,*APT] ,,XIX

,TOM IS ,MISS+

  ,) ,TOM ,SWIFT'S ANN\NCE;T1 T 8 TANK 0
AT LA/ R1DY = R1L AC;N1 CAME ! 5D (! L;G
NI<TS & "DS GIV5 OV] ON ! "P ( 8 "F1
HMF1 & 8 M5 6! DEVELOP;T & REF9E;T (!
MA*9E1 6GETT+ PLANS & SPECIFIC,NS R1DY S
T ! TANKS CD 2 MADE QKLY & 9 L>GE NUMB]S
9 ? C.TRY & ABROAD & 6! ACTUAL BUILD+ (
,TANK ,A4 ,N[ ALL ? 0 D"O AT LA/1 &! F/
-PLET$ TANK 0 R1DY 6BE %IPP$4
  ,M1N:ILE ! MATT] (! DEMOLI%$ B>N _H
BE5 LEFT = LEGAL AC;N4 ,TOM & ,N$1 X
DEVELOP$1 _H D"O ! PROP] ?+ "U !
CIRCUM/.ES1 & !Y 7 SURE !Y _H FOIL$ AT
L1/ "O PLAN (! PLOTT]S4
  8,B !Y WON'T /OP "!10 DCLD ,N$1 :O _H
3/ITUT$ HMF A SORT ( DETECTIVE4 8,!Y'RE
LY+ BACK & WAIT+ = ANO!R *.E1 ,TOM40
  8,WELL1 !Y WON'T GET X AT MY TANK60
DCLD ! "Y 9V5TOR1 )A SMILE4 8,I'VE F9I%$
TE/+ H] ON ! ROAD4 ,ALL ,I NE$ D N[ IS
6RUN H] >.D ? PLACE IF ,I H TO2 & "!
WON'T 2 M* NE$ ( T 2F %E'S TAK5 A"P =
%IP;T4 ,DID Y GET ANY TRACE ( ,SIMPSON
OR ! M5 :O >E ) HM--,BLAKESON &! O!RS80
  8,NO10 ,N$ ANSW]$4 8,I'VE BE5 NOS+ >.D
AB T F>M]1 ,KANK]1 B ,I C'T GET ANY?+ \
( HM4 ,= ALL T1 ,I'M SURE HE 0 E7$ ON
6HIS HOLD-UP GAME 0"S ( YR 5EMIES4
,"EY?+ PO9TS T WAY40
  8,I ?9K Y'RE "R10 AGRE$ ,TOM4 8,WELL1
WE WON'T BO!R ANY M AB HM4 ,:5 ! TRIAL
-ES ON1 ,I'LL PAY :AT ! JURY SAYS IS "R4
,X'LL 2 WOR? X1 = ,I PROV$ T ,TANK ,A C
EAT UP BRICK1 /"O OR WOOD5 BUILD+S & N
GET 9DIGES;N4 ,T'S :AT ,I SET \ 6D4 ,S
DON'T WORRY ANY M AB X1 ,N$40
  8,I'M N WORRY+1 B ,I'D L 6GET ! BE/ (
^? FELL[S4 ,! IDEA ( ASK+ ?REE ?\S&
DOLL>S =A %ELL (A B>N60
  8,N"E M9D10 REPLI$ ,TOM4 8,WE'LL -E \
ALL "R40
  ,N[ T ! ,LIB]TY ,LOAN DRIVE _H "S:AT
SLACK5$1 ,N$ _H M LEISURE "T1 & HE SP5T
"PS ( 8 "DS & N A FEW ( 8 EV5+S AT ,TOM
,SWIFT'S4 ,MR4 ,DAMON 0 AL A FREQU5T
VISITOR1 & HE N"E TIR$ ( VIEW+ ! TANK4
,E *.E HE GOT1 :5 !Y TE/$ ! BIG MA*9E 9
! L>GE FIELD1 S WELL F;ED IN1 ! E35TRIC
MAN 0 ON H&1 ) HIS4 8B.S MY--60 :AT"E
HAPP5$ 6-E MO/ R1DILY 6HIS M9D4
  ,TOM1 N[ T 8 9V5;N 0 WELL-NI< P]FECT$1
0 N S WORRI$ AB N HAV+ ! TANK SE51 EV5
AT CLOSE RANGE1 &! 5CLOSURE 0 N S
/RICTLY GU>D$4
  ,? 9 A M1SURE 0 4APPO9T+ 6,ERADICATE1
:O LIK$ ! IMPORT.E ( /RUTT+ AB )A NICKEL
%IELD P9N$ 6HIS COAT1 6%[ T HE 0 A MEMB]
(! ,SWIFT & ,-PANY PLANT4 ,Z =! GIANT
,KOKU1 HE RE,Y C>$ LL :AT HE DID1 S L;G
Z HE PL1S$ ,TOM1 = :OM 2 _H AN A6EC;N T
N"E *ANG$4 ,KOKU WD Z SOON SIT "U A %ADY
TREE DO+ NO?+ Z WAT* = SPIES OR
TRAITORS1 ( ^: ID5T;Y HE 0 N"E SURE4
  ,S X CAME T "! 0 N S /RICT A GU>D AB !
PLACE1 & ,TOM & ,N$ _H M "T 6!MVS4 ,N T
! "Y 9V5TOR 0 N BUSY1 =! DETAILS ( %IPP+
,TANK ,A 6,FR.E CAME 6HM1 Z DID AL !
>RANGE;TS = MAK+ O!RS 9 ? C.TRY & PLANN+
=! MANUFACTURE ABROAD4
  ,X 0 "O EV5+1 AF A "PICUL>LY H>D "D'S
"W1 :5 ,TOM _H BE5 MAK+ A TE/ 9 TURN+ !
TANK 9 A SMALL SPACE 9 ! 5CLOS$ Y>D1 T !
TWO "Y M5 7 SITT+ 9 ! MA*9E %OP1 4CUSS+
V>I\S MATT]S4
  ,! TELEPH"O BELL RANG1 & ,N$1 2+
NE>E/1 ANSW]$4
  8,X'S = Y1 ,TOM10 HE SD1 & "! 0 A
SMILE ON ! FACE (! "Y BANK CL]K4
  8,UM60 MURMUR$ ,TOM1 & HE SMIL$ AL4
  ,N$ CD N REPRESS M SMILES Z ,TOM TOOK
UP ! 3V]S,N OV] ! WIRE1 & X DID N TAKE
L;G =! *UM (! Y\?;L 9V5TOR 6V]IFY 8
GUESS T ,M>Y ,NE/OR 0 AT ! O!R 5D (!
9/RU;T4
  8,YES1 YES10 ,TOM 0 HE>D 6SAY4 8,:Y1 (
C\RSE1 ,I'LL 2 GLAD 6-E OV]4 ,YES1 HE'S
"H TILDE 4 ,:AT8 ,BR+ HM AL;G8 ,I W IF
HE'LL -E4 ,OH1 TELL HM ,HEL5 IS "!6
',N\< SD6 ,HE'LL -E1 ALL "R60
  ,& ,TOM1 )\T TR\BL+ 63SULT 8 FR1 HUNG
UP ! RCVR4
  8,:AT'S T Y'RE -MITT+ ME TO80 ASK$
,N$4
  8,OH1 ,M>Y WANTS U 6-E OV] & SP5D !
EV5+4 ,HEL5 ,S"E IS "!1 & !Y SAY WE C
TAKE !M D[NT[N IF WE L40
  8,I GUESS WE L10 LAU<$ ,N$4 8,-E AL;G6
,WE'VE _H 5 ( M/Y OLD PRO#MS10 = HE _H
BE5 HELP+ ,TOM 9 "S CALCUL,NS REG>D+
/R5G? ( MAT]IALS &! WEI<T-BE>+ P[] (
TRIANGUL>LY 3/RUCT$ GIRD]S Z -P>$ 6! >*$
V>IETY4
  8,YES1 ,I GUESS X W D U GD 6GET \10 &!
TWO FRS 7 SOON ON _! WAY4
  8,:AT'S ?80 ASK$ ,M>Y1 )A LAU<1 Z ,TOM
HELD \ A PACKAGE TI$ ) P9K /R+4 8,M
DYNAMITE80 %E A4$1 REF]R+ 6AN 9CID5T :
_H ONCE GRTLY P]TURB$ ! EXCITA# ,MR4
,NE/OR4
  8,IF %E DOESN'T WANT X1 P]H ,HEL5 W
TAKE X10 SU7E/$ ,N$1 )A TW9KLE 9 8 EYES4
8,HALLORAN SD !Y 7 J 9 FRE%--0
  8,OH1 Y DELI<T;L BOY60 CRI$ ,HEL54
8,I'M J DY+ = "S *OCOLATES6 ,LET ME OP5
!M1 ,M>Y1 IF Y'RE AFRAID ( DYNAMITE40

8,! ONLY P[D] 9 !M10 SD ,TOM1 8IS !
  P[D]$
SUG>4 ,T C'T BL[ Y UP40


,& !N ! "Y P MADE M]RY1 ,TOM1 =! "T
2+1 =GETT+ ALL AB 8 TANK4

  ,X 0 R LATE :5 ! TWO "Y M5 /ROLL$ BACK
T[>D ! ,SWIFT HOME1 ,N$ WALK+ T WAY ) 8
*UM4 ,TOM />T$ \ 9 ! DIREC;N (! BUILD+
": ! TANK 0 H\S$1
  8,GO+ 6H A GD-NI<T LOOK AT H]80 ASK$
,N$4
  8,WELL1 ,I WANT 6MAKE SURE ! WAT*MAN
IS ON GU>D4 ,WE'LL 2G9 TAK+ H] A"P 9 A
FEW "DS1 & ,I DON'T WANT ANY?+ 6HAPP5 2T
N[ & !N40
  ,!Y WALK$ ON T[>D ! BIG /RUCTURE1 &1 Z
!Y APPROA*$ F ! SIDE1 !Y 7 BO? />TL$
6SEE A D>K %AD[--AT L1/ S X SEEM$ 6!
Y\?S--D>T AWAY F "O (! W9D[S4
  8,LOOK60 GASP$ ,N$4

8,HELLO1 "!60 CRI$ ,TOM %>PLY4 8,:O'S T8
  ,:O >E
Y80

,"! 0 NO ANSW]1 & !N ! FLEE+ %AD[ 0
M]G$ 9 ! O!R BLACK;S (! NI<T4
  8,MAYBE X 0 ! WAT*MAN MAK+ 8 R.DS10
SU7E/$ ,N$4

8,NO10 ANSW]$ ,TOM1 Z HE BROKE 96A RUN4
  8,IF X WAS1
HE'D H ANSW]$4 ,"!'S "S?+ WR;G "H60

  ,B HE CD F9D NO?+ :5 HE R1*$ ! W9D[ F
: HE & ,N$ _H SE5 ! %AD[ D>T4 ,AN
EXAM9,N 0M1NS (A POCKET ELECTRIC LI<T
2TRAY$ NO?+ WR;G )! SA%1 & IF "! 7
FOOTPR9TS 2N ! CASE;T !Y 9DICAT$ NO?+1 =
T SIDE (! FACTORY 0 "O FREQU5TLY US$ 0!
"WM54
  ,TOM W5T 96! BUILD+1 &1 =A "T1 CD N
F9D ! WAT*MAN4 ,:5 HE DID -E ^U ! MAN1
HE F.D HM RU2+ 8 EYES SLEEPILY1 & ACT+ Z
?\< HE _H J AWAK5$ F A NAP4

8,? ISN'T ANY WAY 6BE ON DUTY60 SD ,TOM
  %>PLY4
8,Y'RE N PD = SLEEP+60

  8,I "K X1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT10 0 ! APOLOGETIC
ANSW]4 8,I DON'T "K :AT'S -E OV] ME TN4
,I N"E FELT S SLEEPY 9 ALL MY LIFE4 ,I
_H MY USUAL SLEEP ? AFN1 TOO1 & ,I'VE
DRUNK /R;G C(FEE 6KEEP AWAKE40
  8,>E Y SURE Y DIDN'T DR9K ANY?+ ELSE80
  8,Y "K ,I'M A /RICT TEMP].E MAN40
  8,I "K Y >E10 SD ,TOM2 8B ,I ?"\ MAYBE
Y MI<T H A COLD1 OR "S?+ L T40
  8,NO1 ,I HAV5'T TAK5 A ?+4 ,I DID H A
DR9K ( SODA WAT] 2F ,I CAME ON DUTY1 B
T'S ALL40
  8,":'D Y GET X80 ASK$ ,TOM4
  8,WELL1 A MAN TR1T$ ME40
  8,:O80
  8,I DON'T "K 8 "N4 ,HE MET ME ON !
/REET & ASK$ ME H[ 6GET 6,PL[D5'S H>DW>E
/ORE4 ,I %[$ HM--WALK$ "P (! WAY1 9 FACT
--& :5 ,I LEFT HE SD HE 0 GO+ 6H "S
SODA1 & ASK$ ME 6H "S4 ,I DID1 & X TA/$
GD40
  8,WELL1 DON'T G 6SLEEP AG10 SU7E/$
,TOM GD-NATUR$LY4 8,DID Y HE> ANY?+ AT !
SIDE W9D[ A :ILE AGO80
  8,N A ?+1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT4 ,I'LL 2 ALL "R
N[4 ,I'LL TAKE A TURN \TSIDE 9 ! AIR40
  8,ALL "R10 ASS5T$ ! "Y 9V5TOR4
,!N1 Z HE TURN$ 6G 96! H\SE & 0 BI4+
,N$ GD-NI<T1 ,TOM SD3

  8,I DON'T L ?40
  8,:AT80 ASK$ 8 *UM4
  8,MY SLEEPY WAT*MAN &! FIGURE AT !
W9D[4 ,I M ?AN HALF SUSPECT T "O (
,BLAKESON'S TOOLS FOLL[$ ,K5T =! PURPOSE
( BUY+ HM SODA1 ONLY ,I ?9K !Y MI<T H
PUT A DROP OR TWO ( *LORAL 9 X 2F HE GOT
X4 ,T WD MAKE HM SLEEP40
  8,:AT >E Y GO+ 6D1 ,TOM80
  8,PUT ANO!R MAN ON GU>D4 ,IF !Y ?9K !Y
C GET 96! FACTORY AT NI<T1 & /1L MY
PLANS1 OR GET ID1S F MY TANK1 ,I'LL FOOL
'EM4 ,I'LL H ANO!R MAN ON GU>D40
  ,? ,TOM DID1 AL TELL+ ,KOKU 6SLEEP 9 !
PLACE1 6BE R1DY IF CALL$4 ,B "! 0 NO
4TURB.E T NI<T1 &! NEXT "D ! "W ( -PLET+
! TANK W5T ON )A RU%1
  ,X 0 A "D OR S AF ?1 & ,TOM _H FIX$ ON
X Z ! "T = TAK+ ! BIG MA*9E A"P = %IP;T1
T ,N$ RCVD A TELEPH"O MESSAGE AT ! BANK
F ,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,IS ,TOM ,SWIFT OV] ) Y80 9QUIR$ !
E35TRIC MAN4
  8,NO4 ,:Y80 ,N$ ANSW]$4
  8,WELL1 ,I'M AT 8 %OP1 & HE ISN'T "H4
,8 "F SAYS HE RCVD A MESSAGE F Y A LL
:ILE AGO1 SAY+ 6-E OV] 9 A HURRY1 & HE
W5T4 ,SAYS Y TOLD HM 6MEET Y \ AT T F>M]
,KANK]'S PLACE4 ,I ?"\ MAYBE--0
  8,AT ,KANK]'S PLACE60 CRI$ ,N$4 8,SAY1
"S?+'S WR;G1 ,MR4 ,DAMON6 ,ISN'T ,TOM
"!80

8,NO2 ,I'M AT 8 HOME1 & HE'S BE5 G"O =
  "S "T4
,8 "F SUPPOS$ HE 0 ) Y4 ,I ?"\ ,I WD
TELEPH"O 6MAKE SURE40

  8,:EW60 :I/L$ ,N$4 8,"!'S "S?+ DO+ "H1
ALL "R1 & "S?+ WR;G6 ,I'LL 2 "R OV]60 HE
A4$1 Z HE HUNG UP ! RCVR4






