
    ,,TOM ,,SWIFT ,,& ,,8 ,,GIANT
    ,,CANNON

    ,,*APT] ,I

    ,,ON ,A ,,LIVE ,,WIRE
  8,N[1 SEE "H1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT1 Y MAY ?9K X
ALL A SORT ( DR1M1 & IMAG9E T ,I DON'T
"K :AT ,I'M TALK+ AB2 B ,I D6 ,IF Y'LL
3S5T 6F9.E ? EXP$I;N 6! EXT5T (1 SAY1 T5
?\S& DOLL>S1 ,I'LL PRACTIC,Y GU>ANTEE
6GIVE Y BACK FIVE "TS T SUM
  8,I DON'T "K1 ,ALEC1 ,I DON'T "K10
SL[LY RESPOND$ ! AG$ 9V5TOR4 8,I'VE HE>D
^? /ORIES 2F1 & 9 MY EXP]I;E NO?+ "E
CAME ( !M4 ,BURI$ TR1SURE1 & LO/ VESSELS
FILL$ ) GOLD1 >E ALL WELL & GD1 B HUNT+
= AN OPAL M9E ON "S LL-HE>D-( ISL& GOES
!M "O BETT]40
  8,!N Y DON'T FEEL L BACK+ ME UP 9 ?
MATT]1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT80
  8,NO1 ,ALEC1 ,I C'T SAY ,I D4 ,:Y1 J
/OP & ?9K =A M9UTE4 ,Y'RE ASK+ ME 6PUT
T5 ?\S& DOLL>S 96A -PANY1 6FIT \ AN
EXP$I;N 6G 6? ISL&--"S": D[N NE>
,PANAMA1 Y SAY X IS--& TRY 6LOCATE ! LO/
M9E F :1 "S C5TURIES AGO1 OPALS & O!R
PRECI\S /"OS CAME4 ,X DOESN'T SEEM
R1SONA#40
  8,B ,I'M SURE ,I C F9D ! M9E1 ,MR4
,SWIFT60 P]SI/$ ,ALEC ,PET]SON1 :O 0 ALM
Z ELD]LY A MAN Z ! "O HE A4RESS$4 8,I H
! OLD DOCU;TS T TELL H[ RI* ! M9E ONCE
WAS1 H[ ! OLD ,MEXICAN RUL]S US$ 6GET _!
OPALS F X1 & H[ ALL TRACE ( X 0 LO/ 9 !
LA/ C5TURY4 ,I H ALL ! L&M>KS D[N PAT1 &
,I'M SURE ,I C F9D X4 ,-E ON N[1 TAKE A
*.E4 ,PUT 9 ? T5 ?\S& DOLL>S4 ,I C
MANAGE ! RE/4 ,Y'LL GET BACK M ?AN FIVE
"TS YR 9VE/;T40
  8,IF Y F9D ! M9E--YES40
  8,I TELL Y ,I W F9D X6 ,-E N[1 ,MR4
,SWIFT10 &! VISITOR'S VOICE 0 V PL1D+1
8Y & YR SON ,TOM H MADE A =TUNE = YRVS \
( YR DI6]5T 9V5;NS4 ,2 G5]\S1 & L5D ME ?
T5 ?\S& DOLL>S40
  ,MR4 ,SWIFT %OOK 8 H1D4
  8,I'VE HE>D Y TALK ! SAME WAY 2F1
,ALEC10 HE REPLI$4 8,N"O ( YR S*EMES "E
AM.T$ 6ANY?+4 ,Y'VE BE5 A =TUNE-HUNT]
ALL YR LIFE1 NE>LY2 & :AT H Y GOTT5 \ (
X8 ,J A B>E LIV+40
  8,T'S "R1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT1 B ,I'VE _H BAD
LUCK4 ,I DID F9D ! LO/ GOLD M9E ,I W5T
AF "S YE>S AGO1 Y REMEMB]40
  8,YES1 ONLY 6LOSE X 2C ! MISS+ HEIRS
TURN$ UP1 & TOOK X AWAY F Y4 ,Y CD H
MADE M AT /RAI<T M9+ 9 ! "T Y SP5T ON T
S*EME40
  8,YES1 ,I SUPPOSE ,I CD2 B ? IS GO+
6BE A SU3ESS--,I FEEL X 9 MY B"OS40
  8,T'S :AT Y SAY1 E "T1 ,ALEC4 ,NO1 ,I
DON'T 2LIEVE ,I WANT 6G 96? ?+40
  8,OH1 -E--D6 ,=! SAKE ( OLD "TS4
,DON'T Y RECALL H[ Y & ,I US$ 6PROSPECT
TGR \ 9 ! GOLD C.TRY2 H[ WE %>$ \R
FAILURES & SU3ESSES80
  8,YES1 ,I REMEMB] T1 ,ALEC4 ,MI<TY FEW
SU3ESSES WE _H1 ?\<1 9 ^? "DS40
  8,B N[ Y'VE /RUCK X RI*1 P>DN]10 W5T
ON ! PL1D]4 8,HELP ME \ 9 ? S*EME--D60
  8,NO1 ,ALEC4 ,I'D R GIVE Y ?REE OR F\R
?\S& DOLL>S = YRF1 IF Y'D SETTLE D[N 6"S
/1DY "W1 9/1D ( *AS+ ALL OV] ! C.TRY AF
VI.N>Y =TUNES4 ,Y'RE GETT+ TOO OLD 6D
T40
  8,WELL1 X'S A FACT ,I'M NO L;G] "Y4 ,B
,I'M AFRAID ,I'M TOO OLD 6SETTLE D[N4 ,Y
C'T T1* AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS1 P>DN]4 ,?
IS MY LIFE1 & ,I'LL H 6LIVE X UNTIL ,I
PASS \4 ,WELL1 IF Y WON'T1 Y WON'T1 ,I
SUPPOSE4 ,0! WAY1 ": IS ,TOM8 ,I'D L
6SEE HM 2F ,I G BACK4 ,HE'S A MI<TY F9E
BOY40
  8,T'S :AT HE IS60 BROKE 9 A NEW VOICE4
8,B.S MY OV]%OES1 B HE IS A SM>T LAD6 ,A
WOND];L LAD1 T'S :AT6 ,:Y1 B.S MY
NECKTIE1 "! ISN'T ANY?+ HE C'T 9V5T2 F A
BUTTON-HOOK 6A BATTLE%IP6 ,WOND];L BOY--
T'S :AT60
  8,I GUESS ,TOM'S E>S WD BURN IF HE CD
HE> YR PRAISES1 ,MR4 ,DAMON10 LAU<$ ,MR4
,SWIFT4 8,DON'T SPOIL HM40
  8,SPOIL ,TOM ,SWIFT8 ,Y CDN'T D X 9 A
HUNDR$ YE>S60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON1
5?USIA/IC,Y4 8,B.S MY TOPKNOT6 ,N 9 A
?\S&
YE>S--NO1 SIR60
  8,B ": IS HE80 ASK$ ,MR4 ,PET]SON1 :O
0 EVID5TLY UNUS$ 6! EXTRAVAGANT MANN] (
,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,"! HE GOES N[60 EXCLAIM$ ! G5TLEMAN
:O FREQU5TLY B.S$ HMF1 "S >TICLE ( 8
APP>EL1 OR "S O!R OBJECT4 8,"! HE GOES
N[1 FLY+ OV] ! H\SE 9 T ,HUMM+ ,BIRD
AIR%IP ( HIS4 ,HE SD HE 0 GO+ 6TRY \ A
NEW MAGNETO HE'D 9V5T$1 & X SEEMS 6BE
"W+ ALL "R4 ,HE SD HE WASN'T GO+ 6TAKE
M* (A FLI<T1 & ,I GUESS HE'LL SOON 2
BACK4 ,LOOK AT HM6 ,ISN'T HE A GRT "O1
?\<60
  8,HE C]TA9LY IS10 AGRE$ ,MR4 ,PET]SON1
Z HE & ,MR4 ,SWIFT W5T 6! W9D[1 F : ,MR4
,DAMON _H CAU<T A GLIMPSE (! Y\?;L
,9V5TOR 9 8 AIR%IP4 8,A GRT LAD4 ,I WI%
HE CD -E ON ? M9E-HUNT ) ME1 ?\< ,I'D
N"E 3S5T 6G 9 AN AIR%IP4 ,!Y'RE TOO
RISKY = AN OLD MAN L ME40
  8,!Y'RE Z SAFE Z A *UR* :5 ,TOM ,SWIFT
RUNS !M60 DCLD ,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,I'M NO
BOY1 B ,I'D G ANY": ) ,TOM40
  8,I'M AFRAID Y WDN'T GET ,TOM 6G ) Y1
,ALEC10 W5T ON ,MR4 ,SWIFT1 Z HE RESUM$
8 *AIR1 ! "Y 9V5TOR 9 8 AIR%IP HAV+
PASS$ \ ( SI<T4 8,HE'S BUSY ON "S NEW
9V5;N N[1 ,I 2LIEVE4 ,I ?9K ,I HE>D HM
SAY "S?+ AB A NEW RIFLE40
  8,CANNON X WAS1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT10 SD ,MR4
,DAMON4 8,TOM HAS AN IDEA T HE C MAKE !
BI7E/ CANNON 9 ! _W2 B X'S ONLY AN IDEA
YET40
  8,WELL1 !N ,I GUESS "!'S NO HOPE ( MY
9T]E/+ HM 9 MY OPAL M9E10 SD ! =TUNE-
HUNT]1 ) R A 4APPO9T$ SMILE4 8,NOR Y EI1
,MR4 ,SWIFT40
  8,NO1 ,ALEC1 ,I'M AFRAID N4 ,Z ,I SD1
,I'D R GIVE Y \T"R ?REE OR F\R ?\S&
DOLL>S1 IF Y WANT$ X1 PROVID$ T Y US$ X
= YR [N P]SONAL NE$S1 & PROMIS$ N 6S9K X
9 "S VI.N>Y SE>*40
  ,MR4 ,PET]SON %OOK 8 H1D4
  8,I'M N ACTU,Y 9 WANT10 HE SD1 8& ,I
CDN'T A3EPT A GIFT ( M"OY1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT4
,? IS A /RAI<T BUSI;S PROPOSI;N40
  8,N M* /RAI<T BUSI;S 9 HUNT+ =A M9E
T'S BE5 LO/ = OV] A C5TURY10 REPLI$ !
AG$ 9V5TOR1 )A GL.E AT ,MR4 ,DAMON1 :O 0
/ AT ! W9D[1 WAT*+ =A GLIMPSE ( ,TOM ON
8 RETURN TRIP 9 ! AIR CRAFT4
  8,IF ,TOM WD G1 ,I'D TRAIL AL;G10 SD !
ODD MAN4 8,WE HAV5'T D"O ANY?+ WOR?
SP1K+ ( S9CE HE US$ 8 GRT SE>*LI<T
6DETECT ! SMU7L]S4 ,B ,I DON'T 2LIEVE
HE'LL G4 ,T M9+ PROPOSI;N S.DS GD40
  8,X IS GD60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,PET]SON1 )
F]VOR1 HOP+ HE _H F.D A NEW 8PROSPECT0 9
,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,B N BUSI;S-GD10 DCLD ,MR4 ,SWIFT1 &=
"S "T ! ?REE >GU$ ! MATT]1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT
3T9U+ 6%AKE 8 H1D4
  ,SU45LY 96! ROOM "! RAN AN AG$ COLOR$
MAN1 M* EXCIT$4
  8,FO' DE L& SAKES60 HE CRI$4 8,"SBODY
"\] G \ AN' HELP ,MASSA ,TOM60
  8,:Y1 :AT'S ! MATT]1 ,ERADICATE80 ASK$
,MR4 ,SWIFT1 L1P+ 6HIS FEET1 AN EXAMPLE
FOLL[$ 0! O!R TWO M54 8,:AT HAS HAPP5$
6MY SON80
  8,I DUNNO1 ,MASSA ,SWIFT1 B ,I LOOK$
UP JE/ N[1 AN' D]E HE BE1 9 DAT AIR-
3TRAP;N OB HIS'N HE CALLS DE ,HUMM9'
,BURD4 ,HE'S KET*$ UP FA/ ON DE BALLOON
%$ RO(1 AN' D]E HE'S HANG9' WIF SP>KS
AN' FLAMES A-%OOT9' \T] DE AIR%IP SU69'
SC&AL\S6 ,X'S JE/ SPITT9' FIRE1 DAT'S
:AT X'S A-DO9'1 AN' EF "SBODY DON'T D
SU69' FO' ,MASSA ,TOM MI<TY QK1 D]E A9'T
GW9 T' 2 ANY ,MASSA ,TOM2 N[ DAT'S :AT
,I'SE A EQUALS TELL9' Y60
  8,B.S MY %OE BUTTONS60 GASP$ ,MR4
,DAMON4 8,-E ON \1 "EYBODY6 ,WE'VE GOT
6HELP ,TOM60
  8,YES60 ASS5T$ ,MR4 ,SWIFT4 8,CALL
"S"O ON ! TELEPH"O6 ,GET A DOCTOR6
,MAYBE HE'S %OCK$6 ,":'S ,KOKU1 ! GIANT8
,MAYBE HE C HELP60
  8,N[ DOAN'T YO' G T' GITT9' ALL
EXCIT$-LAIK10 OBJECT$ ,ERADICATE
,SAMPSON1 ! AG$ COLOR$ MAN4 8,REMEMB]
YO' ALL HAS GOT A W1K HE>T1 ,MASSA
,SWIFT60
  8,I "K X2 B ,I M/ SAVE MY SON4
,HURRY60
  ,MR4 ,SWIFT RAN F ! ROOM1 FOLL[$ 0,MR4
,DAMON & ,MR4 ,PET]SON1 :ILE ,ERADICATE
TRAIL$ AF !M Z FA/ Z 8 TOTT]+ LIMBS WD
C>RY HM1 MURMUR+ 6HMF4
8,"! HE IS60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON1 Z HE
CAU<T SI<T (! "Y 9V5TOR 9 8 AIR%IP1 9 A
POSI;N ( P]IL4 ,TRULY X 0 Z ,ERADICATE
_H SD4 ,CAU<T ON ! SLOPE (! RO( ( 8 BIG
BALLOON %$1 ,TOM ,SWIFT 0 9 GRT DANG]4
  ,F 8 AIR%IP "! %OT DAZZL+ SP>KS1 &
/R1M]S ( GRE5 & VIOLET FIRE4 ,"! 0 A
SNAPP+1 CRACK+ S.D T CD 2 HE>D ABV ! :IR
(! CRAFT'S PROPELL]S1 =! MOTOR 0 /
RUNN+4
  8,OH1 ,TOM6 ,TOM6 ,:AT IS X8 ,:AT HAS
HAPP5$80 CRI$ 8 "F4
  8,KEEP BACK6 ,DON'T -E TOO CLOSE60
YELL$ ! "Y 9V5TOR1 Z HE CLUNG 6! S1T (!
AEROPLANE1 T 0 TILT$ AT A DANG]\S ANGLE4
8,KEEP AWAY60
  8,:AT'S ! MATT]80 DEM&$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
8,B.S MY POCKET -B --:AT IS X80
  8,A LIVE WIRE60 ANSW]$ ,TOM4 8,I'M
CAU<T 9 A LIVE WIRE6 ,! TRAIL] ATTA*$ 6!
WIRE.S \TFIT ON MY AIR%IP IS CROSS$ )!
WIRE F ! P[] PLANT4 ,"!'S A %ORT CIRCUIT
"S":4 ,DON'T -E TOO CLOSE1 = X MAY BURN
"? ANY SECOND & DROP D[N4 ,!N X W TWI/
AB L A SNAKE60
  8,L& OB MASSY60 CRI$ ,ERADICATE4
  8,:AT C WE D 6HELP Y80 CALL$ ,MR4
,SWIFT4 8,% ,I RUN & %UT (F ! P[]80 = 9
! %OP ": ,TOM DID MO/ ( 8 9V5TIVE "W "!
0 A P[];L DYNAMO1 & X 0 ON "O (! WIRES
EXT5D+ F X1 T BR"\ CURR5T 96! H\SE1 T !
CRAFT _H CAU<T4
  8,YES1 %UT X (F IF Y C60 ,TOM %\T$
BACK4 8,B 2 C>E;L4 ,DON'T GET %OCK$6
,W[6 ,I GOT A T\* ( X MYF T "T60 & HE CD
2 SE5 6WRI! 9 8 S1T4
  8,OH1 HURRY6 HURRY6 ,F9D ,KOKU60 CRI$
,MR4 ,SWIFT 6,MR4 ,DAMON1 :O _H />T$ =!
P[] H\SE ON ! RUN4
  ,! SP>KS & L.ES ( FIRE SEEM$ 69CR1SE
>.D ! "Y 9V5TOR4 ,! AIR%IP CD 2 SE5
6SLIP SL[LY D[N ! SLOP+ RO(4
  8,L& OB MASSY6 ,HE AM SUAH GW9E T'
FALL60 YELL$ ,ERADICATE4
  8,OH1 HE'LL N"E GET T CURR5T %UT (F 9
"T60 MURMUR$ ,MR4 ,SWIFT1 Z HE />T$ AF
,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,WAIT6 ,I ?9K ,I H A PLAN60 CALL$
,MR4 ,PET]SON4 8,I ?9K ,I C SAVE ,TOM60
  ,HE DID N WA/E FUR!R "T 9 TALK1 B1
RUNN+ 6A NE>BY %$1 HE GOT A L;G LA4] T
HE SAW /&+ "U X4 ,) ? OV] 8 %\LD] HE
RETRAC$ 8 /EPS 6! BALLOON HANG> & PLAC$
! LA4] AG/ ! SIDE4 ,!N HE />T$ 6CLIMB
UP4
  8,:AT >E Y GO+ 6D80 YELL$ ,TOM1 L1N+
OV] F 8 S1T 6WAT* ! ELD]LY =TUNE-HUNT]4
  8,I'M GO+ 6CUT T WIRE60 0 ! ANSW]4
  8,DON'T6 ,IF Y T\* X Y'LL 2 %OCK$
6D1?6 ,I MAY 2 A# 6GET \ ( "H4 ,S F>
,I'VE ONLY _H LI<T %OCKS1 B ! 9SUL,N IS
BURN+ \ ( MY MAGNETO1 & T W SOON /OP4
,:5 X DOES ,I C'T RUN ! MOTOR1 &--0
  8,I'M GO+ 6CUT T WIRE60 AG %\T$ ,MR4
,PET]SON4
  8,B Y C'T1 )\T PLI]S & RU2] GLOVES60
YELL$ ,TOM4 8,KEEP AWAY1 ,I TELL Y60
  ,! MAN ON ! LA4] HESITAT$4 ,EVID5TLY
HE _H N ?"\ (! NECESS;Y ( PROTECT+ 8 H&S
0RU2] COV]+1 9 ORD] T ! ELECTRIC;Y MI<T
2 MADE H>M.S4 ,HE BACK$ D[N 6! GR.D4
  8,I SAW A PAIR ( OLD GLOVES 9 ! %$60
HE CRI$4 8,I'LL GET !M--!Y LOOK L RU2]40
  8,!Y >E60 CRI$ ,TOM1 REMEMB]+ N[ T HE
_H BE5 PUTT+ UP A NEW WIRE T "D1 & _H
LEFT 8 RU2] GLOVES "!4 8,B Y HAV5'T ANY
PLI]S60 ! LAD W5T4 8,H[ C Y CUT WIRE )\T
!M8 ,"!'S A PAIR 9 ! %OP1 B--0
  8,H1H DEY BE6 ,H1H DEY BE60 CRI$
,ERADICATE1 Z HE PRODUC$ A H1VY PAIR F 8
POCKET4 8,I--,I CDN'T F9D DE C-OP5] FO'
,MRS4 ,BA7]T1 AN' ,I JE/ GOT YO' PLI]S1
,MASSA ,TOM4 ,OH1 H[ GLAD ,I IS DAT ,I
DID4 ,"H'S DE P9C]S1 ,MASSA ,PET]SON40
  ,HE H&$ !M 6! =TUNE-HUNT]1 :O CAME
RUNN+ BACK )! RU2] GLOVES4 ,MR4 ,DAMON 0
NO M ?AN HALF WAY 6! P[] H\SE1 : 0 Q A
4T.E F ! ,SWIFT HOME/1D4 ,M1N:ILE ,TOM'S
AIR%IP 0 SLIPP+ M & M1 &A ?ICK1 PUNG5T
SMOKE N[ SURR.D$ X1 -+ F ! BURN+ 9SUL,N4
,! SP>KS & ELECTRICAL FLAMES 7 WORSE ?AN
"E4
  8,J A MO;T N[1 & ,I'LL H Y SAFE60 CRI$
! =TUNE-HUNT]1 Z HE AG M.T$ ! LA4]4
,LUCKILY ! *>G$ WIRE 0 NE> 5 6BE R1*$
0GO+ NE>LY 6! TOP (! LA4]4
  ,HOLD+ ! P9C]S 9 8 RU2]-GLOV$ H&S1 !
OLD MAN QKLY SNIPP$ ! WIRE4 ,"! 0 A FLA%
( SP>KS Z ! COPP] 3DUCTOR 0 S"E$1 & !N !
%[] ( SP>KS AB ,TOM'S AIR%IP C1S$4
  ,9 ANO!R SECOND HE _H TURN$ ON FULL
P[]1 ! PROPELL]S :IZZ$ )! QK;S ( LI<T1 &
HE ROSE 9 ! AIR1 (F ! %$ RO(1 ! LIVE
WIRE NO L;G] 5TANGL+ HM4 ,!N HE MADE A
%ORT CIRCUIT (! "W-%OP Y>D1 & CAME 6!
GR.D SAFELY A LL 4T.E F ! BALLOON HANG>4
  8,SAV$6 ,TOM IS SAV$60 CRI$ ,MR4
,SWIFT1 :O _H SE5 ! ACT ( ,MR4 ,PET]SON
F A 4T.E4 8,HE SAV$ MY BOY'S LIFE60
  8,?ANKS1 ,MR4 ,PET]SON60 EXCLAIM$ ! "Y
9V5TOR1 Z HE LEFT 8 S1T & WALK$ UP 6!
=TUNE-HUNT]4 8,Y C]TA9LY DID ME A GD
TURN !N4 ,X 0 T\* & G6 ,I CDN'T H /AY$
"! _M SECONDS L;G]4 ,NEXT "T ,I'LL "K
BETT] ?AN 6FLY )A WIRE.S TRAIL] OV] A
LIVE 3DUCTOR10 & HE HELD \ 8 H& 6,MR4
,PET]SON4
  8,I'M GLAD ,I CD HELP Y1 ,TOM10 SPOKE
! O!R1 W>MLY4 8,I 0 AFRAID T IF Y _H
6WAIT UNTIL !Y %UT (F ! P[] X WD 2 TOO
LATE40
  8,X WD--X WD--]--,I FEEL--,I--0
  ,TOM'S VOICE TRAIL$ (F 96A :ISP] & HE
SWAY$ ON 8 FEET4
  8,COT* HM60 CRI$ ,ERADICATE4 8,COT*
HM6 ,MASSA ,TOM'S HURT60 & ONLY J 9 "T
DID ,MR4 ,PET]SON CLUT* ! "Y 9V5TOR 9 8
>MS4 ,= ,TOM1 :ITE ( FACE1 _H FALL5 BACK
9 A D1D FA9T4























