIT UP 0! FLA%ES1 CD 2 SE5 YAWN+
2N !M4 ,F "T 6"T1 ON _! VEHICLE GIV+ A
WORSE LUR* ?AN USUAL1 !Y KNEW T !Y 7
CROSS+ A BRIDGE ( R\<LY-HEWN PLANKS ?R[N
OV] "S *ASM1 ?"U APPE>+ ACTU,Y 6BE
RUMBL+ 2L !M4 ,2SS ?1 A BOOM+ S.D FILL$
! AIR1 : 9CR1S$ Z !Y M.T$ HI<]4 ,) ^!
DI6]5T NOISES ROSE ! %\TS (! IEMS*IK1
"S"TS SCOLD+1 "S"TS COAX+ 8 POOR B1/S1:O 7 SU6]+ M F ! OPPRES.N (! AIR    #ACE
?AN ! R\<;S (! ROADS4 ,EV5 ! BELLS ON !
%AFTS CD NO L;G] R\SE !M1 & !Y /UM#D E
9/ANT4
  8,AT :AT "T % WE R1* ! TOP (! RIDGE80
ASK$ ,MI*AEL (! IEMS*IK4
  8,AT "O O'C 9 ! MORN+ IF WE "E GET "!
AT ALL10 REPLI$ HE1 )A %AKE ( 8 H1D4
  8,:Y1 MY FR1 ? W N 2 YR F/ /ORM 9 !
M.TA9S1 W X80
  8,NO1 & PRAY ,GOD X MAY N 2 MY LA/60
  8,>E Y AFRAID80
  8,NO1 ,I'M N AFRAID1 B ,I REP1T T ,I
?9K Y 7 WR;G 9 />T+40
  8,I %D H BE5 / M WR;G _H ,I /AY$40
  8,HOLD UP1 MY PIGEONS60 CRI$ !
IEMS*IK2 X 0 8 BUSI;S 6OBEY1 N 6"Q4
  ,J !N A 4TANT NOISE 0 HE>D1 %RILL
:I/L+ "? ! ATMOSPH]E1 S CALM A M9UTE 2F4
,0! LI<T (A DAZZL+ FLA%1 ALM IMMLY
FOLL[$ 0A TREM5D\S CLAP ( ?"U1 ,MI*AEL
CD SEE HUGE P9ES ON A HI< P1K1 B5D+ 2F !
BLA/4 ,! W9D 0 UN*A9$1 B Z YET X 0 !
UPP] AIR AL"O : 0 4TURB$4 ,SU3ESSIVE
CRA%ES %[$ T _M (! TREES _H BE5 UNA#6RESI/ ! BUR/ (! HURRICANE4 ,AN     #ACF
AVALAN*E ( %ATT]$ TRUNKS SWEPT ACR !
ROAD & DA%$ OV] ! PRECIPICE ON ! LEFT1
TWO HUNDR$ FEET 9 FRONT (! T>ANTASS4
  ,! HORSES /OPP$ %ORT4
  8,GET UP1 MY PRETTY DOVES60 CRI$ !
IEMS*IK1 A4+ ! CRACK+ ( 8 :IP 6! RUMBL+
(! ?"U4
  ,MI*AEL TOOK ,NADIA'S H&4 8,>E Y
ASLEEP1 SI/]80
  8,NO1 BRO!R40
  8,BE R1DY = ANY?+2 "H -ES ! /ORM60
  8,I AM R1DY40
  ,MI*AEL ,/ROG(F _H ONLY J "T 6DRAW !
L1!RN CURTA9S1 :5 ! /ORM 0 ^U !M4
  ,! IEMS*IK L1PT F 8 S1T & SEIZ$ !
HORSES' H1DS1 = T]RI# DANG] ?R1T5$ !
:OLE "PY4
  ,! T>ANTASS 0 AT A /&/ILL AT A TURN+ (
! ROAD1 D[N : SWEPT ! HURRICANE2 X 0
ABSOLUTELY NEC 6HOLD ! ANIMALS' H1DS 6!
W9D1 = IF ! C>RIAGE 0 TAK5 BROADSIDE X
M/ 9FALLIBLY CAPSIZE & 2 DA%$ OV] !
PRECIPICE4 ,! F"R5$ HORSES RE>$1 & _!
DRIV] CD N MANAGE 6QUIET !M4 ,8 FRLYEXPRES.NS _H BE5 SU3E$$ 0! MO/      #ACG
9SULT+ EPI!TS4 ,NO?+ 0 ( ANY USE4 ,!
UN=TUNATE ANIMALS1 BL9D$ 0! LI<TN+1
T]RIFI$ 0! 9CESSANT P1LS ( ?"U1 ?R1T5$ E
9/ANT 6BR1K _! TRACES & FLEE4 ,! IEMS*IK
_H NO L;G] ANY 3TROL OV] 8 T1M4
  ,AT T MO;T ,MI*AEL ,/ROG(F ?REW HMF F
! T>ANTASS & RU%$ 6HIS ASSI/.E4 ,5D[$ )
M ?AN -MON /R5G?1 HE MANAG$1 ?\< N )\T
DI6ICULTY1 6MA/] ! HORSES4
  ,! /ORM N[ RAG$ ) RED\#D FURY4 ,A
P]FECT AVALAN*E ( /"OS & TRUNKS ( TREES
2GAN 6ROLL D[N ! SLOPE ABV !M4
  8,WE _C /OP "H10 SD ,MI*AEL4
  8,WE _C /OP ANY":10 RETURN$ ! IEMS*IK1
ALL 8 5]GIES APP>5TLY OV]COME 0T]ROR4
8,! /ORM W SOON S5D U 6! BOTTOM (!
M.TA91 & T 0! %ORTE/ WAY40
  8,TAKE Y T HORSE1 C[>D10 RETURN$
,MI*AEL1 8,I'LL LOOK AF ? "O40
  ,A FRE% BUR/ (! /ORM 9T]RUPT$ HM4 ,!
DRIV] & HE 7 OBLIG$ 6CR\* ^U ! GR.D
6AVOID 2+ BL[N D[N4 ,! C>RIAGE1 NOT)/&+
_! EF=TS & ^? (! HORSES1 0 GRADU,Y BL[N
BACK1 & _H X N BE5 /OPP$ 0! TRUNK (ATREE1 X WD H G"O OV] ! $GE (!       #ACH
PRECIPICE4
  8,D N 2 AFRAID1 ,NADIA60 CRI$ ,MI*AEL
,/ROG(F4
  8,I'M N AFRAID10 REPLI$ ! "Y
,LIVONIAN1 H] VOICE N 2TRAY+ ! SLI<TE/
EMO;N4
  ,! RUMBL+ (! ?"U C1S$ = AN 9/ANT1 !
T]RI# BLA/ _H SWEPT PA/ 96! GORGE 2L4
  8,W Y G BACK80 SD ! IEMS*IK4
  8,NO1 WE M/ G ON6 ,ONCE PA/ ? TURN+1
WE % H ! %ELT] (! SLOPE40
  8,B ! HORSES WON'T MOVE60
  8,D Z ,I D1 & DRAG !M ON40
  8,! /ORM W -E BACK60
  8,D Y M1N 6OBEY80
  8,D Y ORD] X80
  8,! ,"F ORD]S X60 ANSW]$ ,MI*AEL1 =!
F/ "T 9VOK+ ! ALL-P[];L "N (! ,EMP]OR4
  8,=W>D1 MY SWALL[S60 CRI$ ! IEMS*IK1
SEIZ+ "O HORSE1 :ILE ,MI*AEL DID ! SAME
6! O!R4
  ,?US URG$1 ! HORSES 2GAN 6/RU7LE
ONW>D4 ,!Y CD NO L;G] RE>1 &! MI4LE
HORSE N 2+ HAMP]$ 0! O!RS1 CD KEEP 9 !C5T] (! ROAD4 ,X 0 )! GRTE/         #ACI
DI6ICULTY T EI MAN OR B1/S CD /& AG/ !
W9D1 &= E ?REE /EPS !Y TOOK 9 ADV.E1 !Y
LO/ "O1 & EV5 TWO1 02+ =C$ BACKW>DS4 ,!Y
SLIPP$1 !Y FELL1 !Y GOT UP AG4 ,!
VEHICLE RAN A GRT RISK ( 2+ SMA%$4 ,IF !
HOOD _H N BE5 SECURELY FA/5$1 X WD H BE5
BL[N AWAY L;G 2F4 ,MI*AEL ,/ROG(F &!
IEMS*IK TOOK M ?AN TWO H\RS 9 GETT+ UP ?
BIT ( ROAD1 ONLY HALF A V]/ 9 L5G?1 S
DIRECTLY EXPOS$ 0 X 6! LA%+ (! /ORM4 ,!
DANG] 0 N ONLY F ! W9D : BATT]$ AG/ !
TRAVEL]S1 B F ! AVALAN*E ( /"OS & BROK5
TRUNKS : 7 HURTL+ "? ! AIR4
  ,SU45LY1 DUR+ A FLA% ( LI<TN+1 "O ( ^!
MASSES 0 SE5 CRA%+ & ROLL+ D[N ! M.TA9
T[>DS ! T>ANTASS4 ,! IEMS*IK UTT]$ A
CRY4
  ,MI*AEL ,/ROG(F 9 VA9 BR"\ 8 :IP D[N
ON ! T1M1 !Y REFUS$ 6MOVE4
  ,A FEW FEET F>!R ON1 &! MASS WD PASS
2H !M6 ,MI*AEL SAW ! T>ANTASS /RUCK1 8
-PANION CRU%$2 HE SAW "! 0 NO "T 6DRAG
H] F ! VEHICLE4
  ,!N1 POSSESS$ 9 ? H\R ( P]IL )SUP]HUMAN /R5G?1 HE ?REW HMF 2H     #ADJ
X1 & PLANT+ 8 FEET ON ! GR.D1 0MA9 =CE
PLAC$ X \ ( DANG]4
  ,! ENORM\S MASS Z X PASS$ GRAZ$ 8 *E/1
TAK+ AWAY 8 BR1? Z ?\< X _H BE5 A
CANNON-BALL1 !N CRU%+ 6P[D] ! FL9TS ON !
ROAD1 X B.D$ 96! ABYSS 2L4
  8,OH1 BRO!R60 CRI$ ,NADIA1 :O _H SE5 X
ALL 0! LI<T (! FLA%ES4
  8,NADIA60 REPLI$ ,MI*AEL1 8FE> NO?+60
  8,X IS N ON MY [N A3.T T ,I FE>60
  8,GOD IS ) U1 SI/]60
  8,) ME TRULY1 BRO!R1 S9CE ,HE HAS S5T
!E 9 MY WAY60 MURMUR$ ! "Y GIRL4
  ,! IMPETUS ! T>ANTASS _H RCVD 0 N 6BE
LO/1 &! TIR$ HORSES ONCE M MOV$ =W>D4
,DRA7$1 S 6SP1K1 0,MI*AEL &! IEMS*IK1 !Y
TOIL$ ON T[>DS A N>R[ PASS1 LY+ NOR? &
S\?1 ": !Y WD 2 PROTECT$ F ! DIRECT
SWEEP (! TEMPE/4 ,AT "O 5D A HUGE ROCK
JUTT$ \1 R.D ! SUMMIT ( : :IRL$ AN $DY4
,2H ! %ELT] (! ROCK "! 0 A -P>ATIVE
CALM2 YET ONCE )9 ! CIRCUMF];E (!
CYCL"O1 NEI MAN NOR B1/ CD RESI/ XS P[]4
  ,9DE$1 "S FIRS : T[]$ ABV ? PROTEC;N 79 A TRICE %ORN ( _! TOPS1 Z ?\< A   #ADA
GIGANTIC SCY! _H SWEPT ACR !M4 ,! /ORM 0
N[ AT XS HEI<T4 ,! LI<TN+ FILL$ !
DEFILE1 &! ?"UCLAPS _H 2COME "O 3T9U$
P1L4 ,! GR.D1 /RUCK 0! 3CUS.N1 TREM#D Z
?\< ! :OLE ,URAL *A9 0 %AK5 6XS F.D,NS4
  ,HAPPILY1 ! T>ANTASS CD 2 S PLAC$ T !
/ORM MI<T /RIKE X OBLIQUELY4 ,B ! C.T]-
CURR5TS1 DIRECT$ T[>DS X 0! SLOPE1 CD N
2 S WELL AVOID$1 & S VIOL5T 7 !Y T E
9/ANT X SEEM$ Z ?\< X WD 2 DA%$ 6PIECES4
  ,NADIA 0 OBLIG$ 6L1VE H] S1T1 &
,MI*AEL1 0! LI<T ( "O (! LANT]NS1 4COV]$
AN EXCAV,N BE>+ ! M>KS (A M9]'S PICK1 ":
! "Y GIRL CD RE/ 9 SAFETY UNTIL !Y CD
ONCE M />T4
  ,J !N--X 0 "O O'C 9 ! MORN+--! RA9
2GAN 6FALL 9 TORR5TS1 & ? 9 A4I;N 6! W9D
& LI<TN+1 MADE ! /ORM TRULY F"R;L4
,63T9UE ! J\RNEY AT PRES5T 0 UTT]LY
IMPOSSI#4 ,2SS1 HAV+ R1*$ ? PASS1 !Y _H
ONLY 6DESC5D ! SLOPES (! ,URAL ,M.TA9S1
& 6DESC5D N[1 )! ROAD TORN UP 0A ?\S&
M.TA9 TORR5TS1 9 ^! $DIES ( W9D & RA91 0
UTT] MAD;S4  8,6WAIT IS 9DE$ S]I\S10 SD        #ADB
,MI*AEL1 8B X M/ C]TA9LY 2 D"O1 6AVOID /
L;G] DET5;NS4 ,! V VIOL;E (! /ORM MAKES
ME HOPE T X W N LA/ L;G4 ,AB ?REE O'C !
"D W 2G9 6BR1K1 &! DESC5T1 : WE _C RISK
9 ! D>K1 WE % 2 A#1 IF N ) EASE1 AT L1/
)\T S* DANG]1 6ATTEMPT AF SUNRISE40
  8,LET U WAIT1 BRO!R10 REPLI$ ,NADIA2
8B IF Y DELAY1 LET X N 2 6SP>E ME
FATIGUE OR DANG]40
  8,NADIA1 ,I "K T Y >E R1DY 6BRAVE
"EY?+1 B1 9 EXPOS+ BO? ( U1 ,I RISK M
?AN MY LIFE1 M ?AN YRS1 ,I AM N FULFILL+
MY TASK1 T DUTY : 2F "EY?+ ELSE ,I M/
A3OMPLI%40
  8,A DUTY60 MURMUR$ ,NADIA4
  ,J !N A B"R FLA% LIT UP ! SKY2 A L\D
CLAP FOLL[$4 ,! AIR 0 FILL$ ) SULPHUR\S
SU6OCAT+ VAPOR1 &A CLUMP ( HUGE P9ES1
/RUCK 0! ELECTRIC FLUID1 SC>CELY TW5TY
FEET F ! T>ANTASS1 FL>$ UP L A GIGANTIC
TOR*4
  ,! IEMS*IK 0 /RUCK 6! GR.D 0A C.T]-
%OCK1 B1 REGA9+ 8 FEET1 F.D HMF HAPPILY
UNHURT4  ,J Z ! LA/ GR[L+S (! ?"U 7 LO/    #ADC
9 ! RECESSES (! M.TA91 ,MI*AEL FELT
,NADIA'S H& PRESS+ HIS1 & HE HE>D H]
:ISP] ^! ^WS 9 8 E>3 8,CRIES1 BRO!R6
,LI/560

