              ,,*APT] ,,XI
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  ,,AL? 9 ? WAY ! ,=D FAMILY L$ A HAPPY
& 3T5T$ LIFE1 YET X 0 EASY 6SEE T ,H>RY1
NATUR,Y (A GRAVE 4POSI;N1 2CAME M & M
QUIET & RES]V$4 ,EV5 ,JACK ,RYAN1 ) ALL8 GD HUMOR & USU,Y 9FECTI\S         #AAI
M]RI;T1 FAIL$ 6R\SE HM 6GAYETY ( MANN]4
  ,"O ,SUN"D--X 0 9 ! MON? ( ,JUNE--!
TWO FRS 7 WALK+ TGR ON ! %ORES ( ,LO*
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_W ABV1 /ORMY W1!R PREVAIL$4 ,VIOL5T
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OV] ! E>?2 ! ATMOSPH]E 0 MO/ OPPRESSIVE4
  ,D[N 9 ,COAL ,T[N "! 0 P]FECT CALM2 NO
W9D1 NO RA94 ,A S(T & PL1SANT TEMP]ATURE
EXI/$ 9/1D (! /RIFE (! ELE;TS : RAG$
)\T4 ,:AT WOND] !N1 T EXCUR.NI/S F
,/IRL+ CAME 9 3SID]A# NUMB]S 65JOY !
CALM FRE% AIR 9 ! RECESSES (! M9E8
  ,! ELECTRIC DISCS %$ A BRILLIANCY (
LI<T : ! ,BRITI% SUN1 (T5] OBSCUR$ 0FOGS
?AN X "\ 6BE1 MI<T WELL 5VY4 ,JACK ,RYAN
KEPT TALK+ ( ^! VISITORS1 :O PASS$ !M 9
NOISY CR[DS1 B ,H>RY PD V LL ATT5;N 6:AT
HE SD4
  8,I SAY1 D LOOK1 ,H>RY60 CRI$ ,JACK4
8,SEE :AT NUMB]S ( P -E 6VISIT U6 ,*E]
UP1 OLD FELL[6 ,D ! HONORS (! PLACE A LL
BETT]4 ,IF Y LOOK S GLUM1 Y'LL MAKE ALL
^! \TSIDE FOLKS ?9K Y 5VY _! LIFE ABV-GR.D40                              #ABJ
  8,N"E M9D ME1 ,JACK10 ANSW]$ ,H>RY4
8,Y >E JOLLY 5 = TWO1 ,I'M SURE2 T'S
5\<40
  8,I'LL 2 HANG$ IF ,I DON'T FEEL YR
MELAN*OLY CREEP+ OV] ME ?\<60 EXCLAIM$
,JACK4 8,I DCL MY EYES
  >E GETT+ Q DULL1 MY LIPS >E DRAWN TGR1
MY LAU< /ICKS 9 MY ?ROAT2 ,I'M =GETT+
ALL MY S;GS4 ,-E1 MAN1 :AT'S ! MATT] )
Y80
  8,Y "K WELL 5\<1 ,JACK40
  8,:AT8 ! OLD /ORY80
  8,YES1 ! SAME ?"\S HAUNT ME40
  8,AH1 POOR FELL[60 SD ,JACK1 %RU7+ 8
%\LD]S4 8,IF Y WD ONLY D L ME1 & SET ALL
! QUE] ?+S D[N 6! A3.T (! GOBL9S (! M9E1
Y WD 2 EASI] 9 YR M9D40
  8,B1 ,JACK1 Y "K V WELL T ^! GOBL9S
EXI/ ONLY 9 YR IMAG9,N1 & T1 S9CE ! "WS
"H H BE5 REOP5$1 N A S+LE "O HAS BE5
SE540
  8,T'S TRUE1 ,H>RY2 B IF NO _SS H BE5
SE51 NEI HAS ANY"O ELSE 6:OM Y CD
ATTRIBUTE ! EXTRAORD9>Y DO+S WE WANT6A3.T =40                           #ABA
  8,I % 4COV] !M40
  8,AH1 ,H>RY6 ,H>RY6 X'S N S EASY 6CAT*
! _SS ( ,NEW ,AB]FOYLE60
  8,I % F9D \ ! _SS Z Y CALL !M10 SD
,H>RY1 9 A T"O ( FIRM 3VIC;N4
  8,D Y EXPECT 6BE A# 6PUNI% !M80
  8,BO? PUNI% & REW>D4 ,REMEMB]1 IF "O
H& %UT U UP 9 T PASSAGE1 ANO!R H&
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  8,B1 ,H>RY1 H[ C WE 2 SURE T ^! TWO
H&S D N 2L;G 6! SAME BODY80
  8,:AT C PUT S* A NO;N 9 YR H1D1
,JACK80 ASK$ ,H>RY4
  8,WELL1 ,I DON'T "K4 ,CR1TURES T LIVE
9 ^! HOLES1 ,H>RY1 DON'T Y SEE8 !Y C'T 2
MADE L U1 EH80
  8,B !Y ,,>E J L U1 ,JACK40
  8,OH1 NO6 DON'T SAY T1 ,H>RY6 ,P]H "S
MADMAN MANAG$ 6GET 9 =A "T40
  8,A MADMAN6 ,NO MADMAN WD H =M$ S*
3NECT$ PLANS1 OR D"O S* 3T9U$ MIS*IEF Z
2FELL U AF ! BR1K+ (! LA4]S40
  8,WELL1 B ANYH[ HE HAS D"O NO H>M =!
LA/ ?REE YE>S1 EI 6Y1 ,H>RY1 OR ANY ( YRP40                                 #ABB
  8,NO MATT]1 ,JACK10 REPLI$ ,H>RY2 8,I
AM P]SUAD$ T ? MALIGNANT 2+1 :O"E HE IS1
HAS 0NO M1NS GIV5 UP 8 EVIL 9T5;NS4 ,I C
H>DLY SAY ON :AT ,I
  F.D MY 3VIC;NS4 ,B AT ANY RATE1 =!
SAKE (! NEW "WS1 ,I M/ & W "K :O HE IS &
:;E HE -ES40
  8,=! SAKE (! NEW "WS DID Y SAY80 ASK$
,JACK1 3SID]ABLY SURPRIS$4
  8,I SD S1 ,JACK10 RETURN$ ,H>RY4 8,I
MAY 2 MISTAK51 B1 6ME1 ALL T HAS HAPP5$
PROVES ! EXI/;E ( AN 9T]E/ 9 ? M9E 9
/R;G OPPOSI;N 6\RS4 ,_M A "T H ,I 3SID]$
! MATT]2 ,I FEEL ALM SURE ( X4 ,J 3SID]
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S+UL>LY L9K$ TGR4 ,62G9 )1 ! ANONYM\S
LR1 3TRADICTORY 6T ( MY "F1 AT ONCE
PROVES T "S MAN _H 2COME AW>E ( \R
PROJECTS1 & WI%$ 6PREV5T _! A3OMPLI%;T4
,MR4 ,/>R -ES 6SEE U AT ! ,DO*>T PIT4
,NO SOON] DOES HE 5T] X ) ME ?AN AN
IMM5SE /"O IS CA/ ^U U1 & -MUNIC,N IS
9T]RUPT$ 0! BR1K+ (! LA4]S 9 ! ,Y>R[
%AFT4 ,WE -M;E EXPLOR+4 ,AN EXP]I;T1 0:! EXI/;E (A NEW VE9 WD 2 PROV$1     #ABC
IS R5D]$ IMPOSSI# 0/OPPAGE ( FISSURES4
,NOT)/&+ ?1 ! EXAM9,N IS C>RI$ \1 ! VE9
4COV]$4 ,WE RETURN Z WE CAME1 A
PRODIGI\S GU/ ( AIR MEETS U1 \R LAMP IS
BROK51 UTT] D>K;S SURR.DS U4 ,N"E!.S1 WE
MAKE \R WAY AL;G ! GLOOMY PASSAGE UNTIL1
ON R1*+ ! 5TR.E1 WE F9D X BLOCK$ UP4 ,"!
WE W]E--IMPRISON$4 ,N[1 ,JACK1 DON'T Y
SEE 9 ALL ^! ?+S A MALICI\S 9T5;N8 ,AH1
YES1 2LIEVE ME1 "S 2+ HI!RTO 9VISI#1 B N
SUP]NATURAL1 Z Y W P]SI/ 9 ?9K+1 0 3C1L$
9 ! M9E4 ,= "S R1SON1 "KN ONLY 6HMF1 HE
/ROVE 6KEEP U \ ( X4 ,,0 "!1 DID ,I SAY8
,I FEEL AN 9W>D 3VIC;N T HE ,,IS "! /1 &
PROBABLY PREP>ES "S T]RI# 4A/] = U4 ,EV5
AT ! RISK ( MY LIFE1 ,JACK1 ,I AM
RESOLV$ 64COV] HM40
  ,H>RY SPOKE ) AN E>NE/;S : /R;GLY
IMPRESS$ 8 -PANION4 8,WELL1 ,H>RY10 SD
HE1 8IF ,I AM =C$ 6AGREE ) Y 9 C]TA9
PO9TS1 WON'T Y ADMIT T "S K9D FAIRY OR
BR[NIE1 0BR++ BR1D & WAT] 6Y1 0 ! M1NS
(--0
  8,JACK1 MY FR10 9T]RUPT$ ,H>RY1 8X ISMY 2LIEF T ! FRLY P]SON1 :OM Y W    #ABD
P]SI/ 9 CALL+ A _S1 EXI/S 9 ! M9E Z
C]TA9LY Z ! CRIM9AL WE
  SP1K (1 & ,I M1N 6SEEK !M BO? 9 ! MO/
4TANT RECESSES (! M9E40
  8,B10 9QUIR$ ,JACK1 8H Y ANY POSSI#
CLEW 6GUIDE YR SE>*80
  8,P]H ,I H4 ,LI/5 6ME6 ,FIVE MILES WE/
( ,NEW ,AB]FOYLE1 "U ! SOLID ROCK :
SUPPORTS ,B5 ,LOMOND1 "! EXI/S A NATURAL
%AFT : DESC5DS P]P5DICUL>LY 96! VE9 2N4
,A WEEK AGO ,I W5T 6ASC]TA9 ! DEP? ( ?
%AFT4 ,:ILE S.D+ X1 & B5D+ OV] ! OP5+ Z
MY PLUMB-L9E W5T D[N1 X SEEM$ 6ME T !
AIR )9 0 AGITAT$1 Z ?\< B1T5 0HUGE W+S40
  8,"S BIRD M/ H GOT LO/ AM;G ! L[]
GALL]IES10 REPLI$ ,JACK4
  8,B T IS N ALL1 ,JACK4 ,? V MORN+ ,I
W5T BACK 6! PLACE1 &1 LI/5+ ATT5TIVELY1
,I ?"\ ,I CD DETECT A S.D L A SORT (
GROAN+40
  8,GROAN+60 CRI$ ,JACK1 8T M/ 2
NONS5SE2 X 0 A CURR5T ( AIR--UN.S 9DE$
"S <O/--0
  8,I % "K TO-MORR[ :AT X WAS10 SD,H>RY4                              #ABE
  8,TO-MORR[80 ANSW]$ ,JACK1 LOOK+ AT 8
FR4
  8,YES2 TO-MORR[ ,I AM GO+ D[N 96T
ABYSS40
  8,H>RY6 T W 2 A TEMPT+ ( ,PROVID;E40
  8,NO1 ,JACK1 ,PROVID;E W AID ME 9 !
ATTEMPT4 ,TM1 Y & "S ( \R -RADES W G )
ME 6T %AFT4 ,I W FA/5 MYF 6A L;G ROPE1
0: Y C LET ME D[N1 & DRAW ME UP AT A
GIV5 SIGNAL4 ,I MAY DEP5D ^U Y1 ,JACK80
  8,WELL1 ,H>RY10 SD ,JACK1 %AK+ 8 H1D1
8,I W D Z Y WI% ME2 B ,I TELL Y ALL !
SAME1 Y >E V WR;G40
  8,NO?+ V5TURE NO?+ W910 SD ,H>RY1 9 A
T"O ( DECI.N4 8,TO-MORR[ MORN+1 !N1 AT
SIX O'C4 ,2 SIL5T1 & F>EWELL60
  ,X M/ 2 ADMITT$ T ,JACK ,RYAN'S FE>S 7
F> F GR.D.S4 ,H>RY WD EXPOSE HMF 6V GRT
DANG]1 SUPPOS+ ! 5EMY HE S"\ = LAY 3C1L$
AT ! BOTTOM (! PIT 96: HE 0 GO+ 6DESC5D4
,X DID N SEEM LIKELY T S* 0 ! CASE1
H["E4
  8,:Y 9 ! _W10 REP1T$ ,JACK ,RYAN1 8%D
HE TAKE ALL ? TR\# 6A3.T =A SET ( FACTSS V                                 #ABF
  EASILY & SIMPLY EXPLA9$ 0! SUP]NATURAL
9T]V5;N (! _SS (! M9E80
  ,B1 NOT)/&+ 8 OBJEC;NS 6! S*EME1 ,JACK
,RYAN & ?REE M9]S ( 8 GANG >RIV$ NEXT
MORN+ ) ,H>RY AT ! M\? (! OP5+ (!
SUSPICI\S %AFT4 ,H>RY _H N M5;N$ 8
9T5;NS EI 6,JAMES ,/>R OR 6! OLD OV]MAN4
,JACK _H BE5 4CREET 5 6SAY NO?+4
  ,H>RY _H PROVID$ HMF )A ROPE AB #BJJ
FEET L;G4 ,X 0 N "PICUL>LY ?ICK1 B V
/R;G--SU6ICI5TLY S 6SU/A9 8 WEI<T4 ,8
FRS 7 6LET HM D[N 96! GULF1 & 8 PULL+ !
CORD 0 6BE ! SIGNAL 6)DRAW HM4
  ,! OP5+ 96? %AFT OR WELL 0 TWELVE FEET
WIDE4 ,A B1M 0 ?R[N ACR L A BRIDGE1 S T
! CORD PASS+ OV] X %D HANG D[N ! C5T] (!
OP5+1 & SAVE ,H>RY F /RIK+ AG/ ! SIDES 9
8 DESC5T4
  ,HE 0 R1DY4
  8,>E Y / DET]M9$ 6EXPLORE ? ABYSS80
:ISP]$ ,JACK ,RYAN4
  8,YES1 ,I AM1 ,JACK40
  ,! CORD 0 FA/5$ R.D ,H>RY'S ?I<S & "U
8 >MS1 6KEEP HM F ROCK+4 ,?US SUPPORT$1HE 0 FREE 6USE BO? 8 H&S4 ,A        #ABG
SAFETY-LAMP HUNG AT 8 BELT1 AL A L>GE1
/R;G KNIFE 9 A L1!R %1?4
  ,H>RY ADV.ED 6! MI4LE (! B1M1 >.D : !
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D[N1 & HE SL[LY SANK 96! PIT4 ,Z ! ROPE
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8 LAMP FELL 9 TURNS ON ALL PO9TS (! SIDE
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X WD 2 IMPOSSI# 6ASC5D !M4
  ,H>RY CALCULAT$ T HE 0 GO+ D[N AT !
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  ,DUR+ TWO M9UTES--T IS 6SAY1 6! DEP? (
AB #ABJ FEET1 ! DESC5T 3T9U$ )\T ANY
9CID5T4
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(! PIT1 : 0 GRADU,Y N>R[+ 96! %APE (A
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L[E/ "P (! M9E4
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S"\ REFUGE 9 ! DEEP & MY/]I\S ABYSS1 HE
_H EI LEFT X1 OR1 IF "!1 0NO MOVE;T DID
HE 9 ! SLI<TE/ WAY 2TRAY 8 PRES;E4
  ,H>RY1 2COM+ M SUSPICI\S ! L[] HE GOT1
N[ DREW 8 KNIFE & HELD X 9 8 "R H&4 ,AT
A DEP? ( #AHJ FEET1 8 FEET T\*$ ! L[]
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  ,H>RY BR1!D M FREELY =A MO;T4 ,"O (!
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3C1L$4
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  ,AN EXTREMELY N>R[ PASSAGE L$ ASIDE \
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9 : DIREC;N X L$1 & :E!R ANO!R ABYSS
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65T] X ON H&S & KNEES4
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C>E;LLY4
  ,8 S5SES _H N DCVD HM2 A BODY DID 9DE$
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REMA9+4 ,9 LESS "T ?AN X TAKES 6TELL X1
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BOTTOM (! %AFT1 &1 SEIZ+ 8 LAMP1 HE CA/
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HE GAVE ! SIGNAL AGRE$ ON1 6H ! ROPE
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8 [N LIFE 0 N[ 9 DANG]4
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LOOK+ D[N1 HE CD DIMLY P]CV "? ! GLOOM A
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F]OCI\S BIRD SEEM$ 6AIM ALL XS BL[S AT
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( 8 SITU,N 0RU%+ AT ! CORD1 CL++ 6X J \
( 8 R1*1 & 5D1VOR+1 0PECK+ FURI\SLY1
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LIPS4
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8 LEFT >M4 ,! IDEA CROSS$ HM1 B 0 BANI%$
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LEVEL GR.D4
  ,! FE>;L /RA9 ( ANXIETY REMOV$1 A
REAC;N TOOK PLACE1 & ,H>RY FELL FA9T+96! >MS ( 8 FRS4                    #ACB

