             ,,*APT] ,,XVII
              ,,! ,,RIVALS

  ,,MI*AEL 0 9 -P>ATIVE SAFETY1 ?\< 8
SITU,N 0 / T]RI#4 ,N[ T ! FAI?;L ANIMAL
:O _H S BRAVELY BORNE HM _H MET 8 D1? 9
! WAT]S (! RIV]1 H[ 0 HE 63T9UE 8
J\RNEY8
  ,HE 0 ON FOOT1 )\T PROVI.NS1 9 A C.TRY
DEVA/AT$ 0! 9VA.N1 OV]RUN 0! ,EMIR'S
SC\TS1 & / AT A 3SID]A# 4T.E F ! PLACE
HE 0 /RIV+ 6R1*4 8,0,H1V51 ,I W GET "!60
HE EXCLAIM$1 9 REPLY 6ALL ! R1SONS =
FALT]+4 8,GOD W PROTECT \R SACR$
,RUSSIA40  ,MI*AEL 0 \ ( R1* (! ,USBECK      #BCH
HORSEM54 ,!Y _H N D>$ 6PURSUE HM "? !
RIV]4
  ,ONCE M ON SOLID GR.D ,MI*AEL /OPP$
63SID] :AT HE %D D NEXT4 ,HE WI%$ 6AVOID
,TOMSK1 N[ O3UPI$ 0! ,T>T> TROOPS4
,N"E!.S1 HE M/ R1* "S T[N1 OR AT L1/ A
PO/-H\SE1 ": HE CD PROCURE A HORSE4 ,A
HORSE ONCE F.D1 HE WD ?R[ HMF \ (! B1T5
TRACK1 & N AG TAKE 6! ,IRKUTSK ROAD
UNTIL 9 ! NEI<BORHOOD ( ,KRASNOI>SK4 ,F
T PLACE1 IF HE 7 QK1 HE HOP$ 6F9D ! WAY
/ OP51 & HE 9T5D$ 6G "? ! ,LAKE ,BAIKAL
PROV9CES 9 A S\?EA/]LY DIREC;N4
  ,MI*AEL 2GAN 0GO+ EA/W>D4 ,0FOLL[+ !
C\RSE (! ,OBI TWO V]/S FUR!R1 HE R1*$ A
PICTURESQUE LL T[N LY+ ON A SMALL HILL4
,A FEW *UR*ES1 ) ,BYZANT9E CUPOLAS
COLOR$ GRE5 & GOLD1 /OOD UP AG/ ! GRAY
SKY4 ,? IS ,KOLYVAN1 ": ! (FIC]S & P
EMPLOY$ AT ,KAMSK & O!R T[NS TAKE REFUGE
DUR+ ! SUMM] F ! UNH1L?Y CLIMATE (!
,B>ABA4 ,AC 6! LATE/ NEWS OBTA9$ 0!
,CZ>'S C\RI]1 ,KOLYVAN CD N 2 YET 9 !
H&S (! 9VAD]S4 ,! ,T>T> TROOPS1 DIVID$96TWO COLUMNS1 _H M>*$ 6! LEFT ON   #BCI
,OMSK1 6! "R ON ,TOMSK1 NEGLECT+ !
9T]M$IATE C.TRY4
  ,MI*AEL ,/ROG(F'S PLAN 0 SIMPLY ?--
6R1* ,KOLY- VAN 2F ! >RIVAL (! ,USBECK
HORSEM51 :O WD ASC5D ! O!R BANK (! ,OBI
6! F]RY4 ,"! HE WD PROCURE CLO!S &A
HORSE1 & R@ESUM@E ! ROAD 6,IRKUTSK ACR !
S\!RN /EPPE4
  ,X 0 N[ ?REE O'C 9 ! MORN+4 ,!
NEI<BORHOOD ( ,KOLYVAN 0 V /1 & APPE>$
6H BE5 TOT,Y AB&ON$4 ,! C.TRY POPUL,N _H
EVID5TLY FL$ 6! NOR?W>DS1 6! PROV9CE (
,Y5ISEISK1 DR1D+ ! 9VA.N1 : !Y CD N
RESI/4
  ,MI*AEL 0 WALK+ AT A RAPID PACE T[>DS
,KOLYVAN :5 4TANT FIR+ /RUCK 8 E>4 ,HE
/OPP$1 & CLE>LY 4T+UI%$ ! DULL RO> (
>TILL]Y1 & ABV X A CRISP RATTLE : CD N 2
MISTAK54
  8,X IS CANNON & MUSKETRY60 SD HE4 8,!
LL ,RUSSIAN BODY IS 5GAG$ )! ,T>T> >MY6
,PRAY ,H1V5 T ,I MAY >RIVE AT ,KOLYVAN
2F !M60
  ,! FIR+ 2CAME GRADU,Y L\D]1 & SOON 6!LEFT ( ,KOLYVAN A MI/ COLLECT$--N   #BDJ
SMOKE1 B ^? GRT :ITE CL\DS PRODUC$
04*>GES ( >TILL]Y4
  ,! ,USBECK HORSEM5 /OPP$ ON ! LEFT (!
,OBI1 6AWAIT ! RESULT (! BATTLE4 ,F !M
,MI*AEL _H NO?+ 6FE> Z HE HA/5$ T[>DS !
T[N4
  ,9 ! M1N:ILE ! FIR+ 9CR1S$1 & 2CAME
S5SIBLY NE>]4 ,X 0 NO L;G] A 3FUS$ RO>1
B 4T9CT REPORTS4 ,AT ! SAME "T ! SMOKE
"PI,Y CLE>$1 & X 2CAME EVID5T T !
-BATANTS 7 RAPIDLY MOV+ S\?W>DS4 ,X
APPE>$ T ,KOLYVAN 0 6BE ATTACK$ ON !
NOR? SIDE4 ,B 7 ! ,RUSSIANS DEF5D+ X OR
! ,T>T>S8 ,X 2+ IMPOSSI# 6DECIDE ?1
,MI*AEL 2CAME GRTLY P]PLEX$4
  ,HE 0 N M ?AN HALF A V]/ F ,KOLYVAN :5
HE OBS]V$ FLAMES %OOT+ UP AM;G ! H\SES (
! T[N1 &! /EEPLE (A *UR* FELL 9 ! MID/ (
CL\DS ( SMOKE & FIRE4 ,0 ! /RU7LE1 !N1 9
,KOLYVAN8 ,MI*AEL 0 -PELL$ 6?9K S4 ,X 0
EVID5T T ,RUSSIANS & ,T>T>S 7 FI<T+ 9 !
/REETS (! T[N4 ,0 ? A "T 6SEEK REFUGE
"!8 ,WD HE N RUN A RISK ( 2+ TAK5
PRISON]8 ,%D HE SU3E$ 9 ESCAP+ F,KOLYVAN1 Z HE _H ESCAP$ F ,OMSK8   #BDA
,HE HESITAT$ & /OPP$ A MO;T4 ,WD X N 2
BETT] 6TRY1 EV5 ON FOOT1 6R1* "S SMALL
T[N1 & "! PROCURE A HORSE AT ANY PRICE8
,? 0 ! ONLY ?+ 6BE D"O2 & ,MI*AEL1 L1V+
! ,OBI1 W5T =W>D 6! "R ( ,KOLYVAN4
  ,! FIR+ _H N[ 9CR1S$ 9 VIOL;E4 ,FLAMES
SOON SPRANG UP ON ! LEFT (! T[N4 ,FIRE 0
DEV\R+ "O 5TIRE QU>T] ( ,KOLYVAN4
  ,MI*AEL 0 RUNN+ ACR ! /EPPE 5D1VOR+
6GA9 ! COV]T ( "S TREES :5 A DETA*;T (
,T>T> CAVALRY APPE>$ ON ! "R4 ,HE D>$ N
3T9UE 9 T DIREC;N4 ,! HORSEM5 ADV.ED
RAPIDLY1 & X WD H BE5 DI6ICULT 6ESCAPE
!M4
  ,SU45LY1 9 A ?ICK CLUMP ( TREES1 HE
SAW AN ISOLAT$ H\SE1 : X WD 2 POSSI#
6R1* 2F HE 0 P]CVD4 ,MI*AEL _H NO *OICE
B 6RUN "!1 HIDE HMF & ASK OR TAKE "S?+
6RECRUIT 8 /R5G?1 = HE 0 EXHAU/$ ) HUNG]
& FATIGUE4
  ,HE ACLY RAN ON T[>DS ? H\SE1 / AB
HALF A V]/ 4TANT4 ,Z HE APPROA*$1 HE CD
SEE T X 0 A TELEGRAPH (FICE4 ,TWO WIRES
LEFT X 9 WE/]LY & EA/]LY DIREC;NS1 &A?IRD W5T T[>DS ,KOLYVAN4            #BDB
  ,X 0 6BE SUPPOS$ T "U ! CIRCUM/.ES ?
/,N 0 AB&ON$2 B EV5 IF X WAS1 ,MI*AEL CD
TAKE REFUGE "!1 & WAIT TILL NI<TFALL1 IF
NEC1 6AG SET \ ACR ! /EPPE COV]$ ) ,T>T>
SC\TS4
  ,HE RAN UP 6! DOOR & PU%$ X OP54
  ,A S+LE P]SON 0 9 ! ROOM :;E !
TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGES 7 4PAT*$4 ,? 0 A
CL]K1 CALM1 PHLEGMATIC1 9DI6]5T 6ALL T 0
PASS+ \TSIDE4 ,FAI?;L 6HIS PO/1 HE WAIT$
2H 8 LL WICKET UNTIL ! PUBLIC CLAIM$ 8
S]VICES4
  ,MI*AEL RAN UP 6HM1 & 9 A VOICE BROK5
0FATIGUE1 8,:AT D Y "K80 HE ASK$4
  8,NO?+10 ANSW]$ ! CL]K1 SMIL+4
  8,>E ! ,RUSSIANS & ,T>T>S 5GAG$80
  8,!Y SAY S40
  8,B :O >E ! VICTORS80
  8,I DON'T "K40
  ,S* CALM;S1 S* 9DI6];E1 9 ! MID/ ( ^!
T]RI# EV5TS1 0 SC>CELY CR$I#4
  8,& IS N ! WIRE CUT80 SD ,MI*AEL4
  8,X IS CUT 2T ,KOLYVAN & ,KRASNOI>SK1
B X IS / "W+ 2T ,KOLYVAN &! ,RUSSIANFRONTI]40                           #BDC
  8,=! GOV]N;T80
  8,=! GOV]N;T1 :5 X ?9KS PROP]4 ,=!
PUBLIC1 :5 !Y PAY4 ,T5 COPECKS A ^W1
:5"E Y L1 SIR60
  ,MI*AEL 0 AB 6REPLY 6? /RANGE CL]K T
HE _H NO MESSAGE 6S5D1 T HE ONLY IMPLOR$
A LL BR1D & WAT]1 :5 ! DOOR (! H\SE 0 AG
?R[N OP54
  ,?9K+ T X 0 9VAD$ 0,T>T>S1 ,MI*AEL
MADE R1DY 6L1P \ (! W9D[1 :5 TWO M5 ONLY
5T]$ ! ROOM :O _H NO?+ (! ,T>T> SOLDI]
AB !M4 ,"O ( !M HELD A 4PAT*1 WRITT5 9
P5CIL1 9 8 H&1 &1 PASS+ ! O!R1 HE HURRI$
UP 6! WICKET (! IMP]TURBA# CL]K4
  ,9 ^! TWO M5 ,MI*AEL RECOGNIZ$ )
A/ONI%;T1 : "EY"O W "U/&1 TWO P]SONAGES
( :OM HE 0 N ?9K+ AT ALL1 & :OM HE _H
N"E EXPECT$ 6SEE AG4 ,!Y 7 ! TWO
REPORT]S1 ,H>RY ,BL.T & ,ALCIDE
,JOLIVET1 NO L;G] TRAVEL+ -PANIONS1 B
RIVALS1 5EMIES1 N[ T !Y 7 "W+ ON ! FIELD
( BATTLE4
  ,!Y _H LEFT ,I*IM ONLY A FEW H\RS AF !
DE"PURE ( ,MI*AEL ,/ROG(F1 & !Y _H >RIV$AT ,KOLYVAN 2F HM1 0FOLL[+ ! SAME   #BDD
ROAD1 9 3SEQU;E ( 8 LOS+ ?REE "DS ON !
BANKS (! ,IRTY*4 ,& N[1 AF 2+ BO? PRES5T
AT ! 5GAGE;T 2T ! ,RUSSIANS & ,T>T>S 2F
! T[N1 !Y _H LEFT J Z ! /RU7LE BROKE \ 9
! /REETS1 & RAN 6! TELEGRAPH (FICE1 S Z
6S5D (F _! RIVAL 4PAT*ES 6,EUROPE1 &
=E/ALL EA* O!R 9 _! REPORT ( EV5TS4
  ,MI*AEL /OOD ASIDE 9 ! %AD[1 & )\T 2+
SE5 HMF HE CD SEE & HE> ALL T 0 GO+ ON4
,HE WD N[ HE> 9T]E/+ NEWS1 & WD F9D \
:E!R OR N HE CD 5T] ,KOLYVAN4
  ,BL.T1 HAV+ 4T.ED 8 -PANION1 TOOK
POSSES.N (! WICKET1 :IL/ ,ALCIDE
,JOLIVET1 3TR>Y 6HIS USUAL HABIT1 /AMP$
) IMPATI;E4
  8,T5 COPECKS A ^W10 SD ! CL]K4
  ,BL.T DEPOSIT$ A PILE ( R\#S ON !
%ELF1 :IL/ 8 RIVAL LOOK$ ON )A SORT (
/UPEFAC;N4
  8,GD10 SD ! CL]K4 ,&)! GRTE/ COOL;S 9
! _W HE 2GAN 6TELEGRAPH ! FOLL[+ 4PAT*3
8,DAILY ,TELEGRAPH1 ,LONDON4
  8,F ,KOLYVAN1 ,GOV]N;T ( ,OMSK1
,SIB]IA1 #F? ,AUGU/4  8,5GAGE;T 2T ,RUSSIAN & ,T>T>     #BDE
TROOPS40
  ,! R1D+ 0 9 A 4T9CT VOICE1 S T ,MI*AEL
HE>D ALL T ! ,5GLI% CORRESPOND5T 0 S5D+
6HIS PAP]4
  8,RUSSIANS REPULS$ ) GRT LOSS4 ,T>T>S
5T]$ ,KOLYVAN TO-"D40 ,^! ^WS 5D$ !
4PAT*4
  8,MY TURN N[10 CRI$ ,ALCIDE ,JOLIVET1
ANXI\S 6S5D (F 8 4PAT*1 A4RESS$ 6HIS
C\S94
  ,B T 0 N ,BL.T'S IDEA1 :O DID N 9T5D
6GIVE UP ! WICKET1 B H X 9 8 P[] 6S5D (F
! NEWS J Z ! EV5TS O3URR$4 ,HE WD "!=E N
MAKE WAY = 8 -PANION4
  8,B Y H F9I%$60 EXCLAIM$ ,JOLIVET4
  8,I H N F9I%$10 RETURN$ ,H>RY ,BL.T
QUIETLY4
  ,& HE PROCE$$ 6WRITE "S S5T;ES1 : HE
H&$ 9 6! CL]K1 :O R1D \ 9 8 CALM VOICE3
8,JOHN ,GILP9 0 A CITIZ5 ( CR$IT &
REN[N2 A TRA9- B& CAPTA9 EKE 0 HE (
FAM\S ,LONDON T[N40
  ,H>RY ,BL.T 0 TELEGRAPH+ "S V]SES
LE>N$ 9 8 *ILDHOOD1 9 ORD] 6EMPLOY ! "T1& N GIVE UP 8 PLACE 6HIS RIVAL4     #BDF
,X WD P]H CO/ 8 PAP] "S ?\S&S ( R\#S1 B
X WD 2 ! F/ 9=M$4 ,FR.E CD WAIT4
  ,JOLIVET'S FURY MAY 2 IMAG9$1 ?\< "U
ANY O!R CIRCUM/.ES HE WD H ?"\ X FAIR
W>F>E4 ,HE EV5 5D1VOR$ 6=CE ! CL]K 6TAKE
8 4PAT* 9 PREF];E 6T ( 8 RIVAL4
  8,X IS T G5TLEMAN'S "R10 ANSW]$ ! CL]K
COOLLY1 PO9T+ 6,BL.T1 & SMIL+ 9 ! MO/
AMIA# MANN]4 ,& HE 3T9U$ FAI?;LLY
6TRANSMIT 6! ,DAILY ,TELEGRAPH ! WELL-
"KN V]SES ( ,C[P]4
  ,:IL/ HE 0 "W+ ,BL.T WALK$ 6! W9D[ &1
8 FIELD GLASS 6HIS EYES1 WAT*$ ALL T 0
GO+ ON 9 ! NEI<BORHOOD ( ,KOLYVAN1 S Z
6-PLETE 8 9=M,N4 ,9 A FEW M9UTES HE
RESUM$ 8 PLACE AT ! WICKET1 & A4$ 6HIS
TELEGRAM3 8,TWO *UR*ES >E 9 FLAMES4 ,!
FIRE APPE>S 6GA9 ON ! "R4 ,8,JOHN
,GILP9'S SP\SE SD 6H] DE>1 ,?\< W$D$ WE
H BE5 ^! TWICE T5 T$I\S YE>S1 YET WE NO
HOLI"D H SE540'0
  ,ALCIDE ,JOLIVET WD H LIK$ 6/RANGLE !
HONORA# CORRESPOND5T (! ,DAILY
,TELEGRAPH4  ,HE AG 9T]RUPT$ ! CL]K1 :O1 Q     #BDG
UNMOV$1 M]ELY REPLI$3 8,X IS 8 "R1 SIR1
X IS 8 "R--AT T5 COPECKS A ^W40
  ,& HE TELEGRAPH$ ! FOLL[+ NEWS1 J BR"\
HM 0,BL.T3 8,RUSSIAN FUGITIVES >E ESCAP+
F ! T[N4 ,8,AWAY W5T ,GILP9--:O B HE8 ,8
FAME SOON SPR1D >.D3 ,HE C>RIES WEI<T6
HE RIDES A RACE6 ',TIS =A ?\S& P.D60'0
,& ,BL.T TURN$ R.D )A QUIZZICAL LOOK AT
8 RIVAL4
  ,ALCIDE ,JOLIVET FUM$4
  ,9 ! M1N:ILE ,H>RY ,BL.T _H RETURN$ 6!
W9D[1 B ? "T 8 ATT5;N 0 DIV]T$ 0! 9T]E/
(! SC5E 2F HM4 ,"!=E1 :5 ! CL]K _H F9I%$
TELEGRAPH+ ! LA/ L9ES DICTAT$ 0,BL.T1
,ALCIDE ,JOLIVET NOISE.SLY TOOK 8 PLACE
AT ! WICKET1 &1 J Z 8 RIVAL _H D"O1 AF
QUIETLY DEPOSIT+ A RESPECTA# PILE ( R\#S
ON ! %ELF1 HE DELIV]$ 8 4PAT*1 : ! CL]K
R1D AL\D3 8,MADELE9E ,JOLIVET1 #AJ1
,FAUB\RG ,MONTM>TRE1 ,P>IS4
  8,F ,KOLYVAN1 ,GOV]N;T ( ,OMSK1
,SIB]IA1 #F? ,AUGU/4
  8,FUGITIVES >E ESCAP+ F ! T[N4
,RUSSIANS DEF1T$4 ,FI]CELY PURSU$ 0!,T>T> CAVALRY40                     #BDH
  ,& Z ,H>RY ,BL.T RETURN$ HE HE>D
,JOLIVET -PLET+ 8 TELEGRAM 0S++ 9 A
MOCK+ T"O3
  8,,II E/ UN PETIT HOMME1
  ,T\T HABILLE DE GRIS1
  ,DANS ,P>IS60
  ,IMITAT+ 8 RIVAL1 ,ALCIDE ,JOLIVET _H
US$ A M]RY REFRA9 ( ,2RANG]4
  8,HALLO60 SD ,H>RY ,BL.T4
  8,J S10 ANSW]$ ,JOLIVET4
  ,9 ! M1N"T ! SITU,N AT ,KOLYVAN 0
AL>M+ 9 ! EXTREME4 ,! BATTLE 0 RAG+
NE>]1 &! FIR+ 0 9CESSANT4
  ,AT T MO;T ! TELEGRAPH (FICE %OOK 6XS
F.D,NS4 ,A %ELL _H MADE A HOLE 9 ! WALL1
&A CL\D ( DU/ FILL$ ! (FICE4
  ,ALCIDE 0 J F9I%+ WRIT+ 8 L9ES2 B
6/OP1 D>T ON ! %ELL1 SEIZE X 9 BO? H&S1
?R[ X \ (! W9D[1 & RETURN 6! WICKET1 0
ONLY ! A6AIR (A MO;T4
  ,FIVE SECONDS LAT] ! %ELL BUR/ \TSIDE4
,3T9U+ )! GRTE/ POSSI# COOL;S1 ,ALCIDE
WROTE3 8,A SIX- 9* %ELL HAS J BL[N UP !
WALL (! TELEGRAPH (FICE4 ,EXPECT+ A FEWM (! SAME SIZE40                    #BDI
  ,MI*AEL ,/ROG(F _H NO D\BT T !
,RUSSIANS 7 DRIV5 \ ( ,KOLYVAN4 ,8 LA/
RES\RCE 0 6SET \ ACR ! S\!RN /EPPE4
  ,J !N RENEW$ FIR+ BROKE \ CLOSE 6!
TELEGRAPH H\SE1 &A P]FECT %[] ( BULLETS
SMA%$ ALL ! GLASS 9 ! W9D[S4 ,H>RY ,BL.T
FELL 6! GR.D W.D$ 9 ! %\LD]4
  ,JOLIVET EV5 AT S* A MO;T1 0 AB 6ADD ?
PO/SCRIPT 6HIS 4PAT*3 8,H>RY ,BL.T1
CORRESPOND5T (! ,DAILY ,TELEGRAPH1 HAS
FALL5 AT MY SIDE /RUCK BY--0 :5 !
IMP]TURBA# CL]K SD CALMLY3 8,SIR1 ! WIRE
HAS BROK540 ,&1 L1V+ 8 WICKET1 HE
QUIETLY TOOK 8 HAT1 BRU%$ X R.D ) 8
SLEEVE1 &1 / SMIL+1 4APPE>$ "? A LL DOOR
: ,MI*AEL _H N 2F P]CVD4
  ,! H\SE 0 SURR.D$ 0,T>T> SOLDI]S1 &
NEI ,MI*AEL NOR ! REPORT]S CD E6ECT _!
RETR1T4
  ,ALCIDE ,JOLIVET1 8 USE.S 4PAT* 9 8
H&1 _H RUN 6,BL.T1 /RET*$ ON ! GR.D1 &
_H BRAVELY LIFT$ HM ON 8 %\LD]S1 )!
9T5;N ( FLY+ ) HM4 ,HE 0 TOO LATE6
  ,BO? 7 PRISON]S2 &1 AT ! SAME "T1,MI*AEL1 TAK5 UNAW>ES Z HE 0 AB     #BEJ
6L1P F ! W9D[1 FELL 96! H&S (! ,T>T>S6
  ,,5D ,,( ,,BOOK ,I

