,*APT] ,,XXIII

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  8,"H1 EAT "S ( ?10 & ,N$ HELD "S?+ \
6HIS *UM4 8,X'LL BR+ Y UP QK] ?AN ANY?+
ELSE1 EXCEPT A CUP ( HOT TEA1 & WE'LL
GET T Z SOON Z Y C GET AWAY F "H10 W5T
ON ! "Y BANK CL]K4
  8,:AT IS X80 ,TOM ASK$1 & 8 VOICE 0 V
WE>Y4
  8,X'S A MIXTURE ( *OCOLATE & NUTS10
REPLI$ ,N$4 8,X'S A NEW =M ( EM]G5CY R,N
ISSU$ 6SOLDI]S 2F !Y G OV] ! TOP4 ,\R
,Y4,M4,C4,A4 IS S5D+ A LOT 6! BOYS F >.D
"H :O >E 9 ,FR.E4 ,I 0 HELP+ PACK !
BOXES R1DY = %IP;T1 & ,I KEPT \ "S 6%[
Y4 ,LUCKY ,I _H X ) ME4 ,EAT X1 & Y'LL
FEEL A LOT BETT] 9 A FEW M9UTES4 ,Y
HAV5'T _H M* 6EAT1 H Y80
  8,V LL10 ANSW]$ ,TOM1 Z HE NIB#D HALF-
HE>T$LY AT ! 3FEC;N ,N$ GAVE HM4 :ILE
,MR4 ,DAMON W5T \ 6! AUTOMOBILE & CAME
BACK )A !RMOS BOTTLE FILL$ ) COOL WAT]4
,HE ALW PROVID$ HMF ) ? ON TAK+ AN
AUTOMOBILE TRIP4
  ,TOM MANAG$ 6EAT "S (! *OCOLATE1 & !N
TOOK A DR9K (! COOL WAT]4 ,9 A LL :ILE
HE DCLD T HE FELT BETT]4
  8,!N -E \ ( "H60 EXCLAIM$ ,N$4 8,Y C
TELL TIS H[ X ALL HAPP5$ & :AT !Y DID
6Y4 ,B ,I C SEE T LA/--!Y TR1T$ Y L A
DOG1 DIDN'T !Y80
  8,PRETTY NE>LY10 ANSW]$ ,TOM2 8B !Y
DIDN'T H ?+S ALL _! [N WAY4 ,I ?9K ,I
MADE "O OR TWO ( !M REMEMB] ME10 & HE
GL.ED AT 8 SWOLL5 & BRUIS$ H&S4 ,9DE$1
HE BORE ! M>KS ( HAV+ BE5 9 A FI]CE
FI<T4
  8,>E Y SURE ! TANK'S ALL "R80 HE ASK$
,N$ AG4 8,T HAS BE5 WORRY+ ME M ?AN MY
[N 3DI;N4 ,I CD ?9K ( ONLY "O R1SON :Y
!Y GOT ME "H & HELD ME PRISON]1 & T 0
6GET ME \ (! WAY :ILE !Y CAPTUR$ MY
TANK4 ,!N !Y HAV5'T GOT H]80 HE ASK$
EAG]LY4

8,N A LOOK AT H]10 ,N$ ANSW]$4 8,%E 0
  SAFE 9 !
%OP :5 WE SET \ ? MORN+40
  8,& N[ X'S LATE AFN10 MURMUR$ ,TOM4
8,WELL1 ,I HOPE NO?+ HAS HAPP5$ S9CE10 &
"! 0 VAGUE AL>M 9 8 VOICE1 AN AL>M AT :
,N$ & ,MR4 ,DAMON WOND]$4
  8,CDN'T Y /OP AT "S F>MH\SE & GET FIX$
UP A LL80 ASK$ ,MR4 ,KIMBALL1 ! F>M] :O
_H BR"\ ! NOTE 6,N$ & ,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,I NE$ 6GET FIX$ UP "S":10 REPLI$
,TOM1 )A RUE;L LOOK AT HMF--HIS H&S1 8
TORN CLO!S1 & 8 G5]AL DILAPIDAT$
APPE>.E4 8,B ,I DON'T WANT 6LOSE ANY "T4
,I'M AFRAID "S?+ HAS HAPP5$ AT HOME1
,N$40

8,NONS5SE6 ,H[ CD "!1 ) ,KOKA ON GU>D1
  6SAY
NO?+ ( ,ERADICATE60

  8,WELL1 MAYBE Y'RE "R10 AGRE$ ,TOM2 8B
,I'LL FEEL BETT] :5 ,I SEE MY TANK 9 H]
%$4 ,LET'S H "S M ( T 3C5TRAT$ PORT]H\SE
/1K ( YRS1 ,N$4 ,X IS GD1 & X FILLS \ MY
/OMA*1 : 0 GETT+ M 9TIMATE ) MY BACKB"O
?AN ,I LIK$ 6FEEL40
  ,M (! RE,Y GD 3FEC;N & ANO!R DR9K (
REFRE%+ WAT] MADE ,TOM FEEL BETT]1 & HE
0 SOON A# 6WALK AL;G )\T /A7]+ F W1K;S4
  8,& N[ LET'S GET \ ( "H10 ADVIS$ ,N$1
8UN.S Y'VE LEFT "S?+ BACK 9 T VAULT Y
WANT1 ,TOM10 & HE MO;N$ 6HIS *UM'S LATE
PRISON4
  8,NO?+ "! B BAD MEMORIES10 0 ! REPLY1
)A RUE;L SMILE4 8,I'M Z R1DY 6G Z Y >E1
,N$4 ,X 0 GD ( Y & ,MR4 ,DAMON 6-E = ME1
& Y0 -- & HE LOOK$ "Q+LY AT ,MR4
,KIMBALL4
  8,IF X _HN'T BE5 = ,MR4 ,KIMBALL & 8
BOY1 WE WDN'T H F.D Y--AT L1/ S SOON10
SD ,N$1 & HE TOLD (! F9D+ (! NOTE & :AT
_H FOLL[$4
  8,T'S ! ONLY WAY ,I CD ?9K (= GETT+
HELP10 SD ,TOM4 8,!Y TOOK E SCRAP ( PAP]
F ME1 B ,I F.D "S 9 ! L9+ ( MY HAT--"S
,I'D /U6$ 9 AF ,I _H A HAIR CUT & MY HAT
0 TOO L>GE4 ,=A P5CIL ,I US$ BURNT
MAT*ES4 ,OH1 B ,I'M GLAD 6BE \60 & HE
BR1!D DEEP (! FRE% AIR4
  8,H[ DID Y GET 9 "!80 ASK$ ,N$
WOND]+LY4
  8,^? FELL[S--( C\RSE4 ,! ,G]MAN
PLOTT]S1 ,I'M GO+
6CALL !M1 = ,I 2LIEVE T ,BLAKESON & 8
GANG--?\< ,I DIDN'T SEE HM-->E RE,Y "W+
9 ! 9T]E/S ( ,G]_M 6GET ! SECRET ( MY
TANK40
  8,WELL1 !Y HAV5'T GOT H] YET10 SD ,N$4
8& !Y'RE N LIKELY 6N[4 ,G ON1 ,TOM1 IF Y
FEEL A# TELL U 9 A FEW ^WS :AT HAPP5$4
,WE'VE BE5 TRY+ 6?9K1 B C'T40
  8,WELL1 X ALL HAPP5$ 2C ,I DIDN'T ?9K
5\<10 SD ,TOM1 :O 0 RAPIDLY RECOV]+ 8
/R5G? & N]VE4 8,:5 ,I GOT T MESSAGE T
SEEM$ 6-E F Y1 ,N$1 ,I %D H "KN BETT]
?AN 6TAKE A *.E4 ,B X SEEM$ G5U9E1 & Z
,I _H NO R1SON 6SUSPECT A TRAP1 ,I />T$
(F AT ONCE4 ,I ?"\ MAYBE ,KANK] _H
REP5T$ & 0 GO+ 6MAKE AM5DS = ALL ! TR\#
HE CAUS$4
  8,ANYH[1 ,I />T$ (F 9 MY MA*9E1 & ,I
_HN'T GOT M ?AN 6! CROSSROADS :5 ,I SAW
A FELL[ \ T9K]+ ) 8 AUTO4 ,( C\RSE ,I
/OPP$ 6ASK IF ,I CD HELP1 = ,I C'T BE>
6SEE ANY MA*9]Y \ ( ORD]1 & Z ,I 0 /OOP+
OV] ! 5G9E 6SEE :AT 0 WR;G ,I 0 P\NC$ ON
F 2H1 B.D & TI$1 & 2F ,I CD D A ?+ ,I 0
BUNDL$ 96! C>--A BIG LIM\S9E1 & TAK5
AWAY4

8,! CROSSROADS 0 Z F> Z WE CD TRACE Y10
REM>K$ ,N$4

  8,WELL1 X WASN'T Z F> Z !Y TOOK ME1
0ANY M1NS10 ,TOM SD4 8,!Y BR"\ ME "H1
TOOK ME \ (! MA*9E--& ,I NOTIC$ T !Y'D
BR"\ M9E AL;G--& !N !Y C>T$ ME 96!
VAULT4
  8,B !Y DIDN'T H X ALL _! [N WAY10 SD
,TOM GRIMLY4 8,I MANAG$ 6GET ! ROPES
LOOSE1 & ,I _H A REGUL> KNOCK D[N & DRAG
\ ) !M =A :ILE4 ,B !Y 7 TOO _M = ME1 &
LOCK$ ME UP 9 T PLACE AF TAK+ AWAY "EY?+
,I _H 9 MY POCKETS40
  8,W]E !Y HI<WAYM580 ASK$ ,MR4
,KIMTALL4
  8,NO1 = !Y TOSS$ BACK MY M"OY1 WAT* &
"S TRIFLES L T10 ,TOM ANSW]$4 8,I DIDN'T
RECOGNIZE ANY (! M51 ?\< "O ( !M M/ H
"KN ME1 = :5 !Y _H ME TI$ ,I HE>D "O (
!M ASK IF ,I 0 ! "R "PY1 & ANO!R SD ,I
WAS4 ,I "K !Y M/ 2L;G 6! SAME GANG T
,SIMPSON1 ,BLAKESON1 & ,S*W5 >E MEMB]S
(--! ,G]MAN SPIES40
  8,B :AT 0 _! OBJECT80 ASK$ ,N$4 8,DID
!Y TRY 6=CE Y 6TELL !M ! SECRETS (!
TANK80
  8,NO2 & T'S ! FUNNY "P : MAKES ME S
SUSPICI\S10 ,TOM ANSW]$4 8,IF !Y'D TRI$
6=CE "S?+ \ ( ME1 ,I WD "U/& X BETT]4 ,B
!Y J KEPT ME A PRISON] AF TAK+ AWAY :AT
PAP]S ,I _H40
  8,W]E !Y ( ANY VALUE80 ASK$ ,MR4
,DAMON4
  8,N Z REG>DS ! TANK4 ,T IS1 "! 0 NO?+
( MY PLANS ( 3/RUC;N1 3TROL OR ANY?+ L
T1 ?\< "! 0 "S =EIGN CORRESPOND;E T ,I
AM SORRY FELL 96_! H&S4 ,H["E1 T C'T HE
HELP$40
  8,& DID !Y J KEEP Y LOCK$ UP80 ASK$
,N$4
  8,T'S AB ALL !Y DID4 ,AF ! FI<T--& X 0
"S FI<T60 DCLD ,TOM1 Z HE RECALL$ X )A
%AKE ( 8 H1D--8!Y LEFT ME "H )! DOOR
%UT4 ,"! M/ H BE5 "S "O ON GU>D1 = ,I CD
FA9TLY HE> "SBODY MOV+ AB4
  8,I TRI$ 6GET \1 ( C\RSE1 B ,I CDN'T4
,T VAULT M/ H BE5 MADE 6HOLD "S?+ V
VALUA#1 = X 0 ALM Z /R;G & SOLID Z "O 9
YR BANK1 ,N$4 ,! ONLY W9D[ 0 PLAC$ S HI<
T ,I CDN'T R1* X1 & X 0 B>R$ AT T4
  8,!Y OP5$ ! DOOR A LL1 S"EAL "TS1
6TOSS 9 ONCE "S OLD BAGS T ,I MADE 96A
B$1 & NEXT !Y GAVE ME A LL WAT] & "S
S&WI*ES--,G]MAN BOLOGNA SAUSAGE S&WI*ES1
,N$6 ,:AT D Y ?9K ( T--A4+ 9SULT
69JURY80
  8,T 0 T\<60 ,N$ ADMITT$4
  8,WELL1 ,I _H 6PUT UP ) X1 = ,I 0 HALF
/>V$1 & Z SORE Z A BOIL F ! FI<T4 ,I
DIDN'T "K :AT 6D4 ,I KNEW T Y'D MISS ME
SOON] OR LAT]1 & SET \ 6F9D ME1 B ,I
H>DLY ?"\ Y'D ?9K ( ? PLACE4 ,!Y CDN'T H
PICK$ \ A M* BETT] PRISON 6HOLD ME1 =1
NATUR,Y1 Y WDN'T SUPPOSE 5 ( X 0 LEFT
/&+1 AF MY TANK _H WALK$ "? X1 6MAKE A
HID+ PLACE4
  8,H["E1 "! WAS1 & "H ,I'VE BE5 KEPT4
,AT LA/ ,I ?"\ (! PLAN ( S5D+ \ A
MESSAGE ON ! SCRAP ( PAP] ,I CD TE> \ (
MY HAT4 ,S ,I WROTE X1 & AF
S"EAL TRIALS ,I MANAG$ 6TOSS X \ (!
W9D[4 ,!N ,I J _H 6WAIT1 & T 0 ! H>DE/ (
ALL4 ,! LA/ TWELVE H\RS ,I'VE BE5 )\T
FOOD1 & ,I HAV5'T HE>D ANY "O >.D1 S ,I
GUESS !Y'VE SKIPP$ \ & DON'T 9T5D 6-E
BACK40
  8,WE DIDN'T SEE ANY "O10 ,N$ REPORT$4
8,MAYBE !Y 2CAME F"R5$1 ,TOM40
  8,I WI% ,I CD ?9K T10 0 ! ANSW]4 8,:AT
IS M LIKELY 6BE ! CASE IS T !Y'RE UP 6"S
NEW TRICKS4 ,I M/ GET BACK HOME QKLY40
  ,& AF A /OP _H BE5 MADE AT A F>MH\SE
2L;G+ 6A BUSI;S ACQUA9T.E ( ,N$'S1 ":
,TOM 0 A# 6WA% & GET A CUP ( HOT TEA1 :
A4$ 6HIS RECUP]ATIVE P[]S1 ! "Y 9V5TOR1
) ,N$ & ,MR4 ,DAMON1 SET \ = ,%OPTON4
  ,2F ,MR4 ,KIMBALL />T$ = 8 HOME1
RENEW$ ?ANKS _H BE5 MADE 6! F>M] & 8 SON
=! "P !Y _H PLAY$ 9 ! RESCUE1 &! "Y
9V5TOR1 LE>N+ T ! BOY _H A LIK+ = ?+S
ME*ANICAL1 PROMIS$ 6AID HM 9 8 9T5;N
62COME A MA*9I/
  8,B F/ GET A GD $UC,N10 ,TOM ADVIS$4
8,KEEP ON ) YR S*OOL "W1 & :5 ! "T -ES
,I'LL TAKE Y 96MY %OP40
  8,& MAYBE HE'LL MAKE A TANK T W RIVAL
YRS1 ,TOM10 SD ,N$4
  8,MAYBE HE W6 ,I HOPE HE DOES4 ,IF HE
-ES AL;G FA/ 5\<1 HE C HELP ) "S?+ ELSE
,I'M GO+ 6/>T SOON40
  8,:ATS T80 ASK$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,OH1 X'S "S?+ ON ! SAME ORD]1 DESIGN$
6HELP BATT] D[N ! ,G]MAN L9ES10 ,TOM
ANSW]$4 8,I HAV5'T Q MADE UP MY M9D :AT
6CALL X YET4 ,B LET'S GET HOME4 ,I WANT
6SEE T MY TANK ,IS SAFE4 ,! ABS;E (!
PLOTT]S F ! FACTORY MAKES ME SUSPICI\S40

,ON ! WAY BACK ,TOM TOLD M (! DETAILS (!
ATTACK4

  8,B WE'LL =GET AB X ALL1 N[ Y'RE \10
REM>K$ ,N$4
  8,&! SOON] WE GET HOME1 ! BETT]10 A4$
,TOM4 8,C'T Y GET A LL M SPE$ \ ( ?
MA*9E80 HE ASK$4

8,WELL1 X ISN'T ! ,HAWK10 REPLI$ ,N$1 8B
  WE'LL SEE
:AT WE C D10 & HE MADE ! RUNAB FAIRLY
  FLY4
  ,MRS4 ,BA7]T 0 ! F/ 6GREET ,TOM Z !Y
>RIV$ AT 8 HOME4 ,%E DID N SEEM Z
SURPRIS$ Z EI ,TOM1 ,N$ OR ,MR4 ,DAMON
EXPECT$ H] 6BE4
  8,WELL1 ,I'M GLAD Y'RE ALL "R10 %E SD4
8,& X'S A GD ?+ Y S5T T NOTE1 = YR "F 0
S EXCIT$ & WORRI$ ,I 0 GETT+ APPREH5SIVE
AB HM40
  8,:AT NOTE80 ASK$ ,TOM1 :ILE A QUE]
LOOK CAME 96HIS FACE4
  8,:Y1 ! "O Y S5T SAY+ Y 7 DETA9$ ON
BUSI;S & WD PROBABLY N 2 HOME =A WEEK1 &
6H ,KOKU &! M5 BR+ ! TANK 6Y40

8,BR+ ! TANK6 ,A NOTE F ME60 EXCLAIM$
  ,TOM4 8,!
PLOTT]S AG6 ,& !Y'VE GOT ! TANK60

,HE RAN 6! BIG %OP FOLL[$ 0! O!RS4 ,?R[+
OP5 ! DOORS1 !Y W5T 9SIDE4 ,A GL.E
  SU6IC$ TO
4CLOSE ! WOR/4

  ,! PLACE ": ! GRT TANK _H /OOD 0
EMPTY4
  8,G"O60 GASP$ ,TOM4
























