
    ,,*APT] ,,IX

    ,,R1DY ,,6,,/>T
  ,"*I/IC X 0 ( ,TOM ,SWIFT 6ACT CALMLY
9 "TS ( /RESS & DANG]1 & HE RAN TRUE 6=M
N[4 ,ONLY = AN 9/ANT DID HE %[ ANY SIGN
( P]TURB,N4 ,!N ) CALM;S & DELIB],N ! "Y
9V5TOR QKLY DID A NUMB] ( ?+S 6! 3TROLS
)9 8 R1*4
  ,F/ ( ALL HE SIGNAL$ 6! 5G9E ROOM T HE
0 GO+ 6TAKE *>GE (! BOAT4 ,? M1NT T !
NAVIGATOR 9 ! CONN+ T[] 0 6KEEP 8 H&S (F
! V>I\S L"ES & :EEL-VALVES4 ,X 0 POSSI#
6OP]ATE ! ,M4 ,N4 #A F ?REE POSI;NS1 B
,TOM WANT$ NO TRIPLICATE H&L+ ( 8 CRAFT
N[4
  ,ALM ! 9/ANT ,TOM SIGNAL$ T HE WD TAKE
*>GE BACK CAME FLA%+ ! ELECTRICAL SIGNAL
F ! CONN+ T[] T 8 ORD]S 7 "U/OOD4 ,!
NEXT ?+ T ^? ABO>D ! CRAFT 2CAME AW>E (
0 A TREMOR T SEEM$ 6RUN "? ! :OLE "U-SEA
%IP4 ,! QUIET _H *ANG$ 6A SUBDU$ HUMM+1
&! OM9\S LACK ( MO;N 0 SU3E$$ 0VIOL5T
VIBR,N4
  8,BACK+ H] UP1 ,TOM80 ASK$ ,N$1 9 A L[
VOICE4
  8,TRY+ TO10 0 ! ANSW]4 8,B ,I'M AFRAID
H] NOSE HAS G"O 9 PRETTY DEEP4 ,I'VE
REV]S$ ! PROPELL]S40
  ,= P]H A M9UTE ? VIBR,N 3T9U$1 %[+ T !
P[];L ELECTRIC MOTORS 7 TURN+ OV] ! TW9
PROPELL]S AT ! BLUNT /]N (! CRAFT4 ,B %E
DID N *ANGE H] POSI;N4
  ,)A T\* ( 8 H&1 & / ALM Z COOL Z !
PROV]BIAL CUCUMB] 7?\< :Y !Y %D 2 COOL X
IS H>D 6SAY71 ,TOM /OPP$ ! MOTORS4 ,ONCE
AG ! CRAFT 0 QUIET1 B N[1 9/1D (!
O3UPANTS 2+ A# 6SEE CLE>LY F ! ?ICK1
GLASS W9D[S 9 ! =W>D CAB91 ! WAT] %[$
MU4Y & MURKY 9 ! GL>E (! "UWAT]
SE>*LI<T4
  8,B.S MY PO/AGE /AMPS1 ,TOM6 :AT HAS
HAPP5$80 EXCLAIM$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,HAS A
GIANT SQUID ATTACK$ U1 Z "O DID "S "T
AGO1 & IS HE ROIL+ UP ! WAT]80
  8,NO1 X ISN'T A SQUID1 ,MR4 ,DAMON10
REPLI$ ! "Y 9V5TOR EASILY2 8?\< ! WAT]
DOES LOOK Z IF A SQUID _H SPILL$ A LOT (
8 9K 9 X4 ,? IS J ! E6ECT ( MUD /IRR$ UP
0\R PROPELL]S4 ,"! MAY 2 M ( X40
  ,N$ LOOK$ T[>D ,MR4 ,H>DLEY 6SEE H[ HE
0 TAK+ X4 ,! SEEK] AF GOLD APP>5TLY _H
GD 3TROL ( 8 N]VES1 OR ELSE HE 0
IGNORANT ( :AT 0 GO+ ON4 ,= HE ASK$1
CASU,Y 5\<3
  8,H WE /OPP$80
  8,WE H10 ANSW]$ ,TOM4 8,I ?"\ ,I'D
GIVE Y A VIEW (! SC5]Y40
  ,P]H HE SPOKE S>CA/IC,Y1 B1 IF HE DID1
,MR4 ,DAMON'S FR DID N SEEM 6BE AW>E (
X4 ,COOLLY 5 HE REPLI$3
  8,WELL1 IF ? IS A FAIR SAMPLE ( "UWAT]
SC5]Y ,I PREF] "S?+ UP ABV1 ?\< ,I
APPRECIATE T ? MAY 2 NE$;L40
  8,WE'LL SOON 2 TRAVEL+ AL;G10 ANN\NC$
,TOM4 8,KOKU10 HE A4$ 6! GIANT1 :O _H
BE5 CALMLY SITT+ DUR+ ! EXCITE;T1 8G 6!
5G9E ROOM & HELP )! BIG L"ES40
  8,YES1 ,MA/]10 0 ! ANSW]4 ,KOKU _H
IMPLICIT FAI? 9 ,TOM4
  ,WAIT+ A MO;T = 8 FAI?;L S]VANT 6R1* !
PO/ ASSIGN$ 6HM1 ,TOM AG SIGNAL$ 6HIS
HELP]S & !N QKLY TURN$ A :EEL : PRODUC$
/>TL+ RESULTS4 ,= ALL )9 ! SUBM>9E
SU45LY SLID =W>D ACR ! CAB9 FLOOR4
  8,B.S MY HAMMOCK HOOKS1 ,TOM6 >E Y /&+
H] ON H] H1D80 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,T'S EXACTLY :AT ,I'M DO+10 0 !
ANSW]4 8,I'VE />T$ 6EMPTY "O (! AF
BALLA/ TANKS1 & T1 NATUR,Y1 RAISES ! /]N
:ILE ! NOSE IS HELD D[N40
  ,! SUBM>9E 0 9DE$ 9 A PECULI> POSI;N4
,%E 0 ON A SLANT 9 ! WAT]1 H] NOSE HELD
FA/ 9 ! S(T MUD BANK1 & X 0 ,TOM'S IDEA
T 0MAK+ ! /]N BUOYANT X MI<T HELP 6PULL
H] FREE4
  ,6? 5D HE AL GAVE :AT ASSI/.E !
PROPELL]S 7 CAPA# ( A4+ 0/>T+ ! MOTORS
AG1 S T ! CRAFT ONCE M TREM#D & VIBRAT$4
  ,B X ALL SEEM$ 6NO PURPOSE4 ,ASIDE F !
SLANT+ POSI;N1 "! 0 NO *ANGE 9 ! ,M4 ,N4
#A4 ,N$1 LOOK+ \ 96! MURKY WAT]1 : _H
CLE>$ SLI<TLY1 SAW T !
CRAFT 0 / HELD FA/4 ,& !N1 =! F/ "T1
,MR4 ,H>DLEY SEEM$ 62COME AW>E T "S?+
S]I\S 0 ! MATT]4 ,UP 6N[ HE SEEM$ 6?9K T
ALL T _H O3URR$ 0 D"O =! PURPOSE ( TE/+
! NEWLY \TFITT$ "US1S BOAT4
  8,IS "! ANY?+ WR;G80 HE ASK$ %>PLY (
,TOM4 8,:Y >E WE 9 ? POSI;N1 & :Y DON'T
WE G ON \ 6! OP5 OC1N & MAKE A TE/ AT
3SID]A# DEP?8 ,WE'LL H 6G D[N DEEP] ?AN
? IF WE F9D ! ,P&ORA60
  8,I SUPPOSE S10 AGRE$ ,TOM4 8,B WE H
_H AN A3ID5T1 &--0
  8,AN A3ID5T60 9T]RUPT$ ! GOLD-SEEK]1 &
!N ,N$ SAW HM TURN PALE4 8,D Y M1N 6SAY
? IS N "P (! TE/80
  8,WE H RUN 96A MUD BANK10 SD ,TOM4 8,!
/E]SMAN M/ H 2COME 3FUS$1 OR ELSE1 S9CE
WE LA/ US$ ! SUBM>9E1 "! HAS BE5 A %IFT
(! MUD BANKS 9 ? RIV] & "O EXI/S ": "! 0
N"O 2F4 ,AT ANY RATE1 WE RAN \R NOSE
DEEP 96X1 & "H WE >E--/UCK60

8,C'T WE GET LOOSE--G UP 6! SURFACE80
DEM&$ ,MR4 ,H>DLEY4

  8,I'M TRY+ 6BR+ T AB10 ANN\NC$ ,TOM
CALMLY4 8,S F> H] 5G9ES HAV5'T BE5 A#
6PULL H] LOOSE40
  8,B ,GRT ,SCOTT1 MAN1 WE C'T /AY "H60
CRI$ ! N[ EXCIT$ ADV5TUR]4 8,WE'LL 2
DR[N$ L RATS 9 A TRAP6 ,LET ME \6 ,ISN'T
"! "S WAY8 ,I'LL 2 %OT "? A TORP$O TUBE1
IF NEC6 ,I M/ GET \6 ,I C'T /AY "H 6BE
DR[N$6 ,I H TOO M* AT /AKE60
  8,N[ WAIT A M9UTE60 CALMLY ADVIS$ ,TOM
,SWIFT4 8,Y HAV5'T ANY M AT /AKE ?AN !
RE/ ( U4 ,N"O ( U WANTS 6BE DR[N$1 & "!
IS ONLY A REMOTE POSSIBIL;Y T WE % BE4
,I HAV5'T PLAY$ ALL MY C>DS YET4 ,WE C
LIVE ON ? BOAT =A WEEK1 IF NE$ BE40
  8,Y M1N "U WAT] Z WE >E N[80 ASK$ ,MR4
,H>DLEY4
  8,YES4 ,I ALW KEEP ! BOAT PROVI.N$ &)
PL5TY ( AIR & WAT] =A L;G /AY1 IF NE$
BE10 REPLI$ ,TOM4 8,& ,I DID N OV]LOOK !
FACT T WE MI<T H AN A3ID5T ON ! TRIAL
TRIP40
  8,I DON'T SEE H[ Y LET AN A3ID5T HAPP5
2F WE EV5 GOT />T$10 -PLA9$ ! GOLD-
SEEK]4 8,I %D ?9K YR /E]SMAN WD H BE5 M
C>E;L40
  8,HE IS V C>E;L10 EXPLA9$ ,TOM4 8,B WE
H N US$ ! CRAFT = "S "T1 &1 M1N:ILE1 "!
H BE5 *ANGES 9 ! RIV]1 DUE1 ,I SUPPOSE1
6H1VY TIDES4 ,B WE MAY GET \ (! GRIP (!
MUD BANK SOON40
  8,& IF WE DON'T1 :AT !N80 ASK$ ,MR4
,H>DLEY4
  8,!N "! IS ALW ! TORP$O TUBE10 SD ,TOM
CALMLY4 8,& WE >E N V DEEP D[N4 ,I ?9K
,I C SAVE Y ALL40
  8,I C]TA9LY HOPE S60 0 ! FRET;L -;T (!
ADV5TUR]4 8,I H TOO M* AT /AKE 6BE DR[N$
L A RAT 9 A TRAP6 ,Y M/ S5D ME UP F/ IF
X 2COMES NEC 6USE ! TUBE40
  ,TOM DID N ANSW]4 ,B Z HE LOOK$ \ (!
OBS]V,N W9D[S 6SEE IF POSSI# ! 3=M,N (!
MUD BANK1 ! "Y 9V5TOR :ISP]$ 6,N$ "O ^W4
,& T ^W WAS3
  8,YELL[60
  8,Y SD X60 0 ,N$'S :ISP]$ REJO9D]4
  ,TOM ,SWIFT >RIV$ AT A SU45 DET]M9,N4
,ONCE AG ! MOTORS 7 /OPP$1 &! BOAT
GRADU,Y ASSUM$ AN EV5 KEEL4
  8,:AT >E Y GO+ 6TRY1 ,TOM80 ASK$ ,N$4
  8,I'M GO+ 6%OVE H] F>!R 96! MUD BANK10
ANN\NC$ ! "Y 9V5TOR4 8,I ?9K T'S ! ONLY
WAY 6GET H] LOOSE40
  8,B.S MY APPLE PIE1 ,TOM60 CRI$ ,MR4
,DAMON1 8DOESN'T T SEEM A FOOLI% ?+ 6D80
  8,X'S ! ONLY ?+ 6D1 ,I 2LIEVE10 0 !
ANSW]4 8,? MUD IS (A PECULI> /ICKY &
HOLD+ K9D4 ,! SUB'S NOSE IS 9 X L A PEG
9 A HOLE4 ,:AT ,I PROPOSE 6D N[ IS
65L>GE ! HOLE1 & !N \R NOSE W -E LOOSE--
,I HOPE40
  8,B Y HAV5'T ANY "R 6%OVE \R NOSE
FUR!R IN60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,H>DLEY4 8,I WON'T
ALL[ X6 ,I DEM& 6BE PUT ON ! SURFACE6 ,I
WON'T 2 DR[N$ D[N "H 2F ,I GET ! GOLD
T'S -+ 6ME--! GOLD &--0
  8,N[ LOOK "H60 SU45LY CRI$ ,TOM4 8,I'M
9 -M& ( ? BOAT1 & Y'LL D Z ,I SAY4 ,I'LL
GLADLY SET Y ON ! SURFACE IF ,I C1 & ?
IS ! ONLY WAY X C 2 BR"\ AB--X'S
! ONLY WAY 6SAVE ALL ( U4 ,I'M GO+
65L>GE ! MUD HOLE S WE C PULL \4 ,PL1SE
KEEP /60
  ,MR4 ,H>DLEY />$ AT ! "Y 9V5TOR A
MO;T1 SEEM$ AB 6SAY "S?+1 & !N *ANG$ 8
M9D4
  8,HOLD FA/1 "EYBODY60 SU45LY CALL$
,TOM4 ,! NEXT MO;T ! ,M4 ,N4 #A 2GAN
2HAV+ 9 A MO/ PECULI> MANN]4
  ,%E APPE>$ 6BE ACT+ L A CORKSCREW4
,:ILE H] B[ 0 -P>ATIVELY /1DY1 H] /]N
DESCRIB$ A CIRCLE 9 ! WAT] : 0 *URN$
6MUD 0! TWO PROPELL]S1 EA* 2+ REVOLV$ 9
A DI6]5T DIREC;N4
  8,I'M TRY+ 6MAKE ! HOLE BI7] J Z AN
AMATEUR C>P5T] MAKES A NAIL HOLE BI7]1 S
HE C PULL \ ! NAIL1 0TWI/+ X >.D10
EXPLA9$ ,TOM4 8,! MO;N MAY 2 A BIT
UNPL1SANT1 B X IS NE$;L40
  ,& 9DE$ ! MO;N 0 UNPL1SANT4 ,TOM1
VET]AN AIRMAN & SAILOR T HE WAS1 2GAN
6FEEL A TRIFLE S1SICK1 & ,HR4 ,H>DLEY 0
9 V EVID5T 4TRESS4
  ,SU45LY1 H["E1 "S?+ HAPP5$4 ,! ,M4 ,N4
#A GAVE A LUR* 6"O SIDE & !N %OT UPW>D S
QKLY T ,N$ & ,MR4 ,DAMON LO/ _! BAL.E &
SLUMP$ OV] ON ! B5* T RAN >.D ?REE SIDES
(! ROOM4
  8,>E WE FREE80 CRI$ ,MR4 ,H>DLEY4
  8,WE H -E LOOSE F ! MUD BANK10 SD ,TOM
QUIETLY4 8,0BOR+ 96X ! HOLE 0 5L>G$
SU6ICI5TLY 65A# U 6PULL LOOSE4 ,"! IS NO
M DANG]60
  ,8 ANN\NCE;T 0 RCVD 9 MO;T>Y SIL;E1 &
!N ,N$ EXCLAIM$3
  8,HURRAY60
  8,B.S MY A3ID5T POLICY60 VOIC$ ,MR4
,DAMON4
  ,MR4 ,H>DLEY APPE>$ DAZ$1 & !N1 Z !
SUBM>9E 0 AG MOV+ "? ! WAT]1 SEEM+LY N"O
! WORSE =! A3ID5T1 ! GOLD SEEK] APPROA*$
,TOM ,SWIFT4
  8,I WANT 6APOLOGIZE1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT1 = MY
AC;NS & ^WS10 SD ,MR4 ,H>DLEY FRANKLY4
8,I ADMIT T ,I LO/ MY H1D4 ,B X'S MY F/
TRIP 9 A SUBM>9E40
  8,I R1LIZE T10 SD ,TOM1 EQU,Y FRANK1
8& WE'LL =GET ALL AB X4 ,X 0 A /RA9 ON
Y--ON ALL ( U--?\< "! RE,Y 0 NO V GRT
DANG]4 ,N[1 >E Y GAME 5 63T9UE ! TRIP80
  8,TRY ME60 EXCLAIM$ ! ADV5TUR]4 8,Y
WON'T F9D ME ACT+ S L A BABY AG40
  ,NOR DID HE1 EV5 :5 ! CRAFT R1*$ ! OP5
OC1N & W5T D[N 6A 3SID]A# DEP?1 ":1 _H
ANY A3ID5T O3URR$1 "! WD H BE5 GRAVE
DANG] 6ALL4 ,B ,MR4 ,H>DLEY SEEM$ 65JOY
X4
  8,MAYBE ,I'VE MISJUDG$ HM10 ,TOM SD
6,N$1 :5 !Y 7 GETT+ R1DY 6G BACK4
  8,X'S POSSI#10 AGRE$ ! F9ANCIAL
MANAG]4 ,? TRIAL1 : S NE>LY 5D$
4A/R\SLY1 0 ONLY "O ( S"EAL4 ,NO DAMAGE
RESULT$ F ! COLLI.N )! RIV] MUD BANK1 &
T TRIP &! "OS FOLL[+ GAVE ,TOM "S NEW
ID1S 9 9T]IOR 3/RUC;N : HE FOLL[$ \4
  ,AB A MON? LAT] ALL 0 R1DY =! TRIP 6!
,WE/ ,9DIES 6LOOK =! ILL-FAT$ ,P&ORA4
,TOM'S A6AIRS 7 PUT 9 %APE1 ! SUBM>9E 0
LAD5 ) /ORES & PROVI.NS1 ! NEW DIV+ BELL
& O!R WOND];L APP>ATUS 7 PUT ABO>D1 &!
CREW & (FIC]S PICK$4 ,N$1 ,MR4 ,DAMON1
,KOKU1 & ,TOM W]E1 ( C\RSE1 TGR1 & ?\<
,MR4 ,H>DLEY 0 A /RANG]1 HE SEEM$ 62COME
M FRLY Z ! "DS PASS$4
  8,WELL1 WE />T 9 ! MORN+10 SD ,TOM
6,N$ "O EV5+4 8,I'M GO+ OV] 6TELL ,M>Y
GDBYE40
  8,GIVE H] MY REG>DS10 REQUE/$ ,N$1 &
,TOM SD HE WD4







