
    ,,*APT] ,,XV -- ,,SNAPP+ ,,AN
    ,,AVALAN*E
  8,B.S MY !RMOMET]60 GASP$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
8,? IS T]RI#60 ,! AIR%IP 0 PLUNG+ &
SWAY+ AB 9 ! AW;L GALE4 8,C'T "S?+ 2
D"O1 ,TOM80
  8,:AT HAS HAPP5$80 CRI$ ,MR4 ,NE/OR4
8,WE 7 ON A LEVEL KEEL 2F4 ,:AT IS X80
  8,X'S ! AUTOMATIC BALANC+ RU4]60
ANSW]$ ,TOM4 8,"S?+ HAS HAPP5$ 6X4 ,!
W9D MAY H BROK5 X6 ,-E ON1 ,N$60 & HE L$
! WAY 6! 5G9E ROOM4
  8,:AT >E Y GO+ 6D8 ,DON'T Y WANT ,KOKU
6%IFT ! DEFLECT+ RU4]8 ,"H HE IS10 ,N$
A4$1 Z ! GIANT CAME =W>D1 9 RESPONSE 6A
SIGNAL BELL T ,TOM'S *UM _H RUNG4
  8,X'S TOO LATE 6TRY ! DEFLECT+ RU4]60
TRI$ ,TOM4 8,I M/ SEE :AT IS ! MATT] )
\R BAL.ER40 ,Z HE SPOKE ! %IP GAVE A
T]RIFIC PLUNGE1 &! O3UPANTS 7 ?R[N
SIDEWAYS4 ,! NEXT MO;T X 0 ON A LEVEL
KEEL AG1 SCU4+ AL;G )! GALE1 B "! 0 NO
TELL+ :5 ! CRAFT WD AG NE>LY CAPSIZE4
  ,TOM LOOK$ AT ! ME*ANISM 3TROLL+ !
EQUALIZ+ & EQUILIBRIUM RU4]4 ,X 0 \ (
ORD]1 & HE GUESS$ T ! T]RIFIC W9D 0
RESPONSI# = X4
  8,:AT C WE D80 CRI$ ,N$1 Z ! AIR%IP
NE>LY ROLL$ OV]4 8,C'T WE D ANY?+1
,TOM80
  8,YES4 ,I'M GO+ 6TRY4 ,KEEP CALM N[4
,WE MAY -E \ ALL "R4 ,? IS ! WOR/ BL[
WE'VE BE5 9 S9CE WE 7 9 ,RUSSIA4 ,/>T !
GAS MA*9E FULL BLA/4 ,I WANT ALL ! VAPOR
,I C GET40
  ,Z ,I H EXPLA9$ ! ,FLY] 0 A -B9$
DIRIGI# BALLOON & AEROPLANE4 ,X CD 2 US$
Z EI1 OR BO?1 9 -B9,N4 ,AT PRES5T ! GAS
BAG 0 N FULLY 9FLAT$1 & ,TOM _H BE5 S5D+
8 CRAFT AL;G Z AN AEROPLANE4
  8,:AT >E Y GO+ 6D80 CRI$ ,N$1 Z HE
PULL$ OV] ! L"E T SET ! GAS G5]AT+ MA*9E
9 OP],N4
  8,I'M GO+ UP Z HI< Z ,I C G60 CRI$
,TOM4 8,IF WE C'T G D[N WE M/ G UP4
,I'LL GET ABV ! HURRICANE 9/1D ( 2L X4
,GIVE ME ALL ! GAS Y C1 ,N$60
  ,! VAPOR HISS$ Z X RU%$ 96! BIG BAG
OV]H1D4 ,TOM C>RI$ ABO>D 8 CRAFT !
*EMICALS NE$$ 6G5]ATE ! P[];L LIFT+ GAS1
( : HE AL"O _H ! SECRET4 ,X 0 M P[];L
?AN HYDROG51 & SIMPLE 6MAKE4 ,! BALLOON
(! ,FLY] 0 N[ 2+ 4T5D$4
  ,M1N:ILE ,TOM1 ) ,KOKU1 ,MR4 ,DAMON &
,MR4 ,NE/OR 6HELP HM1 "W$ OV] ! DEFLECT+
RU4]1 & AL ON ! EQUILIBRIUM ME*ANISM4 ,B
!Y CD N GET EI 6OP]ATE4
  ,N$ /OOD 0! GAS MA*9E1 & "W$ X 6!
LIMIT4 ,B EV5 ) ALL T 5]GY1 S P[];L 0 !
W9D1 T ! ,FLY] ROSE SL[LY1 ! GALE ACTU,Y
HOLD+ H] D[N Z A WAT]-LO7$ CRAFT IS HELD
2L ! WAVES4 ,ORD9>ILY1 )! GAS MA*9E SET
AT XS LIMIT ! CRAFT WD H %OT UP RAPIDLY4
  ,AT "TS ! AIR%IP WD SKIM AL;G ON !
LEVEL1 & AG X WD 2 PIT*$ & TOSS$ AB1
UNTIL X 0 ALL ! O3UPANTS CD D 6KEEP _!
FEET4 ,MR4 ,DAMON 0 3T9U,Y B.S+ "EY?+ HE
CD REMEMB]4
  8,N[ %E'S GO+60 SU45LY CRI$ ,N$1 Z HE
LOOK$ AT ! DIALS REGI/]+ ! PRESSURE (!
GAS1 & %[+ ! HEI<T (! AIR%IP ABV ! E>?4
  8,GO+ H[80 GASP$ ,TOM1 Z HE LOOK$ OV]
F ": HE 0 "W+ AT ! EQUILIBRIUM APP>ATUS4
8,GO+ D[N80
  8,GO+ UP60 %\T$ ,N$4 8,I GUESS WE'LL 2
ALL "R SOON60
  ,X 0 TRUE4 ,N[ T ! BAG 0 FILL$ )!
P[];L LIFT+ GAS1 "U PRESSURE1 ! ,FLY] 0
2G9N+ 6GET \ (! DANG]\S PREDICA;T 96: !
GALE _H BL[N H]1 ,UP & UP %E W5T1 & E
FOOT %E CLIMB$ ! P[] (! W9D 2CAME LESS4
  8,MAYBE X ALL HAPP5$ =! BE/10 SD ,TOM1
Z HE NOT$ ! HEI<T GAGE4 8,IF WE _H G"O
D[N1 ! W9D MI<T H BE5 WORSE NE>] ! E>?40
  ,LAT] !Y LE>N$ T ? 0 S4 ,! MO/
DE/RUCTIVE W9D /ORM "E "KN SWEPT ACR !
S\!RN "P ( ,EUROPE1 OV] : !Y 7 FLY+ T
NI<T1 &1 _H ! AIR%IP G"O D[N1 %E WD
PROBABLY H BE5 DE/ROY$4 ,B1 GO+ UP1 %E
GOT ABV ! W9D-/RATA4 ,UP & UP %E CLIMB$1
UNTIL1 :5 ?REE MILES ABV ! E>?1 %E 0 9 A
CALM Z"O4 ,X 0 R H>D 6BR1! AT ? HEI<T1 &
,TOM SET ! OXYG5 APP>ATUS AT "W4
  ,? CR1T$ 9 ! 9T]IOR (! CRAFT AN
ATMOSPH]E ALM
L T ON ! E>?1 &! TRAVEL]S 7 MADE M AT _!
EASE4 ,GETT+ \ (! T]RI# W9D PRESSURE
MADE X POSSI# 6"W ! DEFLECT+ RU4]1 ?\<
,TOM _H NO IDEA ( GO+ D[N1 Z L;G Z ! BL[
LA/$4
  8,WE'LL J SAIL AL;G AT ? HEI<T UNTIL
MORN+10 HE SD1 8& 0!N ! GALE MAY 2 OV]1
OR WE MAY 2 2Y ! Z"O ( X4 ,/>T !
PROPELL]S1 ,N$4 ,I ?9K ,I C MANAGE
6REPAIR ! EQUILIBRIUM RU4] N[40
  ,! PROPELL]S1 : GAVE ! =W>D MO;N 6!
AIR%IP1 _H BE5 /OPP$ :5 X 0 F.D T ! W9D
0 C>RY+ H] AL;G1 B !Y 7 N[ PUT 9 MO;N
AG1 S5D+ ! ,FLY] =W>D4 ,9 A %ORT "T ,TOM
_H ! EQUILIBRIUM MA*9E 9 ORD]1 & MATT]S
7 N[ NORMAL AG4
  8,B T 0 A /R5U\S "T :ILE X LA/$10
REM>K$ ! "Y 9V5TOR1 Z HE SAT D[N4
  8,X SURE WAS10 AGRE$ ,N$4
  8,B.S MY P5 WIP]60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
8,T 0 "O (! FEW "TS :5 ,I WI% ,I'D N"E
-E ) Y1 ,TOM ,SWIFT10 & "EY"O LAU<$ AT
T4
  ,! ,FLY] 0 N[ \ ( DANG]1 GO+ AL;G HI<
9 ! AIR "? ! NI<T1 :ILE ! GALE RAG$ 2L
H]4 ,AT ,TOM'S SU7ES;N1 ,KOKU GOT A LUN*
R1DY1 = !Y 7 ALL TIR$ ) _! LABORS1 &
"S:AT N]V\S F ! DANG] & EXCITE;T4
  8,& N[ = SLEEP60 EXCLAIM$ ,TOM1 Z HE
PU%$ BACK 8 PLATE4 8,N$1 SET ! AUTOMATIC
/E]+ GE>1 & WE'LL SEE ": WE BR+ UP
0MORN+40
  ,AN EXAM9,N1 "? A P[];L TELESCOPE 9 !
B"R LI<T ( MORN+1 %[$ ! TRAVEL]S T !Y 7
OV] ! \TSKIRTS (A L>GE C;Y1 :1 LAT]1 !Y
LE>N$ 0 ,ROME1 ,ITALY4
  8,WE'VE MADE A GD TRIP10 SD ,TOM4 8,!
GALE _H U WORRI$1 B X S5T U AL;G AT A
LIVELY CLIP4 ,N[ = ,SWITZ]L&1 &!
AVALAN*ES60
  ,!Y MADE A L&+ AT A VILLAGE J \TSIDE !
8,HOLY ,C;Y10 Z ,ROME IS (T5 CALL$1 &
RENEW$ _! SUPPLY ( GASOL5E4 ,NATUR,Y !Y
ATTRACT$ A CR[D ( CURI\S P]SONS1 _M (
:OM _H N"E SE5 AN AIR%IP 2F4 ,C]TA9LY
FEW ( !M _H "E SE5 "O L ,TOM ,SWIFT'S4
  ,! NEXT "D F.D !M HOV]+ OV] ! ,ALPS1
": ,TOM HOP$ 6BE A# 6GET ! PICTURES (
SN[ SLIDES4 ,!Y W5T D[N 6E>? AT A T[N
NE> "O (! BIG M.TA9 RANGES1 & "! MADE
9QUIRIES Z 6": WD 2 ! BE/ LOC,N 6LOOK =
BIG AVALAN*ES4 ,IF !Y W5T B A FEW MILES
6! NOR?1 !Y 7 TOLD1 !Y WD 2 9 ! DESIR$
REGION1 & !Y DE"P$ = T VIC9;Y4
  8,& N[ WE'VE J GOT 6TAKE \R "T1 & WAIT
= AN AVALAN*E 6HAPP510 REM>K$ ,TOM1 Z !Y
7 FLY+ AL;G OV] ! M.TA9 RANGES4 8,Z ,MR4
,DAMON SD1 ^! ?+S >5'T MADE 6ORD]4 ,!Y J
HAPP540
  ,= ?REE "DS !Y SAIL$ 9 & \ OV] ! GRT
SN[-COV]$ P1KS (! ,ALPS4 ,!Y DID N G HI<
UP1 = !Y WANT$ 6BE NE> E>? :5 AN
AVALAN*E WD O3UR1 S T NE>-VIEW PICTURES
CD 2 SECUR$4 ,O3A.N,Y !Y SAW "PIES (
M.TA9 CLIMB]S ASC5D+ "S CELEBRAT$ P1K1
&= WANT ( "S?+ BETT] 6PHOTOGRAPH1 ,TOM
8SNAPP$0 ! T\RI/S4
  8,WELL1 ,I GUESS !Y'RE ALL \ (
AVALAN*ES ? S1SON10 REM>K$ ,N$ "O AFN1
:5 !Y _H CIRCL$ BACK & =? OV] A M.TA9
":1 S X 0 SD1 ! BIG SN[ SLIDES 7
FREQU5T4
  8,X DOES SEEM S10 AGRE$ ,TOM4 8,/1
WE'RE 9 NO HURRY4 ,X IS EASI] 6BE UP "H1
?AN X IS WALK+ >.D 9 A JUNGLE1 N "K+ :AT
M9UTE A TIG] MAY JUMP \ AT Y40
  8,B.S MY RU2]S1 YES60 AGRE$ ,MR4
,DAMON4
  ,! SKY 0 COV]$ ) L[]+ CL\DS1 & "! 7
O3A.N,Y FLURRIES ( SN[4 ,TOM'S AIR%IP 0
WELL ABV ! SN[ L9E ON ! M.TA9S4 ,! "Y
9V5TOR & ,N$ SAT 9 ! PILOT H\SE1 TAK+
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!M4
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MI<TY P1K1 CRI$ \3
  8,"! %E IS1 ,TOM60
  8,:AT80
  8,! AVALAN*E6 ,! SN[ IS 2G9N+ 6SLIDE
D[N ! M.TA96 ,SAY1 X'S GO+ 6BE A BIG "O1
TOO4 ,GOT YR CAM]A R1DY80
  8,SURE6 ,I'VE _H X R1DY =! LA/ ?REE
"DS4 ,PUT ME OV]
"!1 ,N$4 ,Y LOOK AF ! AIR%IP1 & ,I'LL
TAKE ! PICTURES60
  ,TOM SPRANG 6GET 8 APP>ATUS1 :ILE 8
*UM HURRI$ 6! L"ES1 :EELS & H&LES T
3TROLL$ ! ,FLY]4 ,Z !Y APPROA*$ !
AVALAN*E !Y CD SEE ! GRT MASS ( ICE1
SN[1 BIG /"OS1 & E>? SLID+ D[N ! M.TA9
SIDE1 C>RY+ TALL TREES ) X4
  8,? IS J :AT ,I WANT$60 CRI$ ,TOM1 Z
HE SET 8 CAM]A "W+4 8,PUT ME CLOS]1
,N$40
  ,N$ OBEY$1 &! AIR%IP 0 N[ HOV]+
DIRECTLY OV] ! AVALAN*E1 & "R 9 XS PA?4
,! BIG L&SLIDE1 Z X WD H BE5 CALL$ 9 ?
C.TRY1 MET NO VILLAGE 9 XS PA?1
=TUNATELY1 OR X WD H WIP$ X \ -PLETELY4
,X 0 9 A WILD & DESOLATE REGION T X
O3URR$4
  8,I WANT 6GET A R1L CLOSE VIEW60 CRI$
,TOM1 Z HE GOT "S PICTURES %[+ A :OLE
GROVE ( GIANT TREES UPROOT$ & C>RI$ (F4
8,GET CLOS] ,N$1 &--0
  ,TOM 0 9T]RUPT$ 0A CRY ( AL>M F 8 *UM4
  8,WE'RE FALL+60 YELL$ ,N$4 8,"S?+ HAS
G"O WR;G4 ,WE'RE GO+ D[N 96! AVALAN*E604











