
    ,,*APT] ,,XXI ,,! ,,DES]T$ ,,CAB9
  ,= S"EAL SECONDS ! "Y 9V5TOR REMA9$
B5D+ OV] ! QUE] M>KS 9 T LL S&Y PA? (!
L"OLY FIELD 9 ! MID/ (! SIL5T WOODS4
,JACKSON WAT*$ HM CURI\SLY1 & !N ,TOM
/RAI<T5$ UP1 EXCLAIM+ Z HE DID S3
  8,I H X6 ,N[ ,I "K ": X WAS6 ,I SAW
M>KS L ^! ! NI<T ,MR4 ,NE/OR 4APPE>$4
,MR4 ,DAMON & ,I NOTIC$ ! M>KS 9 ! DU/
ON ! ROAD ! "T WE MADE ! =C$ L&+ ! F/
NI<T WE TRI$ \ ! SIL5T MOTOR4 ,T'S X6
,!Y >E ! SAME M>KS6 ,I'M SURE ( X60
  8,I WDN'T G S F> Z 6SAY T10 SD
,JACKSON SL[LY4 ,HE 0 M DELIB]ATE ?AN
,TOM ,SWIFT1 A FACT = : ! "Y 9V5TOR 0
(T5 GLAD1 Z X SAV$ HM F IMPULSIVE
MISTAKES4
  8,? MAY N 2 ! SAME AUTO10 W5T ON !
ME*ANICIAN4 8,I'LL ADMIT ,I N"E SAW
SQU>E TIRE M>KS L ^? 2F4 ,MO/ (! USUAL
"OS >E CIRCUL>1 DIAMOND-%APE OR OBL;G4
,"S TIRE MANUFACTUR] M/ H TRI$ A NEW
/UNT4 ,B Z = SAY+ ^! M>KS 7 MADE 0! SAME
MA*9E Y SAW EVID;ES (! NI<T ,MR4 ,NE/OR
4APPE>$1 :Y1 T'S GO+ A LL TOO F>1 ,TOM40
  8,YES1 ,I SUPPOSE X IS10 ADMITT$ ! "Y
9V5TOR4 8,B X'S A CLEW WOR? FOLL[+4
,MAYBE ,MR4 ,NE/OR HAS BE5 BR"\ 6"S
L"OLY PLACE L ?1 & IS 2+ HELD40
  8,:Y WD ANY "O WANT 6D T80 ASK$
,JACKSON4 8,HE _H NO 5EMIES4
  8,WELL1 P]H ^? :O RAN HM D[N & 9JUR$
HM >E AFRAID 6LET HM G = FE> HE W
PROSECUTE !M & ASK = H1VY DAMAGES10
SU7E/$ ,TOM4 8,!Y MAY 2 HOLD+ HM A
CAPTIVE UNTIL HE GETS WELL1 & AIM ON
TR1T+ HM S NICELY T HE WON'T BR+ SUIT40
  8,T'S A PRETTY F>-FET*$ !ORY10 SD !
ME*ANICIAN Z HE C>E;LLY LOOK$ AT !
TRACKS4 8,B ( C\RSE X MAY 2 TRUE4
,ANYH[1 ^! TIRE M>KS >E R REC5T1 ,I %D
SAY1 & !Y >E MADE 0A NEW TIRE4 ,D Y ?9K
WE C FOLL[ !M80
  8,I'M GO+ 6TRY 60 DCLD ,TOM4 8,! ONLY
TR\# IS WE C'T TELL :E!R X 0 GO+ OR -+--
T IS WE DON'T "K : WAY 6G40
  8,T'S S10 AGRE$ 8 -PANION4 8,& S !
ONLY ?+ 6D IS 6TRAVEL A BIT BO? WAYS4 ,!
PA?1 OR ROAD1 OR :AT"E Y CALL X1 IS
PLA9LY 5 M>K$ "H1 ?\< Y C'T ALW PICK \ !
TIRE M>KS4 ,!Y %[ ONLY ON B>E GR.D4 ,!
GRASS DOESN'T L1VE ANY TRACKS T WE C
SEE1 ?\< D\BT.S !Y >E "!4
  8,B Z = ?9K+ ? C> IS ! SAME "O ! M>KS
( : Y SAW ON ! L"OLY MOOR1 ! NI<T Y HE>D
! CALL = HELP--T'S GO+ TOO F>1 ,TOM
,SWIFT40
  8,YES1 ,I R1LIZE T4 ,( C\RSE "! M/ 2 M
?AN "O C> ) TIRES : H SQU>E PROTUB].ES4
,B X'S WOR? TAK+ A *.E ON--FOLL[+ ?
CLEW40
  8,OH1 SURE60 AGRE$ ,JACKSON4
  8,! ONLY "Q IS1 !N1 : WAY 6G10 RETURN$
,TOM4
  ,!Y SETTL$ T1 >BITR>ILY 5\<1 0GO+ ON 9
! DIREC;N !Y _H />T$ AF L1V+ ! /R&$
AIR%IP4 ,!Y FOLL[$ A HALF-DEF9$ PA?1 & 7
REW>D$ 0GETT+ O3A.NAL GLIMPSES ON B>E
GR.D (! ODD TIRE M>KS4
  ,"? A DEVI\S W9D+ WAY1 N[ HI45 AMID A
LANE ( TREES1 & AG CUTT+ ACR AN OP5
SPACE1 ! PA? L$4 ,!Y SAW ! M>KS (T5 5
6MAKE SURE !Y 7 ON ! "R TRAIL1 & 9 "O
PLACE !Y SAW S"EAL DI6]5T PAT*ES (! ODD
M>KS4
  ,!Y W5T ON P]H HALF A MILE M4 :5 !Y
CAME 6A L"OLY ROAD & SAW ": ! C> _H
TURN$ F T 96! WOOD-LOT1 Z ,TOM CALL$ !
PLACE ": 8 CRAFT _H SETTL$ D[N4
  8,LOOK60 CRI$ ! "Y 9V5TOR 6,JACKSON4
8,!Y'VE BE5 "H M ?AN ONCE1 & H G"O AL;G
! ROAD 9 BO? DIREC;NS4 ,!Y SEEM 6H US$ ?
TURN+ 96! LOT Z A SORT ( /OPP+ PLACE40
  ,? 0 PLA9 5 F AN EXAM9,N (! M>KS 9 !
S&Y SOIL (! ROAD1 : 0 "O N (T5 US$4 ,!
AUTOMOBILE )! QUE]1 SQU>E M>KS ON !
TIRES _H TURN$ 96! LOT1 -+ & GO+ 9 BO?
DIREC;NS4
  8,? SETTLES X60 CRI$ ,TOM1 :5 HE F9I%$
MAK+ AN EXAM9,N4 8,"!'S "S?+ F>!R BACK 9
? LOT T WE'VE GOT 6SEE4 ,? AUTO HAS BE5
-+ & GO+1 & WE %D H FOLL[$ ! TRACKS !
O!R WAY F ! PO9T ": WE F/ SAW !M1 9/1D (
-+ ? WAY40
8,EXCEPT T WE'VE LE>N$ ! PLACE (
DE"PURE10 SU7E/$ ,JACKSON4 8,EVID5TLY !
WOOD-LOT IS A BL ALLEY4 ,! C> GOES IN1 B
X C -E \ ONLY J AT ? PO9T1 OR1 AT L1/1 X
DOES40
  8,T'S "R60 AGRE$ ,TOM4 8,N[ ! ?+ 6D IS
6FOLL[ \R TRACK BACK 6": WE />T$4 ,"! M/
2 "S PLACE ": ! C> W5T TO--"S H1DQU>T]S1
OR MEET+ PLACE ) "S "O1 F>!R BACK 9 !
LOT4 ,IF WE C ONLY FOLL[ ! TRAIL BACK Z
WELL Z WE DID -+1 WE MAY F9D \ "S?+40
  8,WELL1 LET'S TRY1 ANYH[10 SU7E/$
,JACKSON4
  ,!Y _H NO DI6ICULTY 9 MAK+ _! WAY BACK
6! SPOT ": !Y _H F/ SE5 ! QUE] M>KS4 ,B
F !N ON _! TASK 0 N S EASY4 ,= S&Y OR
B>E PAT*ES ( E>? 7 N FREQU5T1 & !Y _H
6DEP5D ON ^! 6GIVE !M DIREC;N1 =! ROAD 0
OV]GR[N & N WELL DEF9$4
  ,(T5 !Y WD SE>* AB = "S "T AF L1V+ "O
PAT* (! M>KS 2F !Y F.D ANO!R T WD JU/IFY
!M 9 KEEP+ ON4
  8,!Y H H1DQU>T]S1 OR A R5DEZV\S1 "S":
BACK 9 ? LOT60 DCLD ,TOM1 Z !Y HURRI$
ON4 8,I ?9K WE'RE ON ! TRACK (A MY/]Y40
  8,UN.S X TURNS \ T "S F>M] HAS TR1T$
HMF 6AN AUTO ) NEW TIRES ( SQU>E TR1D1 &
IS HAUL+ WOOD10 SD ,JACKSON4 8,X MAY
TURN \ T WAY40
  8,YES1 X MAY10 AGRE$ ,TOM4 8,B1 TAK+
"EY?+ 963SID],N1 ,I ?9K WE'RE ON ! V]GE
( F9D+ \ "S?+4 ,EV5 IF WE D 4COV] T !
[N] ( ? AUTO IS ONLY HAUL+ WOOD1 HE MAY
2 A# 6HELP U 6A CLEW Z 6! ":ABS ( ,MR4
,NE/OR40
  8,H[80
  8,WELL1 MAYBE HE 0 9 8 MA*9E ON ! MOOR
! NI<T ! CALL = HELP CAME4 ,HE MAY EV5 H
AID$ 6C>RY ,MR4 ,NE/OR AWAY4 ,& IF HE
DOESN'T "K A ?+ AB X--:1 ( C\RSE1 IS
POSSI#--! MAN :O B"\ ^! QUE] TIRES C
TELL U :O MAKES !M1 OR :O D1LS 9 !M1 &
WE C F9D \ :AT AUTOI/S >.D "H H _! C>S
EQUIPP$ ) ? ODD TR1D40
  8,YES10 AGRE$ ,JACKSON1 8T C 2 D"O40
  ,& S !Y KEPT ON1 SC\T+ "H & "! 6EI
SIDE (! HALF-DEF9$ PA?1 UNTIL !Y 7 F>
BACK F ! SPOT ": !Y _H LEFT ! ,AIR
,SC\T4
  8,WE DON'T APPE> 6BE GETT+ ANY W>M]1 Z
! *N SAY10 REM>K$ ,JACKSON1 Z HE
/RAI<T5$ UP & LOOK$ AB1 = 8 BACK A*$ F S
M* /OOP+ OV] 6LOOK =! ODD M>KS4
  8,WE HAV5'T SE5 ANY?+ YET1 ,I'LL
ADMIT10 SD ,TOM4 8,B X WON'T 2 D>K =
ANO!R H\R OR S1 & ,I VOTE T WE KEEP ON40
  8,OH1 ,I WASN'T ?9K+ ( GIV+ UP60
EXCLAIM$ ,JACKSON4 8,IF "!'S ANY?+ "H--
AT ! 5D (! R\TE1 Z Y MI<T SAY --WE'LL
F9D X4 ,ONLY ,I HOPE X DOESN'T TURN \
6BE J A WOOD PILE1 F : "S F>M] HAS BE5
HAUL+ LOGS40
  8,T WD 2 A 4APPO9T;T10 ASS5T$ ,TOM4
  ,! "D 0 WAN+1 & !Y R1LIZ$ T !Y "\ N
6SP5D TOO M* "T ON :AT MI<T TURN \ 6BE A
WILD GOOSE *ASE4 ,!Y 7 9 A L"OLY
NEI<BORHOOD1 & :ILE !Y 7 N AT ALL
APPREH5SIVE ( DANG]1 !Y FELT X WD 2 BE/
6GET 6%ELT] 2F D>K4
  8,WE'LL WANT 6S5D ^W 6,MR4 ,SWIFT T
WE'RE ALL "R40
  8,YES10 SD ,TOM1 8,I'D L 6GET 6A PLACE
": ,I C TELEPH"O 6HM OR ,MRS4 ,BA7]T4
,WELL1 IF WE DON'T F9D "S?+ PRETTY SOON
WE'LL H 6TURN BACK4 ,I M/ -PLETE "W ON !
NEW MOTOR1 = IF ,I'M 6(F] X 6,UNCLE ,SAM
= AIR SC\T PURPOSES1 ! SOON] ,I C D S !
BETT]4 ,?+S >E GETT+ PRETTY HOT OV] 9
,EUROPE1 & IF "E ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES NE$$
AIRCRAFT ON ! WE/]N FRONT !Y NE$ !M N[4
,I WANT 6HELP ALL ,I C1 & ,I AL WANT
6HELP ,M>Y--Y "U/&--,MISS ,NE/OR40
  8,I "U/&10 SD ,JACKSON SIMPLY4 8,I
ONLY HOPE Y C HELP H]4 ,B ,I'M AFRAID--?
MAY TURN \ 6BE NO?+--FOLL[+ ^! M>KS1 Y
"K40
  8,& YET10 SD ,TOM SL[LY1 8X WD 2
/RANGE IF X 0 ONLY A CO9CID;E--! TWO
TIRE M>KS 2+ ! SAME--! NI<T ,MR4 ,NE/OR
4APPE>$ & N[40
  ,& S !Y KEPT ON1 HOP+4
  ,! HALF-DEF9$ PA? "? ! WOOD-LOT L$ !M
9 A S]IES ( TURNS & TWI/S1 & X EXT5D$ "?
A D5SE PAT* ( WOODS1 GR[+ ?ICKLY1 ": X 0
S D>K T X SEEM$ Z IF
NI<T _H FALL54
  8,WE C'T SP5D M* M "T "H10 SD ,TOM4
8,IF WE DON'T F9D "S?+ 9 ! NEXT HALF
MILE WE'LL G BACK & TAKE UP ! SE>* TM4
,I'M GO+ 6F9D \ :AT'S AT ! 5D ( ? ROAD--
EV5 IF X'S ONLY A WOOD PILE40
  ,= T5 M9UTES M ! TWO W5T ON1 MAK+
SURE1 0O3A.NAL GLIMPSES AT ! M>KS1 T !Y
7 ON ! "R TRACK4 ,!N1 SU45LY1 !Y SAW
"S?+ : MADE !M FEEL SURE !Y _H R1*$ _!
GOAL4
  ,9 A CLE>+ AM;G ! TREES 0 A LL CAB9
--A %ACK ( LOGS--& F ! APPE>.E X 0
DES]T$4 ,"! 0 N A SIGN ( LIFE >.D





















