,,*APT] ,,VIII ,A ,,BL9D+ ,,FLA%

  ,/UMBL+ ON "? ! D>K WOODS1 L$ 0HIS
CAPTORS1 ,TOM TRI$ 6PI]CE ! GLOOM &
ID5TIFY ! P]SONS :O _H FIRM GRIPS ON EI
SIDE ( HM4 ,B X 0 USE.S4 ,A LL LI<T
SIFT$ D[N F ! />LIT SKY ABV1 B X 0 N
SU6ICI5T4 ,! "Y 9V5TOR 0 2G9N+ 6?9K1 AF
ALL1 T HE _H FALL5 96! H&S (! ,HAPPY
,H>RY GANG1 & HE KNEW T IF ? 0 S HE NE$
EXPECT NO M]CY4
  ,B TWO ?+S 7 AG/ ? 2LIEF4 ,"O 0 T !
PR9CIPAL MEMB]S (! GANG 7 / 9 JAIL1 OR
AT L1/ !Y 7 SUPPOS$ 6BE1 & ANO!R 0 T "!
7 TOO _M (! CAPTORS4 ,HAPPY ,H>RY'S CR[D
N"E NUMB]$ S _M4
  8,MAYBE !Y'RE HI<WAYM510 ?"\ \R H]O1 Z
HE 0 DRA7$ AL;G 8,B T C'T BE10 HE R1SON$
FUR!R4 8,IF !Y WANT$ 6ROB ME !Y'D H D"O
X BACK "! 9 ! ROAD1 & N BR"\ ME (F "H 9
! WOODS4 ,2SS1 ,I HAV5'T ANY?+ = !M
6/1L40
  ,SU45LY ,TOM /UM#D OV] A PROJECT+
ROOT1 & NE>LY FELL1 DRA7+ AL;G ) HM !
P]SON :O _H HOLD ( 8 LEFT >M4
  8,LOOK \ "!6 ,:AT'S ! MATT] ) Y80
EXCLAIM$ "O (! ?R;G QKLY1 & AT ! S.D (!
VOICE ,TOM />T$4
  8,&Y ,FOG]60 CRI$ ! "Y 9V5TOR1 Z HE
RECOV]$ HMF1 = HE _H RECOGNIZ$ ! VOICE
(! R$-HAIR$ BULLY4 8,:AT D Y M1N 0HOLD+
ME UP 9 ? WAY80 HE DEM&$4

8,QUIET60 URG$ A VOICE 9 8 E>1 &! T"OS 7
UNFAMILI>4 8,M5;N NO "NS60

  8,I'M ON 6YR GAME60 RETORT$ ,TOM4 8,I
"K Y'RE "H1 ,&Y1 & ,SAM & ,PETE2 & ,JACK
,REYNOLDS & ,SID ,HOLTON10 & HE "ND TWO
R LOOSE-"*$ LADS1 :O 7 (T5 9 ! -PANY (
,&Y & 8 CRONIES4 8,Y'D BETT] QUIT ?
NONS5SE10 ,TOM W5T ON4 8,I'LL CAUSE !
>RE/ ( ALL ( Y IF Y MAKE TR\# = ME4 ,I
"K :O Y >E N[60
  8,Y ?9K Y D10 ANSW]$ ! VOICE 9 8 E>1
&! "Y 9V5TOR 3CLUD$ T X M/ 2 "S LAD :OM
HE DID N "K4 8,NOR IS ? NONS5SE10 ! O!R
W5T ON4 8,Y >E AB 6RCV ! PUNI%;T DUE Y40
  ,\R H]O DID N ANSW]1 B HE 0 DO+ "S H>D
?9K+4 ,HE WOND]$ :Y ,&Y & 8 CR[D _H
CAPTUR$ HM4
  ,SU45LY ! BLACK;S (! WOODS 0 ILLUM9AT$
0! FIT;L GL1M (A 4TANT FIRE4 ,TOM CD SEE
M PLA9LY N[1 & HE MANAG$ 6C.T AB T5
DUSKY FIGURES HURRY+ AL;G1 F\R 2+ CLOSE
6HM1 6PREV5T 8 ESCAPE1 &! O!RS RUNN+ ON
AH1D4 ,! LI<T 2CAME /R;G]1 &1 A MO;T
LAT] ! PRISON] & 8 CAPTORS EM]G$ 96A LL
CLE>+1 ": A FIRE 0 BURN+4 ,TWO FIGURES1
MASK$ ) BLACK CLO?1 Z 7 ALL 9 ! CR[D1
/OOD AB ! BLAZE1 PUTT+ ON /ICKS ( WOOD4
  8,DID Y GET HM80 ASK$ "O ( ^! FIGURES
EAG]LY4
  8,YES1 !Y GOT ME1 ,SAM ,SNEDECK]10
ANSW]$ ,TOM QKLY1 RECOGNIZ+ ,SAM'S T"OS4
8,& !Y'LL WI% !Y _HN'T 2F ,I'M D"O )
!M40
  8,QUIET60 ORD]$ AN UN"KN VOICE4
8,MEMB]S (! ,DEEP ,=E/ ,?R;G1 ! PRISON]
IS "H60 ! LAD W5T ON4
  8',TIS WELL1 B9D ! CAPTIVE 6!
SACRIFICIAL TREE10 0 ! RESPONSE F "S "O
9 ! CR[D4
  ,TOM LAU<$4 ,HE 0 AT EASE N[1 = HE
RECOGNIZ$ T ^? :O _H TAK5 HM PRISON] 7
ALL LADS ( ,&Y'S "*4 ,MO/ ( !M 7 ,%OPTON
Y\?S1 B "S1 EVID5TLY1 7 /RANG]S 9 T[N4
,TOM FELT HE _H LL 6FE>4
  8,BR+ HM OV] "H10 ORD]$ "O1 & ,TOM
CRI$ \3
  8,Y WDN'T 2 GIV+ ^? ORD]S1 ,&Y ,FOG]1
IF MY >MS W]5'T TI$4 ,& IF Y'LL UNTIE
ME1 ,I'LL FI<T ANY TWO ( Y AT ONCE10
(F]$ ! "Y 9V5TOR FI]CELY1 = HE HAT$ !
HUMILI,N 6: HE 0 2+ SUBJECT$4
  8,DON'T D X6 ,DON'T UNTIE HM60 BE7$ "S
"O4
  8,NO DANG]1 !Y WON'T4 ,!Y'RE AFRAID
TO1 ,PETE ,BAILEY10 REPLI$ ,TOM QKLY1 =
HE _H RECOGNIZ$ ! VOICE (! O!R "O (
,&Y'S "PICUL> CRONIES4
  8,AW1 HE "KS :O WE >E10 :ISP]$ ,SAM1 B
N S L[ B T \R H]O HE>D HM4
  8,NO MATT]10 0 ,&Y'S RETORT4 8,LET'S G
AH1D ) X4 ,TIE HM 6T TREE40
  ,X 0 USE.S = ,TOM 6/RU7LE4 ,HE 0 B.D
TOO TI<TLY 0! ROPE1 &! CR[D 0 TOO _M =
HM4 ,9 A FEW M9UTES HE 0 SECURELY FA/5$
6A TREE1 N F> F ! CAMP-FIRE1 : 0
REPL5I%$ F "T 6"T4
  8,N[ =! JUDG;T60 CALL$ "O (! MASK$
LADS1 9 :AT HE M1NT 6BE A SEPUL*RAL T"O4
8,:AT IS ! *>GE AG/ ! PRISON]8 ,BRO!R
,NUMB] ,"O (! ,DEEP ,=E/ ,?R;G1 :AT IS
YR A3US,N80
  8,HE'S A REGUL> SNOB1 T'S :AT'S !
TR\#10 ANSW]$ ,&Y ,FOG]1 ?\< :E!R HE 0
8,BRO!R ,NUMB] ,"O10 DID N APPE>4 8,HE'S
TOO FRE% &--&--0
  8,I'LL MAKE Y WI% Y FELT FRE% :5 ,I
GET HOLD ( Y1 ,&Y10 MURMUR$ ,TOM4
  8,QUIET60 CRI$ A TALL LAD4 8,:AT'S !
NEXT *>GE80
  8,HE KEEPS AN OLD COLOR$ MAN ON GU>D
AT 8 PLACE10 0 ! ANSW]1 & ,TOM _H NO
DI6ICULTY 9 RECOGNIZ+ ! VOICE ( ,SID
,HOLTON4 8,! COON ?R[S :ITEWA% ALL OV]
U4 ,I GOT "S ( X40

8,Y WDN'T H1 IF Y'D M9D$ YR [N BUSI;S10
RETORT$ ,TOM4 8,X S]V$ Y "R60

  8,:AT IS ! V]DICT ON ! PRISON]80 ASK$
"O :O SEEM$ 6BE ! L1D]4
  8,I SAY LET'S T> & F1!R HM60 CRI$ ,&Y
SU45LY4 8,"!'S A B>REL ( T> BACK 9 !
WOODS "H1 & WE C GET "S F1!RS F A *ICK5
COOP4 ,T WD MAKE HM S HE WDN'T 2 S
UPPI%1 ,I GUESS60
  8,T'S "R6 ,T> & F1!RS60 EXCLAIM$
S"EAL4
  ,\R H]O'S HE>T SANK4 ,HE 0 N AFRAID1 B
HE DID N RELI% ! 9DIGN;Y T 0 PROPOS$4
,HE RESOLV$ 6FI<T 6! LA/ \NCE ( 8 /R5G?
AG/ ! MASK$ LADS4
  8,C WE GET A KETTLE 6H1T ! T> IN80
ASK$ "S "O4
  8,WE'LL F9D "O10 ANSW]$ ,SAM
,SNEDECK]4 8,-E ON1 LET'S D X4 ,Y'LL
LOOK PRETTY1 ,TOM ,SWIFT1 :5 WE'RE "? )
Y10 HE EXULT$4
  ,TOM DID N ANSW]1 B "! 0 FI]CE ANG] 9
8 HE>T4 ,! T> & F1!R PROPOSAL SEEM$
6MEET ) G5]AL FAVOR4
  8,MEMB]S (! ,DEEP ,=E/ ,?R;G1 WE W
HOLD A 3SULT,N10 PROPOS$ ! L1D]1 9 8
ASSUM$ DEEP VOICE4 8,-E OV] "H1 6"O
SIDE4 ,BRO!R ,NUMB] ,SIX1 GU>D ! PRISON]
WELL40
  8,"! A9'T NO NE$ TO10 ANSW]$ A LAD :O
_H BE5 9/RUCT$ 6M.T GU>D OV] ,TOM4
8,HE'S TI$ S TI<T HE C'T MOVE4 ,I WANT
6HE> :AT Y SAY40
  8,V WELL !N10 ASS5T$ ! L1D]1 8,B LOOK
6HIS BONDS40
  ,! LAD MADE A HA/Y EXAM9,N (! ROPES
B9D+ ! "Y 9V5TOR 6! TREE1 & ,TOM 0 GLAD
T ! EXAM9,N 0 A HA/Y "O4 ,= HE FE>$ !
GU>D MI<T 4COV] T "O H& _H BE5 "W$ NE>LY
FREE4 ,! "Y 9V5TOR _H D"O ? :ILE HE LE]$
AT 8 CAPTORS4
  ,TOM 0 N GO+ 6SUBMIT TAMELY 6!
NONS5SE1 & F ! MO;T HE _H BE5 TI$1 HE _H
BE5 TRY+ 6GET LOOSE4 ,HE _H NE>LY SU3E$$
9 FREE+ "O H& :5 ! CR[D ( MASK$ BOYS
MOV$ (F 6"O SIDE1 ": !Y PRES5TLY 2GAN
6TALK 9 EXCIT$ :ISP]S4
  8,I WOND] H[ !Y CAME 6CAT* ME10 ?"\ !
PRISON]1 Z HE "W$ FEV]I%LY 6FUR!R LOOS5
! ROPES4 8,? LOOKS Z IF X 0 A PUT-UP
JOB1 )! MASKS1 & "EY?+40 ,LAT] HE LE>N$
T ! IDEA 0 ! \TCOME (A PROPOSAL ( "O (!
NEW >RIVALS 9 T[N4 ,HE _H ORGANIZ$ !
8,DEEP ,=E/ ,?R;G10 Z A SORT ( SECRET
SOCIETY1 & ,&Y & 8 CRONIES _H BE5 9DUC$
6JO94 ,X 0 ,&Y'S PROPOSAL 6CAPTURE ,TOM1
?\<1 &1 HAV+ SE5 HM DE"P = ,MANSBURG ON
8 MOTOR-CYCLE1 & "K+ T HE WD RETURN AL;G
A ROAD T RAN NE> ! WOODS ": ! ,?R;G MET1
SU7E/$ T !Y TAKE ,TOM CAPTIVE4 ,! IDEA 0
5?USIA/IC,Y RCVD1 & ,&Y & 8 CRONIES ?"\
!Y SAW A *.E 6BE REV5G$4
  ,TOM1 :ILE HE PICK$ AT ! ROPES1 LI/5$
6:AT ! BOYS 7 SAY+4 ,HE HE>D FREQU5T
M5;N ( T> & F1!RS1 & 2GAN 62LIEVE1 T
UN.S HE CD GET FREE1 :ILE !Y 7 (F "!
3SULT+1 HE MI<T 2 =C$ 6SUBMIT 6!
HUMILIAT+ ORD1L4
  ,HE MANAG$ 6GET "O H& -P>ATIVELY FREE1
S T HE CD MOVE X AB1 B !N HE /RUCK S"EAL
H>D KNOTS1 & CD MAKE NO FUR!R PROGRESS4
,! 3F];E SEEM$ ON ! PO9T ( BR1K+ UP4
  8,"O ( Y G =A BIG KETTLE 6BOIL ! T>
IN10 ORD]$ ! L1D]1 8&! RE/ ( Y DIG UP "S
F1!RS40
  8,I M/ GET LOOSE60 ?"\ ,TOM
DESP]ATELY4 8,IF !Y TRY 6T> & F1!R ME X
W 2 A RISKY BUSI;S4 ,I'VE GOT 6GET
LOOSE6 ,!Y MAY BURN ME SEV]ELY60
  ,B1 ?\< HE TRI$ ) ALL 8 /R5G?1 ! ROPES
WD N LOOS5 ANO!R BIT4 ,HE _H "O H& FREE1
& T 0 ALL4 ,! CR[D 0 MOV+ BACK T[>D HM4
  8,MY KNIFE60 ?"\ ! CAPTIVE QKLY4 8,IF
,I C R1* T 9 MY POCKET ,I C CUT ! ROPES6
,ONCE ,I GET LOOSE ,I'LL FI<T ! :OLE
CR[D60
  ,HE MANAG$ 6GET 8 FREE H& 96HIS
POCKET4 ,8 F+]S T\*$ "S?+4 ,X 0 N 8
KNIFE1 &1 =A MO;T HE FELT A PANG (
4APPO9T;T4 ,!N1 Z HE R1LIZ$ :AT X 0 T HE
_H GRASP$1 A NEW IDEA CAME 6HM4
  8,? W 2 BETT] ?AN ! KNIFE60 HE ?"\
EXULTANTLY4 ,! CR[D ( LADS 0 N[ SURR.D+
HM1 "S 4T.E F ! FIRE1 : BURN$ 9 FRONT (!
CAPTIVE4
  8,S5T;E HAS BE5 PASS$ ^U Y10 REM>K$ !
L1D]4 8,PREP>E 6MEET ?Y DOOM6 ,GET !
MAT]IALS1 BRO!RS60
  8,"O MO;T60 CALL$ ,TOM1 = HE WANT$ !
CR[D ALL PRES5T 6WIT;S :AT HE 0 AB 6D4
8,I'LL GIVE Y "O *.E 6LET ME G P1CEABLY4
,IF Y DON'T--0
  8,WELL1 :AT W Y D80 DEM&$ ,&Y SNE]+LY1
Z HE PULL$ 8 MASK FUR!R OV] 8 FACE4 8,I
GUESS Y WON'T D ANY?+1 ,TOM ,SWIFT40
  8,I'LL GIVE Y "O *.E 6LET ME G1 &
,I'LL AGREE 6SAY NO?+ AB ? JOKE10 W5T ON
,TOM4 8,IF Y DON'T ,I'LL BL[ ? PLACE
UP60
  ,=A MO;T "! 0 A SIL;E4
  8,HA6 ,HA6 ,HO6 ,HO60 LAU<$ ,SAM
,SNEDECK]4 8,LI/5 6HM6 ,HE'LL BL[ !
PLACE UP6 ,I'D L 6SEE Y D X6 ,Y C'T GET
LOOSE 9 ! F/ PLACE1 & Y HAV5'T ANY?+
6BL[ X UP ) 9 ! SECOND4 ,I'D L 6SEE Y D
X2 HEY1 FELL]S80
  8,SURE10 CAME ! ANSW]+ *ORUS4
  8,WD Y80 ASK$ ,TOM QKLY4 8,!N WAT*4
,/& BACK IF Y DON'T WANT 6GET HURT1 &
REMEMB] T ,I GAVE Y A *.E 6LET ME G60
  ,TOM MADE A RAPID MO;N )! H& HE _H
GOTT5 LOOSE4 ,HE ?REW "S?+ 6W>D ! BLAZ+
FIRE1 : 0 N[ BURN+ WELL4 ,"S?+ :ITE
SAIL$ "? ! AIR1 & FELL AMID ! HOT EMB]S4
  ,"! 0 A MO;T'S PAUSE1 & !N A BL9D+
FLA% ( BLUE FIRE LI<T$ UP ! WOODS1 &A
DULL RUM#1 Z :5 GUN-P[D] IS LI<T$ 9 !
OP5 FOLL[$4 ,A GRT CL\D ( :ITE SMOKE
>OSE1 Z ! VIVID BLUE GL>E DI$ AWAY1 & X
SEEM$ Z IF A GRT W9D SWEPT OV] ! PLACE4
,S"EAL (! MASK$ LADS 7 KNOCK$ D[N 0!
EXPLO.N1 & :5 ! RUM# DI$ AWAY1 & DEEP
BLACK;S SU3E$$ ! 9T5SE BLUE LI<T1 "!
CAME CRIES ( PA9 & T]ROR4 ,! FIRE _H BE5
SCATT]$1 & EXT+UI%$ 0! EXPLO.N : ,TOM1
?\< / B.D 6! TREE _H CAUS$ 6HAPP5 9 !
MID/ (! ,DEEP ,=E/ ,?R;G4 ,!N1 Z ! SMOKE
ROLL$ AWAY1 ,&Y ,FOG] CRI$3
  8,-E ON1 FELL[S6 ,"S?+'S HAPP5$4 ,I
GUESS A VOLCANO BLEW UP60















