,*APT] ,?IRTE5

,A ,CLA% ) ,&Y

  ,TOM LO/ NO "T 9 WRIT+ 6,MR4 ,%>P4 ,HE
WOND]$ M & M AT 8 [N NEGLECT 9 N 2F HAV+
ASK$ ! BALLOONI/1 :5 ! LATT] 0 9
,%OPTON1 ": ,&Y 0 BUILD+ 8 AEROPLANE4
,B1 Z X DEVELOP$ LAT]1 ,MR4 ,%>P DID N
"K AT T "T4
  ,:ILE WAIT+ =A REPLY 6HIS LR1 ,TOM
BUSI$ HMF AB 8 [N CRAFT1 MAK+ S"EAL
*ANGES HE _H DECID$ ON4 ,HE AL 2GAN
6PA9T & DECORATE X1 = HE WANT$ 6H !
,HUMM+-,BIRD PRES5T A N1T APPE>.E :5 %E
0 (FICI,Y 5T]$ 9 ! GRT RACE4
  ,MISS ,NE/OR CALL$ ON ,TOM AG1 & ,MR4
,DAMON 0 A FREQU5T VISITOR4 ,HE AGRE$
6A3OMPANY ,TOM 6! AVI,N P>K :5 X 0 "T =!
RACE1 & AL 6BE A PASS5G] 9 ! T5-?\S&-
DOLL> 3TE/4
  8,X M/ 2 P]FECTLY WOND];L 6FLY "? !
AIR10 SD ,MISS ,NE/OR "O "D1 :5 ,TOM &
,MR4 ,DAMON _H ! ,HUMM+-,BIRD \ ON !
TE/+ GR.D1 TRY+ ! 5G9E1 : _H BE5 KEY$ UP
6A HI<] PIT* ( SPE$4 8,I 3SID] X
P]FECTLY M>VEL\S1 & ,I C'T IMAG9E H[ X
M/ SEEM 6SKIM AL;G T WAY40
  8,-E & TRY X10 URG$ ,TOM SU45LY4
8,"!'S N A BIT ( DANG]4 ,RE,Y "! ISN'T40
  8,OH6 ,I'D N"E D>E D X60 REPLI$ !
GIRL1 )A GASP4 8,T MA*9E IS TOO SWIFT
0"N & SWIFT 0NATURE = ME40
  8,:Y DON'T Y TAKE ,MISS ,NE/OR ON A
GRASS-CUTT+ FLI<T1 ,TOM80 SU7E/$ ,MR4
,DAMON4 8,B.S MY LAWN M[]6 B %E WDN'T 2
F"R5$ AT T40

8,GRASS CUTT+80 REP1T$ ! GIRL4 8,:AT 9 !
  _W
DOES T M1N80

  8,X M1NS SKIMM+ AL;G A FEW FEET UP 9 !
AIR10 ANSW]$ ! "Y 9V5TOR1 :O _H N[ FULLY
RECOV]$ F ! E6ECTS (! BL[ GIV5 HM 0!
MIDNI<T 9TRUD]4 ,9 SPITE ( _M 9QUIRIES1
NO CLUES 6HIS ID5T;Y _H BE5 OBTA9$4
  8,H[ HI< D Y G :5 Y ,8CUT GRASS10' Z Y
CALL X80 ASK$ ,MISS ,NE/OR1 & ,TOM ?"\
HE DETECT$ A NOTE ( EAG] CURIOS;Y 9 H]
VOICE4
  8,N HI< AT ALL10 HE SD4 8,IN FACT1
"S"TS ,I D CUT (F ! TOPS ( TALL DAISIES4
,-E1 ,M>Y6 ,WON'T Y TRY T8 ,I "K Y'LL L
X1 & :5 Y'VE BE5 OV] ! LAWN A FEW "TS
Y'LL 2 R1DY =A HI< FLI<T4 ,-E6 "!'S NO
DANG]40
  8,I--,I ALM 2LIEVE ,I W10 %E SD
HESITAT+LY4 8,W Y TAKE ME D[N :5 ,I WANT
6-E80
  8,( C\RSE10 SD ,TOM4 8,GET IN1 & WE'LL
/>T40
  ,! ,HUMM+-,BIRD 0 ALL R1DY =A TRIAL
FLI<T1 & ,TOM 0 GLAD (! *.E 6TE/ X1
ESPECI,Y ) S* A PRETTY PASS5G] Z 0 ,MISS
,NE/OR4
  8,B.S MY %OELACES60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
8,I C SEE ": ,I AM GO+ 6BE CUT \1 ,TOM
,SWIFT4 ,I'LL N GET _M M RIDES ) Y N[ T
,MISS ,NE/OR IS TAK+ 6AEROPLAN+1 Y "Y
RASCAL60 ,& HE PLAY;LLY %OOK 8 F+] AT
,TOM4
  8,OH1 ,I DON'T EXPECT 6GET 5?USIA/IC
OV] X10 SD ,MISS ,NE/OR1 :O1 N[ T %E _H
TAK5 H] PLACE 9 "O (! SMALL S1TS "U !
5G9E1 APPE>$ Z IF %E WD 2 GLAD (! *.E
6*ANGE H] M9D4 ,B %E DID N4
  8,N[1 IF Y TAKE ME M ?AN FIVE FEET UP
9 ! AIR1 ,I'LL N"E SP1K 6Y AG1 ,TOM
,SWIFT60 %E EXCLAIM$4
  8,FIVE FEET X % BE1 UN.S Y YRF ASK 6G
HI<]10 0 ! Y\?'S REPLY1 Z HE W9K$ AT
,MR4 ,DAMON4 ,WELL HE KNEW ! FASC9,N (
AEROPLAN+1 & HE 0 ALM SURE ( :AT WD
HAPP54 8,Y C TAKE A TAPE M1SURE AL;G1 &
SEE = YRF10 HE A4$ 6HIS FAIR PASS5G]4
8,! B>OGRAPH W H>DLY REGI/] S* A LL
HEI<T40
  8,WELL1 X'S Z HI< Z ,I WANT 6G10 SD !
GIRL4 8,OH60 )A SCR1M1 Z ,TOM />T$ !
PROPELL]4 8,>E WE GO+80
  8,IN A MO;T10 0 8 REPLY4 ,HE TOOK 8
S1T 2S ! GIRL4 ,! MOTOR 0 SPE$$ UP UNTIL
X S.D$ L ! RO> (! OC1N SURF 9 A /ORM4
  8,LET H] G60 CRI$ ,TOM 6,MR4 ,DAMON &
,MR4 ,JACKSON1 :O 7 HOLD+ BACK ! ,HUMM+-
,BIRD4 ,!Y GAVE H] A SLI<T %OVE 6OV]-
COME ! 9]TIA1 &! TRIM LL CRAFT
D>T$ ACR ! GR.D AT E 9CR1S+ SPE$4
  ,MISS ,NE/OR CAU<T H] BR1? )A GASP1
GL.ED AT ,TOM1 & NOT$ H[ COOL HE WAS1 &
!N H] FRANTIC GRIP (! UP"RS SLI<TLY
RELAX$4
  8,WE'LL G UP A LL WAY 9 A M9UTE60 %\T$
,TOM 9 H] E> Z !Y 7 SPE$+ OV] ! LEVEL
GR.D4
  ,HE PULL$ A L"E SLI<TLY1 &! ,HUMM+-
,BIRD ROSE A LL 9 ! AIR1 B ONLY =A %ORT
4T.E1 N M ?AN FIVE FEET1 & ,TOM HELD H]
"!1 ?\< HE _H 6RUN ! 5G9E AT A GRT] SPE$
?AN WD H BE5 ! CASE _H HE BE5 9 ! SU/A9+
UPP] CURR5TS4 ,X 0 Z IF ! ,HUMM+-,BIRD
RES5T$ 2+ HELD S CLOSELY 6! E>?4
  ,>.D 9 A BIG CIRCLE1 BACK & =? W5T !
CRAFT1 AT NO "T 2+ M ?AN SEV5 FEET F !
GR.D4 ,TOM GL.ED AT ,MISS ,NE/OR4 ,H]
*EEKS 7 UNUSU,Y R$1 & "! 0 A B"R SP>KLE
9 H] EYES4
  8,X'S GLORI\S60 %E CRI$4 8,D Y--D Y
?9K "!'S ANY DANG] 9 GO+ HI<]8 ,I 2LIEVE
,I'D L 6G UP A BIT40
  8,I KNEW X60 CRI$ ,TOM4 8,UP WE G60 ,&
HE PULL$ ! W9D-B5D+ PLANE L"E T[>D HM4
,UPW>D %OT ! CRAFT1 Z IF ALIVE4
  8,OH60 GASP$ ,M>Y4
  8,SIT /6 ,X'S ALL "R60 -M&$ ,TOM4
  8,X'S GLORI\S2 GLORI\S60 %E CRI$4 ,I'M
N A BIT AFRAID N[60
  8,I KNEW Y WDN'T BE10 DCLD ! "Y
9V5TOR1 :O _H CALCULAT$ ON ! FASC9,N : !
MO;N "? ! AIR1 UNTRAMMEL$ & FREE1 ALW
PRODUCES4 8,% WE G HI<]80
  8,YES60 CRI$ ,MISS ,NE/OR1 & %E GAZ$
FE>.SLY D[N AT ! E>?1 : 0 FALL+ AWAY F
2N _! FEET4 ,%E 0 9 ! GRIP (! AIR1 & X 0
A NEW & WOND];L S5S,N4
  ,TOM W5T UP 6A 3SID]A# 4T.E1 =1 ONCE A
P]SON LOSES 8 F/ F"R1 "O HUNDR$ FEET OR
"O ?\S& FEET ELEV,N MAKES LL DI6];E 6HM4
,X 0 ? WAY ) ,MISS ,NE/OR4
  ,N[1 9DE$1 CD ,TOM DEMON/RATE 6H] "S
(! F9E PO9TS ( NAVIG,N 9 ! UPP] CURR5TS1
& ?\< HE DID NO RISKY 8/UNTS10 HE %[$ !
GIRL :AT X M1NS 6D AN ASC5D+ SPIRAL1 H[
6CUT CORN]S1 H[ 6TWI/ >.D 9 ! FIGURE
EI<T1 & D O!R ?+S4 ,TOM DID N TRY =! GRT
SPE$ ( : HE KNEW 8 CRAFT 0 CAPA#1 = HE
KNEW "! 0 "S RISK ) ,MISS ,NE/OR ABO>D4
,B HE DID NE>LY "EY?+ ELSE1 & :5 HE S5T
! ,HUMM+-,BIRD D[N HE _H MADE ANO!R 3V]T
& DEVOTEE 6! ROYAL SPORT ( AEROPLAN+4
  8,OH6 ,I N"E WD D>$ 2LIEVE ,I CD D X6'
EXCLAIM$ ! GIRL1 Z ) FLU%$ *EEKS & DANC+
EYES %E 4M.T$ F ! S1T4 8,MAMMA & PAPA W
N"E 2LIEVE ,I DID X60
  8,BR+ !M OV]1 & ,I'LL TAKE !M =A
FLI<T10 SD ,TOM1 )A LAU<1 Z ,M>Y DE"P$4

,TOM RCVD AN ANSW] 6HIS LR 6,MR4 ,%>P T
NI<T4

  8,&Y ,FOG]'S 5TRY BLANK /ATES10 WROTE
! BALLOONI/1 8T HE IS 3/RUCT+ 8
AEROPLANE 9 ! VILLAGE ( ,HAMPTON1 : IS
AB FIFTY MILES F YR PLACE4 ,IF "! IS
ANY?+ FUR!R ,I C D = Y1 ,TOM1 LET ME "K4
,I W SEE Y AT ! MEET4 ,HOPE Y W9 !
PRIZE40
  8,IN ,HAMPTON1 EH80 MUS$ ,TOM4 8,S T'S
": ,&Y HAS BE5 KEEP+ HMF ALL ? :ILE4 ,8
UNCLE LIVES "!1 & T'S ! R1SON = X4 ,HE
WANT$ 6KEEP X A SECRET F ME1 S HE CD USE
MY /OL5 PLANS = 8 CRAFT4 ,B HE %AN'T D
X6 ,I'LL G 6,HAMPTON60
  8,& ,I'LL G ) Y60 DCLD ,MR4 ,DAMON1 :O
0 ) ,TOM :5 HE GOT ! NOTE F ! BALLOONI/4
8,WE'LL GET 6! BOTTOM ( ? MY/]Y AF A
:ILE1 ,TOM40
  ,DELAY+ A FEW "DS1 6MAKE ! F9AL *ANGES
9 8 AEROPLANE1 ,TOM & ,MR4 ,DAMON DE"P$
= ,HAMPTON "O MORN+4 ,!Y ?"\ F/ ( GO+ 9
! ,BUTT]FLY1 B Z !Y WANT$ 6KEEP _! MIS.N
Z SECRET Z POSSI#1 !Y DECID$ 6G 0TRA91 &
>RIVE 9 ! T[N QUIETLY & UNO/5TATI\SLY4
,!Y GOT 6,HAMPTON LATE T AFN4
  8,:AT'S ! F/ ?+ 6BE D"O80 ASK$ ,MR4
,DAMON Z !Y WALK$ UP F ! /,N1 ": !Y 7
ALM !
ONLY P]SONS :O ALI<T$ F ! TRA94
  8,G 6! HOTEL10 DECID$ ,TOM4 8,"!'S
ONLY "O1 ,I 0 TOLD1 S "!'S N M* *OICE40
  ,HAMPTON 0 A QUIET LL C.TRY T[N ( AB
FIVE ?\S& 9HABITANTS1 & ,TOM SOON LE>N$
! A4RESS ( ,MR4 ,B5TLEY1 ,&Y'S UNCLE1 F
! HOTEL CL]K4
  8,:AT BUSI;S IS ,MR4 ,B5TLEY IN80 ASK$
,TOM1 = HE WANT$ 6LE>N ALL HE CD )\T
9QUIR+ ( P]SONS :O MI<T "Q 8 MOTIVES4
  8,OH1 HE'S RETIR$10 SD ! CL]K4 8,HE
LIVES ON ! 9T]E/ ( 8 M"OY4 ,B ( LATE
HE'S BE5 ERECT+ "S SORT (A BUILD+ ON 8
BACK LOT1 L A BIG %$1 & FOLKS >E SORT (
WOND]+ :AT HE'S DO+ 9 X4 ,KEEPS MI<TY
SECRET AB X4 ,HE'S GOT A "Y FELL[ HELP+
HM40

8,HAS HE GOT R$ HAIR80 ASK$ ,TOM1 :ILE 8
  HE>T B1T
/RANGELY FA/4

  8,:O8 ,MR4 ,B5TLEY8 ,NO4 ,8 HAIR'S
BLACK40
  8,I M1N ! "Y FELL[40
  8,OH6 HIS8 ,YES1 8 IS R$4 ,HE'S A
NEPHEW1 OR "S REL,N 6,MR4 ,B5TLEY4 ,I
DID HE> 8 "N1 B ,I'VE =GOTT5 X4 ,S&Y1 OR
,&Y1 OR "S S* "N Z T40
  ,? 0 NE> 5 = ,TOM & ,MR4 ,DAMON1 & !Y
DID N WANT 6RISK ASK+ ANY M "QS4 ,!Y
TURN$ AWAY 6G 6_! ROOMS1 Z ! CL]K 0 BUSY
ANSW]+ 9QUIRIES F "S O!R GUE/S4 ,A LL
LAT]1 SUPP] 0 S]V$1 & ,TOM1 HAV+ F9I%$1
:ISP]$ 6,MR4 ,DAMON 6JO9 HM UP/AIRS Z
SOON Z HE 0 "?4
  8,:AT >E Y GO+ 6D80 ASK$ ! E35TRIC
MAN4
  8,WE'RE GO+ \ & H A LOOK AT ? NEW %$
0MOONLI<T10 DECID$ ,TOM4 8,I WANT 6SEE
:AT X'S L1 &1 IF POSSI#1 ,I WANT 6GET A
PEEP 9SIDE4 ,I'LL SOON 2 A# 6TELL :E!R
OR N ,&Y IS US+ MY /OL5 PLANS40

8,ALL "R4 ,I'M ) Y4 ,B.S MY BILL ( F>E6
  ,B WE
SEEM 6BE DO+ A LOT ( MY/]I\S "W ( LATE40

  8,YES10 AGRE$ ,TOM4 8,B IF Y H 6B.S
ANY?+ TN1 ,MR4 ,DAMON1 PL1SE :ISP] X4
,&Y1 OR "S ( 8 FRS1 MAY 2 AB ! %$1 & Z
SOON Z !Y HE> "O ( YR B.S+S !Y'LL "K
:O'S -+40
  8,OH1 ,I'LL 2 C>E;L10 PROMIS$ ,MR4
,DAMON4
  8,&Y W F9D \1 SOON] OR LAT]1 T WE >E 9
T[N10 W5T ON ,TOM1 8B WE MAY 2 A# 6LE>N
TN :AT WE WANT 6"K1 & !N WE C TELL H[
6ACT40
  ,A LL LAT]1 Z IF4 !Y 7 M]ELY /ROLL+
AB1 ,MR4 ,DAMON & ,TOM H1D$ = ,MR4
,B5TLEY'S PLACE1 : 0 ON ! \TSKIRTS (!
T[N4 ,"! 0 A FULL MOON1 &! NI<T 0 J "R
=! K9D ( OBS]V,N ,TOM WANT$ 6MAKE4 ,"! 7
FEW P]SONS ABROAD1 &! "Y 9V5TOR ?"\ HE
WD H NO "O SPY+ ON HM4
  ,!Y LOCAT$ ! BIG H\SE ( ,&Y'S UNCLE
)\T TR\#4 ,GO+ D[N A SIDE /REET1 !Y _H A
GLIMPSE (A %$1 BUILT ( NEW BO>DS1 /&+ 9
! MI4LE (A L>GE LOT4 ,AB ! /RUCTURE 0 A
NEW1 HI< WOOD5 F;E1 B Z ,TOM & 8 FR
PASS$ AL;G X !Y SAW T A GATE 9 X 0 OP54
  8,I'M GO+ IN60 :ISP]$ ,TOM4
  8,W X 2 SAFE80 ASK$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,I DON'T C>E :E!R X W 2 OR N4 ,I'VE
GOT 6"K :AT ,&Y IS DO+4 ,-E ON6 ,WE'LL
TAKE A *.E60

,CAUTI\SLY !Y 5T]$ ! 5CLOSURE4 ,! BIG %$
  0
D>K1 & /OOD \ 3SPICU\SLY 9 ! MOONLI<T4

  8,"! DOESN'T SEEM 6BE ANY "O "H10
:ISP]$ ,TOM4 8,I WOND] IF WE CD GET A
LOOK 9 ! W9D[80
  8,X'S WOR? TRY+1 ANYH[10 AGRE$ ,MR4
,DAMON4 8,I'M ) Y1 ,TOM40
,!Y DREW NE>] 6! %$4 ,SU45LY ,TOM /EPP$
  ON A
/ICK1 : BROKE )A %>P REPORT4

  8,B.S MY SPECTACLES60 CRI$ ,MR4
,DAMON1 HALF AL\D4

,"! 0 SIL;E =A MO;T1 & !N A VOICE CRI$
\3

8,:O'S "!8 ,HOLD ON6 ,DON'T -E ANY F>!R6
  ,X'S
DANG]\S60

,TOM & ,MR4 ,DAMON /OOD /1 & F 2H ! %$
/EPP$ ,&Y ,FOG] &A MAN4

  8,OH6 X'S Y1 IS X1 ,TOM ,SWIFT80
EXCLAIM$ ! R$-HAIR$ BULLY4 8,I ?"\ Y'D
-E SN1K+ >.D4 ,-E ON1 ,JAKE6 ,WE'LL MAKE
!M WI% !Y'D /AY$ HOME60 ,& ,&Y MADE A
RU% = ,TOM4



