,*APT] ,,XVI

,ON ! ,WAT*

  ,! MY/]Y (! 4APPE>.E (! T5 M5--= MY/]Y
X WAS--REMA9$1 & Z NO SIDE OP5+ OR
PASSAGE CD 2 F.D )9 ! TUNNEL1 X CAME 6BE
! G5],Y A3EPT$ EXPLAN,N T ! LABOR]S _H
-E \ UNOBS]V$1 &1 = R1SONS ( _! [N1 _H
RUN AWAY4
  ,? HABIT ON ! "P (! ,P]UVIAN "W]S 0 N
UNUSUAL4 ,9 FACT1 ! ,TITUS BRO!RS _H
6MA9TA9 A SORT ( P]MAN5T EMPLOY;T AG5CY
9 ,LIMA 6REPLACE ! DES]T]S4 ,B !Y 7 US$
6?4 ,! DI6];E 0 T ! ,9DIANS US$ 6VANI% F
CAMP AT NI<T1 & 9V>IABLY AF PAY-"D4
  8,& T'S ! ONLY R1SON ,I H A SLI<T D\BT
T !Y WALK$ \ (! TUNNEL10 SD ,JOB ,TITUS4
8,"! 0 M"OY DUE EM40
  8,!Y N"E CAME \ (! FRONT 5TR.E (!
TUNNEL10 SD ,TOM4 8,( T ,I'M POSITIVE40
  ,B "! 0 NO WAY ( PROV+ 8 ASS];N4
  ,! ?IRD BLA/1 :ILE N Z SU3ESS;L Z !
SECOND 9 ! AM.T ( ROCK LOOS5$1 0 BETT]
?AN ! F/1 & MADE A BIG ADV.E 9 ! TUNNEL
PROGRESS4 ,TOM 0 2G9N+ 6"U/& ! NATURE (!
M.TA9 96: ! BIG %AFT 0 2+ DRIV5 & HE
LE>N$ H[ BETT] 6APPLY ! =CE ( 8
EXPLOSIVE4
  ,T 0 ! "W : HE _H *>GE (--! PLAC+ (!
GIANT P[D] S X WD D ! MO/ E6ECTIVE "W4
,!N1 :5 ! FUMES F ! BLA/ _H CLE>$ AWAY1
9 WD SURGE ! "WM5 6CLE> AWAY ! DEBRIS4
  ,"U ! DIREC;N ( ,MR4 ,SWIFT1 LEFT AT
,%OPTON 6OV]SEE ! MANUFACTURE (!
EXPLOSIVE1 NEW %IP;TS CAME ON PROMPTLY
6,LIMA1 & 7 BR"\ \ 6! TUNNEL ON ! BACKS
( MULES1 OR 9 ! CASE ( SMALL QUANTITIES1
ON ! LLAMAS4 ,B ! LATT] BRUTES W N C>RY
A H1VY LOAD1 LY+ D[N & REFUS+ 6GET UP IF
!Y >E OV]BURD5$1 ":AS "O HAS YET 6F9D A
MULE'S LIMIT4
  ,AF 8 F/ SU3ESS 9 GETT+ ! NATIVES
6TAKE A M ACTIVE 9T]E/ 9 ! GA!R+ (!
C9*ONA B>K1 ,MR4 ,DAMON F.D X R EASY1 =!
/ORY ( ,TOM'S ELECTRIC RIFLE & H[ X _H
KILL$ ! MAD DOG SPR1D AM;G ! TRIBES1 &
,MR4 ,DAMON _H B 6ANN\NCE T ! 8LI<TN+
%OOT]10 Z ,TOM 0 CALL$1 0 A FR (! DRUG
3C]N 6BR+ AB ! DESIR$ RESULTS4 ,MR4
,DAMON1 0PAY+ A SORT ( BRIBE1 4GUIS$ "U
! "N 8TAX10 SECUR$ ! HELP ( ,P]UVIAN
(FICIALS S HE _H NO TR\# ON T SCORE4
  ,KOKU 0 9 8 ELE;T4 ,HE LIK$ A WILD
LIFE & ,P]U 0 M* M L ! C.TRY ( GIANTS ":
,TOM _H F.D HM1 ?AN ANY PLACE ! BIG MAN
_H S9CE VISIT$4 ,KOKU _H GRT /R5G? &
WANT$ 6USE X1 & AF A WEEK OR S ( IDLE;S
HE P]SUAD$ ,TOM 6LET HM G 9 ! TUNNEL
6"W4
  ,! GIANT 0 MADE A SORT ( =EMAN "U
,TIM1 &! TWO 2CAME GRT FRS4 ,! ONLY TR\#
) ,KOKU 0 T HE WD D A ?+ HMF 9/1D (
LETT+ 8 M5 D X1 Z1 ( C\RSE1 ALL PROP]
=EM5 %D D4 ,IF ! GIANT SAW TWO OR ?REE
(! ,9DIANS TRY+ 6LIFT A BIG ROCK 96! LL
DUMP C>S1 & FAIL+ 2C ( XS GRT WEI<T1 HE
WD GD-NATUR$LY ?RU/ !M ASIDE1 PICK UP !
BIG /"O 9 8 MI<TY >MS1 & DEPOSIT X 9 XS
PLACE4
  ,& ONCE :5 AN UNUSU,Y BIG LOAD _H BE5
PUT 9 A C>1 &! MULE ATTA*$ F.D X
IMPOSSI# 6PULL X \ 6! TUNNEL M\?1 ,KOKU
UNHIT*$ ! CR1TURE &1 SLIPP+ ! H>;S >.D 8
WAI/1 WALK$ \1 DRA7+ ! LOAD Z EASILY Z
IF PULL+ A * ON A SL$4
  ,PROFESSOR ,BUMP] KEPT ON ) 8 SE>* =!
LO/ C;Y ( ,PEL"O4 ,BACK & =? HE W&]$
AM;G ! WILD ,&ES ,M.TA9S1 N[ HOPE;L T HE
0 ON ! "R TRAIL1 & AG 9 DESPAIR4 ,TOM &
,MR4 ,DAMON W5T ) HM ONCE M =A WEEK1 &
?\< !Y 5JOY$ ! TRIP1 =! PROFESSOR 0 A
DELI<T;L -PANION1 "! 7 NO RESULTS4 ,B !
SCI5TI/ WD N GIVE UP4
  ,TOM ,SWIFT 0 KEPT BUSY LOOK+ AF !
%IP;TS (! EXPLOSIVE1 & >RANG+ =! BLA/S4
,HE _H LRS F ,N$ ,NEWTON 9 : NEWS (
,%OPTON 0 GIV51 & ,MR4 ,SWIFT WROTE
O3A.N,Y4 ,B ! MAILS 9 ! WILD];S (! ,&ES
7 FEW & F> 2T4

,TOM WROTE A LR ( EXPLAN,N 6,MR4 ,NE/OR1
  9
A4I;N 6! WIRE.S HE _H S5T REG>D+ ! BOX
LABEL$ DYNAMITE1 B HE GOT NO ANSW]4 ,NOR
  7 8
LRS 6,M>Y ANSW]$4

  8,I WOND] :AT'S WR;G80 ,TOM MUS$4 8,X
C'T 2 T !Y ?9K ,I DID T ON PURPOSE4 ,&
EV5 IF ,MR4 ,NE/OR IS ANGRY AT ME = "S?+
T WASN'T MY FAULT1 ,M>Y "\ 6WRITE40
  ,B %E DID N1 & ,TOM GREW A BIT
DESPOND5T Z ! "DS W5T 0& NO ^W CAME4
  8,I SUPPOSE !Y MI<T 2 (F5D$ 2C ,I LEFT
,RAD 6D UP T PACKAGE 9/1D ( ATT5D+ 6X
MYF10 ?"\ ,TOM4 8,WELL1 ,I DID MAKE A
MISTAKE "!1 B ,I DIDN'T M1N TO4 ,I N"E
?"\ AB ,ERADICATE'S N R1D+4 ,I'LL MAKE
HM G 6NI<T S*OOL Z SOON Z ,I GET BACK4
,B MAYBE ,I'LL N"E GET ANO!R *.E 6S5D
,M>Y ANY?+4 ,IF ,I D1 ,I'LL N LET ,RAD
DELIV] X--T'S SURE40
  ,! FEEL+ ( AL>M 5G5D]$ AM;G ! ,9DIANS
0! 4APPE>.E ( _! T5 FELL[-"W]S SEEM$ 6H
4APPE>$4 ,"! 7 RUMORS T "S (! MY/]I\S T5
_H BE5 SE5 9 4TANT VILLAGES & SETTLE;TS1
B ! ,TITUS BRO!RS CD N 3FIRM ?4
  8,I DON'T ?9K ANY?+ S]I\S HAPP5$ 6!M1
ANYH[10 SD ,JOB ,TITUS "O "D4 8,& ,I %D
HATE 6?9K \R "W 0 RESPONSI# = H>M 6ANY
"O40
  8,YR RIVALS DON'T SEEM 6BE DO+ M*
6HAMP] Y10 OBS]V$ ,TOM4 8,I GUESS
,WA4+TON GAVE UP4
  8,I WON'T 2 TOO SURE ( T10 SD ,MR4
,TITUS4
  8,:Y1 :AT HAS HAPP5$80 ,TOM ASK$4

8,WELL1 NO?+ D[N "H--T IS1 DIRECTLY--B
  WE >E
MEET+ ) TR\# ON ! F9ANCIAL 5D4 ,!
  ,P]UVIAN
GOV]N;T IS HOLD+ BACK PAY;TS40

  8,:Y IS T80
  8,!Y CLAIM WE >E N Z F> ADV.ED Z WE "\
6BE40
  8,>5'T Y80
  8,PRACTIC,Y1 YES4 ,"! 0 NO SET LIMIT (
"W 6BE D"O =! 9T]M$IATE PAY;TS4 ,WE
BOND$ \RVS 6H ! TUNNEL D"O AT A C]TA9
DATE4
  8,IF WE FAIL1 WE LOSE A L>GE SUM1 & IF
WE GET X D"O AH1D ( "T WE GET A BIG
PREMIUM4 ,"! 0 NO "Q Z 6-PLET+ A C]TA9
AM.T ( FOOTAGE 2F WE RCVD C]TA9 PAY;TS4
,B ,SENOR ,2LASDO1 ! GOV]N;T
REPRES5TATIVE1 CLAIMS T WE W N 2 D"O 9
"T1 & "!=E HE IS HOLD+ BACK M"OY DUE U4
,I'M SURE ! RIVAL 3TRACTORS H SET HM UP
6?1 2C HE 0 ALW DEC5T 6U 2F4
  8,ANO!R MATT]1 TOO1 MAKES ME
SUSPICI\S4 ,WE H TRI$ 6RAISE M"OY 9 ,NEW
,YORK 6TIDE U OV] :ILE ! GOV]N;T IS
HOLD+ UP \R FUNDS "H4 ,B \R ,NEW ,YORK
(FICE IS MEET+ ) DI6ICULTIES4 ,!Y REPORT
"! IS A /ORY CURR5T 6! E6ECT T WE >E GO+
6FAIL1 & :ILE T ISN'T S1 Y "K H[ H>D X
IS 6BORR[ M"OY 9 ! FACE ( S* RUMORS4 ,WE
>E DO+ ALL WE C 6FI<T !M1 ( C\RSE1 &
MAYBE WE'LL B1T \ \R RIVALS YET4
  8,B T ISN'T ALL4 ,I'M SURE "S "O IS ON
! GR.D "H TRY+ 6MAKE TR\# AM;G \R "W]S4
,I N"E KNEW S _M M5 6L1VE1 "O AF ANO!R4
,X'S KEEP+ ! EMPLOY;T AG5CY 9 ,LIMA BUSY
SUPPLY+ U ) NEW "W]S4 ,& S _M ( !M >E
UNSKILL$4 ,!Y >5'T A# 6D HALF ! "W (!
OLD M51 & POOR ,TIM ,SULLIVAN IS 9
DESPAIR40

8,Y ?9K "S "O "H IS CAUS+ 4S5.NS &
DES];NS AM;G YR M580

  8,I'M SURE ( X6 ,I'VE TRI$ 6F]RET \ :O
X IS1 B ! SPY1 = S* HE M/ BE1 KEEPS 8
ID5T;Y WELL HI4540
  ,TOM ?"\ =A MO;T4 ,!N HE SD3
  8,MR4 ,TITUS1 ) YR P]MIS.N1 ,I'LL SEE
IF ,I C F9D \ AB ? = Y40
  8,F9D \ :AT1 ,TOM80

8,:AT IS CAUS+ ! M5 6L1VE4 ,I DON'T
  2LIEVE X'S
! SC>E AB ! T5 MISS+ "OS40

  8,NOR D ,I4 ,T'S PA/ & G"O4 ,B H[ >E Y
GO+ 6GET AT ! BOTTOM ( X80
  8,0KEEP+ WAT*4 ,I'VE GOT NO?+ 6D N[ =!
NEXT WEEK4 8,WE'VE J SET (F A BIG BLA/1
& ,I'VE GOT ! P[D] =! FOLL[+ "O ALL
R1DY4 ,! M5 W 2 BUSY = "S "T GETT+ \ !
BROK5 ROCK4 ,N[ :AT ,I PROPOSE 6D IS 6G
9 ! TUNNEL & "W AM;G !M
UNTIL ,I C LE>N "S?+4
  8,I C "U/& ! LANGUAGE PRETTY WELL N[1
?\< ,I C'T SP1K M* ( X4 ,I'LL G 9 !
TUNNEL E "D & F9D \ :AT'S GO+ ON40
  8,B Y'LL 2 "KN1 & IF "O ( \R M51 OR "O
:O WE SUPPOSE IS "O1 TURNS \ 6BE A SPY1
HE'LL 2 V CAUTI\S :ILE Y'RE 9 "!40
  8,HE WON'T "K ME10 ,TOM SD4 8,? IS H[
,I'LL "W X4 ,I'LL G (F ) ,PROFESSOR
,BUMP] ! NEXT "T HE />TS ON "O ( 8
WEEKLY EXP$I;NS 96! WOODS4 ,B ,I WON'T G
F> UNTIL ,I TURN >.D & -E BACK4 ,I'LL
ADOPT "S SORT ( 4GUISE1 & ,I'LL APPLY 6Y
= "W4 ,Y C TELL ,TIM 6PUT ME ON4 ,Y MI<T
LET HM 96! SECRET1 B NO "O ELSE40
  ,A FEW "DS LAT] ,TOM 0 SE5 DE"P+ )
,PROFESSOR ,BUMP] 96! 9T]IOR1 PRESUMABLY
6HELP LOOK =! LO/ C;Y4 ,MR4 ,DAMON 0
AWAY F CAMP ON BUSI;S 3NECT$ )! DRUG
3C]N1 & ,KOKU1 6HIS DELI<T1 _H BE5 GIV5
*>GE (A /,N>Y HOI/+ 5G9E \TSIDE !
TUNNEL1 S HE WD N -E 9 3TACT ) ,TOM4 ,X
0 N ?"\ WISE 6TAKE ! GIANT 96! SECRET4
  ,!N "O "D1 %ORTLY AF ,PROFESSOR ,BUMP]
& ,TOM _H 4APPE>$ 96! =E/1 A RA7$ &
UNKEMPT :ITE MAN APPLI$ AT ! TUNNEL CAMP
= "W4 ,"! 0 J ! B>E/ W9K Z HE A3O/$ ,MR4
,TITUS1 :O W9K$ 9 TURN1 & !N ! NEW MAN 0
H&$ OV] 6,TIM ,SULLIVAN1 Z A SORT (
HELP]4
  ,& S ,TOM ,SWIFT 2GAN 8 WAT*4
