
    ,,*APT] ,,III

    ,,! ,,H& ,,( ,,! ,,CZ>
  8,!N Y WON'T TAKE A RIDE ) ME TD4 ASK$
! "Y 9V5TOR1 (! ,RUSSIAN1 Z HE -PLET$ !
REPAIRS 6! MAGNETO4 8,I'D L 6H Y MEET MY
"F1 &A FR ( HIS1 ,MR4 ,DAMON4 ,MO/
LIKELY HE'LL G 6,SIB]IA ) U1 IF 8 WIFE W
LET HM4 ,I'D L 6TALK "S PLANS OV] ) Y40
  8,I % C]TA9LY CALL ON Y10 ANSW]$ ,IVAN
,PETROFSKY1 8B10 HE A4$ )A SMILE1 8,I
?9K ,I %D PREF] 6TAKE MY F/ RIDE 9 YR
L>G] AIR%IP--! "O T DOESN'T -E D[N S
(T540
  8,WELL1 P]H X IS A LL EASI] ON AN
AMATEUR10 ADMITT$ ,TOM4 8,IF Y'LL -E OV]
6\R H\SE AT ANY "T ,I'LL TAKE Y \ 9 X1
OR ,I'LL CALL = Y40
  8,I'LL -E OV] 9 A FEW "DS10 ANSW]$ !
ESCAP$ EXILE4 8,!N ,I'LL TELL Y ALL ,I
"K (! LOCAL;Y ": ! PLAT9UM M9E IS
LOCAT$1 & WE C MAKE \R PLANS4 ,9 !
M1N:ILE DON'T SAY ANY?+ AB :AT ,I H TOLD
Y40
  8,:Y80 ASK$ ,N$ QKLY4
  ,MR4 ,PETROFSKY APPROA*$ CLOS] 6!
LADS1 & 9 A L[ VOICE SD3
  8,I AM N SURE AB X1 B ( LATE ,I ?9K ,I
H BE5 %AD[$4 ,I H SE5 /RANGE M5 9 !
VILLAGE NE> "H & !Y H EY$ ME R
SUSPICI\SLY4 ,!N1 TOO1 ,I H SURPRIS$
S"EAL M5 >.D MY H\SE4 ,I LIVE "H ALL
AL"O1 Y "K1 & D MO/ ( MY [N "W1 A WOMAN
-+ 9 O3A.N,Y 6CL1N4 ,B ,I DON'T L ^!
SUSPICI\S "*S HANG+ AB4

8,:O D Y ?9K !Y >E80 ASK$ ,TOM

  8,I'M ALM AFRAID 6?9K1 B F MY PA/
EXP]I;E ,I ?9K--NAY1 ,I FE>--!Y MAY 2
SPIES1 OR AG5TS (! ,RUSSIAN GOV]N;T0
  8,SPIES60 CRI$ ,N$4
  8,HU%4 ,N S L\D10 CAU;N$ ,MR4
,PETROFSKY4 8,!Y MAY EV5 N[ 2 9 HID+1
ESPECI,Y S9CE YR AEROPLANE L&$ S NE> MY
H\SE4 ,!Y MAY SEE "S?+ SUSPICI\S EV5 9
T40
  8,B :Y %D ! ,RUSSIAN GOV]N;T SET SPIES
ON Y80 ASK$ ,TOM 9 A L[ VOICE4
8,= TWO R1SONS4 ,I AM AN ESCAP$ EXILE1 &
  ,I
AM N A CITIZ5 (! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES4 ,"!=E
,I MAY 2 S5T BACK 6! SULPHUR M9ES4 ,&
ANO!R R1SON IS T !Y MAY ?9K ,I "K !
SECRET (! PLAT9UM TR1SURE--! LO/ M9E40

  8,SAY ? IS GETT+ 9T]E/+60 EXCLAIM$
,TOM4 8,IF WE >E GO+ 6H A BRU% ) "S (!
SPIES (! ,RUSSIAN GOV]N;T S M* ! BETT]4
,I'M R1DY = 'EM60
  8,S AM ,I60 A4$ ,N$4
  8,Y DON'T "K !M10 SD ,MR4 ,PETROFSKY1
& HE CD N REPRESS A %U4]4 8,I HOPE !Y >E
N ON MY TRAIL1 B IF !Y >E--0 HE PAUS$ A
MO;T1 /RAI<T5$ HMF UP1 & LOOK$ L :AT HE
WAS1 A /R;G MAN-- 8IF !Y >E LET !M LOOK
\4 ,I'D GIVE MY LIFE 6SAVE MY BRO!R F !
AW;L1 LIV+ D1? 6: HE IS 3SIGN$60
  8,& WE'RE ) Y60 CRI$ ,TOM1 (F]+ !
,RUSSIAN 8 H&4 8,WE'LL TURN ! TRICK YET4
,N[ DON'T =GET 6-E & SEE U4 ,-E AL;G1
,N$4 ,IF ,I'M GO+ 6BUILD AN AIR GLID]
,I'VE GOT 6GET BUSY40 ,& WAV+ F>EWELLS
6_! NEW FR1 ! LADS TOOK _! PLACES 9 !
AEROPLANE & 7 SOON ON _! WAY 6,%OPTON4
  8,WELL1 :AT D Y ?9K ( X80 ASK$ ,N$ ( 8
*UM1 Z !Y SP$ AL;G AT A GD ELEV,N1 !
5G9E GO+ AT HALF SPE$ 6BE LESS NOISY &
MAKE TALK+ EASI]4
  8,LOTS4 ,I ?9K WE'RE 9 =A GD "T40 AN
EXCIT+ "O1 ANYH[1 IF :AT HE SAYS IS
TRUE4 ,B :AT 9 ! _W IS AN AIR GLID]1
,TOM80
  8,X'S ! LA/ ^W 9 AEROPLANES4 ,Y DON'T
NE$ A MOTOR 6MAKE X G40
  8,DON'T NE$ A MOTOR80
  8,NO1 ! W9D DOES X ALL4 ,X'S A SORT (
AEROPLANE1 B ! MO;N -ES F ! W9D1 ACT+ ON
DI6]5T PLANES1 & ? IS A3OMPLI%$ 0%IFT+
WEI<TS4 ,9 X Y C /& / 9 A FI]CE GALE1 IF
Y L40
  8,H[1 0TY+ H] FA/ ON ! GR.D80
  8,NO1 HOV]+ 9 ! AIR4 ,X'S ALL D"O
0GETT+ ! PROP] BAL.E4 ,! H>D] ! W9D BL[S
! BETT] ! AIR GLID] "WS1 & T'S :Y ,I ?9K
X W 2 J ! ?+ = ,SIB]IA4 ,I'M GO+ 6GET "R
AT "W ON X1 & Y'LL HELP ME2 WON'T Y80
  8,I SURE W4 ,SAY1 IS PLAT9UM WOR? M*80
  8,WOR? M*8 ,I %D SAY X WAS6 ,X'S GOT
GOLD B1T N[1 &! AVAILA# SUPPLY IS V
SMALL1 & X'S GETT+ M SC>CE4 ,RUSSIA HAS
S"EAL M9ES1 &! METAL IS ( GD QUAL;Y4
,I'VE US$ "S ,RUSSIAN PLAT9UM1 B ! K9D
,MR4 ,PETROFSKY GAVE ME TD 0 BETT] ?AN !
BE/ ,I "E _H4 ,IF WE C ONLY F9D T LO/
M9E WE'LL 2 MILLIONAIRES ALL "R40

8,T'S :AT WE ?"\ :5 WE F.D ! C;Y ( GOLD1
B ! GOLD WASN'T ( Z F9E A GRADE Z WE
  HOP$40

  8,WELL1 NO?+ L T C HAPP5 9 ? PLAT9UM
D1L4 ,X SURE IS RI* ORE T ,MR4
,PETROFSKY & 8 BRO!R F.D4 ,POOR FELL[6
,6?9K ( 2+ AN EXILE 9 T AW;L C.TRY1 N
"K+ ": Y MAY 2 S5T NEXT4 ,NO WOND] ,MR4
,PETROFSKY WANTS 6RESCUE HM40
  8,T'S "R4 ,WELL1 "H WE >E4 ,I WOND]
:AT YR "F W SAY :5 HE HE>S Y'RE ?9K+ (
ANO!R EXP$I;N1 ,TOM80
  8,OH1 HE'LL WANT ME 6G :5 HE HE>S AB !
EXILE40


8,& ,I'M SURE MY FOLKS W LET ME G4 ,H[
  AB ,MR4
,DAMON80

  8,I DON'T 2LIEVE WE C HOLD HM BACK4 ,X
W MAKE A NICE "PY1 J Y & ,I1 & ,MR4
,DAMON & ,MR4 ,PETROFSKY4 ,T W L1VE ROOM
=! O!R ,RUSSIAN--IF WE C RESCUE HM10 &)
T ,TOM %UT (F ! 5G9E & GLID$ 6E>?4
  ,X MAY WELL 2 IMAG9$ T ,MR4 ,SWIFT 0
SURPRIS$ :5 8 SON TOLD HM ! LATE/ NEWS1
B HE DID N (F] ANY S]I\S OBJEC;N 6! "Y
9V5TOR GO+ 6,SIB]IA4
  8,ONLY Y M/ 2 C>E;L10 HE SD4 8,^?
,RUSSIAN (FIC]S >E UGLY :5 X -ES 6TRY+
6TAKE AWAY ANY ( _! PRISON]S4 ,& ? AIR
GLID]--,I DON'T EXACTLY "K AB T4 ,X'S A
NEW MA*9E1 & Y WANT 6BE SURE X "WS 2F Y
TRU/ YRF 6X40
  8,I W10 PROMIS$ ,TOM4 8,SAY1 ,I'VE GOT
PL5TY ( "W AH1D ( ME1--6GET MY BIG
AIR%IP 9 %APE1 & BUILD ! GLID]4 ,Y'LL H
6HELP ME1 DAD40
  8,I W1 SON4 ,N[ TELL ME M AB ? ,MR4
,PETROFSKY40 ,: ,TOM DID4
  ,! "DS T FOLL[$ 7 9DE$ BUSY "OS =
,TOM4 ,! "Y 9V5TOR MADE A MODEL AIR
GLID] T SAIL$ FAIRLY WELL1 B HE KNEW X
WD H 6"W BETT] 6BE SU3ESS;L1 & HE B5T
ALL 8 5]GIES 9 T DIREC;N4 ,M1N:ILE ,MR4
,DAMON _H BE5 TOLD (! PROSPECTIVE TRIP4
  8,B.S MY BANK BOOK6 ,( C\RSE ,I'LL G10
HE SD4 8,B DON'T SAY ANY?+ AB X 6MY WIFE
--T IS1 J YET4 ,I'LL BR+ H] >.D 6X
GRADU,Y4 ,%E HAS ALW WANT$ A DIAMOND R+
SET 9 PLAT9UM1 & N[ ,I C GET X = H]4 ,I
"K %E'LL LET ME G IF ,I BR1K X 6H]
G5TLY40
  ,X MAY 2 M5;N$ "H T _M VALUA# DIAMONDS
>E N[ SET 9 PLAT9UM 9/1D ( GOLD4
  8,I WANT 6KEEP BUSY10 SD ,MR4 ,DAMON1
S ,TOM SET HM1 ,N$ & ,ERADICATE AT !
TASK ( GETT+ ! BIG AIR%IP 9 %APE =!
TRIP4 ,? AIR CRAFT HAS N FIGUR$ 9 ANY (
MY PREVI\S /ORIES1 B Z X IS S NE>LY L !
"O T 0 CRU%$ 9 ! CAVES ( ICE1 ,I W N
GIVE A DESCRIP;N ( X "H4 ,^? :O C>E 6MAY
REF] 6! BOOK TELL+ ( ,TOM'S TRIP 6!
CAVES ( ICE =A DETAIL$ A3.T (! CRAFT4
  ,SU6ICI5T 6SAY T ? LATE/ AIR%IP1 "ND !
,FALCON1 0 ! L>GE/ ,TOM _H "E BUILT4 ,X
3TA9$ M* ROOM1 _M -=TS1 & CD SAIL =
S"EAL ?\S& MILES )\T DESC5D+1 EXCEPT 9
CASE ( A3ID5T4 ,X 0 A -B9$ DIRIGI#
BALLOON & AEROPLANE1 & CD 2 US$ Z EI1 !
NEC GAS 2+ MADE ON BO>D4 ,X 0 L>GE 5
65A# ! AIR GLID] 6BE TAK5 ON X 9 SEC;NS4
  ,X 0 AB A WEEK AF _! F/ MEET+ ) HM1 T
,IVAN ,PETROFSKY PD A VISIT 6! ,SWIFT
HOME4 ,HE 0 W>MLY WELCOM$ 0! AG$ 9V5TOR
& ,MR4 ,DAMON1 &1 CLOSET$ 9 ! LIBR>Y (!
H\SE1 HE PROCE$$ 6G M 96DETAILS ( 8 [N &
8 BRO!R'S EXILE 6,SIB]IA1 & 6TELL AB !
SUPPOS$ LOC,N (! LO/ PLAT9UM M9E4
  8,I DON'T 2LIEVE WE C />T = S"EAL
WEEKS YET10 SD ,TOM1 AF "S 4CUS.N4 8,X W
TAKE ME T L;G 6MAKE ! GLID]40
  8,& ,I1 TOO1 NE$ A LL "T10 SD !
,RUSSIAN4 8,I W WRITE 6"S FRS 9 ,/4
,PET]SBURG & P]H !Y C GET "S 9=M,N = U1
Z 6": MY BRO!R IS4
  8,T W 2 GD10 DCLD ,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,B.S
MY ICICLE6 ,B ! M ,I ?9K ( ? TRIP !
BETT] ,I L X60
  ,X 0 >RANG$ T ! ,RUSSIAN %D CALL AG
SOON1 :5 ! PLANS WD 2 NE>] 9 %APE1 & 9 !
M1N:ILE HE M/ LE>N ALL HE CD F
REVOLU;N>Y FRS 9 ,SIB]IA4
  ,X 0 A WEEK AF ?1 DUR+ : ,TOM1 ,N$ &!
O!RS _H BE5 V BUSY1 T ,TOM DECID$ 6TAKE
A TRIP 6SEE _! ,RUSSIAN FR4 ,!Y _H N
HE>D F HM S9CE 8 VISIT1 & ,TOM WANT$
6LE>N "S?+ AB ! /R5G? (! ,SIB]IAN W9DS4
  ,HE & ,N$ W5T 9 "O (! SMALL AIR%IPS &
SOON !Y 7 HOV]+ OV] ! GR.DS SURR.D+ !
L"OLY H\SE ": ,IVAN ,PETROFSKY LIV$4

8,HE DOESN'T SEEM 6BE AT HOME10 REM>K$
  ,N$1 Z !Y
DESC5D$ & APPROA*$ ! DWELL+4

  8,NO1 & X LOOKS Q DES]T$10 AGRE$ ! "Y
9V5TOR4 8,SAY1 ALL ! DOORS >E OP51 TOO6
,HE %DN'T G AWAY & L1VE 8 H\SE OP5 L T--
)! VALUA# PLAT9UM "!40
  8,MAYBE HE'S ASLEEP10 SU7E/$ ,N$4
  ,!Y KNOCK$ ON ! OP5$ DOOR1 B "! 0 NO
ANSW]4 ,!N !Y W5T 9SIDE4 ,6_! SURPRISE !
H\SE 0 9 3FU.N4 ,FURNITURE 0 OV]TURN$1
TA#S & *AIRS 7 BROK51 & PAP]S 7 SCATT]$
AB ! ROOM4
  8,"!'S BE5 A FI<T "H60 CRI$ ,TOM4
  8,T'S "R10 AGRE$ ,N$4 8,MAYBE HE'S BE5
HURT--MAYBE BURGL>S CAME =! PLAT9UM60
  8,-E ON60 CRI$ ,TOM1 MAK+ A DA% =!
/AIRS4 8,WE'LL SEE IF HE'S "H40
  ,! H\SE 0 SMALL1 & X TOOK B A MO;T 6%[
T ,MR4 ,PETROFSKY 0 N "!4 ,UP/AIRS1 Z
2L1 0 ! SAME 3FU.N--! OV]TURN$ FURNITURE
&! PAP]S SCATT]$ AB4
  ,TOM /OOP$ & PICK$ UP A SCRAP T LOOK$
L A PIECE TORN F A LR4 ,ON TOP 0 A S1L--
! BLACK S1L ( ,RUSSIA--! IMP]IAL >MS (!
,CZ>6
  8,LOOK60 CRI$ ,TOM1 HOLD+ \ ! PAP]4
  8,:AT IS X40 ASK$ ,N$4
  8,! H& (! ,CZ>60 ANSW]$ 8 *UM4 8,X HAS
R1*$ \ F ,RUSSIA1 & TAK5 ,MR4 ,PETROFSKY
AWAY60






