
    ,,*APT] ,,IV ,,SUSPICIONS
  ,HI< UP AL(T1 OV] ! BLAZ+ R$ %$1 ) XS
DANG]\S 3T5TS T ANY MO;T MI<T EXPLODE1
,TOM ,SWIFT 3T9U$ 6HOLD 8 BIG DIRIGI#
BALLOON Z NE> ! FLAMES Z POSSI#4 ,& Z HE
/OOD \TSIDE ON ! SMALL DECK 9 FRONT (!
PILOT-H\SE1 ": 7 LOCAT$ ! V>I\S 3TROLS1
! "Y 9V5TOR PULL$ ! L"ES T EMPTI$ BAG AF
BAG ( F9E S& ON ! SP\T+ FLAMES T1 ALR1 7
2G9N+ 6DIE D[N Z A RESULT ( ? E6ECTUAL
QU5*+4
  8,TOM'S D"O ! TRICK60 YELL$ ,N$1 PAY+
LL ATT5;N N[ 6! BIG AIR%IP %$1 S9CE HE
SAW T ! DANG] 0 AB OV]4
  8,DHAT'S :AT HE SUAH HAB D"O60 AGRE$
,ERADICATE4 8,MAH OLE MULE ,BOOM]ANG
CDN'T ,8A0' D"O ANY BETT]40
  8,HUH6 ,YR MULE AFRAID ( FIRE10 REM>K$
,KOKU4
  8,:AT'S DAT8 ,MAH MULE AFRAID OB
FIRE80 CRI$ ! COLOR$ MAN4 8,LOOK H1H1
YO' GRT1 BIG1 OV]GR[$ SPECIM5 OB AN
EQUILAT]AL QUADRUP$1 ,I'LL HAB YO' ALL
"U/& DAT :5 YO' ALL SP1KS DAT WAY AB A
FR OB M9E DAT YO'--0
  8,T'LL D1 ,RAD60 BROKE 9 ,N$1 )A LAU<4
,HE KNEW T :5 ,TOM'S HELP] GREW EXCIT$
ON ! SUBJECT ( 8 MULE "! 0 NO ,/OPP+ HM1
& ,BOOM]ANG 0 A PO9T ON : ,ERADICATE &
,KOKU 7 ALW >GU+4 8,! FIRE IS "U 3TROL
N[40
  8,YES1 X SEEMS 6H G"O VISIT+10 OBS]V$
,KOKU4
  8,VISIT+80 QU]I$ ,N$1 9 "S SURPRISE4
  8,YES1 T IS1 X IS GO+ \10 W5T ON
,KOKU4
  8,OH1 ,I "U/&60 LAU<$ ,N$4 8,YES1 & ,I
HOPE X DOESN'T PAY U ANO!R VISIT SOON4
,OH1 LOOK AT ,TOM1 WD Y60 HE CRI$1 =! "Y
AVIATOR _H SWUNG 8 %IP AB OV] ! FLAMES1
6BR+ ANO!R R[ ( S& BAGS DIRECTLY ABV A
PLACE ": ! FIRE 0 HOTTE/4
  ,D[N %[]$ M S& F ! BAGS : ,TOM OP5$4
,NO FIRE CD L;G 3T9UE 6BLAZE "U T
TR1T;T4 ,! SUPPLY ( AIR 0 CUT (F1 & )\T
T NO FIRE C EXI/4 ,WAT] WD H BE5 WORSE
?AN USE.S1 2C (! C>BIDE1 B ! S& COV]$ X
UP S T X 0 MADE P]FECTLY H>M.S4
  ,MOV+ SL[LY1 ! AIR%IP HOV]$ OV] E "P
(! N[ SL[LY EXPIR+ FLAMES1 ! BURN$ OP5+
9 ! RO( (! %$ MAK+ X POSSI# =! S& 6R1* !
SPOTS ": X 0 MO/ NE$$4 ,! FLAMES DI$ \ 9
SEC;N AF SEC;N1 UNTIL NO M CD 2 SE5--
ONLY CL\DS ( BLACK SMOKE4
  8,H[ IS X N[80 CAME ,TOM'S VOICE1 Z HE
SPOKE F ! DECK (! BALLOON "? A MEGAPH"O4
  8,ALM \10 ANSW]$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,A LL M
S&1 ,TOM40
  ,! E35TRIC MAN _H CAU<T UP A PIECE (
PAP] &1 ROLL+ X 96A C"O1 MADE AN
IMPROVIS$ MEGAPH"O ( T4
  8,HAV5'T M* M S& LEFT10 0 ,TOM'S -;T1
Z HE S5T D[N A LA/ %[]4 8,T W H 6D4
,HU/LE T C>BIDE & O!R EXPLOSIVE /UFF \ (
"! N[1 :ILE Y H A *.E40
  8,T'S X60 CRI$ ,N$1 :O CAU<T 8 *UMS
M1N+4 8,-E ON1 ,KOKU4 ,"!'S "W = Y40
  8,ME L "W10 ANSW]$ ! GIANT1 /RET*+ \ 8
GRT >MS4
  ,! LA/ (! S& _H -PLETELY S"M$ ! FIRE1
& ,TOM1 OBS]V+ F AL(T T 8 "W 0 WELL D"O1
MOV$ AWAY 9 ! DIRIGI#1 S5D+ X 6A L&+
SPACE "S LL 4T.E AWAY F ! %$ :;E X _H
>IS54 ,X 0 IMPOSSI# 6DROP X BACK AG "? !
RO( (! HANG>1 Z ! BALLOON 0 ( S* BULK T
EV5 A LL BREEZE WD DEFLECT X S T X CD N
2 A3URATELY AN*OR$4 ,B ,TOM _H X "U V GD
3TROL1 & SOON X 0 2+ HELD D[N ON ! GR.D
0"S ( 8 HELP]S4
  ,Z ALL ! S& BALLA/ _H BE5 ALL[$ 6RUN \
,TOM 0 OBLIG$ 6OP5 ! GAS-VALVES & LET "S
(! LIFT+ VAPOR ESCAPE1 OR HE CD N H
DESC5D$4
  8,-E ON1 N[60 CRI$ ! 9V5TOR1 Z HE L1P$
F ! DECK ( 8 SKY CRAFT4 8,LET'S CL1N \ !
R$ %$4 ,T FIRE IS ONLY S"M$1 & "! MAY 2
SP>KS SMOLD]+ "U T S&1 : W BUR/ 96FLAME1
IF WE'RE N C>E;L4 ,LET'S GET !
EXPLOSIVES \ (! WAY4
  8,B.S MY 9SUR.E POLICY1 YES10 EXCLAIM$
,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,T 0 A F9E MOVE ( YRS40
  8,X 0 ! ONLY WAY ,I CD ?9K ( 6PUT \ !
FIRE10 ,TOM REPLI$4 8,I KNEW WAT] 0 \ (!
"Q1 & S& 0 !
NEXT ?+40
  8,B ,I DIDN'T "K ": 6GET ANY UNTIL ,I
HAPP5$ 6?9K (! BALLA/ BAGS ( MY DIRIGI#4
,!N ,I KNEW1 IF ,I CD GET ABV ! FIRE1 ,I
CD D ! TRICK4 ,I _H 6FLY PRETTY HI<1
?\<1 Z ! FIRE 0 HOT1 & ,I 0 AFRAID X
MI<T EXPLODE ! GAS BAG & WRECK ME40
  8,Y 7 TAK+ A *.E10 REM>K$ ,N$4
  8,OH1 WELL1 Y H 6TAKE *.ES 9 ?
BUSI;S10 OBS]V$ ,TOM1 )A SMILE4 8,N[1
!N1 LET'S F9I% ? "W40
  ,! S&1 FALL+ F ! BALLA/ BAGS (!
DIRIGI#1 _H S E6ECTU,Y QU5*$ ! FIRE T X
0 SOON COOL 5 6P]MIT CLOSE APPROA*4
,KOKU1 ,TOM & "S (! M5 :O BE/ KNEW H[
6H&LE ! EXPLOSIVES1 7 SOON 5GAG$ 9 ! "W
( SALVAGE4
  8,I WI% ,I CD HELP Y1 ,TOM10 SD 8 AG$
"F4 8,I DON'T SEEM A# 6D ANY?+ B /& "H &
LOOK ON10 & HE GAZ$ AB HM R SADLY4
  8,N"E Y M9D1 ,DAD60 ,TOM EXCLAIM$4
8,WE'LL GET AL;G ALL "R N[4 ,Y'D BETT] G
UP 6! H\SE4 ,MR4 ,DAMON W G ) Y4
  8,YES1 ( C\RSE60 EXCLAIM$ ! ODD MAN1
CAT*+ A W9K F ,TOM1 :O WANT$ 8 "F N 6GET
TOO EXCIT$ ON A3.T ( 8 W1K HE>T4 8,-E
AL;G1 ,PROFESSOR ,SWIFT4 ,! DANG] IS ALL
OV]40
  8,ALL "R10 ASS5T$ ! AG$ 9V5TOR1 )A
LOOK AT ! / SMOK+ %$4
  8,&1 ,DAD1 :5 Y HAV5'T ANY?+ ELSE 6D10
W5T ON ,TOM1 R :IMSIC,Y1 8Y MI<T 2 ?9K+
UP "S PLAN 6TAKE UP ! RECOIL ( ^? GUNS
ON MY AERIAL W>%IP4 ,I 3FESS ,I'M CL1N
/UMP$ ON T PO9T40
  8,YR AERIAL W>%IP W N"E 2 A SU3ESS10
DCLD ,MR4 ,SWIFT4 8,Y MI<T Z WELL GIVE T
UP1 ,TOM40
  8,DON'T Y 2LIEVE X1 ,DAD60 CRI$ ,TOM1
) M (A JOLLY AIR ( "O *UM T[>D ANO!R ?AN
Z ?\< ! TALK 0 2T "F & SON4 8,Y SOLVE !
RECOIL PRO#M = ME1 & ,I'LL TAKE C>E (!
RE/1 & MAKE ! AIR W>%IP SAIL4 ,B WE'VE
GOT "S?+ ELSE 6D J N[4 ,LIVELY1 BOYS40
  ,:ILE ,MR4 ,SWIFT1 TAK+ ,MR4 ,DAMON'S
>M1 WALK$ T[>D ! H\SE1 ,TOM1 ,N$1 ,KOKU1
& "S (! "WM5 2GAN C>RY+ \ ! EXPLOSIVES :
_H S N>R[LY ESCAP$ ! FIRE4 ,) L;G HOOKS
! M5 PULL$ ! %$ A"P1 ": ! SIDE WALLS _H
"PLY BE5 BURN$ "?4 ,TOM MA9TA9$ AN
E6ICI5T FIREFI<T+ =CE AT 8 "WS1 &! M5 _H
! PROP] TOOLS ) : 6"W4
  ,SOON L>GE OP5+S 7 MADE ON ?REE SIDES
(! R$ %$1 OR R1 :AT 0 LEFT ( X1 & "? ^!
! DANG]\S *EMICALS & C>BIDE1 9 %EET-IRON
CANS1 7 C>RI$ \ 6A PLACE ( SAFETY4 ,9 A
LL :ILE NO?+ REMA9$ B A H1P ( HOT S&1 "S
*>R$ EMB]S & C]TA9 MAT]IAL T _H BE5
BURN$4
  8,M* LOSS1 ,TOM80 ASK$ ,N$1 Z !Y
SURVEY$ ! RU9S4 ,!Y 7 BO? BLACK & GRIMY1
TIR$ & DIRTY1 B "! 0 A GRT S5SE (
SATISFAC;N4
  8,WELL1 YES1 "!'S M LO/ ?AN ,I L 6?9K
(10 ANSW]$ ,TOM SL[LY1 8B X WD H BE5 A
H1P SI<T WORSE IF ! /UFF _H G"O UP4 ,/1
,I C REPLACE :AT ,I'VE LO/1 EXCEPT A FEW
MODELS ,I KEPT 9 ? PLACE4 ,I RE,Y "\N'T
6H /OR$ !M "H1 B S9CE ,I'VE BE5 "W+ ON
MY NEW AERIAL W>%IP ,I H SORT ( LET O!R
MATT]S SLIDE4 ,I 9T5D$ 6MAKE ! R$ %$
NO?+ B A /OREH\SE = EXPLOSIVE *EMICALS1
B ,I / _H "S ( MY PLANS & MODELS 9 X :5
X CAU<T40
  8,ONLY =! S& ! :OLE PLACE MI<T H G"O10
SD ,N$ 9 A L[ VOICE4
  8,YES4 ,X'S LUCKY ,I _H PL5TY ( BALLA/
ABO>D ! DIRIGI#4 ,Y SEE1 ,I'VE BE5 RUNN+
X AL"O LATELY1 & ,I _H 6TAKE ON PL5TY (
S& 6MAKE UP =! WEI<T (! S"EAL PASS5G]S
,I USU,Y C>RY4 ,S ,I _H PL5TY ( /UFF
6%[] D[N ON ! FIRE4 ,I WOND] H[ X />T$1
ANYH[8 ,I M/ 9VE/IGATE ?40
  8,MR4 ,DAMON & ,ERADICATE SEEM 6H SE5
X F/10 REM>K$ ,N$4
  8,YES4 ,AT L1/ !Y GAVE ! AL>M4 ,GUESS
,I'LL ASK ,ERADICATE H[ HE HAPP5$
6NOTICE4 ,OH1 ,I SAY1 ,RAD60 ,TOM CALL$
6! COLOR$ MAN4
  8,YAIS1 SAH1 ,MASSA ,TOM6 ,I'SE -IN'60
! D>KY CRI$1 Z HE F9I%$ PIL+ UP1 AT A
SAFE 4T.E F ! FIRE1 A NUMB] ( CANS (
C>BIDE4
  8,H['D Y HAPP5 6SEE ! R$ %$ ABLAZE80
,TOM ASK$4
8,:Y1 X 0 JE/ DI% Y1H WAY1 ,MASSA ,TOM10
2GAN ! COLOR$ MAN4 8,I _H JE/ BE5 FE$9'
MAH MULE1 ,BOOM]ANG4 ,HE 7 P[';L HUNGRY1
,BOOM]ANG W]E1 AN'1 :5 ,I GIVE HM "S
OATS1 WIF A C>ROT SLIC$ UP 9 'EM--NO1
HOLE ON--DID ,I GIB HM A C>ROT T'"D1 OR
0 X YI/'"D8--,I D"O FO'GOT4 ,NO1 X 7
YI/'"D ,I D"O GIB HM DE C>ROT1 ,I 'MEMB]
N[1 'CASE--0
  8,OH1 N"E M9D ! C>ROT1 OR ,BOOM]ANG1
EI1 ,RAD60 BROKE 9 ,TOM1 8,I'M ASK+ Y AB
! FIRE40
  8,AN' ,I'SE TELL9' YO'1 ,MASSA ,TOM10
DCLD ,ERADICATE1 )A R REPROA*;L LOOK AT
8 MA/]4 8,B ,I WANT$ T' D X "R AN'
PROP]4 ,I 7 -IN' F ,BOOM]ANG'S /A#1 AN'
,I SEE SU69' R$ SP\T9' UP AT "O CORN] OB
DE R$ %$4 ,I "K$ X 7 FIRE "R AWAY1 AN'
,I YELL$40
  8,YES1 ,I HE>D Y YELL10 ,TOM SD4 8,B
:AT ,I WANT$ 6"K IS1 DID Y SEE ANY"O NE>
! R$ %$ AT ! "T80
  8,NO1 ,MASSA ,TOM1 ,I D"O DIDN'T40
  8,I WOND] IF ,MR4 ,DAMON DID8 ,I M/
ASK HM10 W5T ON ! "Y 9V5TOR4 8,-E1 ON1
,N$1 WE'LL G UP 6! H\SE4 ,"EY?+ IS ALL
"R "H1 ,I ?9K4 ,:EW6 ,B T 0 "S EXCITE;T4
,& ,I DIDN'T %[ Y MY AERIAL W>%IP AF
ALL6 ,NOR H Y SETTL$ T RECOIL PRO#M =
ME40
  8,"T 5\<1 ,I GUESS10 RESPOND$ ,N$4 8,Y
SURE DID H A LUCKY ESCAPE1 ,TOM40
  8,T'S "R4 ,WELL1 ,KOKU1 :AT IS X80 =!
GIANT _H APPROA*$1 HOLD+ \ "S?+ 9 8 H&4
  8,KOKU F.D ? 9 R$ %$10 W5T ON ! GIANT1
HOLD+ \ A R.D1 BLACK5$ OBJECT4 8,MAYBE
HM P[D]2 G BANG-BANG60
  8,OH1 Y ?9K X'S "S?+ EXPLOSIVE1 EH80
ASK$ ,TOM1 Z HE TOOK ! OBJECT F ! GIANT4
  8,KOKU NO ?9K M*10 0 ! ANSW]4 8,HM
LOOK FUNNY40
  ,TOM DID N SP1K =A MO;T4 ,!N HE CRI$3
  8,LOOK FUNNY6 ,I %D SAY X DID6 ,SEE
"H1 ,N$1 IF ? ISN'T SUSPICI\S ,I'LL EAT
MY HAT60 & ,TOM BECKON$ EXCIT$LY 6HIS
*UM1 :O _H WALK$ ON A LL 9 ADV.E4














