             ,,*APT] ,,XII
               ,,PROVOC,N

  ,,EKAT]5BURG1 GEOGRAPHIC,Y1 IS AN
,ASIATIC C;Y2 = X IS SITUAT$ 2Y ! ,URAL
,M.TA9S1 ON ! F>!/ EA/]N SLOPES (! *A94
,N"E!.S1 X 2L;GS 6! GOV]N;T ( ,P]M2 &1
3SEQU5TLY1 IS 9CLUD$ 9 "O (! GRT DIVI.NS
( ,EUROP1N ,RUSSIA4 ,X IS Z ?\< A MORSEL
( ,SIB]IA LAY 9 ,RUSSIAN JAWS4
  ,NEI ,MI*AEL NOR 8 -PANIONS 7 LIKELY
6EXP]I;E ! SLI<TE/ DI6ICULTY 9 OBTA9+
M1NS ( 3T9U+ _! J\RNEY 9 S L>GE A T[N Z
,EKAT]5BURG4 ,X 0 F.D$ 9 #AGBC1 & HAS
S9CE 2COME A PLACE ( 3SID]A# SIZE1 = 9 X
IS ! *IEF M9T (! EMPIRE4 ,"! AL >E !
H1DQU>T]S (! (FICIALS EMPLOY$ 9 !
MANAGE;T (! M9ES4 ,?US ! T[N IS ! C5T] (
AN IMPORTANT 4TRICT1 AB.D+ 9
MANUFACTORIES PR9CIP,Y =! "W+ & REF9+ (GOLD & PLAT9A4                      #AFA
  ,J N[ ! POPUL,N ( ,EKAT]5BURG _H GRTLY
9CR1S$2 _M ,RUSSIANS & ,SIB]IANS1 M5AC$
0! ,T>T> 9VA.N1 HAV+ COLLECT$ "!4 ,?US1
?\< X _H BE5 S TR\#"S A MATT] 6F9D
HORSES & VEHICLES :5 GO+ 6,EKAT]5BURG1
"! 0 NO DI6ICULTY 9 L1V+ X2 = "U PRES5T
CIRCUM/.ES FEW TRAVEL]S C>$ 6V5TURE ON !
,SIB]IAN ROADS4
  ,S X HAPP5$ T ,BL.T & ,ALCIDE _H N !
SLI<TE/ TR\# 9 REPLAC+1 0A S.D TELGA1 !
FAM\S DEMI- C>RIAGE : _H MANAG$ 6TAKE !M
6,EKAT]5BURG4 ,Z 6,MI*AEL1 HE RETA9$ 8
T>ANTASS1 : 0 N M* ! WORSE = XS J\RNEY
ACR ! ,URALS2 & HE _H ONLY 6H>;S ?REE GD
HORSES 6X 6TAKE HM SWIFTLY OV] ! ROAD
6,IRKUTSK4
  ,Z F> Z ,TI\M51 & EV5 UP 6,NOVO-
,ZAIMSKOE1 ? ROAD HAS SLI<T 9CL9ES1 :
G5TLE UNDUL,NS >E ! F/ SIGNS (! SLOPES (
! ,URAL ,M.TA9S4 ,B AF ,NOVO-,ZAIMSKOE
2G9S ! IMM5SE /EPPE4
  ,AT ,I*IM1 Z WE H SD1 ! REPORT]S 9T5D$
6/OP1 T IS AT AB F\R HUNDR$ & TW5TY
MILES F ,EKA- T]5BURG4 ,"! !Y 9T5D$ 6BEGUID$ 0CIRCUM/.ES Z 6_! R\TE ACR    #AFB
! 9VAD$ C.TRY1 EI TGR OR SEP>ATELY1 AC Z
_! NEWS-HUNT+ 9/9CT SET !M ON "O TRACK
OR ANO!R4
  ,? ROAD F ,EKAT]5BURG 6,I*IM--: PASSES
"? ,IRKUTSK--WAS ! ONLY "O : ,MI*AEL CD
TAKE4 ,B1 Z HE DID N RUN AF NEWS1 &
WI%$1 ON ! 3TR>Y1 6AVOID ! C.TRY
DEVA/AT$ 0! 9VAD]S1 HE DET]M9$ 6/OP
NO":4
  8,I AM V HAPPY 6MAKE "P ( MY J\RNEY 9
YR -PANY10 SD HE 6HIS NEW -PANIONS1 8B
,I M/ TELL Y T ,I AM MO/ ANXI\S 6R1*
,OMSK2 = MY SI/] & ,I >E GO+ 6REJO9 \R
"M4 ,:O C SAY :E!R WE % >RIVE 2F !
,T>T>S R1* ! T[N6 ,I M/ "!=E /OP AT !
PO/-H\SES ONLY L;G 5 6*ANGE HORSES1 & M/
TRAVEL "D & NI<T40
  8,T IS EXACTLY :AT WE 9T5D DO+10
REPLI$ ,BL.T4
  8,GD10 REPLI$ ,MI*AEL2 8B D N LOSE AN
9/ANT4 ,BUY OR HIRE A C>RIAGE ^:--0
  8,^: H9D :EELS10 A4$ ,ALCIDE1 8>E
W>RANT$ 6>RIVE AT ! SAME "T Z XS FRONT
:EELS40  ,HALF AN H\R AFWS ! 5]GETIC       #AFC
,FR5*MAN _H F.D A T>ANTASS 9 : HE & 8
-PANION AT ONCE S1T$ !MVS4 ,MI*AEL &
,NADIA ONCE M 5T]$ _! [N C>RIAGE1 & AT
TWELVE O'C ! TWO VEHICLES LEFT ! T[N (
,EKAT]5BURG TGR4
  ,NADIA 0 AT LA/ 9 ,SIB]IA1 ON T L;G
ROAD : L$ 6,IRKUTSK4 ,:AT M/ !N H BE5 !
?"\S (! "Y GIRL8 ,?REE /R;G SWIFT HORSES
7 TAK+ H] ACR T L& ( EXILE ": H] P>5T 0
3DEMN$ 6LIVE1 = H[ L;G %E KNEW N1 & S F>
F 8 NATIVE L&4 ,B %E SC>CELY NOTIC$ ^?
L;G /EPPES OV] : ! T>ANTASS 0 ROLL+1 & :
AT "O "T %E _H DESPAIR$ ( "E SEE+1 = H]
EYES 7 GAZ+ AT ! HORIZON1 2Y : %E KNEW
H] BANI%$ "F WAS4 ,%E SAW NO?+ (! C.TRY
ACR : %E 0 TRAVEL+ AT ! RATE ( FIFTE5
V]/S AN H\R2 NO?+ ( ^! REGIONS ( ,WE/]N
,SIB]IA1 S DI6]5T F ^? (! EA/4 ,"H1
9DE$1 7 FEW CULTIVAT$ FIELDS2 ! SOIL 0
POOR1 AT L1/ AT ! SURFACE1 B 9 XS B[ELS
LAY HID QUANTITIES ( IRON1 COPP]1
PLAT9A1 & GOLD4 ,H[ C H&S 2 F.D
6CULTIVATE ! L&1 :5 X PAYS BETT] 6BURR[
2N ! E>?8 ,! PICKAXE IS "EY": AT "W2 !SPADE NO":4                         #AFD
  ,H["E1 ,NADIA'S ?"\S "S"TS LEFT !
PROV9CES ( ,LAKE ,BAIKAL1 & RETURN$ 6H]
PRES5T SITU,N4 ,H] "F'S IMAGE FAD$ AWAY1
& 0 REPLAC$ 0T ( H] G5]\S -PANION Z HE
F/ APPE>$ ON ! ,VLADIMIR RAILROAD4 ,%E
RECALL$ 8 ATT5;NS DUR+ T J\RNEY1 8
>RIVAL AT ! POLICE-/,N1 ! HE>TY
SIMPLIC;Y ) : HE _H CALL$ H] SI/]1 8
K9D;S 6H] 9 ! DESC5T (! ,VOLGA1 & !N ALL
T HE DID = H] ON T T]RI# NI<T (! /ORM 9
! ,URALS1 :5 HE SAV$ H] LIFE AT ! P]IL (
8 [N4
  ,?US ,NADIA ?"\ ( ,MI*AEL4 ,%E ?ANK$
,GOD = HAV+ GIV5 H] S* A GALLANT
PROTECTOR1 A FR S G5]\S & WISE4 ,%E KNEW
T %E 0 SAFE ) HM1 "U 8 PROTEC;N4 ,NO
BRO!R CD H D"O M ?AN HE4 ,ALL OB/ACLES
SEEM$ CLE>$ AWAY2 ! P]=M.E ( H] J\RNEY 0
B A MATT] ( "T4
  ,MI*AEL REMA9$ BURI$ 9 ?"\4 ,HE AL
?ANK$ ,GOD = HAV+ BR"\ AB ? MEET+ )
,NADIA1 : AT ! SAME "T 5A#D HM 6D A GD
AC;N1 & AF=D$ HM A4I;NAL M1NS = 3C1L+ 8
TRUE "*4 ,HE DELI<T$ 9 ! "Y GIRL'S CALM9TREPID;Y4 ,0 %E N 9DE$ 8 SI/]8     #AFE
,8 FEEL+ T[>DS 8 B1UTI;L & BRAVE -PANION
0 R RESPECT ?AN A6EC;N4 ,HE FELT T H]S 0
"O ( ^? PURE & R>E HE>TS : >E HELD 0ALL
9 HI< E/EEM4
  ,H["E1 ,MI*AEL'S DANG]S 7 N[ 2G9N+1
S9CE HE _H R1*$ ,SIB]IAN GR.D4 ,IF !
REPORT]S 7 N MISTAK51 IF ,IVAN ,OG>EFF
_H RE,Y PASS$ ! FRONTI]1 ALL 8 AC;NS M/
2 MADE ) EXTREME CAU;N4 ,?+S 7 N[ ALT]$2
,T>T> SPIES SW>M$ 9 ! ,SIB]IAN PROV9CES4
,8 9COGNITO ONCE 4COV]$1 8 "* Z C\RI] (!
,CZ> "KN1 "! 0 AN 5D ( 8 J\RNEY1 &
PROBABLY ( 8 LIFE4 ,MI*AEL FELT N[ M ?AN
"E ! WEI<T ( 8 RESPONSIBIL;Y4
  ,:ILE S* 7 ! ?"\S ( ^? O3UPY+ ! F/
C>RIAGE1 :AT 0 HAPP5+ 9 ! SECOND8 ,NO?+
\ (! WAY4 ,ALCIDE SPOKE 9 S5T;ES2 ,BL.T
REPLI$ 0MONOSYLLA#S4 ,EA* LOOK$ AT "EY?+
9 8 [N LI<T1 & MADE NOTES ( S* 9CID5TS Z
O3URR$ ON ! J\RNEY--FEW & B SLI<TLY V>I$
--:ILE !Y CROSS$ ! PROV9CES ( ,WE/]N
,SIB]IA4
  ,AT EA* RELAY ! REPORT]S DESC5D$ F _!
C>RIAGE & F.D !MVS ) ,MI*AEL4 ,EXCEPT :5M1LS 7 6BE TAK5 AT ! PO/-H\SES1     #AFF
,NADIA DID N L1VE ! T>ANTASS4 ,:5 OBLIG$
6BR1KFA/ OR D9E1 %E SAT AT TA#1 B 0 ALW
V RES]V$1 & SELDOM JO9$ 9 3V]S,N4
  ,ALCIDE1 )\T GO+ 2Y ! LIMITS ( /RICT
PROPRIETY1 %[$ T HE 0 GRTLY /RUCK 0! "Y
GIRL4 ,HE ADMIR$ ! SIL5T 5]GY : %E %[$ 9
BE>+ ALL ! FATIGUES ( S DI6ICULT A
J\RNEY4
  ,! =C$ /OPPAGES 7 ANY?+ B AGREEA#
6,MI*AEL2 S HE HA/5$ ! DE"PURE AT EA*
RELAY1 R\S$ ! 9NKEEP]S1 URG$ ON !
IEMS*IKS1 & EXP$IT$ ! H>;S+ (! T>ANTASS4
,!N ! HURRI$ M1L OV]--ALW M* TOO HURRI$
6AGREE ) ,BL.T1 :O 0 A ME?ODICAL EAT]--
!Y />T$1 & 7 DRIV5 Z EAGLES1 = !Y PD L
PR9CES4
  ,X NE$ SC>CELY 2 SD T ,BL.T DID N TR\#
HMF AB ! GIRL AT TA#4 ,T G5TLEMAN 0 N 9
! HABIT ( DO+ TWO ?+S AT ONCE4 ,%E 0 AL
"O (! FEW SUBJECTS ( 3V]S,N : HE DID N
C>E 64CUSS ) 8 -PANION4
  ,ALCIDE HAV+ ASK$ HM1 ON "O O3A.N1 H[
OLD HE ?"\ ! GIRL1 8,:AT GIRL80 HE
REPLI$1 Q S]I\SLY4  8,:Y1 ,NI*OLAS ,KORPAN(F'S        #AFG
SI/]40
  8,IS %E 8 SI/]80
  8,NO2 8 GR&"M60 REPLI$ ,ALCIDE1 ANGRY
AT 8 9DI6];E4 8,:AT AGE %D Y 3SID] H]80
  8,_H ,I BE5 PRES5T AT H] BIR? ,I MI<T
H "KN40
  ,V FEW (! ,SIB]IAN P1SANTS 7 6BE SE5 9
! FIELDS4 ,^! P1SANTS >E REM>KA# = _!
PALE1 GRAVE FACES1 : A CELEBRAT$ TRAVEL]
HAS -P>$ 6^? (! ,CA/ILIANS1 )\T !
HAU<TI;S (! LATT]4 ,"H & "! "S VILLAGES
ALR DES]T$ 9DICAT$ ! APPROA* (! ,T>T>
HORDES4 ,! 9HABITANTS1 HAV+ DRIV5 (F _!
FLOCKS ( %EEP1 _! CAMELS1 & _! HORSES1 7
TAK+ REFUGE 9 ! PLA9S (! NOR?4 ,"S
TRIBES (! W&]+ ,KIR<IZ1 :O REMA9$
FAI?;L1 _H TRANSPORT$ _! T5TS 2Y !
,IRTY*1 6ESCAPE ! DEPR$,NS (! 9VAD]S4
  ,HAPPILY1 PO/ TRAVEL+ 0 Z YET
UN9T]RUPT$2 & TELEGRAPHIC -MUNIC,N CD /
2 E6ECT$ 2T PLACES 3NECT$ )! WIRE4 ,AT
EA* RELAY HORSES 7 6BE _H ON ! USUAL
3DI;NS4 ,AT EA* TELEGRAPHIC /,N ! CL]KS
TRANSMITT$ MESSAGES DELIV]$ 6!M1 DELAY+= ,/ATE 4PAT*ES AL"O4               #AFH
  ,?US F>1 !N1 ,MI*AEL'S J\RNEY _H BE5
A3OMPLI%$ SATISFACTORILY4 ,! C\RI] (!
,CZ> _H 9 NO WAY BE5 IMP$$2 &1 IF HE CD
ONLY GET ON 6,KRASNOI>SK1 : SEEM$ ! F>!/
PO9T ATTA9$ 0,FEOF>-,KHAN'S ,T>T>S1 HE
KNEW T HE CD >RIVE AT ,IRKUTSK1 2F !M4
,! "D AF ! TWO C>RIAGES _H LEFT
,EKAT]5BURG !Y R1*$ ! SMALL T[N (
,T\L\GUISK AT SEV5 O'C 9 ! MORN+1 HAV+
COV]$ TWO HUNDR$ & TW5TY V]/S1 NO EV5T
WOR?Y ( M5;N HAV+ O3URR$4 ,! SAME EV5+1
! #BB;D ( ,JULY1 !Y >RIV$ AT ,TI\M54
  ,TI\M51 ^: POPUL,N IS USU,Y T5 ?\S&
9HABITANTS1 !N 3TA9$ D\# T NUMB]4 ,?1 !
F/ 9DU/RIAL T[N E/ABLI%$ 0! ,RUSSIANS 9
,SIB]IA1 9 : MAY 2 SE5 A F9E METAL-REF9+
FACTORY &A BELL F.DRY1 _H N"E 2F PRES5T$
S* AN ANIMAT$ APPE>.E4 ,! CORRESPOND5TS
IMMLY W5T (F AF NEWS4 ,T BR"\ 0,SIB]IAN
FUGITIVES F ! S1T ( W> 0 F> F REASSUR+4
,!Y SD1 AM;G/ O!R ?+S1 T ,FEOF>-,KHAN'S
>MY 0 RAPIDLY APPROA*+ ! VALLEY (!
,I*IM1 & !Y 3FIRM$ ! REPORT T ! ,T>T>
*IEF 0 SOON 6BE JO9$ 0,COLONEL ,OG>EFF1IF HE _H N BE5 S ALR4 ,H;E !        #AFI
3CLU.N 0 T OP],NS WD 2 PU%$ 9 ,EA/]N
,SIB]IA )! GRTE/ ACTIV;Y4 ,H["E1 ! LOYAL
,COSSACKS (! GOV]N;T ( ,TOBOLSK 7
ADVANC+ 0=C$ M>*ES T[>DS ,TOMSK1 9 !
HOPE ( CUTT+ (F ! ,T>T> COLUMNS4
  ,AT MIDNI<T ! T[N ( ,NOVO-,SAIMSK 0
R1*$2 &! TRAVEL]S N[ LEFT 2H !M ! C.TRY
BROK5 0TREE-COV]$ HILLS1 ! LA/ REMA9S (!
,URALS4
  ,"H 2GAN ! REGUL> ,SIB]IAN /EPPE :
EXT5DS 6! NEI<BORHOOD ( ,KRASNOI>SK4 ,X
IS A B.D.S PLA91 A VA/ GRASSY DES]T2 E>?
& SKY "H =M A CIRCLE Z 4T9CT Z T TRAC$
0A SWEEP (! -PASSES4 ,! /EPPE PRES5TS
NO?+ 6ATTRACT NOTICE B ! L;G L9E (!
TELEGRAPH PO/S1 _! WIRES VIBRAT+ 9 !
BREEZE L ! /R+S (A H>P4 ,! ROAD CD 2
4T+UI%$ F ! RE/ (! PLA9 ONLY 0! CL\DS (
F9E DU/ : ROSE "U ! :EELS (! T>ANTASS4
,_H X N BE5 = ? :ITE RIB&1 : /RET*$ AWAY
Z F> Z ! EYE CD R1*1 ! TRAVEL]S MI<T H
?"\ !MVS 9 A DES]T4
  ,MI*AEL & 8 -PANIONS AG PRESS$ RAPIDLY
=W>D4 ,! HORSES1 URG$ ON 0! IEMS*IK1SEEM$ 6FLY OV] ! GR.D1 = "! 0 N !   #AGJ
SLI<TE/ OB/ACLE 6IMP$E !M4 ,! T>ANTASS 0
GO+ /RAI<T = ,I*IM1 ": ! TWO
CORRESPOND5TS 9T5D$ 6/OP1 IF NO?+ HAPP5$
6MAKE !M ALT] _! PLANS4
  ,A HUNDR$ & TW5TY MILES SEP>AT$ ,NOVO-
,SAIMSK F ! T[N ( ,I*IM1 & 2F EI<T O'C !
NEXT EV5+ ! 4T.E CD & %D 2 A3OMPLI%$ IF
NO "T 0 LO/4 ,9 ! OP9ION (! IEMS*IKS1 %D
! TRAVEL]S N 2 GRT "LS OR HI<
FUNC;N>IES1 !Y 7 WOR?Y ( 2+ S1 IF X 0
ONLY = _! G5]OS;Y 9 ! MATT] ( 8NA
VODK\40
  ,ON ! AFN (! NEXT "D1 ! #BCRD ( ,JULY1
! TWO C>RIAGES 7 N M ?AN ?IRTY V]/S F
,I*IM4 ,SU45LY ,MI*AEL CAU<T SI<T (A
C>RIAGE--SC>CELY VISI# AM;G ! CL\DS (
DU/--PREC$+ !M AL;G ! ROAD4 ,Z 8 HORSES
7 EVID5TLY LESS FATIGU$ ?AN ^? (! O!R
TRAVEL]1 HE WD N 2 L;G 9 OV]TAK+ X4 ,? 0
NEI A T>ANTASS NOR A TELGA1 B A PO/-
B]L91 : LOOK$ Z IF X _H MADE A L;G
J\RNEY4 ,! PO/ILLION 0 ?RA%+ 8 HORSES )
ALL 8 MI<T1 & ONLY KEPT !M AT A GALLOP
0D9T ( ABUSE & BL[S4 ,! B]L9 _H C]TA9LYN PASS$ "? ,NOVO-,SAIMSK1 & CD      #AGA
ONLY H /RUCK ! ,IRKUTSK ROAD 0"S LESS
FREQU5T$ R\TE ACR ! /EPPE4
  ,\R TRAVEL]S' F/ ?"\1 ON SEE+ ? B]L91
0 6GET 9 FRONT ( X1 & >RIVE F/ AT !
RELAY1 S Z 6MAKE SURE ( FRE% HORSES4 ,!Y
SD A ^W 6_! IEMS*IKS1 :O SOON BR"\ !M UP
)! B]L94
  ,MI*AEL ,/ROG(F CAME UP F/4 ,Z HE
PASS$1 A H1D 0 ?RU/ \ (! W9D[ (! B]L94
  ,HE _H N "T 6SEE :AT X 0 L1 B Z HE
DA%$ 0HE 4T9CTLY HE>D ? ^W1 UTT]$ 9 AN
IMP]I\S T"O3 8,/OP60
  ,B !Y DID N /OP2 ON ! 3TR>Y1 ! B]L9 0
SOON 4T.ED 0! TWO T>ANTASSES4
  ,X N[ 2CAME A REGUL> RACE2 =! HORSES (
! B]L9--NO D\BT EXCIT$ 0! SI<T & PACE (!
O!RS--RECOV]$ _! /R5G? & KEPT UP = "S
M9UTES4 ,! ?REE C>RIAGES 7 HI45 9 A CL\D
( DU/4 ,F ? CL\D ISSU$ ! CRACK+ ( :IPS
M+L$ ) EXCIT$ %\TS & EXCLAM,NS ( ANG]4
  ,N"E!.S1 ! ADVANTAGE REMA9$ ) ,MI*AEL
& 8 -PANIONS1 : MI<T 2 V IMPORTANT 6!M
IF ! RELAY 0 POORLY PROVID$ ) HORSES4
,TWO C>RIAGES 7 P]H M ?AN ! PO/MA/] CDPROVIDE =1 AT L1/ 9 A %ORT SPACE    #AGB
( "T4
  ,HALF AN H\R AF ! B]L9 0 LEFT F> 2H1
LOOK+ ONLY A SPECK ON ! HORIZON (!
/EPPE4
  ,X 0 EI<T O'C 9 ! EV5+ :5 ! TWO
C>RIAGES R1*$ ,I*IM4 ,! NEWS 0 WORSE &
WORSE ) REG>D 6! 9VA.N4 ,! T[N XF 0
M5AC$ 0! ,T>T> VANGU>D2 & TWO "DS 2F !
AU?ORITIES _H BE5 OBLIG$ 6RETR1T
6,TOBOLSK4 ,"! 0 N AN (FIC] NOR A SOLDI]
LEFT 9 ,I*IM4
  ,ON >RIV+ AT ! RELAY1 ,MI*AEL ,/ROG(F
IMMLY ASK$ = HORSES4 ,HE _H BE5 =TUNATE
9 4TANC+ ! B]L94 ,ONLY ?REE HORSES 7 FIT
6BE H>;S$4 ,! O!RS _H J -E 9 WORN \ F A
L;G /AGE4
  ,Z ! TWO CORRESPOND5TS 9T5D$ 6/OP AT
,I*IM1 !Y _H N 6TR\# !MVS 6F9D
TRANSPORT1 & _H _! C>RIAGE PUT AWAY4 ,9
T5 M9UTES ,MI*AEL 0 TOLD T 8 T>ANTASS 0
R1DY 6/>T4
  8,GD10 SD HE4
  ,!N TURN+ 6! TWO REPORT]S3 8,WELL1
G5TLEM51 ! "T IS -E = U 6SEP>ATE40  8,:AT1 ,MR4 ,KORPAN(F10 SD        #AGC
,ALCIDE ,JOLIVET1 8% Y N /OP EV5 = AN
H\R AT ,I*IM80
  8,NO1 SIR2 & ,I AL WI% 6L1VE ! PO/-
H\SE 2F ! >RIVAL (! B]L9 : WE 4T.ED40
  8,>E Y AFRAID T ! TRAVEL] W 4PUTE !
HORSES ) Y80
  8,I "PICUL>LY WI% 6AVOID ANY
DI6ICULTY40
  8,!N1 ,MR4 ,KORPAN(F10 SD ,JOLIVET1 8X
ONLY REMA9S = U 6?ANK Y ONCE M =! S]VICE
Y R5D]$ U1 &! PL1SURE WE H _H 9 TRAVEL+
) Y40
  8,X IS POSSI# T WE % MEET Y AG 9 A FEW
"DS AT ,OMSK10 A4$ ,BL.T4
  8,X IS POSSI#10 ANSW]$ ,MI*AEL1 8S9CE
,I AM GO+ /RAI<T "!40
  8,WELL1 ,I WI% Y A SAFE J\RNEY1 ,MR4
,KORPAN(F10 SD ,ALCIDE1 8& ,H1V5 PRES]VE
Y F TELGAS40
  ,! TWO REPORT]S HELD \ _! H&S 6,MI*AEL
)! 9T5;N ( CORDI,Y %AK+ HIS1 :5 ! S.D (A
C>RIAGE 0 HE>D \TSIDE4 ,ALM IMMLY ! DOOR
0 FLUNG OP5 &A MAN APPE>$4
  ,X 0 ! TRAVEL] (! B]L91 A MILIT>Y-LOOK+ MAN1 APP>5TLY AB =TY YE>S (   #AGD
AGE1 TALL1 ROBU/ 9 FIGURE1 BROAD-%\LD]$1
)A /R;GLY-SET H1D1 & ?ICK MU/A*ES MEET+
R$ :ISK]S4 ,HE WORE A PLA9 UNI=M4 ,A
CAVALRY SAB] HUNG AT 8 SIDE1 & 9 8 H& HE
HELD A %ORT-H&L$ :IP4
  8,HORSES10 HE DEM&$1 )! AIR (A MAN
A3U/OM$ 6-M&4
  8,I H NO M 4POSA# HORSES10 ANSW]$ !
PO/MA/]1 B[+4
  8,I M/ H "S ? MO;T40
  8,X IS IMPOSSI#40
  8,:AT >E ^? HORSES : H J BE5 H>;S$ 6!
T>ANTASS ,I SAW AT ! DOOR80
  8,!Y 2L;G 6? TRAVEL]10 ANSW]$ !
PO/MA/]1 PO9T+ 6,MI*AEL ,/ROG(F4
  8,TAKE !M \60 SD ! TRAVEL] 9 A T"O :
ADMITT$ ( NO REPLY4
  ,MI*AEL !N ADV.ED4
  8,^! HORSES >E 5GAG$ 0ME10 HE SD4
  8,:AT DOES T MATT]8 ,I M/ H !M4 ,-E1 2
QK2 ,I H NO "T 6LOSE40
  8,I H NO "T 6LOSE EI10 REPLI$ ,MI*AEL1
RE/RA9+ HMF ) DI6ICULTY4
  ,NADIA 0 NE> HM1 CALM AL1 B SECRETLYUNEASY AT A SC5E : X WD H BE5       #AGE
BETT] 6AVOID4
  8,5\<60 SD ! TRAVEL]4 ,!N1 GO+ UP 6!
PO/MA/]1 8,LET ! HORSES 2 PUT 96MY
B]L910 HE EXCLAIM$ )A ?R1T5+ GE/URE4
  ,! PO/MA/]1 M* EMB>RASS$1 DID N "K :OM
6OBEY1 & LOOK$ AT ,MI*AEL1 :O EVID5TLY
_H ! "R 6RESI/ ! UNJU/ DEM&S (! TRAVEL]4
  ,MI*AEL HESITAT$ AN 9/ANT4 ,HE DID N
WI% 6MAKE USE ( 8 PODOROJNA1 : WD H
DRAWN ATT5;N 6HM1 & HE 0 MO/ UNWILL+ AL1
0GIV+ UP 8 HORSES1 6DELAY 8 J\RNEY1 &
YET HE M/ N 5GAGE 9 A /RU7LE : MI<T
-PROMISE 8 MIS.N4
  ,! TWO REPORT]S LOOK$ AT HM R1DY
6SUPPORT HM %D HE APP1L 6!M4
  8,MY HORSES W REMA9 9 MY C>RIAGE10 SD
,MI*AEL1 B )\T RAIS+ 8 T"O M ?AN WD 2
SUITA# =A PLA9 ,IRKUTSK M]*ANT4
  ,! TRAVEL] ADV.ED T[>DS ,MI*AEL & LAID
8 H& H1VILY ON 8 %\LD]4 8,IS X S80 HE SD
R\<LY4 8,Y W N GIVE UP YR HORSES 6ME80
  8,NO10 ANSW]$ ,MI*AEL4
  8,V WELL1 !Y % 2L;G 6:I*"E ( U IS A#
6/>T4 ,DEF5D YRF2 ,I % N SP>E Y60  ,S SAY+1 ! TRAVEL] DREW 8 SAB]    #AGF
F XS %1?1 & ,NADIA ?REW H]F 2F ,MI*AEL4
  ,BL.T & ,ALCIDE ,JOLIVET ADV.ED T[>DS
HM4
  8,I % N FI<T10 SD ,MI*AEL QUIETLY1
FOLD+ 8 >MS ACR 8 *E/4
  8,Y W N FI<T80
  8,NO40
  8,N EV5 AF ?80 EXCLAIM$ ! TRAVEL]4 ,&
2F ANY"O CD PREV5T HM1 HE /RUCK
,MI*AEL'S %\LD] )! H&LE (! :IP4 ,AT ?
9SULT ,MI*AEL TURN$ D1DLY PALE4 ,8 H&S
MOV$ 3VULSIVELY Z IF HE WD H KNOCK$ !
BRUTE D[N4 ,B 0A TREM5D\S EF=T HE MA/]$
HMF4 ,A DUEL6 X 0 M ?AN A DELAY2 X 0 P]H
! FAILURE ( 8 MIS.N4 ,X WD 2 BETT] 6LOSE
"S H\RS4 ,YES2 B 6SWALL[ ? A6RONT6
  8,W Y FI<T N[1 C[>D80 REP1T$ !
TRAVEL]1 A4+ CO>SE;S 6BRUTAL;Y4
  8,NO10 ANSW]$ ,MI*AEL1 )\T MOV+1 B
LOOK+ ! O!R /RAI<T 9 ! FACE4
  8,! HORSES ? MO;T10 SD ! MAN1 & LEFT !
ROOM4
  ,! PO/MA/] FOLL[$ HM1 AF %RU7+ 8
%\LD]S & 2/[+ ON ,MI*AEL A GL.E ( ANY?+B APPROB,N4                         #AGG
  ,! E6ECT PRODUC$ ON ! REPORT]S 0?
9CID5T 0 N 6,MI*AEL'S ADVANTAGE4 ,_!
4COMFITURE 0 VISI#4 ,H[ CD ? /R;G "Y MAN
ALL[ HMF 6BE /RUCK L T & N DEM&
SATISFAC;N = S* AN 9SULT8 ,!Y 3T5T$ !MVS
) B[+ 6HM & RETIR$1 ,JOLIVET REM>K+
6,H>RY ,BL.T
  8,I CD N H 2LIEV$ T (A MAN :O IS S
SKILL;L 9 F9I%+ UP ,URAL ,M.TA9 BE>S4
,IS X ! CASE T A MAN C 2 C\RAGE\S AT "O
"T &A C[>D AT ANO!R8 ,X IS Q
9COMPREH5SI#40
  ,A MO;T AFWS ! NOISE ( :EELS & :IP %[$
T ! B]L91 DRAWN 0! T>ANTASS' HORSES1 0
DRIV+ RAPIDLY AWAY F ! PO/-H\SE4
  ,NADIA1 UNMOV$1 & ,MI*AEL1 / QUIV]+1
REMA9$ AL"O 9 ! ROOM4 ,! C\RI] (! ,CZ>1
8 >MS CROSS$ OV] 8 *E/ 0 S1T$ MO;N.S Z A
/ATUE4 ,A COLOR1 : CD N H BE5 ! BLU% (
%AME1 _H REPLAC$ ! PALE;S ON 8 C.T5.E4
  ,NADIA DID N D\BT T P[];L R1SONS AL"O
CD H ALL[$ HM 6SU6] S GRT A HUMILI,N F
S* A MAN4 ,GO+ UP 6HM Z HE _H -E 6H] 9 !
POLICE- /,N AT ,NIJNI-,NOVGOROD3  8,YR H&1 BRO!R10 SD %E4           #AGH
  ,& AT ! SAME "T H] H&1 ) AN ALM
MAT]NAL GE/URE1 WIP$ AWAY A TE> : SPRANG
6H] -PANION'S EYE4

