,*APT] ,,XX

,DESPAIR

  ,CALL+ 6A GIRL ( AB ?IRTE5 YE>S 6LOOK
AF H] BABY1 ,MASNI SLIPP$ AL;G UP A R\<
M.TA9 TRAIL1 MO;N+ 6,TOM1 ,MR4 ,DAMON &
,KOKU 6FOLL[4 ,OR R1 ! WOMAN GAVE ! SIGN
6,TOM1 IGNOR+ ! O!RS1 :O1 NATUR,Y1 WD N
2 LEFT 2H4 ,MASNI SEEM$ 6H EYES = NO "O
B ! "Y 9V5TOR1 &! MANN] 9 : %E LOOK$ AT
HM %[$ ! DEEP GRATITUDE %E FELT T[>D HM
= HAV+ SAV$ H] BABY F ! GRT 3DOR4
  8,-E10 %E SD1 9 H] /RANGE ,9DIAN
T;GUE1 : ,TOM CD 9T]PRET WELL 5 = HMF
N[4
  8,B ": >E WE GO+1 ,MASNI80 HE ASK$4
8,? ISN'T ! WAY 6! TUNNEL40
  8,ME "K4 ,N G 6TUNNEL N[10 0 H] ANSW]4
8,ME %[ Y M540
  8,B : M5 D Y M1N1 ,MASNI80 9QUIR$
,TOM4 8,! LO/ M51 OR ! BAD "OS1 :O >E
MAK+ TR\# = U8 ,: M5 D Y M1N80
  ,MASNI ONLY %OOK H] H1D1 & MURMUR$3
8,ME %[40
,PROBABLY ,TOM'S ATTEMPT 6TALK H]
  LANGUAGE 0 N
SU6ICI5TLY CLE> 6H]4

  8,MY MAN--HE GD MAN10 %E SD1 -+ 6A
PAUSE ON ! R\< TRAIL AF A CLIMB : 0 N
EASY4
  8,YES1 ,I "K HE IS10 ,TOM SD4 8,B HE
W5T ON A /RIKE )! O!RS1 ,MASNI4 ,HE NO
"W4 ,HE G ON A ,8HIT10' Z ,S]ATO CALLS
X10 & ,TOM LAU<$4
  8,MY MAN HE GD MAN--B HE 'FRAID10 SD !
WIFE4 8,HE WANT 6TELL Y ( BAD MANS1 B HE
'FRAID4 ,Y SAVE MY BABY1 ,I NO 'FRAID4
,I TELL40
  8,OH1 ,I SEE10 SD ,TOM4 8,YR HUSB& WD
H GIV5 AWAY ! SECRET1 ONLY HE'S AFRAID
(! BAD M54 ,HE LIKES ME1 TOO80
  8,SURE60 ,MASNI EXCLAIM$4 8,HE WANT
TELL1 B 'FRAID4 ,HE G 'WAY1 ,I TELL40
  ,TOM 0 N Q SURE :AT X ALL M1NT1 B X
SEEM$ T AF 8 SLAY+ (! 3DOR BO? P>5TS 7 S
FILL$ ) GRATITUDE T !Y WANT$ 6REV1L "S
SECRET AB ! TUNNEL1 ONLY ,MASNI'S HUSB&
0 AFRAID4 ,%E1 H["E1 _H BE5 BRAV]4
  8,"S?+ IS GO+ 6HAPP510 SD ,TOM ,SWIFT4
8,I FEEL X 9 MY B"OS60

8,B.S MY POR\S PLA/]60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,I HOPE X
ISN'T ANY?+ S]I\S40

  8,WE'LL SEE10 ,TOM W5T ON4
  ,!Y RESUM$ _! J\RNEY UP ! M.TA9 TRAIL4
,X W.D 9 & \ 9 A REGION N"O ( !M _H 2F
VISIT$4 ,?\< X CD N 2 F> F ! TUNNEL1 X 0
ALM A /RANGE C.TRY 6,TOM4
  ,SU45LY ,MASNI /OPP$ 9 A N>R[ GORGE ":
! WALLS ( ROCK ROSE HI< ON EI H&4 ,%E
SEEM$ LOOK+ = "S?+4 ,H] %>P1 BLACK EYES
SCANN$ ! CLIFF & !N ) AN EXCLAM,N (
SATISFAC;N %E APPROA*$ A C]TA9 PLACE4
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TANGL$ V9ES1 & 4CLOS$ A PA? L1D+ D[N "?
A ;,V %AP$ CRACK 9 ! CLIFF4
  8,MANS D[N "!10 %E SD4 8,Y G LOOK40
  ,=A MO;T ,TOM HESITAT$4 ,0 ? A TRAP8
,IF HE & 8 FRS 5T]$ ? N>R[ & D>K OP5+
MI<T N ! ,9DIAN WOMAN ROLL D[N "S ROCK
BACK ( !M1 CUTT+ (F ="E ! WAY ( ESCAPE8
  ,TOM TURN$ & LOOK$ AT ,MASNI4 ,!N HE 0
A%AM$ ( 8 SUSPICION1 =! H"O/ BLACK FACE1
SMIL+ AT HM1 %[$ NO TRACE ( GUILE4
  8,Y G--Y SEE LO/ M510 ! WOMAN URG$4
  8,-E ON60 CRI$ ,TOM4 8,I 2LIEVE WE'RE
ON ! TRACK (! MY/]Y60
  ,HE L$ ! WAY1 FOLL[$ 0,MR4 ,DAMON1
:ILE ,KOKU CAME NEXT & !N ,MASNI4 ,X CD
2 NO TRAP S9CE %E 5T]$ X H]F4
  ,! PA? WID5$1 B N M*4 ,"! 0 ONLY ROOM
= "O 6WALK AT A "T4 ,! TRAIL TWI/$ &
TURN$1 & ,TOM
0 WOND]+ H[ F> X L$1 :51 F 2H HM1 CAME !
CRY (! WOMAN3
  8,WAT* N[--NO FALL D[N40
  ,TOM HALT$ >.D A %>P TURN1 & /OOD
TRANSFIX$ AT ! SI<T : MET 8 GAZE4 ,HE
F.D HMF LOOK+ \ "? A CRACK 9 ! FACE (A
%E] /"O CLIFF T W5T /RAI<T D[N =A HUNDR$
FEET OR M 6A GRE5-C>PET$ VALLEY4
  ,TOM 0 /&+ 9 A N>R[ CLEFT ( ROCK--!
SAME ROCK "? : !Y _H MADE _! WAY4 ,& AT
! FOOT (! CLIFF 0 A LL 5CAMP;T (
,9DIANS4 ,"! 7 A DOZ5 HUTS1 & W&]+ AB
!M1 OR SITT+ 9 ! %ADE1 7 A SCORE OR M (
,9DIANS4
  8,"! M5 F TUNNEL10 SD ,MASNI1 &1 Z HE
LOOK$1 WOND]+1 ,TOM SAW "S (! "W]S HE
KNEW4 ,"O ESPECI,Y1 0 A LABOR] :O WALK$
)A PECULI> LIMP4
  8,! MISS+ M560 GASP$ ! "Y 9V5TOR4
  8,B.S MY ALMANAC60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
8,":80
  8,"H10 ANSW]$ ,TOM4 8,IF Y SQUEEZE PA/
ME Y C SEE !M40
  ,MR4 ,DAMON DID S4
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HE LOOK$ D[N 9 ! LL VALLEY ": ! MISS+
"OS 7 SEQUE/]$4
  8,T'S :AT WE'VE GOT 6F9D \10 ,TOM SD4
8,AT ANY RATE "H !Y >E1 & !Y SEEM 6BE
5JOY+ LIFE :ILE WE'VE BE5 WORRY+ Z 6:AT
_H 2COME ( !M4 ,H[ DID !Y GET "H1
,MASNI80
  8,ME %[ Y4 ,-E40
  8,WAIT UNTIL ,I TAKE ANO!R LOOK10 SD
,TOM4
  8,BE C>E;L !Y DON'T SEE Y10 CAU;N$
,MR1 ,DAMON4
  8,!Y C'T V WELL4 ,! CLEFT IS SCRE5$
0BU%ES40
  ,TOM LOOK$ D[N ONCE M ON ! GR\P ( M5
:O _H S MY/]I\SLY 4APPE>$4 ,! LL VALLEY
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0M1NS (! CRACK1 OR CLEFT 9 X1 ,TOM &!
O!RS _H -E4 ,TOM LOOK$ D[N ! WALL (
ROCK4 ,X 0 Z SMOO? Z ! SIDE (A BUILD+1 &
(F]$ NO M1NS ( GETT+ D[N OR UP4 ,D\BT.S
"! 0 AN EASI] 5TR.E 6! VALLEY ON ! O!R
SIDE4 ,X 0 L LOOK+ D[N 96"S VA/ HALL "?
AN UPP] W9D[ OR F A BALCONY4
  8,& ^? M5 H BE5 9 HID+1 OR BE5 HI45
"H1 "E S9CE !Y 4APPE>$ F ! TUNNEL10 SD
,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,X DOESN'T LOOK Z ?\< !Y 7 DETA9$
0=CE10 ,TOM REM>K$4 8,I ?9K !Y >E 2+ PD
6/AY AWAY4 ,H[ DID !Y GET "H1 ,MASNI80
  8,ME %[ Y4 ,-E60
  ,!Y W5T BACK AL;G ! TRAIL T L$ "? !
SPLIT 9 ! ROCK1 UNTIL !Y _H -E 6! PLACE
": ! NATURAL CURTA9 ( V9ES 3C1L$ !
5TR.E4 ,TOM TOOK "PICUL> NOTICE ( ?
PLACE S HE WD "K X AG4
  ,!N ,MASNI L$ !M OV] ! M.TA91 & ? "T
,TOM SAW T !Y 7 APPROA*+ ! TUNNEL4 ,HE
RECOGNIZ$ "S PLACES ": HE _H TAK5
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( 8 EXPLOSIVE4
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6BE LI/5+ 9T5TLY4 ,!N1 Z IF SATISFI$ "!
0 NO DANG]1 %E "P$ "S BU%ES & GLID$ IN1
MO;N+ ! O!RS 6FOLL[4
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  ,HE &! O!RS 7 SOON 9=M$4
  ,MASNI /OPP$ 9 FRONT (A PILE ( BRU%4
,)A FEW VIGOR\S MO;NS ( H] >MS %E SWEPT
X ASIDE & REV1L$ A SMOO? SLAB ( ROCK4 ,9
! C5TRE 0 :AT SEEM$ 6BE A BLOCK ( METAL
,MASNI PLAC$ H] FOOT ON ? & PRESS$
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A PIVOT1 REV1L+ A SQU>E OP5+ : SEEM$
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,TOM ,SWIFT SAW A GLIMM] ( LI<T
  ,/OOP+ D[N1 HE LOOK$ "? ! HOLE ?US
/RANGELY
OP5$ & :AT HE SAW CAUS$ HM 6CRY \ 9
WOND]4
  8,X'S ! TUNNEL60 HE CRI$4 8,I C LOOK
"R CL[N 96! TUNNEL4 ,X'S ! 9C&ESC5T
LI<TS ,I SEE4 ,I C LOOK "R AT ! L$GE (
ROCK ": ,I KEPT WAT* T "D1 & ": ,I SAW--
": ,I SAW ! FACE ( ,WA4+TON60 HE CRI$4
8,X WASN'T A DR1M AF ALL4 ,? IS A %AFT
3NECT+ )! TUNNEL4 ,WE DIDN'T 4COV] X 2C
? ROCK FITS "R 9 ! OP5+ 9 ! RO(4 ,X M/ H
BE5 "! ALL ! :ILE1 & "S BLA/ BR"\ X
6LI<T4 ,IS ? H[ ! M5 GOT \1 OR 7 TAK5 \
(! TUNNEL1 ,MASNI80 ,TOM ASK$4
  8,? H[10 SD ! ,9DIAN WOMAN4 8,SEE1 "H
ROPE60
  ,%E PAW$ ASIDE A M.D ( E>?1 & 4CLOS$ A
ROPE BURI$ "!1 A ROPE KNOTT$ AT 9T]VALS4
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PROVID$ A M1NS ( ESCAPE1 & 9 S* A MANN]
T ! 4APPE>.E (! M5 0 MO/ MY/]I\S4
  8,I SEE H[ X IS60 CRI$ ,TOM4 8,"S "O
9T]E/$1 ,WA4+TON PROBABLY1 :O KNEW AB ?
OLD SECRET %AFT GO+ D[N 96! E>?1 US$ X Z
SOON Z \R BLA/+ 0 OP5$ T F>4 ,!Y GOT !
M5 \ ? WAY1 & HID !M 9 ! SECRET VALLEY40
  8,B :AT =80 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,6CRIPPLE U6 ,6CAUSE ! /RIKE 0MAK+ \R
O!R "W]S AFRAID ( "S EVIL _S6 ,! M5 7
TAK5 AWAY SECRETLY1 &1 D\BT.S1 H BE5
KEPT 9 IDLE;S "E S9CE--PD 6/AY AWAY S !
MY/]Y WD 2 ALL ! DEEP]4 ,\R RIVALS F9D+
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  8,B.S MY M1L TICKET6 ,X DOES LOOK L
T60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,( C\RSE T'S ! SECRET60 CRI$ ,TOM4
8,BLAKESON & ,GR9D]1 OR "S ( _! TOOLS--
PROBABLY ! BE>D$ MAN OR ,WA4+TON--F.D \
AB ? %AFT : L$ D[N 96\R TUNNEL4 ,!Y
9DUC$ ! F/ T5 M5 6QUIT1 & :5 ,TIM W5T
6GET ! FUSE ! ROPE 0 LET D[N1 &! M5
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CLIMB L CATS4 ,ONCE ! T5 7 \ ! %AFT 0
CLOS$ )! ROCK1 &! T5 M5 TAK5 (F 6!
VALLEY 6BE SECRET$ "!4
  8,! SAME 0 D"O )! NEXT FIFTE51 &1 ,I
SUPPOSE1 IF ! /RIKE _HN'T -E1 M ( \R
"W]S WD H BE5 9DUC$ 6L1VE 9 ? WAY4
,!Y'RE PROBABLY 2+ BETT] PD ?AN :5 E>N+
_! WAGES2 & _! RELATIVES M/ "K ": !Y >E1
& AL 2 GIV5 A BONUS 6KEEP /4 ,NO WOND]
!Y DIDN'T MAKE A FUSS4
  8,& NO WOND] WE CDN'T F9D ANY OP5+ 9 !
TUNNEL RO(4 ,? ROCK M/ FIT 9 Z SMOO?LY Z
A SECRET DRAW] 9 ! K9D ( OLD DESK ":
MISS+ WILLS >E F.D 9 /ORIES40

8,Y SAY Y SAW ,WA4+TON1 OR ! BE>D$ MAN80
  ASK$
,MR4 ,DAMON4

  8,AT ! "T10 REPLI$ ,TOM1 8,I ?"\ X 0 A
DR1M4 ,N[ ,I "K X WASN'T4 ,HE M/ H OP5$
! %AFT J Z ,I AWAK5$ F A DOZE4 ,HE SAW
ME & CLOS$ X AG4 ,HE MAY H BE5 GETT+
R1DY !N 6TAKE (F M ( \R M51 S Z 6SC>E !
O!RS4 ,WELL1 WE'VE F.D \ ! TRICK40
  8,& :AT >E Y GO+ 6D NEXT80 ASK$ ,MR4
,DAM TILDE N4
  8,GET ^? MISS+ M5 BACK4 ,T W BR1K !
HOODOO1 &! O!RS W -E BACK 6"W4 ,!N WE'LL
GET ON ! TRAIL ( ,WA4+ TON1 OR ,BLAKESON
& ,GR9D]1 & PUT A /OP 6? BUSI;S4 ,WE "K
_! SECRET N[40
  8,Y M1N 6GET ! M5 \ (! SECRET VALLEY1
,TOM80
  8,YES4 ,"! M/ 2 "S O!R WAY 96X ?AN D[N
! ROCK ": WE W]E4 ,H[ AB X1 ,MASNI80 &
HE 9QUIR$ Z 6! VALLEY4 ,! ,9DIAN WOMAN
GAVE ,TOM 6"U/& T "! 0 ANO!R 5TR.E4
  8,WELL1 CLOSE UP ? %AFT N[ 2F "S "O
SEES U AT X--! BE>D$ MAN1 = EXAMPLE10
,TOM SU7E/$4 ,HE TOOK ANO!R LOOK D[N 96!
TUNNEL1 : 0 N[ DES]T$ ON A3.T (! /RIKE1
& !N ,MASNI PRESS$ ON ! ME*ANISM T "W$ !
/"O4 ,%E %[$ ,TOM H[ 6D X4
  8,J A C.T]-BAL.ED ROCK OP]AT+ ON !
SAME PR9CIPLE Z DOES A W9D[10 ,TOM
EXPLA9$1 AF A BRIEF EXAM9,N4 8,PROBABLY
"S (! OLD ,9DIAN TRIBES MADE ? %AFT =
C]EMONIAL PURPOSES4 ,!Y N"E DR1M$ WE WD
DRIVE A TUNNEL AL;G AT ! BOTTOM ( X4 ,!
%AFT PROBABLY OP5$ 96A CAVE1 & "O ( \R
BLA/S MADE X "P (! TUNNEL4 ,WELL1 ? IS
"P (! SECRET1 ANYH[4 ,M* OBLIG$ 6Y1
,MASNI60
  ,! ,9DIAN WOMAN _H 9DE$ REV1L$ VALUA#
9=M,N4 ,!Y COV]$ ! SECRET ROCK ) BRU%1 Z
X _H BE51 HID ! ROPE & CAME AWAY4 ,B
,TOM KNEW H[ 6F9D ! PLACE AG4
  ,EV5TS MOV$ RAPIDLY F !N ON4 ,! ,TITUS
BRO!RS 7 M ?AN A/ONI%$ :5 ,TOM TOLD !M
:AT HE _H LE>N$4 ,MASNI _H TOLD HM H[
6GET 96! SECRET VALLEY 0A R.D AB1 B EASY
TRAIL1 & ?I!R ,TOM1 ! 3TRACTORS1 ,MR4
,DAMON & "S (! :ITE TUNNEL "W]S W5T !
NEXT "D4
  ,! SEQUE/]$ M51 TAK5 -PLETELY
0SURPRISE1 TRI$ 6BOLT :5 !Y SAW T !Y 7
4COV]$1 & !N1 %AMEFAC$LY 5\<1 ADMITT$ _!
"P 9 ! TRICK4
  ,!Y WD N1 H["E1 REV1L :O _H HELP$ !M
ESCAPE F ! TUNNEL4 ,?R1TS & PROMISES (
REW>DS 7 ALIKE UNAVAIL+1 B ,TOM & 8
EMPLOY]S KNEW WELL 5 :O X WAS4 ,! TUNNEL
"W]S SEEM$ R TIR$ ( LIV+ 9 -P>ATIVE
LUXURY & IDLE;S1 & AGRE$ 6-E BACK 6_!
LABORS4
  ,!Y PACK$ UP _! FEW 2L;G+S1 MO/LY
COOK+ POTS & PANS1 & M>*$ \ (! VALLEY 6!
VILLAGE AT ,RIMAC4
  ,& S ! /RIKE 0 BROK54
  ,! REAPPE>.E (! MISS+ M51 9 BETT] H1L?
& _SS ?AN :5 !Y W5T AWAY1 ACT$ L MAGIC4
,! O!R M51 :O _H MISS$ _! WAGES1 CR[D$
BACK 96! %AFT1 &! S.DS ( PICKS & %OVELS
7 HE>D AG 9 ! TUNNEL4
  ,:E!R ! MISS+ "OS TOLD ! R1L /ORY1 OR
:E!R !Y MADE UP "S TALE 6A3.T = _!
ABS;E1 ,TOM & 8 FRS CD N LE>N4 ,NOR DID
! BE>D$ MAN 7IF HE X 7 :O _H HELP$ 9 !
PLOT71 NOR ANY REPRES5TATIVE ( ,BLAKESON
& ,GR9D] APPE>4 ,! "W ON ! TUNNEL 0
RESUM$ Z IF NO?+ _H HAPP5$4 ,B ,TOM
>RANG$ A B"R LI<T S X WD REFLECT ON !
SPOT 9 ! RO( ": ! MOV+ ROCK WAS1 S T IF
! EVIL FACE (! BE>D$ MAN1 OR ( ,WA4+TON1
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(! NEI<BORHOOD1 & DILIG5T 9QUIRIES1
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  ,& !N1 Z IF ,FATE 0 N MAK+ X H>D 5 =!
TUNNEL 3TRACTORS1 !Y 5C.T]$ M TR\#4 ,X 0
AF ,TOM _H SET (F A BIG BLA/ T ,TIM
,SULLIVAN1 AF 9SPECT+ :AT _H HAPP5$1
CAME \ 6ASK4
  8,I SOY1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT1 :Y DIDN'T YEZ
USE M P[D]80

8,M P[D]60 CRI$ ,TOM4 8,:Y1 ? IS ! MO/
  ,I H
"E SET (F40

8,!N "S?9'S WR;G1 SOR4 ,F] "!'S ONLY A
  LL
ROCK D[N4 ,-E AN' SEE F] Y]SILF40

  ,TOM HA/5$ IN4 ,Z ! =EMAN _H SD1 !
E6ECT (! BLA/ 0 SMALL 9DE$4 ,ONLY A LL
ROCK _H BE5 %AL$ (F4 ,TOM PICK$ UP "S (
? & TOOK X \TSIDE = EXAM9,N4
  8,:Y1 X'S H>D] ?AN ! H>DE/ FL9T WE'VE
F.D YET10 HE SD4 8,! P[D] DIDN'T MAKE
ANY IMPRES.N ON X AT ALL4 ,I'LL H 6USE
T]RIFIC *>GES40
  ,? 0 D"O1 B ) LL BETT] E6ECT4 ,!
EXPLOSIVE1 P[];L Z X WAS1 ATE ONLY A LL
WAY 96! ROCK4 ,BLA/ AF BLA/ _H ! SAME
POOR E6ECT4
  8,? WON'T D10 SD ,JOB ,TITUS1
DESPAIR+LY1 "O "D4 8,WE >5'T MAK+ ANY
PROGRESS AT ALL4 ,"!'S A HALF MILE ( ?
ROCK1 AC 6MY CALCUL,NS1 & AT ? RATE
WE'LL 2 SIX MON?S GETT+ "? X4 ,0T "T \R
LIMIT W 2 UP1 & WE'LL 2 =C$ 6GIVE UP !
3TRACT ,:AT C WE D1 ,TOM ,SWIFT80


