
    ,,*APT] ,,XV

    ,,R1DY ,,= ,,! ,,TE/
  ,TOM ,SWIFT ACT$ PROMPTLY1 = HE R1LIZ$
! NECESS;Y4 ,! EV5TS T _H H$G$ HM AB
S9CE HE _H 2GUN "W ON 8 GIANT CANNON
MADE HM SUSPICI\S4 ,HE DID N Q "K :OM
6SUSPECT1 NOR ! R1SONS = _! AC;NS1 B HE
_H BE5 ON ! AL]T = S"EAL "DS1 & 0 N[
R1DY 6ACT4
  ,! 9/ANT ,N$ ANSW]$ Z HE DID1 & W>N$
,TOM1 ! "Y 9V5TOR SLID 8 H& "U 8 PILL[ &
PRESS$ AN AUXILI>Y ELECTRIC SWIT* HE _H
3C1L$ "!4 ,9 A MO;T ! ROOMS 7 FLOOD$ )A
B"R LI<T1 &! TWO LADS _H A MO;T>Y
GLIMPSE ( AN 9TRUD] MAK+ A DIVE =! W9D[4
  8,"! HE IS1 ,TOM60 CRI$ ,N$4
  8,:AT D Y WANT80 DEM&$ ,TOM1
9/9CTIVELY4 ,B ! 9TRUD] DID N /AY
6ANSW]4
  ,9/1D1 HE MADE A DIVE =! CASE;T4 ,X 0
"O /ORY ABV ! GR.D1 B ? DID N CAUSE HM
ANY HESIT,N4 ,X 0 SUMM]1 &! W9D[ 0 OP51
?\< A WIRE MOSQUITO NET B>R$ ! AP]TURE4
,? 0 NO H9DR.E 6! MAN1 H["E4
  ,Z ,N$ & ,TOM L1P$ F _! B$S1 ,N$ CAT*+
UP ! H1VY1 EMPTY WAT] PIT*] Z A W1PON1 &
,TOM AN OLD ,9DIAN W> CLUB T S]V$ Z "O
(! ORNA;TS ( 8 ROOM1 ! FELL[1 ) "O KICK1
BUR/ ! SCRE54
  ,!N1 CLAMB]+ \ ON ! SILL1 HE DROPP$ F
SI<T1 ! BOYS HE>+ HM L& )A ?UD ON ! TURF
2L4 ,X 0 NO GRT L1P1 ?\< ! FALL M/ H
J>R$ HM 3SID]ABLY1 =! BOYS HE>D HM
GRUNT1 & !N GROAN Z IF 9 PA94
  8,QK60 CRI$ ,N$4 8,R+ ! BELL = ,KOKU1
,N$4 ,I WANT 6CAPTURE ? FELL[ IF
POSSI#40
  8,:O IS HE80 ASK$ ,N$4
  8,I DON'T "K1 B WE'LL SEE IF WE C SIZE
HM UP4 ,SIGNAL =! GIANT60
  ,"! 0 AN ELECTRIC BELL F ,TOM'S ROOM
6! A"P;T ( 8 BIG S]VANT1 &A SP1K+ TUBE Z
WELL4 ,:ILE ,N$ 0 PRESS+ ! BUTTON1 &
HA/ILY TELL+ ! GIANT :AT _H HAPP5$1 URG+
HM 6GET 9 PURSUIT (! 9TRUD]1 ,TOM _H
TAK5 F 8 BUR1U A P[];L1 PORTA#1 ELECTRIC
FLA% LAMP1 (! SAME V>IETY Z T US$ 0! WD-
BE ?IEF4 ,ONLY ,TOM'S 0 PROVID$ )A
TUNG/5 FILA;T1 : GAVE A GL>+ :ITE P5CIL
( LI<T1 9CR1S$ 0REFLECTORS4
  ,& 9 ? GL>E ! "Y 9V5TOR SAW1 SPE$+
AWAY OV] ! LAWN1 ! =M (A BIG MAN4
  8,"! HE GOES1 ,N$60 HE %\T$4
  8,S ,I SEE4 ,KOKU W 2 "R ON ! JOB4 ,I
TOLD HM N 6DRESS4 ,C Y MAKE \ :O ! FELL[
IS80
  8,NO1 8 BACK IS T[>D U4 ,B HE'S LIMP+1
ALL "R4 ,I GUESS T JUMP J>R$ HM UP A
BIT4 ,": IS ,KOKU80
  8,"! HE GOES N[60 EXCLAIM$ ,N$1 Z A
FIGURE L1P$ F ! SIDE DOOR (! H\SE--A
GIGANTIC FIGURE1 SCANTILY CLAD4
  8,GET 6HM1 ,KOKU60 CRI$ ,TOM4
  8,ME GIT1 ,MA/]60 0 ! REPLY1 &! GIANT
SP$ ON4
  8,LET'S G \ & L5D A H&60 SU7E/$ ,N$1
LOOK+ AT ! WAT] PIT*] Z ?\< WOND]+ :AT
HE _H 9T5D$ 6D ) X4
  8,I'M ) Y10 AGRE$ ,TOM4 8,ONLY ,I WANT
6GET 96"S?+ A LL M SUB/ANTIAL ?AN MY
PAJAMAS40
  ,Z ! TWO LADS HURRI$LY SLIPP$ ON "S
CLO?+ !Y HE>D ! VOICE ( ,MR4 ,SWIFT
CALL+3
  8,:AT IS X1 ,TOM8 ,HAS ANY?+ HAPP5$80
  8,NO?+ M*10 0 ! REASSUR+ ANSW]4 8,X 0
A NE>-HAPP5+1 ONLY ,N$ WOKE UP 9 "T4
,"S"O 0 9 \R ROOMS--A BURGL>1 ,I GUESS40
  8,A BURGL>6 ,GD L& A MASSY60 CRI$
,ERADICATE1 :O _H AL GOTT5 UP 6SEE :AT !
EXCITE;T 0 AB4 8,DID Y COT* HM1 ,MASSA
,TOM80
  8,NO1 ,RAD2 B ,KOKU IS AF HM40
  8,KOKU8 ,HUH1 HE NE2] COT* ANYBODY4
,I'SE GOT T' GIT \ D]E MAHSE'F6 ,KOKU8
,HU6 ,I S'PECTS X'S DAT NO-'C.T C\S9 OB
M9E1 >T] MAH *ICK5S ;AG'96 ,I'LL LAMBA/E
DAT COON :5 ,I GITS HM1 S ,I W4 ,I'LL
COT* HM = YO'-ALL1 ,MASSA ,TOM10 &1
MUTT]+ 6HMF1 ! AG$ COLOR$ MAN 5D1VOR$
6ASSUME ! ACTIV;Y ( =M] YE>S4
  8,H>K60 EXCLAIM$ ,N$1 Z HE & ,TOM 7 AB
R1DY 6TAKE "P 9 ! *ASE4 8,:AT'S T NOISE1
,TOM80
  8,S.DS L A MOTOR-CYCLE40
  8,X IS4 ,T FELL[--0
  8,X'S ! SAME *AP60 9T]RUPT$ ,TOM4 8,NO
USE TRY+ 6*ASE HM ON T SPE$Y MA*9E4
,HE'S A MILE AWAY F "H 0N[4 ,HE M/ H _H
X 9 WAIT+1 R1DY = USE4 ,B -E ON1 ANYH[40
  8,": >E Y GO+80
  8,\ 6! %OP4 ,I WANT 6SEE IF HE GOT 9
"!40
  8,B ! *>G$ WIRES80
  8,HE MAY H CUT !M4 ,-E ON40
  ,X 0 Z ,TOM _H SUSPECT$4 ,! D1DLY1
*>G$ WIRES1 T =M$ A PROTECT+ CORDON AB 8
%OPS1 _H BE5 CUT1 & T 0AN EXP]I;ED H&1
PROBABLY 0"S"O WE>+ RU2] GLOVES1 :O M/ H
-E PREP>$ = T V PURPOSE4 ,DUR+ ! NI<T !
CURR5T 0 SUPPLI$ 6! WIRES F A /ORAGE
BATT]Y1 "? AN 9T5SIFY+ COIL1 S T ! *>GE
0 ONLY A LL LESS D1DLY ?AN :5 -+ DIRECT
F A DYNAMO4
  8,? LOOKS BAD1 ,TOM10 SD ,N$4
  8,X DOES1 B WAIT UNTIL WE GET 9SIDE &
LOOK >.D4 ,I'M GLAD ,I TOOK MY GUN-PLANS
6! H\SE ) ME40
  ,B A QK SURVEY (! %OP DID N REV1L ANY
DAMAGE D"O1 NOR _H ANY?+ BE5 TAK51 Z F>
Z ,TOM CD TELL4 ,! (FICE ( 8 MA9 %OP 0
PRETTY WELL UPSET1 & X LOOK$ Z ?\< !
9TRUD] _H MADE A SE>* = "S?+1 &1 N F9D+
X1 _H 5T]$ ! H\SE4
  8,X 0 ! GUN-PLANS HE 0 AF1 ALL "R10
DECID$ ,TOM4 8,& ,I 2LIEVE X 0 ! SAME
FELL[ :O HAS BE5 MAK+ TR\# = ME "R
AL;G40
  8,Y M1N ,G5]AL ,WALL]80
  8,NO1 T ,G]MAN--! "O :O 0 AT ! MA*9E
%OP40
  8,B :O IS HE--:AT IS 8 OBJECT80
  8,I DON'T "K :O HE IS1 B HE EVID5TLY
WANTS MY PLANS4 ,PROBABLY HE'S A
4APPO9T$ 9V5TOR1 :O HAS BE5 TRY+ 6MAKE A
GUN HMF1 & C'T4 ,HE WANTS "S ( MY ID1S1
B HE ISN'T GO+ 6GET !M4 ,WELL1 WE MAY Z
WELL GET BACK 6B$1 AF ,I 3NECT ^! WIRES
AG4 ,I M/ ?9K UP A PLAN 63C1L !M1 S !Y
C'T 2 CUT40
  ,:ILE ,TOM & ,N$ 7 5GAG$ ON ?1 ,KOKU
CAME BACK1 M* \ ( BR1?1 6REPORT3
  8,ME N GIT1 ,MA/]4 ,HE GIT ON BANG-
BANG MA*9E & G (F--PUFF60
  8,S WE HE>D1 ,KOKU4 ,N"E M9D1 WE'LL
GET HM YET40
  8,HU6 ,EF ,I _H DE FU/ *AN/ AT HM1
,I'D A COT*$ DAT COON SUAB60 DCLD
,ERADICATE1 FOLL[+ ! GIANT4 8,KOKU HE
D"O GIT 9 MAH WAY60 & HE GL>$ 9DIGNANTLY
AT ! BIG MAN4
  8,T'S ALL "R1 ,RAD10 3SOL$ ,TOM4 8,Y
DID YR BE/4 ,N[ WE'LL ALL GET 6B$4 ,I
DON'T 2LIEVE HE'LL -E BACK40 ,NOR DID
HE4
  ,TOM & ,N$ 7 UP AT ! F/ SIGN ( "DLI<T1
= !Y WANT$ 6G 6! /EEL "WS1 "S MILES
AWAY1 9 "T 6SEE ! CANNON TAK5 \ (! M\LD1
& PREP>,NS MADE = BOR+ ! RIFLE *ANNELS4
,!Y F.D ! MANAG]1 ANXI\SLY WAIT+ = !M4
  8,"S ( MY M5 >E Z 9T]E/$ 9 ? Z Y >E10
HE SD 6! "Y 9V5TOR4 8,A NUMB] ( !M DCL T
! CA/ W 2 A FAILURE1 :ILE "S ?9K X W 2 A
SU3ESS40
  8,I ?9K X W 2 ALL "R1 IF MY PLANS 7
FOLL[$10 SD ,TOM4 8,H["E1 WE'LL SEE4 ,0!
WAY1 :AT 2CAME ( T ,G]MAN :O MADE S* A
4TURB.E ! "D WE CA/ ! CORE80
  8,OH1 Y M1N ,BAUD]MANN80
  8,YES40
  8,:Y1 X'S R QUE] AB HM4 ,! =EMAN (!
%OP ": HE 0 DETAIL$1 SAW T HE 0 AN
EXP]I;ED MAN1 9 SPITE ( 8 SEEM+LY /UPID
WAYS1 & HE 0 GO+ 6PROMOTE HM1 ONLY HE
N"E CAME BACK40
  8,N"E CAME BACK8 ,:AT D Y M1N80

8,I M1N ! "D AF ! CA/ (! GUN 0 MADE HE
4APPE>$1 & N"E CAME BACK40

  8,OH60 EXCLAIM$ ,TOM4 ,HE SD NO?+ M1 B
HE 2LIEV$ T HE "U/OOD ! MAN'S AC;NS4
,FAIL+ 6OBTA9 ! DESIR$ 9=M,N1 OR P]H
FAIL+ 6SPOIL ! CA/1 HE R1LIZ$ T 8 *.ES 7
AT AN 5D =! PRES5T4
  ,) GRT C>E ! GUN 0 HOI/$ F ! M\LD4 ,M
EYES ?AN ,TOM'S ANXI\SLY REG>D$ X Z X
CAME UP \ (! CA/+ PIT4
  8,B.S MY BUTTONHOOK60 CRI$ ,MR4
,DAMON1 :O _H G"O )! LADS4 8,X'S A
MON/]2 ISN'T X80
  8,OH1 WAIT UNTIL Y SEE X )! JACKETS ON
EXCLAIM$ ,N$1 :O _H VIEW$ ! -PLET$
DRAW+S4 8,!N Y'LL OP5 YR EYES40
  ,! GRT PIECE ( HOLL[ /EEL TUB+ 0 LIFT$
6! BOR+ LA!4 ,!N ,TOM &! MANAG] EXAM9$ X
= SUP]FICIAL FLAWS4
  8,N "O60 CRI$ ! MANAG] 9 DELI<T4
  8,N T ,I C SEE10 A4$ ,TOM44 8,X'S A
SU3ESS--S F>40
  8,& T 0 ! H>DE/ "P (! "W10 W5T ON !
MANAG] (! /EEL PLANT4 8,I C ALM GU>ANTEE
Y SU3ESS F N[ ON40
  ,&1 Z F> Z ! RIFL+ 0 3C]N$1 ? 0 TRUE4
,I W N WE>Y Y )! DETAILS ( H[ ! GRT CORE
( ,TOM ,SWIFT'S GIANT CANNON 0 BOR$4
,SU6ICI5T 6SAY T1 AF "S ANNOY+ DELAYS1
CAUS$ 0BR1KS 9 ! MA*9]Y1 : _H N"E 2F BE5
US$ ON S* A GIGANTIC PIECE ( "W1 ! RIFL+
0 D"O4 ,AF ! JACKETS _H BE5 %RUNK ON1 X
WD 2 RIFL$ AG1 6MAKE X TRUE 9 CASE ( ANY
%R9KAGE4
  ,!N CAME ! ALM ,H]CUL1N TASK ( %R9K+
ON ! GRT R$-HOT /EEL JACKETS & WIRE-
W9D+S1 T WD ADD /R5G? 6! GRT CANNON4 ,6D
? ! C5TRAL CORE 0 SET UP ON 5D1 &!
JACKETS1 HAV+ BE5 H1T$ 9 AN IMM5SE
FURNACE1 7 HOI/$ 0A GRT CRANE OV] !
CORE1 & L[]$ ON X Z "O WD L[] 8 NAPK9 R+
OV] ! ROLL$ UP NAPK94
  ,X TOOK WEEKS ( H>D "W 6D ?1 & ,TOM &
,N$1 ) ,MR4 ,DAMON O3A.N,Y = -PANY1
REMA9$ ALM 3/ANTLY AT ! PLANT4 ,B F9,Y !
CANNON 0 -PLET$1 ! RIFL+ 0 D"O OV] AG
6CORRECT ANY IMP]FEC;NS1 &! MANAG] SD3
  8,Y CANNON IS -PLET$1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT4 ,I
WANT 63GRATULATE Y ON X4 ,N"E H WE D"O
S* A /UP5D\S PIECE ( "W4 ,ONLY = YR
PLANS WE CD N H F9I%$ X4 ,X 0 TOO BIG A
PRO#M = U4 ,YR CANNON IS -PLET$1 B1 (
C\RSE1 X W H 6BE M.T$4 ,:AT AB !
C>RIAGE80
  8,I H PLANS = T10 REPLI$ ,TOM2 8B =!
PRES5T ,I AM GO+ 6PUT X ON A TEMPOR>Y
"O4 ,I WANT 6TE/ ! GUN N[4 ,X LOOKS ALL
"R1 B :E!R X W %OOT A3URATELY1 &=A GRT]
4T.E ?AN ANY CANNON HAS "E S5T A
PROJECTILE 2F1 IS YET 6BE SE540
  8,": W Y TE/ X80
  8,T IS :AT WE M/ DECIDE4 ,I DON'T WANT
6TAKE X TOO F> F "H4 ,P]H Y C SELECT A
PLACE ": X WD 2 SAFE 6FIRE X1 SAY )A
RANGE ( AB ?IRTY MILES40
  8,?IRTY MILES6 :Y1 MY DE> SIR--0
  8,OH1 ,I'M N ALT SURE T X W G T 4T.E10
9T]RUPT$ ,TOM1 )A SMILE2 8B ,I'M GO+
6TRY = X1 & ,I WANT 6BE ON ! SAFE SIDE4
,IS "! S* A PLACE NE> "H80
  8,YES1 ,I GUESS WE C PICK "O \4 ,I'LL
LET Y "K40
  8,!N ,I M/ GET BACK & >RANGE = MY P[D]
SUPPLY10 W5T ON ! "Y 9V5TOR4 8,WE'LL
SOON TE/ MY GIANT CANNON60
  8,B.S MY E>-DRUMS60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
8,I HOPE NO?+ BUR/S4 ,= IF T GOES UP1
,TOM ,SWIFT--0
  8,I'M N MAK+ X 6BUR/10 PUT 9 ,TOM1 )A
SMILE4 8,DON'T WORRY4 ,N[1 ,N$1 BACK
6,%OPTON 6GET R1DY =! TE/40














