              ,,*APT] ,,II
         ,,! ,,BALLOON ,,ASC5.N

  ,WELL1 ,TOM GOT UP "O ?+ AF ANO!R1 B
!Y ALL _H T5D] SPOTS AB 'EM "S":S1 & HE
_H 6%OVE 'EM ASIDE4 ,S AT LA/ HE 0 AB 9
DESPAIR4 ,!N ! ,/4 ,L\IS PAP]S 2GUN
6TALK A GD D1L AB ! BALLOON T 0 GO+
6SAIL 6,EUROPE1 & ,TOM SORT ( ?"\ HE
WANT$ 6G D[N & SEE :AT X LOOK$ L1 B
CDN'T MAKE UP 8 M9D4 ,B ! PAP]S W5T ON
TALK+1 & S HE ALL[$ T MAYBE IF HE DIDN'T
G HE MI<TN'T "E H ANO!R *.E 6SEE A
BALLOON2 & NEXT1 HE F.D \ T ,NAT ,P>SONS
0 GO+ D[N 6SEE X1 & T DECID$ HM1 (
C\RSE4 ,HE WASN'T GO+ 6H ,NAT ,P>SONS -+
BACK BRA7+ AB SEE+ ! BALLOON1 & HM HAV+
6LI/5 6X & KEEP QUIET4 ,S HE WANT$ ME &
,JIM 6G TOO1 & WE W5T4
  ,X 0 A NO# BIG BALLOON1 & _H W+S &
FANS & ALL SORTS ( ?+S1 & WASN'T L ANY
BALLOON Y SEE 9 PICTURES4 ,X 0 AWAY \
T[>D ! $GE ( T[N1 9 A VACANT LOT1 CORN]
( ,TWELF? /REET2 & "! 0 A BIG CR[D >.D
X1 MAK+ FUN ( X1 & MAK+ FUN (! MAN1--A
L1N PALE FELL] ) T S(T K9D ( MOONLI<T 9
8 EYES1 Y "K1--& !Y KEPT SAY+ X WDN'T G4
,X MADE HM HOT 6HE> !M1 & HE WD TURN ON
!M & %AKE 8 FI/ & SAY !Y 0 ANIMALS & BL1
B "S "D !Y WD F9D !Y _H /OOD FACE 6FACE
) "O (! M5 T LIFTS UP N,NS & MAKES
CIVILIZ,NS1 & 0 TOO DULL 6"K X2 & "R "H
ON ? SPOT _! [N *N & GR&*N WD BUILD A
MONU;T 6HM T WD \TLA/ A ?\S& YE>S1 B 8
"N WD \TLA/ ! MONU;T4 ,& !N ! CR[D WD
BUR/ \ 9 A LAU< AG1 & YELL AT HM1 & ASK
HM :AT 0 8 "N 2F HE 0 M>RI$1 & :AT HE WD
TAKE 6N D X1 & :AT 0 8 SI/]'S CAT'S
GR&"M'S "N1 & ALL ! ?+S T A CR[D SAYS :5
!Y'VE GOT HOLD (A FELL] T !Y SEE !Y C
PLAGUE4 ,WELL1 "S ?+S !Y SD ,,0 FUNNY1--
YES1 & MI<TY WITTY TOO1 ,I A9'T D5Y+ T1
--B ALL ! SAME X W>N'T FAIR NOR BRAVE1
ALL !M P PIT*+ ON "O1 & !Y S GLIB & %>P1
& HM )\T ANY GIFT ( TALK 6ANSW] BACK )4
,B1 GD L&6 :AT DID HE WANT 6SASS BACK =8
,Y SEE1 X CDN'T D HM NO GD1 & X 0 J NUTS
= !M4 ,!Y ,,_H HM1 Y "K4 ,B T 0 8 WAY4
,I RECKON HE CDN'T HELP X2 HE 0 MADE S1
,I JUDGE4 ,HE 0 A GD 5 SORT ( CRETUR1 &
_HN'T NO H>M 9 HM1 & 0 J A G5IUS1 Z !
PAP]S SD1 : WASN'T 8 FAULT4 ,WE C'T ALL
2 S.D3 WE'VE GOT 6BE ! WAY WE'RE MADE4
,Z NE> Z ,I C MAKE \1 G5IUSES ?9K !Y "K
X ALL1 & S !Y WON'T TAKE P'S ADVICE1 B
ALW G _! [N WAY1 : MAKES "EYBODY =SAKE
!M & DESPISE !M1 & T IS P]FECTLY
NATURAL4 ,IF !Y 0 HUM#R1 & LI/5$ & TRI$
6LE>N1 X WD 2 BETT] = !M4
  ,! "P ! PROFESSOR 0 9 0 L A BOAT1 & 0
BIG & ROOMY1 & _H WAT]-TI<T LOCK]S >.D !
9SIDE 6KEEP ALL SORTS ( ?+S IN1 &A BODY
CD SIT ON !M1 & MAKE B$S ON !M1 TOO4 ,WE
W5T ABO>D1 & "! 0 TW5TY P "!1 SNOOP+ >.D
& EXAM9+1 & OLD ,NAT ,P>SONS 0 "!1 TOO4
,! PROFESSOR KEPT FUSS+ >.D GETT+ R1DY1
&! P W5T A%ORE1 DRIFT+ \ "O AT A "T1 &
OLD ,NAT HE 0 ! LA/4 ,( C\RSE X WDN'T D
6LET HM G \ 2H ,,US4 ,WE M/N'T BUDGE
TILL HE 0 G"O1 S WE CD 2 LA/ \RVS4
  ,B HE 0 G"O N[1 S X 0 "T = U 6FOLL[4
,I HE>D A BIG %\T1 & TURN$ >.D--! C;Y 0
DROPP+ F "U U L A %OT6 ,X MADE ME SICK
ALL "?1 ,I 0 S SC>$4 ,JIM TURN$ GRAY &
CDN'T SAY A ^W1 & ,TOM DIDN'T SAY NO?+1
B LOOK$ EXCIT$4 ,! C;Y W5T ON DROPP+
D[N1 & D[N1 & D[N2 B WE DIDN'T SEEM 6BE
DO+ NO?+ B J HANG 9 ! AIR & /& /4 ,!
H\SES GOT SMALL] & SMALL]1 &! C;Y PULL$
XF TGR1 CLOS] & CLOS]1 &! M5 & WAGONS
GOT 6LOOK+ L ANTS & BUGS CRAWL+ >.D1 &!
/REETS L ?R1DS & CRACKS2 & !N X ALL K9D
( MELT$ TGR1 & "! WASN'T ANY C;Y ANY M X
0 ONLY A BIG SC> ON ! E>?1 & X SEEM$ 6ME
A BODY CD SEE UP ! RIV] & D[N ! RIV] AB
A ?\S& MILES1 ?\< ( C\RSE X WASN'T S M*4
,BY & BY ! E>? 0 A BALL--J A R.D BALL1 (
A DULL COLOR1 ) %9Y /RIPES WRI7L+ & W9D+
>.D OV] X1 : 0 RIV]S4 ,! ,WI4] ,D\GLAS
ALW TOLD ME ! E>? 0 R.D L A BALL1 B ,I
N"E TOOK ANY /OCK 9 A LOT ( !M SUP]/I;NS
O' H]S1 &( C\RSE ,I PD NO ATT5;N 6T "O1
2C ,I CD SEE MYF T ! _W 0 ! %APE (A
PLATE1 & FLAT4 ,I US$ 6G UP ON ! HILL1 &
TAKE A LOOK >.D & PROVE X = MYF1 2C ,I
RECKON ! BE/ WAY 6GET A SURE ?+ ON A
FACT IS 6G & EXAM9E = YRF1 & N TAKE
ANYBODY'S SAY-S4 ,B ,I _H 6GIVE 9 N[ T !
WI4] 0 "R4 ,T IS1 %E 0 "R Z 6! RE/ (!
_W1 B %E W>N'T "R AB ! "P \R VILLAGE IS
IN2 T "P IS ! %APE (A PLATE1 & FLAT1 ,I
TAKE MY OA?6
  ,! PROFESSOR _H BE5 QUIET ALL ? "T1 Z
IF HE 0 ASLEEP2 B HE BROKE LOOSE N[1 &
HE 0 MI<TY BITT]4 ,HE SAYS "S?+ L ?3
  8,IDIOTS6 ,!Y SD X WDN'T G2 & !Y WANT$
6EXAM9E X1 & SPY >.D & GET ! SECRET ( X
\ ( ME4 ,B ,I B1T !M4 ,NOBODY "KS !
SECRET B ME4 ,NOBODY "KS :AT MAKES X
MOVE B ME2 & X'S A NEW P[]--A NEW P[]1 &
A ?\S& "TS ! /R;GE/ 9 ! E>?6 ,/1M'S
FOOLI%;S 6X6 ,!Y SD ,I CDN'T G 6,EUROPE4
,6,EUROPE6 ,:Y1 "!'S P[] ABO>D 6LA/ FIVE
YE>S1 & FE$ = ?REE MON?S4 ,!Y >E FOOLS6
,:AT D !Y "K AB X8 ,YES1 & !Y SD MY AIR-
%IP 0 FLIMSY4 ,:Y1 %E'S GD = FIFTY YE>S6
,I C SAIL ! SKIES ALL MY LIFE IF ,I WANT
TO1 & /E] ": ,I PL1SE1 ?\< !Y LAU<$ AT
T1 & SD ,I CDN'T4 ,CDN'T /E]6 ,-E "H1
BOY2 WE'LL SEE4 ,Y PRESS ^! BUTTONS Z ,I
TELL Y40
  ,HE MADE ,TOM /E] ! %IP ALL AB & E :
WAY1 & LE>NT HM ! :OLE ?+ 9 NE>LY NO "T2
& ,TOM SD X 0 P]FECTLY EASY4 ,HE MADE HM
FET* ! %IP D[N ,8MO/ 6! E>?1 & _H HM SP9
H] AL;G S CLOSE 6! ,ILL9OIS PRAIRIES T A
BODY CD TALK 6! F>M]S1 & HE> "EY?+ !Y SD
P]FECTLY PLA92 & HE FLUNG \ PR9T$ BILLS
6!M T TOLD AB ! BALLOON1 & SD X 0 GO+
6,EUROPE4 ,TOM GOT S HE CD /E] /RAI<T =A
TREE TILL HE GOT NE>LY 6X1 & !N D>T UP &
SK9 "R AL;G OV] ! TOP ( X4 ,YES1 & HE
%[$ ,TOM H[ 6L& H]2 & HE D"O X F/-RATE1
TOO1 & SET H] D[N 9 ! PRAIRIES Z S(T Z
WOOL4 ,B ! M9UTE WE />T$ 6SKIP \ !
PROFESSOR SAYS1 8,NO1 Y DON'T60 & %OT H]
UP 9 ! AIR AG4 ,X 0 AW;L4 ,I 2GUN 6BEG1
& S DID ,JIM2 B X ONLY GIVE 8 TEMP] A
RISE1 & HE 2GUN 6RAGE >.D & LOOK WILD \
( 8 EYES1 & ,I 0 SC>$ ( HM4
  ,WELL1 !N HE GOT ON 6HIS TR\#S AG1 &
M\RN$ & GRUM#D AB ! WAY HE 0 TR1T$1 &
CDN'T SEEM 6GIT OV] X1 & ESPECI,Y P'S
SAY+ 8 %IP 0 FLIMSY4 ,HE SC(F$ AT T1 &
AT _! SAY+ %E W>N'T SIMPLE & WD 2 ALW
GETT+ \ ( ORD]4 ,GET \ ( ORD]6 ,T
GRAVEL$ HM2 HE SD T %E CDN'T ANY M GET \
( ORD] ?AN ! SOL> SI/]4
  ,HE GOT WORSE & WORSE1 & ,I N"E SEE A
P]SON TAKE ON S4 ,X GIVE ME ! COLD %IV]S
6SEE HM1 & S X DID ,JIM4 ,BY & BY HE GOT
6YELL+ & SCR1M+1 & !N HE SWORE ! _W
%DN'T "E H 8 SECRET AT ALL N[1 X _H
TR1T$ HM S M1N4 ,HE SD HE WD SAIL 8
BALLOON >.D ! GLOBE J 6%[ :AT HE CD D1 &
!N HE WD S9K X 9 ! SEA1 & S9K U ALL AL;G
) X1 TOO4 ,WELL1 X 0 ! AW;LE/ FIX 6BE
IN1 & "H 0 NI<T -+ ON6
  ,HE GIVE U "S?+ 6EAT1 & MADE U G 6!
O!R 5D (! BOAT1 & HE LAID D[N ON A
LOCK]1 ": HE CD BOSS ALL ! "WS1 & PUT 8
OLD PEPP]-BOX REVOLV] "U 8 H1D1 & SD IF
ANYBODY -E FOOL+ >.D "! TRY+ 6L& H]1 HE
WD KILL HM4
  ,WE SET SCRUN*$ UP TGR1 & ?"\ 3SID]A#1
B DIDN'T SAY M*--ONLY J A ^W ONCE 9 A
:ILE :5 A BODY _H 6SAY "S?+ OR BU/1 WE 0
S SC>$ & WORRI$4 ,! NI<T DRA7$ AL;G SL[
& L"O"S4 ,WE 0 PRETTY L[ D[N1 &! MOON%9E
MADE "EY?+ S(T & PRETTY1 &! F>MH\SES
LOOK$ SNUG & HOME;L1 & WE CD HE> ! F>M
S.DS1 & WI%$ WE CD 2 D[N "!2 B1 LAWS6 WE
J SLIPP$ AL;G OV] !M L A <O/1 & N"E LEFT
A TRACK4
  ,AWAY 9 ! NI<T1 :5 ALL ! S.DS 0 LATE
S.DS1 &! AIR _H A LATE FEEL1 &A LATE
SMELL1 TOO--AB A TWO-O'C FEEL1 Z NE> Z
,I CD MAKE \--,TOM SD ! PROFESSOR 0 S
QUIET ? "T HE M/ 2 ASLEEP1 & WE'D
BETT]--
  8,BETT] :AT80 ,I SAYS 9 A :ISP]1 &
FEEL+ SICK ALL OV]1 2C ,I "K$ :AT HE 0
?9K+ AB4
  8,BETT] SLIP BACK "! & TIE HM1 & L& !
%IP10 HE SAYS4
  ,I SAYS3 8,NO1 SIR6 ,DON0' Y BUDGE1
,TOM ,SAWY]40
  ,& ,JIM--WELL1 ,JIM 0 K9D O' GASP+1 HE
0 S SC>$4 ,HE SAYS3
  8,OH1 ,M>S ,TOM1 ,,DON'T6 ,EF Y TE*ES
HM1 WE'S G"O--WE'S G"O %O0'6 ,I A9'T
GW9E ANE> HM1 N = NO?9' 9 DIS WORL0'4
,M>S ,TOM1 HE'S PLUMB CRAZY40
  ,TOM :ISP]S & SAYS--8,T'S ,,:Y WE'VE
GOT 6D "S?+4 ,IF HE WASN'T CRAZY ,I
WDN'T GIVE %UCKS 6BE ANY": B "H2 Y CDN'T
HIRE ME 6GET \--N[ T ,I'VE GOT US$ 6?
BALLOON & OV] ! SC>E ( 2+ CUT LOOSE F !
SOLID GR.D--IF HE 0 9 8 "R M9D4 ,B X'S
NO GD POLITICS1 SAIL+ >.D L ? )A P]SON
T'S \ ( 8 H1D1 & SAYS HE'S GO+ R.D ! _W
& !N DR[N U ALL4 ,WE'VE ,,GOT 6D "S?+1
,I TELL Y1 & D X 2F HE WAKES UP1 TOO1 OR
WE MAYN'T "E GET ANO!R *.E4 ,-E60
  ,B X MADE U TURN COLD & CREEPY J 6?9K
( X1 & WE SD WE WDN'T BUDGE4 ,S ,TOM 0 =
SLIPP+ BACK "! 0HMF 6SEE IF HE CDN'T GET
AT ! /E]+-GE> & L& ! %IP4 ,WE BE7$ &
BE7$ HM N TO1 B X W>N'T NO USE2 S HE GOT
D[N ON 8 H&S & KNEES1 & 2GUN 6CRAWL AN
9* AT A "T1 WE A-HOLD+ \R BR1? & WAT*+4
,AF HE GOT 6! MI4LE (! BOAT HE CREPT
SL[] ?AN "E1 & X DID SEEM L YE>S 6ME4 ,B
AT LA/ WE SEE HM GET 6! PROFESSOR'S H1D1
& SORT ( RAISE UP S(T & LOOK A GD SPELL
9 8 FACE & LI/54 ,!N WE SEE HM 2G9 69*
AL;G AG T[>D ! PROFESSOR'S FEET ": !
/E]+-BUTTONS WAS4 ,WELL1 HE GOT "! ALL
SAFE1 & 0 R1*+ SL[ & /1DY T[>D !
BUTTONS1 B HE KNOCK$ D[N "S?+ T MADE A
NOISE1 & WE SEE HM SLUMP D[N FLAT AN0'
S(T 9 ! BOTTOM1 & LAY /4 ,! PROFESSOR
/IRR$1 & SAYS1 8,:AT'S T80 ,B "EYBODY
KEPT D1D / & QUIET1 & HE 2GUN 6MUTT] &
MUM# & NE/LE1 L A P]SON T'S GO+ 6WAKE
UP1 & ,I ?"\ ,I 0 GO+ 6DIE1 ,I 0 S
WORRI$ & SC>$4
  ,!N A CL\D SLID OV] ! MOON1 & ,I ,8MO/
CRI$1 ,I 0 S GLAD4 ,%E BURI$ H]F DEEP] &
DEEP] 96! CL\D1 & X GOT S D>K WE CDN'T
SEE ,TOM4 ,!N X 2GAN 6SPR9KLE RA91 & WE
CD HE> ! PROFESSOR FUSS+ AT 8 ROPES &
?+S & ABUS+ ! W1!R4 ,WE 0 AFRAID E M9UTE
HE WD T\* ,TOM1 & !N WE WD 2 GON]S1 & NO
HELP2 B ,TOM 0 ALR ON 8 WAY BACK1 & :5
WE FELT 8 H&S ON \R KNEES MY BR1? /OPP$
SU451 & MY HE>T FELL D[N 'M;G/ MY O!R
"WS1 2C ,I CDN'T TELL 9 ! D>K B X MI<T 2
! PROFESSOR6 : ,I ?"\ X ,,WAS4
  ,DE>6 ,I 0 S GLAD 6H HM BACK T ,I 0 J
Z NE> HAPPY Z A P]SON CD 2 T 0 UP 9 !
AIR T WAY )A DERANG$ MAN4 ,Y C'T L& A
BALLOON 9 ! D>K1 & S ,I HOP$ X WD KEEP
ON RA9+1 = ,I DIDN'T WANT ,TOM 6G M$DL+
ANY M & MAKE U S AW;L UNCOM=TA#4 ,WELL1
,I GOT MY WI%4 ,X DRIZZL$ & DRIZZL$ AL;G
! RE/ (! NI<T1 : WASN'T L;G1 ?\< X DID
SEEM S2 & AT "DBR1K X CLE>$1 &! _W LOOK$
MI<TY S(T & GRAY & PRETTY1 &! =E/S &
FIELDS S GD 6SEE AG1 &! HORSES & CATTLE
/&+ SOB] & ?9K+4 ,NEXT1 ! SUN -E A-
BLAZ+ UP GAY & SPL5DID1 & !N WE 2GAN
6FEEL RU/Y & /RET*Y1 & F/ WE "K$ WE 0
ALL ASLEEP4


