,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]

                  ,BY
             ,J4 ,A4 ,,J.E


        ,) ,P]MIS.N (! ,PUBLI%]S
        ,AVON ,BOOKS1 ,NEW ,YORK
             ,COPY"R #AIIA
             ,0,J4 ,A4 ,J.E


       ,TRANSCRIB$ 9 ,5GLI% ,BRL
         ,0,NANCY ,BAIRD ,BR[N
          ,"EGRE5 ,BRL ,S]VICE
           ,S1TTLE1 ,WA%+TON

             ,9 #G ,VOLUMES
               ,VOLUME #G
        ,PAGES ;I-;II & #EIE-GAD

          ,"U ! ,SPONSOR%IP (
  ,WA%+TON ,TALK+ ,BOOK & ,BRL ,LIBR>Y
           ,S1TTLE1 ,WA%+TON
                 #AIIC
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]       ;II
























         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #EIE

                  #AI

  ,SORT+ "? ,IONA'S BOXES 0 ALL ! EMO;N-
AL BA7AGE ,DIANA CD H&LE = "O "D4 ,G>Y'S
WD H 6WAIT4 ,:5 %E F9I%$1 %E C>RI$ ! G>-
BAGE \TSIDE1 DUMP$ X1 & SET FIRE 6! TRA%
B>REL4 ,Z %E /OOD "! WAT*+ X BURN1 %E
FELT A PECULI> SATISFAC;N1 ! LIFT+ (A
LIFE"T'S BURD54
  ,DIANA WAT*$ ! FLAMES LICK "? ,IONA'S
ANCI5T OV5 MITT & "U/OOD AT LA/ :Y H] "M
3SID]$ H]F 8DAMAG$ GDS10 :Y %E _H /AY$ )
,MAX ,COOP] NO MATT] :AT4 ,IONA [$ HM4
,HE GRUDG+LY L5T ,IONA ! USE ( 8 "N = H]
BABY1 = ,DIANA1 ?US SAV+ ,IONA'S FAMILY
& REPUT,N F SAVAG+ 0,JOSEPH'S %>P-T;GU$
SC&ALM;G]S1 B ,IONA PD A H1VY PRICE = T
DUBI\S PRIVILEGE1 PD ) E WAK+ & SLEEP+
MO;T ( H] LIFE4
  ,! FLAMES 9 ! BURN+ B>REL SO>$ HI<]1
KICK+ UP & OV] ! SURR.D+ METAL4 ,9 !
L1P+ FLAMES1 "S?+ ELSE CAU<T FIRE1 "S?+
M ?AN J ,FRANC9E ,COOP]'S USE.S CA/(FS4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #EIF
,MAX ,COOP]'S HOLD ON 8 SUPPOS$ DAU<T] 0
2+ 3SUM$ Z WELL4 ,AT LA/ ,DIANA GRASP$
:Y ,MAX _H DESPIS$ H] S1 :Y HE _H HAT$
H] & 2RAT$ H] = Z L;G Z %E CD REMEMB]4
,%E "U/OOD N[ :Y HE _H S RES5T$ ! RODEO-
QUE5 ESCAPE HAT* T A RES\RCE;L ,IONA1 )
,GEORGE ,DEESON'S "TLY HELP1 _H MANAG$
6OP5 = H]4
  ,B K BR"\ ) X AN 9E6A# SAD;S4 ,IF ONLY
%E _H "KN ! TRU? E>LI]1 :ILE "! 0 / "T
6ASK H] "M AB H] R1L "F OR MAYBE EV5 ASK
,GEORGE ,DEESON HMF4 ,WD HE H TOLD H]1
IF %E _H ASK$ HM ON "O ( ^? 5D.S ,SATUR-
"D MORN+S :5 X _H BE5 J ! TWO ( !M \ 9 !
CORRAL ) ,WALDO8 ,WD ?+S H BE5 DI6]5T IF
%E _H "KN ! OLD MAN 0 RE,Y H] GR&"F8
  ,:AT 0 X ! ,BI# SD8 8,! TRU? W SET Y
FREE40 ,0 ,DIANA ,COOP] ,LADD FREE N[8
,MAYBE4 ,%E FELT LI<T] ?AN %E _H 9 YE>S4
,Z ! FLAMES *>R$ "? ! DEBRIS1 N ONLY DID
,MAX LOSE 8 GRIP ON H]1 S DID ! PA/4
  ,J !N1 ,B"O DA%$ UP & DROPP$ A T5NIS
BALL AT H] FEET4 ,)A LAU<1 %E RU6L$ !
DOG'S %A7Y H1D1 !N ?REW ! BALL = HM Z
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #EIG
H>D Z %E CD4 ,EAG]LY1 HE RAC$ (F AF X1
RETURN+ ) X1 PRANC+ & PR\D1 TAIL AWAG4
  8,Y FUNNY OLD DOG10 %E SD1 & ?REW !
BALL AG4
  ,OV] & OV] %E ?REW ! BALL4 ,OV] & OV]
HE BR"\ X BACK4 ,X SURPRIS$ H] 6F9D T
EA* "T ,B"O RETRIEV$ ! BALL1 ! SILLY1
PO9T.S GAME MADE H] LAU<4 ,LAU<T] FELT
GD1 & S DID ! HOT SUN ON H] BACK4
  8,-E ON1 ,MI/] ,OH'O10 %E SD AT LA/ :5
! DOG 0 PANT+ S H>D 8 SCRAWNY SIDES
%OOK4 8,LET'S G 9SIDE1 COOL (F1 & FIGURE
\ :AT'S = D9N]40

  ,AF _! NAPS1 ,DAVY & ,RITA 5T]$ ! MA9
H\SE 6! SURPRIS+ B FAMILI> SMELL ( BAK+
TORTILLAS4 ,9 ! KIT*51 !Y F.D ,DIANA
/RU7L+ ) /IFF WADS ( TORTILLA D\<1 WAX$
PAP]1 &A ROLL+ P94 ,A /ACK ( MIS%AP5
TORTILLAS SAT ON A PLATT] NEXT 6A SMOK+
ELECTRIC GRI4LE4 ,! TORTILLAS 7 AMAZ+LY
UGLY--?ICK 9 "S PLACES1 PUN*$ FULL (
HOLES 9 O!RS4 ,"S 7 M ?AN SLI<TLY BURN$1
B =A F/ ATTEMPT1 !Y W]5'T TOO BAD4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #EIH
  ,RITA T\*$ "O (! BALLS ( D\< / SITT+ 9
A MIX+ B[L1 ON ! C.T]TOP4 8,A LL M %ORT-
5+ NEXT "T10 %E SU7E/$4 8,!N Y C PAT !M
\ 0H& 9/1D ( US+ A ROLL+ P940
  8,MOM1 DID Y MAKE ^! ALL 0YRF80 ,DAVY
ASK$ WOND]+LY4 8,C ,I H "O80
  8,IF Y'RE BRAVE 5\<10 ,DIANA TOLD HM4
8,!Y'RE PRETTY PITI;L40
  ,SLA!R+ A LOAD ( P1NUT BUTT] ON "O
SIDE1 ,DAVY TRI$ A BITE & DIPLOMATIC,Y
PRON\NC$ ! TORTILLA 8ALM Z GD Z ,RI-
TA'S40 ,)A SECOND P1NUT BUTT]-COV]$ TOR-
TILLA 9 "O H& &A PLA9 "O = ,B"O 9 ! O!R1
,DAVY & ,OH'O W5T \TSIDE 6PLAY4
  ,RITA SAT D[N 2S ! KIT*5 TA# & WAT*$
,DIANA "W4 ,! ,ANGLO WOMAN SEEM$ SELF-
3SCI\S "U ! ,PAPAGO'S SCRUT9Y1 B %E KEPT
ON ROLL+ ! D\< & TOSS+ ! RESULT+ CROOK$
%EETS ONTO ! WAIT+ GRI4LE4
  8,:ILE ,I 0 J LY+ "! 9 ,SELLS10 ,RITA
2GAN1 8,I 0 ?9K+ AB H[ Y HELP$ ME AF
,G9A DI$1 :5 P WANT$ ME 6L1VE 2C ,I 0
BAD LUCK40
  8,=GET X10 ,DIANA SD DET]M9$LY4 8,:AT
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #EII
!Y ?"\ DOESN'T MATT]4 ,I'VE BE5 DELI<T$
6H Y ) ME4 ,) U10 %E A4$4
  8,B X DOES MATT]10 ,RITA RETURN$4 8,I
?"\ ,I 0 L1V+ "! J 6G "S": & DIE1 B
HELP+ Y & TAK+ C>E ( ,DAVY GAVE ME BACK
MY LUCK4 ,X MADE ME "Y AG4 ,! O!R "D1 !
DOCTORS SD ,I 0 D1D 9 T AMBUL.E1 B ?9K+
AB ,DAVY MADE ME WANT 6LIVE1 MADE ME
WANT 6-E BACK40
  ,DIANA ,LADD PUT D[N ! ROLL+ P9 &
BRU%$ HAIR F H] SW1T-DAMP5$ FACE1 L1V+ A
:ITE SMUDGE ( FL\R ON H] FACE4
  8,RITA1 ,DAVY HAS ALW BE5 Z M* YRS Z
HE IS M9E4 ,Y'RE ! "O :O'S SP5T ALL ! "T
) HM1 :O'S TAU<T HM ?+S1 & TAK5 C>E (
HM4 ,IF Y'RE WORRI$ AB ! ,9DIAN BAPTISM1
DON'T BE4 ,"F ,JOHN TOLD ME AB X ? MORN+
:5 ,I SAW HM AT ,SAN ,XAVI]40
  8,HE DID80
  ,DIANA NO4$4 8,HE EXPLA9$ ! :OLE ?+40
  8,GD10 ,RITA SD4 8,Y DON'T M9D80
  8,NO4 ,H[ CD ,I M9D8 ,:5 W X HAPP580
  8,2C (! '''0
  ,RITA PAUS$1 GROP+ =! PROP] ^W4 ,:AT
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FJJ
%E FELT -+ T[>D !M 0 F> M S]I\S ?AN M]E
DANG]4 ,W1K Z X S.D$1 T 0 ! ONLY .,MIL-
GAHN ^W %E CD ?9K ( 6EXPRESS ! PRO#M4
,DIANA ,LADD WD N "U/& ! ^W .OHB4
  8,2C (! DANG] 6U ALL10 ,RITA 3T9U$1 8!
BAPTISM C]EMONY />TS TN4 ,X W 3T9UE =
F\R "DS & NI<TS4 ,F\R NI<TS F N[1 WE G
6,SELLS =! LA/ NI<T ( S++ &=! F1/4 ,ON T
NI<T1 ! M$IC9E MAN FE$S ! *'S P>5TS GRU-
EL MADE F CORN & CLAY40
  ,DIANA MADE A FACE4 8,T S.DS EV5 WORSE
?AN MY TORTILLAS1 B X WON'T KILL ME1 W
X80
  ,RITA SMIL$4 8,NO1 X WON'T KILL Y40
  8,:AT AB Y80 ,DIANA ASK$4 8,Y SD P>-
5TS4 ,I'M ONLY "O4 ,W Y EAT ! GRUEL )
ME1 ,RITA8 ,! TWO ( U C 2 ,DAVY'S P>5TS
TGR40
  ,! (F] CAME F A G5]\S HE>T & CAUS$ A
DAZZL+ SMILE 6SU6USE ,RITA'S WORN FACE4
,%E LOOK$ TW5TY YE>S "Y]4 8,YES1
.NAWOJ10 %E SD S(TLY1 8WE W EAT ! GRUEL
TGR40
  ,J !N1 \ 9 ! Y>D1 ,B"O />T$ UP A NOISY
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FJA
RACKET4 ,!Y HE>D HM SCRA2L+ OV] ! HI<
/"O WALL J Z ,DAVY BUR/ 9 "? ! BACK
DOOR4
  8,A C>'S -+10 ,DAVY ANN\NC$4 8,OH'O
W5T AF X4 ,I CDN'T /OP HM40
  ,DU/+ ! FL\R F H] H&S1 ,DIANA HURRI$
6! W9D[ & LOOK$ \4 ,AN UNFAMILI> LATE-
MODEL ,BUICK 0 EAS+ 96! DRIVEWAY1 :ILE
,B"O1 UP 6HIS USUAL TRICKS1 ATTACK$ !
FRONT TIRES = ALL HE 0 WOR?4 ,DIANA REC-
OGNIZ$ ,"F ,JOHN 2F HE ROLL$ D[N ! W9D[4
8,OH'O10 %E CALL$ %>PLY4 8,"H40
  ,) "O F9AL (F5D$ WO(1 ! DOG AB&ON$ 8
ATTACK & CAME 6! POR*1 ": ,DIANA LET HM
96! H\SE4 8,X'S ,"F ,JOHN10 %E TOLD
,DAVY4 8,TAKE ,B"O BACK \TSIDE & KEEP HM
"! :ILE ,I BR+ ! -PANY 96! H\SE40
  ,"F ,JOHN 5T]$ ! H\SE W>ILY1 HOLD+ 8
HAT 9 FRONT ( HM4 8,T'S Q "S DOG Y'VE
GOT "!10 HE SD4 8,>E Y SURE X'S SAFE80
  8,2LIEVE ME1 ,B"O'S EXACTLY ! K9D (
DOG WE NE$ AT ! MO;T10 ,DIANA RETURN$1
8B DON'T WORRY4 ,DAVY TOOK HM \TSIDE4
,WD Y C>E = "S?+ 6EAT80
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FJB
  8,NO1 NO ?ANK Y4 ,I J CAME 6SP1K 6!
BOY40
  8,"S?+ 6DR9K !N4 ,IC$ TEA80
  8,TEA WD 2 F9E40
  ,DIANA />T$ =! KIT*5 B PAUS$ :5 %E F.D
! KIT*5 DOORWAY BLOCK$ 0,RITA'S /OCKY
FRAME4 ,! OLD WOMAN /OOD />+ AT ! PRIE/4
,EV5TU,Y1 ,RITA MOV$ ASIDE & LET ,DIANA
PASS1 B %E DID S )\T TAK+ H] EYES AWAY F
,"F ,JOHN4 ,=A L;G MO;T1 ! TWO OLD P
FAC$ "O ANO!R 9 AWKW>D SIL;E4
  ,:5 ,"F ,JOHN _H 9VAD$ ! HOSPITAL ROOM
9 ,SELLS1 X _H BE5 )\T ,RITA'S K OR P]-
MIS.N4 ,! MAN :O CAME "! 0 ! SAME "O :O
_H AB&ON$ H] YE>S E>LI]1 ! "O :O _H
CAUS$ H] 6BE S5T AWAY 9 4GRACE4 ,B N[1
0HELP+ ) ,DAVY1 ,"F ,JOHN _H REDEEM$ HMF
"S:AT 9 ! OLD WOMAN'S EYES4 ,%E NO L;G]
SAW HM "? A CL\D ( BITT];S4
  ,! OLD WOMAN BROKE ! SIL;E4 8,?ANK Y =
HELP+ ) ,DAVY40
  ,"F ,JOHN NO4$4 8.,NAWOJ10 HE SD4
8,FR1 X IS NO?+40 ,HE MOV$ 96! ROOM4 ,AT
ONCE 8 EYES 7 DRAWN 6! L>GE BASKET HANG+
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FJC
ON ! WALL OV] ! C\*1 A PLAQUE ACTU,Y1
TWO-&-A-HALF 6?REE FEET 9 DIAMET]4
,S*OOL$ 9 ! SUBTLE AES!TICS ( ,PAPAGO
,9DIAN BASKETRY1 ! PRIE/ IMMLY RECOGNIZ$
! SUP]IOR "WMAN%IP 9 ! R>E YU3A-ROOT
BASKET4 ,! R$ DESIGN1 A F9ELY WOV5 R5DI-
;N (! TRADI;NAL ,PAPAGO MAZE1 SPR1D \ 9
! F\R SACR$ DIREC;NS4 ,AT ! TOP /OOD !
SQU>E-%\LD]$ ,MAN 9 ! ,MAZE4
  ,"F ,JOHN /UDI$ ! BASKET = "S "T 2F
TURN+ 6,RITA4 8,Y MADE ?80 HE ASK$4 ,%E
NO4$4 8,"U/&+ ,WOMAN TAU<T Y WELL10 HE
3T9U$4 8,X IS V B1UTI;L40

  ,BACK ON ! ROCKY M.TA9SIDE )A ,/YRO-
FOAM M1T PACKAGE FULL ( POISON$ HAMBURG-
]1 ,&REW ,C>LISLE ?ANK$ 8 LUCKY />S T HE
_H TAK5 ! PRECAU;N ( CLIMB+ UP 6RECON-
NOIT] "O LA/ "T 2F APPROA*+ ! H\SE4
,:ILE HE WAT*$ 9 4MAY1 ! CRAZY DOG SET
UP A FR5ZI$ RO> ( B>K+ & !N VAULT$ OV] !
F;E 6ATTACK AN APPROA*+ C>4 ,C>LISLE
CDN'T 2LIEVE X4 ,! UGLY MUTT *>G$ !
FRONT TIRES (! /-MOV+ VEHICLE Z IF HE 7
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FJD
GO+ 6TE> !M A"P4
  ,*RI/6 ,H[ _H ! DOG D"O X8 ,T /"O WALL
_H 6BE AT L1/ SIX FEET TALL1 & X _HN'T
SL[$ HM D[N "O DAMN BIT4 ,C>LISLE KNEW T
IF HE TRI$ APPROA*+ ! H\SE ON FOOT1 !
DOG WD H HM = LUN*1 S ! PRO#M 0 F9D+ A
WAY 6GET ! POISON 6! DOG )\T LOS+ EI AN
>M OR A LEG 9 ! PROCESS4
  ,"? B9OCUL>S TRA9$ ON ! H\SEHOLD 2L1
,C>LISLE SAW ! WOMAN HU/LE ! DOG 9SIDE
:ILE A MAN1 :O APPE>$ 6BE A PRIE/1 GOT \
(! C> & />T$ =! H\SE4 ,! MAN W5T 9 !
FRONT DOOR1 :ILE ! DOG &! * CAME \ "? !
BACK4 ,! BOY LEFT ! DOG PAC+ 9 UNHAPPY
CIRCLES ON ! RE> PATIO4 ,CLE>LY1 ! DOG
WANT$ IN4 ,IF HE 0 G5],Y AN 9SIDE DOG1 X
WDN'T 2 L;G 2F "S"O REL5T$4 ,C>LISLE RE-
ALIZ$ HE WD H 6ACT QKLY4
  ,C>LISLE'S F/ PRO#M 0 6LURE ! DOG \ (!
F;ED BACKY>D4 ,HAV+ WIT;S$ ! FR5ZI$ AT-
TACK ON ! ,BUICK1 T DIDN'T SEEM DI6I-
CULT4 ,C>LISLE FIGUR$ J %[+ 8 FACE WD 2
5 6PROVOKE ! DOG 96ANO!R BATTLE4 ,!
TRICK 0 MA9TA9+ 5 (A SAFETY M>G9 6MAKE
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FJE
ESCAPE POSSI#4
  ,C>LISLE HIK$ BACK D[N 6! ,MATADOR &
DROVE Z NE> ! H\SE Z HE D>$1 /OPP+ J 2Y
A %>P CURVE T 3C1L$ ! C> F ANY"O 9SIDE !
H\SE4 ,AF TURN+ ! C> >.D S X FAC$ BACK 9
! OPPOSITE DIREC;N1 ,C>LISLE TOOK !
SLUG-BAIT-LAC$ M1T ) HM & WALK$ 6! MI4LE
(! ROADWAY4 ,F/ HE DROPP$ *UNKS ( M1T 9
A WIDE PATT]N OV] ! PAVE;T2 !N1 LY+ D[N
FLAT ON ! ROCKY %\LD]1 HE :I/L$ "O %ORT1
%>P BUR/4
  ,AT ONCE1 ! DOG RESPOND$ )A FIT ( B>K-
+4 ,C>LISLE :I/L$ AG1 &! DOG B>K$ AG4
,"S"O CAME 6! BACK DOOR4 ,DIANA H]F
EM]G$ F ! %AD[ (! PATIO & SURVEY$ ! >EA1
US+ "O H& 6%ADE H] EYES F ! GL>E (! SET-
T+ SUN4 ,C>LISLE KEPT 8 H1D L[ 6! GR.D &
PRAY$ T NO O!R TRA6IC WD APPE> ON !
ROAD4
  ,SATISFI$ "! 0 NO?+ AMISS1 ,DIANA
SPOKE 6! DOG4 8,QUIET1 ,B"O4 ,X'S ALL
"R4 ,2 /40
  ,C>LISLE HE>D H] VOICE FLOAT+ UP 6HM F
2L4 ,! V S.D ( X 0 5TIC+4 ,HE>+ H]
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FJF
VOICE1 -B9$ )! K T HE 0 ALM )9 T\*+ 4T.E
( H]1 GAVE HM AN 9/ANT EREC;N & MADE 8
BR1? -E 9 %ORT1 H>% GASPS4 ,IF Y ONLY
KNEW1 LL LADY1 HE ?"\1 /IFL+ AN URGE TO
LAU<4 ,! DOG'S SM>T] ?AN Y >E4
  ,2L HM1 ! SLID+ GLASS DOOR SLAMM$ %UT
2H H] Z ,DIANA ,LADD RETURN$ 6! H\SE4 ,=
A MO;T1 ,C>LISLE 0 AFRAID %E MI<T H TAK5
! DOG ) H]4 ,HE BR1!D A SI< ( RELIEF :5
HE PE]$ OV] ! BANK & SAW T ! DOG 0 /
PAC+ RE/.SLY 9 ! Y>D 2L1 / />+ UP 9 8
DIREC;N4 ,HE :I/L$ AG4
  8,-E "H1 LL DO7IE10 HE :ISP]$ "U 8
BR1?4 8,NICE LL DO7IE4 ,-E & GET X40
  ,? "T1 ! DOG MADE NO S.D AT ALL4 ,HE
SIMPLY L1PT OV] ! WALL & CAME CRA%+ UP !
EMBANK;T4
  ,C>LISLE WAIT$ UNTIL ! LA/ POSSI# MO;T
2F MAK+ 8 DA% = SAFETY4 ,HE _H SPR1D !
M1T OV] A WIDE SEG;T (! ROADWAY S ! DOG
WD 2 SURE 6F9D X4 ,N[1 HE RAN /RAI<T "?
! M1T 6HIS C> S ! DOG--,B"O 0 A FUNNY "N
=A DOG--FOLL[+ 8 SC5T1 WD 2 L$ DIRECTLY
6! POISON4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FJG
  ,C>LISLE JUMP$ 96HIS ,MATADOR & DROVE
AWAY1 HOP+ AG/ HOPE T 8 PLAN _H "W$4

  ,AF T1 ,I'ITOI /RUCK ! WAT] ) 8 /ICK4
,! BANK BROKE1 &! WAT] F ! LAKE & F ALL
! OC1NS RAN TGR4 ,& !N ,I'ITOI1 :O C
MAKE HMF EI V L>GE OR V SMALL1 CLIMB$
96! BASKET HE _H MADE1 & .,BAN1 ,COYOTE1
CLIMB$ 96HIS HOLL[ CANE1 &! WAT]S 2GAN
6RISE4
  ,SOON ! WAT]S ROSE HI< 5 6WA% !M AWAY4
,I'ITOI TOLD .,BAN 6FOLL[ HM 6! WE/1 B
,COYOTE DID N LI/51 &! WAT]S 3T9U$ TO
RISE4 ,SOON ALL ! VILLAGES ON ! FLAT 7
COV]$ ) WAT] &! P DR[N$4
  ,! P :O LIV$ NE> .,GIWHO .,THO'AG1
,BURD5 ,BASKET ,M.TA91 SAW ! WAT] -+4
,!Y HURRI$ 6! HI<E/ "P (! M.TA91 ?9K+ !Y
WD 2 SAFE1 B Z ! WAT] CAME UP1 ! M.TA9
SPLIT 9 TWO1 & ALL ! P 7 DR[N$4
  ,9 ANO!R "P (! VALLEY1 A V P[];L M$I-
C9E MAN L$ 8 P UP 6! HI<E/ M.TA9 & TOLD
!M T "! !Y WD 2 SAFE4 ,Z ! WAT] ROSE1 !
M$IC9E MAN SANG A P[];L S;G1 &! M.TA9
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FJH
ROSE HI<] & HI<]4 ,! WAT] ROSE & FELL1
ROSE & FELL UNTIL X _H RIS5 & FALL5 F\R
"TS4
  ,!N ! ,9DIANS ON ! M.TA9 7 HAPPY1 2C
"EY?+ 9 NATURE GOES 0F\RS1 & !Y ?"\ T N[
!Y WD 2 SAFE4 ,! M$IC9E MAN SD T "! WD 2
A GRT F1/ &! P 2GAN 6GET R1DY--"S COOK+1
"S GR9D+ CORN4
  ,N[ X HAPP5S T ! P _H ) !M ON ! M.TA9
ONLY "O GOGS1 "O DOG4 ,! P S5T ,DOG D[N
! M.TA9 6SEE H[ HI< ! WAT] WAS4 ,DOG W5T
6! $GE (! M.TA91 & !N HE /RET*$ HMF &
CAME BACK4 8,! WAT] IS GO+ D[N10 ,DOG
SD4 8,X W N RISE AG40
  ,& "R !N1 AT T V MO;T1 Z ,DOG SPOKE1
ALL ! P ON ! M.TA9 7 TURN$ 6/"O4 ,!Y
*ANG$ 6/"O J Z !Y 7 :5 ,DOG SPOKE--"S
COOK+1 "S EAT+1 & "S GR9D+ CORN4 ,IF Y G
6! PLACE CALL$ ,SUP]/I;N ,M.TA91 Y C SEE
!M 6? "D4
  ,& T IS :Y1 .NAWOJ1 MY FR1 Y M/ N"E
P]MIT A DOG 6SP1K 6Y1 = IF Y D1 Y MAY 2
TURN$ 6/"O4

         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FJI

  ,DAVY & ,"F ,JOHN 7 TALK+ QUIETLY AT !
KIT*5 TA#2 ,RITA _H RETURN$ 6H] ROOM4
,AF CL1N+ ! KIT*51 ,DIANA _H B>ELY />T$
R1D+ ! NEWSPAP] 9 ! LIV+ ROOM :5 ! DOG
:9$ & SCRAT*$ AT ! FRONT DOOR4
  8,H[ DID ,B"O GET BACK \ FRONT80 ,DI-
ANA ASK$ IRRITABLY Z %E HURRI$ 6LET HM
IN4 ,%E 0 WORRI$ T HE MI<T MAKE A DA% =!
KIT*5 & SC>E ,"F ,JOHN4 ,9/1D1 ! DOG
PLO4$ 9 SL[LY1 %AM#D PA/ H] )\T EV5
LOOK+ UP1 & WALK$ DIRECTLY 96! OPPOSITE
WALL )A RES.D+ ?UMP4
  8,OH'O10 %E SD1 AL>M$1 8:AT'S ! MATT]
) Y80
  ,B"O /OOD SPLAYFOOT$1 L;G TAIL TUCK$
2T 8 LEGS1 H1D D[N4 ,HE SWAY$ DRUNK5LY4
,DAVY1 HE>+ ! 3C]N 9 ,DIANA'S VOICE1
CALL$ F ! KIT*54 8,MOM1 :AT IS X80
  8,I DON'T "K4 ,"S?+'S WR;G ) ,B"O4 ,I
LET HM 9SIDE1 & HE WALK$ /RAI<T 96!
WALL40
  ,DAVY HURRI$ 96! ROOM FOLL[$ 0A /-
APPREH5SIVE ,"F ,JOHN4 ,! DOG1 :O _H
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FAJ
ONCE SEEM$ S F]OCI\S1 N[ %[$ ABSOLUTELY
NO 9T]E/ 9 ATTACK+ ! PRIE/4 ,9/1D1 HE
PUT "O T5TATIVE FOOT 9 FRONT (! O!R &
TRI$ 6WALK1 ONLY 6FALL D[N FLAT ON 8
BELLY4
  8,T DOG'S BE5 POISON$60 ,"F ,JOHN AN-
N\NC$ DECISIVELY4 8,I'VE SE5 X 2F4
,WE'VE GOT 6GET HM 6A VET40
  8,POISON$80 ,DIANA REP1T$4 8,H[ C T
BE80
  8,LOOK AT HM4 ,I _H A DOG DIE ( POI-
SON+ ONCE4 ,HE CAME 9SIDE ACT+ J L ?4 ,!
VET SD T IF ,I'D BR"\ HM 9 "R AWAY1 HE
MI<T H SAV$ HM4 ,"!'S NO "T 6LOSE40
  ,UNC]TA9 :AT 6D1 ,DIANA GL.ED AT H]
WAT*4 ,A QU>T] 6SIX4 ,! VET'S (FICE WD
CLOSE 9 FIFTE5 M9UTES4 ,RITA REAPPE>$ J
!N4 8,:AT'S WR;G80 %E ASK$4
  8,X'S ,OH'O4 ,"F ,JOHN ?9KS HE'S BE5
POISON$4 ,WE'D BETT] LOAD HM 9 ! C>4
,DAVY1 ,RITA1 -E ON4 ,WE'LL ALL G40
  ,RITA %OOK H] H1D4 8,FAT ,CRACK W 2 "H
SOON4 ,Y G ON4 ,IF WE ALL G1 ,DAVY & ,I
W J 2 9 ! WAY4 ,WE'LL WAIT "H4 ,I'LL
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FAA
CALL ,DR4 ,JOHN/ON & TELL HM Y'RE -+40
  ,ON ! FLOOR 2T !M1 ,B"O'S BODY %OOK
3VULSIVELY4 ,"O LOOK AT ! SU6]+ ANIMAL
3V9C$ H]4 8,ALL "R10 ,DIANA SD4 8,Y /AY
"H40
  ,DIANA KNELT 2S ! QUAK+ DOG4 8,B"O1
-E10 %E ORD]$4 ,)A :IMP]1 ! DOG TRI$
VALIANTLY 6GET UP1 ONLY 6/UM# & COLLAPSE
ONCE M4 ,DIANA ATTEMPT$ 6PICK HM UP BY
H]F1 B HE 0 WELL OV] "O HUNDR$ P.DS (
DOG1 F> M ?AN %E CD LIFT OR C>RY4
  8,"F ,JOHN1 WD Y HELP ME LOAD HM 96!
C>80
  8,( C\RSE40
  ,LIFT+ TGR1 !Y RAIS$ ,B"O (F ! FLOOR &
C>RI$ HM \TSIDE4 8,MY C>'S \ BACK10 ,DI-
ANA SD1 H1D+ T WAY4
  8,NO10 ,"F ,JOHN CORRECT$4 8,WE'LL
TAKE M9E4 ,X'S CLOS]40
  ,!Y R1*$ ! C> & EAS$ ! /RICK5 ANIMAL
ONTO ! BACKS1T4 ,Z ,DIANA /RAI<T5$ UP1
%E F.D T ,DAVY _H FOLL[$ !M & 0 />T+ TO
CLIMB 96! C> ) ,B"O4 ,DIANA /OPP$ HM4
8,Y /AY "H ) ,RITA10 %E ORD]$4 8,IF %E
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FAB
HAS 6L1VE 2F ,I GET BACK1 Y C G AL;G )
H]40
  ,DAVY1 CLOSE 6TE>S1 B>ELY HE>D H]4
8,IS ,OH'O GO+ 6DIE80 HE ASK$4
  8,I HOPE N1 B ,I DON'T "K10 ,DIANA AN-
SW]$ GRIMLY4 ,%E CLIMB$ 96! C> & CLOS$ !
DOOR 2H H] :ILE ! PRIE/ />T$ ! 5G9E4 ,2F
DRIV+ \ (! Y>D1 ,"F ,JOHN /OPP$ ! C> 2S
! 4TRESS$ * & ROLL$ D[N 8 W9D[4
  8,REMEMB] H[ WE 7 TALK+ AB PRAY] A
:ILE AGO80 ! PRIE/ ASK$4 ,DAVY NO4$4
8,WD Y L ME 6PRAY = ,B"O80
  ,! BOY'S EYES FILL$ ) TE>S4 8,YES1
PL1SE10 HE :ISP]$4
  8,H1V5LY ,"F10 ! PRIE/ SD1 B[+ 8 H1D4
8,WE PRAY T Y W GRANT ! B.S+ ( H1L+ 6YR
S]VANT1 ,B"O1 T HE MAY RETURN SAFELY TO
8 HOME4 ,WE ASK ? 9 ! "N (! ,"F1 (!
,SON1 &(! ,HOLY ,<O/4 ,AM540
  8,DOES T M1N HE'LL 2 ALL "R N[80
  ,"F ,JOHN %OOK 8 H1D GRAVELY4 8,:5
,GOD ANSW]S PRAY]S1 ,HE C SAY EI YES OR
NO4 ,"R N[1 X'S TOO SOON 6TELL4 ,Y KEEP
ON PRAY+ :ILE WE TAKE HM 6! VET1 OKAY80
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FAC
  8,OKAY10 ,DAVY SD1 8 VOICE QUAV]+4 8,I
W40

  ,&REW SAW ! PRIE/ &! WOMAN DRIVE AWAY
9 A HURRY4 ,! DOG 0 ) !M 9 ! C>4 ,!Y 7
PROBABLY TAK+ ! MUTT 6A VET4 ,MAYBE X WD
"W1 B HE D\BT$ X4 ,HE _H PUT 5 SLUG BAIT
9 T HAMBURG] 6*OKE A HORSE4 ,? WAS1 H[-
"E1 "O V L>GE DOG4
  ,C>LISLE TURN$ BACK T[>D ! H\SE 9 SMUG
SATISFAC;N & SAW ! BOY WALK DEJECT$LY
BACK 96! H\SE4 ,"EY?+ _H "W$ L A *>M1 J
! WAY HE'D PLANN$ X4 ,! BOY 0 Z GD Z
HIS4 ,X 0 /UPID ( ,DIANA 6L1VE HM "!
AL"O1 B T 0 H] PRO#M4 ,DIANA 0 G"O1 &!
BOY 0 UNPROTECT$1 & ,&REW ,C>LISLE WANT$
,DAVY 9 ! V WOR/ WAY4
  ,SLID+ D[N ! M.TA91 N C>+ N[ :E!R OR N
HE /AY$ \ ( SI<T OR MADE TOO M* NOISE1
,&REW ,C>LISLE />T$ T[>D ! H\SE4 ,HE _H
SP5T SEV5 L;G YE>S WAIT+ = ? MO;T4 ,N[ T
X 0 F9,Y />T+1 HE CD B>ELY 3TA9 HMF4
,DIANA ,LADD 0 GO+ 6MAKE X ALL WOR?:ILE4

         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FAD

  ,AT T5 M9UTES 6SIX1 :5 ! PH"O RANG 9 !
H\SE ON ,WEB] ,DRIVE1 ,MYRNA ,L\ISE 0
WAIT+4 ,%E _H G"O \ 6! C> 6BR+ 9 H]
SUITCASE F ! TRUNK & _H SUBSEQU5TLY DIS-
COV]$ "EY?+ HI45 "!--H] BANKBOOK1 H]
BLANK *ECKS1 ! GUN1 ! BAG ( LIME1 &!
LU7AGE ) "S"O ELSE'S "N ON X4 ,%E DIDN'T
BO!R 6OP5 ! LU7AGE4 ,X _H BE5 /OL5 F "S-
"O ELSE Z SURELY Z H] [N SAV+S-A3.T BOOK
_H BE5 /OL5 F H]4 ,& H] CA%1 TOO1 Z %E
4COV]$ MO;TS LAT]4
  ,= HALF AN H\R N[1 %E _H SAT QUIETLY 9
H] ROCK+ *AIR1 WOND]+ :AT X ALL M1NT4
,%E _H ALR ASSIMILAT$ ! IDEA T ,&REW1 H]
[N SON1 _H M1NT 6KILL H]1 WD H KILL$ H]1
IF %E _HN'T TAK5 ! CRAZY NO;N 96H] H1D
6DRIVE (F 9 ! C>4 ,SURE K ( ,&REW'S MUR-
D]\S 9T5;NS _H %OCK$ H] AT F/1 B 9ITIAL
%OCK _H WORN 96FUM+ ANG]4
  ,N[1 %E SAT REHE>S+ :AT %E WD SAY 6HM
:5 ,&REW F9,Y CALL$ H]1 Z %E KNEW HE WD4
,%E _H 3SID]$ TURN+ HM 9 H]F B DECID$
AG/ X4 ,"S"O ELSE WD H 6D ! DIRTY "W1 N
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FAE
H]1 N 8 [N "M4 ,B IF ! COPS HAPP5$ 6-E
6H] H\SE LOOK+ = HM1 %E WDN'T RAISE A H&
6/OP !M4
  ,3/ANTLY REPHRAS+ H] SPEE*1 %E DECID$
6TELL ,&REW T IF HE "E CAME NE> H] AG1
IF HE "E D>K5$ H] DOOR/EP OR WROTE H] A
LR OR EV5 S M* Z TRI$ 63TACT H] 0PH"O1
%E WD SEE 6X T HE ROTT$ 9 PRISON =! RE/
( 8 NATURAL LIFE4 ,H[ DID T S.D8
  ,&REW _H F9,Y /EPP$ 2Y ,MYRNA ,L\ISE'S
3SID]A# ?RE%OLD ( TOL].E4 ,HAV+ ONCE
R1*$ ! 5D ( H] ROPE1 %E DET]M9$ 6NO L;G]
H A SON4 ,%E WD DCL HM NULL & VOID4 ,Z
F> Z %E 0 3C]N$1 ,&REW ,C>LISLE WD C1SE
6EXI/4
  ,S :5 ! PH"O F9,Y RANG1 X 0 8 VOICE %E
EXPECT$ 6HE> ON ! O!R 5D (! L9E1 :9+ &
BLA!R+4 ,9/1D1 ! VOICE 0 T (A TOTAL
/RANG]4
  8,IS ,&REW "!80 ! MAN ASK$4
  ,MYRNA ,L\ISE'S HE>T SKIPP$ A B1T Z %E
TRI$ 63C1L H] 4APPO9T;T4 8,:O'S CALL+1
PL1SE80 %E ASK$ GU>D$LY4
  8,A FR ( HIS10 ! MAN SD4 8,IS HE "!80
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FAF
  8,N "R N[4 ,MAY ,I TAKE A MESSAGE80
  ,X S.D$ Z ?\< ! P]SON ON ! O!R 5D (!
L9E LET \ A L;G SI<1 B ,MYRNA ,L\ISE
CDN'T 2 SURE4
  8,NO10 HE SD4 8,T'S ALL "R4 ,I'LL CALL
BACK LAT]40
  ,HE HUNG UP--SLAMM$ ! PH"O D[N 9 H]
E>1 ACTU,Y4 ,%E HUNG UP1 TOO1 SITT+ "! =
A L;G "T AFW ) H] H& / RE/+ ON ! RCVR4
,%E WI%$ X _H BE5 ,&REW ON ! PH"O S %E
CD H _H X \ ) HM ONCE &= ALL1 B X
WASN'T4 ,= T %E WD H 6WAIT A LL L;G]4

  ,! HUMAN BODY ISN'T Q L ANY?+ ELSE1
,BR&ON ,WALK] ?"\4 ,P TALK AB PULL+ !
PLUG1 B J TURN+ (F LIFE-SU/A9+ MA*9ES
DOESN'T NECESS>ILY M1N X'S OV]1 DOESN'T
M1N ! P]SON GIVES UP ! <O/ & DIES ! WAY
A LI<T GOES (F :5 Y 4CONNECT A CORD F !
SOCKET4 ,X WASN'T T SIMPLE4 ,NO?+ "E IS4
  ,! MA*9ES _H BE5 SIL;ED = OV] AN H\R
N[1 B ,TOBY ,WALK] /U2ORNLY CLUNG 6LIFE1
P]SI/+ 9 BR1?+ ON 8 [N M* 6! DOCTOR'S
SURPRISE & 4MAY4 ,8 BLOOD PRESSURE 0
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FAG
GRADU,Y FALL+1 B "! _H BE5 NO M>K$ OR
SU45 *ANGE4
  ,NURSES LOOK$ 9 ON !M E ONCE 9 A :ILE1
RESPECT;LLY1 Z ?\< 3SCI\S T _! PRES;E 0
N[ AN 9TRU.N1 N A HELP4 ,_! 3C]N FOCUS$
ON ! TWO NONPATI5TS--A WOMAN QUIET AT
LA/1 WORN \ F 3T9UAL WEEP+1 &A MAN1 !
SON1 ^: N>R[ JAW "W$ 3/ANTLY1 B :O SAT
2S 8 DY+ "F /IFF & /RAI<T1 DRY-EY$ & SI-
L5T4
  ,BR&ON ,WALK] _H =GOTT5 HE 0 A COP 9
ALL ?1 =GOTT5 T "! 0 ANO!R DUTY CALL+4
,SITT+ "!1 HE 0 NO?+ B A GRIEV+ SON1 A
LO/1 AB&ON$1 & NE>LY MI4LE-AG$ *1 FAC+ 8
[N BL1K FUTURE 9 A UNIV]SE SU45LY DEVOID
( XS C5T]1 AN UN?9KA# _W ": 8 "F DIDN'T
EXI/4
  ,! ?REE P WAIT$ TGR 9 A ROOM ": ! SI-
L;E 0 BROK5 ONLY 0! OLD MAN'S %ALL[
BR1?+4 ,NO ^WS 7 NEC4 ,!Y _H ALL BE5
SPOK5 L;G AGO1 & ,BR&ON 0 3V9C$ T 9 T
BROK5 %ELL (A MAN ON ! B$1 "! 0 NO "O
LEFT 6LI/54

         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FAH

  ,DETECTIVE ,G4 ,T4 ,F>RELL 0 WELL \T-
SIDE 8 ,P9AL ,C.TY JURISDIC;N4 ,HE %D H
3TACT$ ! LOCAL LAW-5=CE;T AG5CIES1 EI
,M>ICOPA ,C.TY1 OR1 9 ? CASE1 ! ,TEMPE
,POLICE ,DE"P;T 6ASK = BACKUP1 B T WD H
TAK5 "T4 ,F>RELL KNEW 9 8 GUT "! 0 NO "T
6LOSE4 ,HE 0 PROPELL$ =W>D 0! -MON =CE T
DRIVES ALL ^? :O PURSUE S]IAL KILL]S--!
HORRIFY+ & 9EVITA# K T "T XF IS ! 5EMY4
  ,REFUS+ 6BE RU%$1 ,F>RELL _H SY/EMATI-
C,Y "W$ ! PRO#M1 M>*+ D[N ! ,SPAULD+
COLUMN 9 ! PH"O BOOK1 CALL+ EA* NUMB] 9
TURN1 ALW ASK+ = ,&REW--A F/ "N ,&REW--R
?AN GIV+ \ ANY FUR!R 9=M,N4 ,HE _H TRI$
,SPAULD+S 9 ,PHOENIX PROP]4 ,NEXT HE "W$
! SUBURBS4 ,HALFWAY "? T PROCESS1 A
FRAIL-S.D+ OLD WOMAN ANSW]$ ! PH"O4
  ,Z SOON Z HE ASK$ = ,&REW & HE>D !
%>P1 9VOLUNT>Y 9TAKE ( BR1?1 HE KNEW HE
_H HIT PAY DIRT4 ,EV5 :ILE HE TALK$ 6H]1
MAK+ SURE 8 VOICE ON ! PH"O /AY$ CALM &
NONCOMMITTAL1 HE 0 FRANTIC,Y TE>+ ! PAGE
) H] "N ON X \ (! BOOK4 ,? 0 NO "T =
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FAI
SCRI2L+ NOTES4
  ,B ONCE 9 ! C>1 ,F>RELL CDN'T RISK
LI<TS OR SIR54 ,T WD H RAIS$ TOO _M UN-
PL1SANT "QS _H ANY"O /OPP$ HM4 ,HE DROVE
ONLY Z FA/ Z ! TRA6IF WD BE>4
  ,A RES\RCE;L MAN :O ALW C>RI$ A SELEC-
;N ( MAPS 9 8 C>1 ,GEET H1D$ ,EA/ ON
,CAMELBACK 9 ! G5]AL DIREC;N ( ,TEMPE1
US+ CROSST[N /OPS AT LI<TS &! USUAL RU%-
H\R SL[D[NS 6LOCATE ! EXACT ":ABS (
,WEB] ,DRIVE & 6P9PO9T ! A4RESS 9 8
.,?OMAS .,GUIDE4 ,F>RELL FIGUR$ X WD
TAKE HM AB =TY-FIVE M9UTES 6GET "!4 ,8
ACTUAL ELAPS$ "T 0 ?IRTY-EI<T M9UTES
FLAT4
  ,GETT+ \ (! C> ON ,WEB] ,DRIVE HALF A
BLOCK AWAY F ! A4RESS1 HE PATT$ 8 HOL/]
& FELT ! REASSUR+ PRES;E ( 8 #.CH ,SPE-
CIAL4 ,X 0 POSSI# T ! OLD WOMAN _H LI$ &
T H] SON _H BE5 "R "! 9 ! ROOM ) H] ALL
AL;G1 B ,F>RELL D\BT$ X4 ,! OLD WOMAN
DIDN'T S.D Z ?\< %E 0 T GLIB OR T FA/ ON
H] FEET4 ,%E WASN'T T CAPA# A LI>4 ,AT
L1/ ,GEET ,F>RELL F]V5TLY HOP$ %E
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FBJ
WASN'T4
  ,TAK+ A DEEP BR1?1 ,F>RELL OP5$ !
GATE1 /RODE UP ! L;G WALKWAY1 & RANG !
DOORBELL4 ,ALM IMMLY1 HE HE>D MOVE;T IN-
SIDE ! SMALL H\SE4 ,HE SWALL[$ H>D 6CALM
HMF Z ! DOOR OP5$ & AN OLD WOMAN PE]$
NE>SI<T$LY \ AT HM "? A SCRE5 DOOR4
8,YES80 %E ASK$4
  ,C>E;LLY1 US+ DELIB]ATE GE/URES1 HE
BR"\ \ 8 BADGE4 8,I'M A POLICE (FIC]10
HE SD1 HOLD+ X UP 6! SCRE5 S %E CD SEE
X4 8,I'M LOOK+ = ,&REW ,C>LISLE40
  ,! WOMAN SQU9T$ AT ! BADGE )\T R1D+ X4
8,HE ISN'T "H10 %E SD4
  8,CD ,I TALK 6Y !N8 ,>E Y 8 "M80
  8,=! "T 2+10 %E ANSW]$4
  ,F>RELL WOND]$ :AT T M1NT4 ,HE WOND]$1
TOO1 IF %E RECOGNIZ$ 8 VOICE F ! PH"O4
,IF S1 H] NEXT "Q GAVE NO H9T ( X4 8,:AT
D Y WANT ) HM80
  8,WE WANT 6ASK HM "S "QS1 T'S ALL10
,F>RELL ANSW]$4 8,"! >E A FEW MATT]S WE
NE$ 6CLE> UP40
  8,ME1 TOO10 ! OLD WOMAN A4$1 OP5+ !
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FBA
SCRE5 DOOR1 MO;N+ HM 9SIDE4 8,I H "S
MATT]S ,I'D L ,&REW 6CLE> UP = ME1 TOO40
  ,"S?+ 9 ! WOMAN'S 9JUR$ T"O SU7E/$ A
SWIT* 9 TACTICS F 9VE/IGATOR 6SYMPA?IZ]1
F POT5TIAL 5EMY 6ALLY4 8,:AT K9D ( MAT-
T]S1 MA'AM80 ,F>RELL ASK$ 9NOC5TLY4
  8,HE /OLE MY M"OY1 = "O ?+10 %E ANSW]$
) ILL-3C1L$ FURY1 8MY M"OY & MY BANK-
BOOKS4 ,!N1 :5 HE SAW ,I 0 L1V+1 HE 0 S
ANGRY T ,I ?9K HE WD H KILL$ ME IF HE CD
H GOTT5 CLOSE 5\<1 B ,I FOOL$ HM4 ,I
DROVE AWAY ALL 0MYF4 ,I DROVE ALL ! WAY
"H4 ,C Y 2LIEVE X8 ,&REW N"E ?"\ ,I WD1
& NEI DID ,I4 ,AF ALL1 ,I'M SIXTY-FIVE
YE>S OLD & _H N"E DRIV5 A C> 2F 9 MY
LIFE1 B ,I DID4 ,S HELP ME ,I DID4 ,I
WDN'T H D"O X1 EI1 IF HE _HN'T TR1T$ ME
S BADLY40
  8,MAYBE Y "\ 6TELL ME AB X1 MA'AM10
,GEET ,F>RELL SD4 8,? CD 2 IMPORTANT40

  ,DAVY 0 SURPRIS$ :5 HE SAW ! BALD-H1D$
MAN /&+ \TSIDE ! GLASS PATIO DOOR4 ,!
MAN 0 WE>+ FUNNY BR[N-COLOR$ CLO!S1 !
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FBB
K9D ) PLANTS PA9T$ ON !M1 T SOLDI]S "S-
"TS WORE 9 ! MOVIES4
  8,NANA .,DAHD10 HE CALL$4 8,"S"O'S
"H40
  ,DAVY EXPECT$ ! MAN WD WAIT \TSIDE UN-
TIL ,RITA CAME 6! DOOR 6TALK 6HM4 ,9/1D1
HE %OV$ ! DOOR OP5 & /EPP$ 9SIDE4
  8,:O >E Y80 ,DAVY DEM&$4 8,:AT D Y
WANT80
  8,Y10 ! MAN ANSW]$4 8,Y'RE :AT ,I
WANT40
  ,! MAN LUNG$ = HM4 ,DAVY TRI$ 6D>T \ (
! WAY1 B ! MAN 0 TOO QK4 ,HE CAU<T ,DAVY
0"O >M1 SP9N+ HM >.D4 ,HE SWUNG ! * UP 9
! AIR & HELD HM TWO FEET (F ! GR.D4
  8,Y 7 TALK+ 6"SBODY1 KID4 ,:O 0 X8 ,":
>E !Y80
  8,I'M "R "H10 A WOMAN'S VOICE SD 2H
HM4 8,DON'T HURT HM40
  8,NANA .,DAHD10 ! BOY -PLA9$4 8,HE J
CAME "R 9 ! H\SE4 ,HE DIDN'T EV5 KNOCK40
  ,SU45LY1 ! MAN'S >M CLAMP$ TI<T >.D
,DAVY'S ?ROAT1 *OK+ (F 8 AIR4 ,HE KICK$
& F"\1 B HE CDN'T GET AWAY4 ,! LA/ ?+ HE
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FBC
HE>D 2F HE BLACK$ \ 0 ! MAN SAY+1 8,I
DON'T H 6KNOCK1 2C Z L;G Z ,I H Y1 ,I [N
! PLACE4 ,ISN'T T "R1 OLD WOMAN80
  ,DAVY DIDN'T SEE ,RITA'S ANSW]+ NOD4
,X 0 TRUE4 ,Z L;G Z HE _H ,DAVY1 ,&REW
,C>LISLE CD H ANY?+ ELSE HE WANT$4

  ,>.D ! ,P9AL ,C.TY ,%]IFF'S ,DE"P;T1
,DETECTIVE ,GEET ,F>RELL _H A 3SID]A#
REPUT,N Z A LADIES' MAN4 ,) M5 HE CD 2
T\< & H>D-NOS$ Z HELL1 B ) WOM5 HE G5TL$
!M AL;G UNTIL EV5 ! BAD "OS (F]$ 6GIVE
HM ! %IRTS (F _! BACKS4
  ,SL[LY B URG5TLY1 ,GEET ,F>RELL "W$
,MYRNA ,L\ISE ,SPAULD+4 ,HE DIDN'T RU%
H]1 B HE DIDN'T ALL[ ANY UNNEC DELAYS1
EI4 ,)9 M9UTES1 HE _H TALK$ H] 96%[+ HM
! 3T5TS (! BATT]$ ,VALIANT'S PACK$
TRUNK4 ,HE RECOGNIZ$ ,JOHNNY ,RIVK9'S "N
Z SOON Z HE SAW ! TAG ON ! LU7AGE1 B HE
DIDN'T LET ANY?+ 2TRAY 8 EXULT,N4 ,2C X
0 TOO SOON4 ,HE NE$$ 6"K M4
  ,S HE L$ ! G>RUL\S OLD LADY "? H] EN-
TIRE "D1 5C\RAG+ H] 6REMEMB] "EY?+ F !
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FBD
MO;T %E WOKE UP UNTIL HE HMF _H >RIV$ ON
H] DOOR/EP4
  ,MYRNA ,L\ISE LOV$ HAV+ AN APPRECIA-
TIVE AUDI;E4 ,%E W>M$ 6! TELL+ & 0 TOT,Y
5GROSS$ 0! "T %E GOT 6! "P AB GO+ 96! (-
FICE 9 ,TUCSON 6PICK UP ^? MY/]I\S PAP]S
) ^? TWO WOM5'S "NS ON X4 ,ONLY !N1 Z %E
0 TELL+ ! DETECTIVE AB ! PAP]S1 DID %E
FULLY ALL[ H]F 6"K :AT ^? TWO "NS M1NT1
:AT ,&REW 0 RE,Y GO+ 6D4 ,X HIT ,DETEC-
TIVE ,F>RELL AT ! SAME "T1 L A FI]CE1
D\#-FI/$ BL[ 6! GUT4
  8,": IS HE N[80 HE DEM&$ SAVAGELY4
,ALL G5TLE;S 4APPE>$ F ! MAN1 TRANS=M$
9/ANTLY 96A S+LE-M9D$ 9T5S;Y T 0 F"R5+
6SEE4
  8,I DON'T "K10 ,MYRNA ,L\ISE :IMP]$4
8,I DON'T H ANY IDEA40
  8,WE'VE GOT 6F9D HM4 ,": 0 HE :5 Y
LEFT HM80
  8,I ALR TOLD Y4 ,AT ! /ORAGE UNIT4 ,9
,TUCSON40
  8,C ,I USE YR PH"O80 HE ASK$4
  8,YES10 %E :ISP]$1 B>ELY 3TA9+ !
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FBE
DESPAIR+ SOB T ROSE 9 H] ?ROAT4 8,G
AH1D4 ,HELP YRF40






















         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FBF
























         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FBG

                  #BJ

  ,DR4 ,JOHN/ON1 ! VET1 0 GU>D$LY OPTI-
MI/IC AB ! DOG'S *.ES = SURVIVAL Z HE
SIFT$ A P9* ( YELL[ P[D] 96,B"O'S EYES4
8,? IS APOMORPH9E10 HE EXPLA9$1 8AN
EMETIC4 ,X GETS 96! BLOOD/R1M "? ! CON-
JUNCTIVAL SACS4 ,X'LL MAKE HM B>F 8 GUTS
\ )9 M9UTES4 ,HE'S C]TA9LY EXHIBIT+ ALL
! CLASSIC SYMPTOMS ( SLUG-BAIT POISON+4
,":'D HE PICK X UP80
  8,I DON'T "K10 ,DIANA SD4 8,HE 0 F9E J
TW5TY M9UTES OR S E>LI] :5 WE PUT HM \T-
SIDE4 ,HE CAME BACK 9 ACT+ DRUNK4 ,HE CD
B>ELY WALK40
  ,! VET %OOK 8 H1D4 8,Y'VE GOT A NEI<-
BOR :O HATES DOGS40
  8,I DON'T H ANY NEI<BORS10 ,DIANA />T$
6SAY1 & !N /OPP$4 ,A *ILL RAN D[N H]
SP9E4 ,P]H ? 0 X1 %E ?"\1 ! 2G9N+ ( :AT
,RITA CALL$ ! W9D -+ 6! W9DMILL1 ! R1SON
%E 0 WE>+ A GUN4
  8,Y'D BETT] G ON \ N[1 ,DIANA10 ,DR4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FBH
,JOHN/ON W>N$4 8,B"O IS GO+ 6BE "O MIS]-
A# DOG "H =A :ILE1 B IF WE CAU<T X Z
SOON Z Y SAY1 HE %D PULL "?4 ,I'D L TO
KEEP HM OV]NI<T1 ?\<1 IF Y DON'T M9D40
  ,B ,DIANA DID M9D4 ,%E DR1D$ ! IDEA (
GO+ HOME )\T ! DOG4 ,B"O 0 H] F/ L9E (
DEF5SE4 ,%E GL.ED AT H] WAT*4 ,X WASN'T
D>K YET & WDN'T 2 = "S "T1 B ONCE X WAS1
%E WANT$ ! DOG ) H]4
  8,I'D R WAIT1 IF X'S N GO+ 6BE TOO
L;G40
  8,SUIT YRF10 ,DR4 ,JOHN/ON SD4 8,X
WON'T TAKE L;G1 B X ISN'T GO+ 6BE PRET-
TY40

  ,HALF AN H\R E>LI] & #ABJ MILES AWAY1
,P9AL ,C.TY HOMICIDE DETECTIVE ,GEET
,F>RELL _H 3SID]$ 8 OP;NS & _HN'T LIK$
ANY ( !M4 ,HE TRI$ CALL+ ,BR&ON ,WALK]
DIRECTLY1 B "! 0 NO ANSW]1 EI AT 8 (FICE
OR AT HOME4 ,F>RELL REFUS$ 6WA/E ANY M
"T 9 /,N>Y PHON+1 B HE DIDN'T WANT TO
AB&ON 8 "Q+ ( ,MYRNA ,L\ISE ,SPAULD+1
EI4 ,"! MI<T 2 M %E CD TELL HM1 DETAILS
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FBI
HE _H S F> NEGLECT$ 6ASK4
  ,F>RELL FLUNG ! PH"O BACK ON ! HOOK4
8,Y D "K :AT HE'S UP TO1 DON'T Y80
  ,MYRNA ,L\ISE NO4$4 8,I D N[40
  8,I'M GO+ 6TRY 6/OP HM10 ! DETECTIVE
3T9U$ GRIMLY4 8,W Y HELP8 ,I'LL NE$ Y TO
-E ) ME40
  8,YES10 ,MYRNA ,L\ISE ANSW]$1 RIS+ UN-
/1DILY 6H] FEET4 8,I'LL D :AT"E ,I C4 ,J
LET ME GET MY PURSE40
  ,!Y LEFT ,WEB] ,DRIVE 9 A SPRAY (
GRAVEL & H1D$ = ;,I-#AJ4 ,ONCE ACR !
,P9AL ,C.TY L9E1 ,DETECTIVE ,F>RELL
SWIT*$ ON LI<TS & SIR5S & DROVE L A BAT
\ ( HELL4 ,!Y SP$ S\? ON ! ,9T]/ATE "? !
HOT DES]T EV5+1 :ILE ,F>RELL'S M9D GRAP-
PL$ )! PRO#M ON ?REE DI6]5T LEVELS4
  ,F/1 HE D1LT )! C>1 NAVIGAT+ ) FI]CE
3C5TR,N4 ,SECOND1 HE PLAY$ RADIO TAG1
TRY+ 6GET A GD 5 3NEC;N 6BE PAT*$ "? TO
"S"O 9 ,TUCSON :O CD ACTU,Y HELP HM4
,?IRD1 HE LI/5$ 6,MYRNA ,L\ISE ,SPAULD-
+'S SEEM+LY 5D.S /ORY4
  ,X WASN'T UNTIL A ,P9AL ,C.TY 4PAT*]
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FCJ
HOOK$ HM UP )! C.T]"P 4PAT*] 9 ,PIMA1 A
GUY "ND ,HANK ,MA4]N1 T ,F>RELL F9,Y
FELT Z ?\< HE 0 TALK+ 6"SBODY R1L1 "S"O
)A S5SE ( URG5CY4
  8,:AT C ,I D = Y1 ,DETECTIVE ,F>RELL80
,MA4]N ASK$4 8,BR&ON ,WALK] TOLD ME 6EX-
PECT YR CALL40
  8,": IS HE80
  8,AT ! HOSPITAL4 ,8 "F'S DY+40
  8,I'M SORRY Z HELL 6HE> X1 B ? C'T
WAIT4 ,Y'VE GOT 6GET HM ON ! PH"O = ME40
  8,:Y80
  8,TELL HM WE'VE GOT TR\#4 ,TELL HM X'S
BAD4 ,I J DON'T "K H[ BAD40
  8,X CD TAKE "S "T10 ,MA4]N CAU;N$4
8,!Y'RE 9 ! ,,ICU AT ,TUCSON ,M$ICAL
,C5T]4 ,C ANY"O ELSE HELP80
  ,3SID]+ :AT ,MYRNA _H TOLD HM AB ,C>-
LISLE'S ILLEGAL PUR*ASE ( POLICE RECORDS
& :AT ,F>RELL HMF KNEW AB ! GRAFT & COR-
RUP;N 9 ! ,PIMA ,C.TY ,%]IFF'S ,(FICE1 !
DETECTIVE 0 LE]Y AB BR++ 9 ANY M PLAY]S
^: LOYALTY MI<T 2 "QA#4 ,MA4]N S.D$ L !
G5U9E >TICLE1 B ,F>RELL REMA9$
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FCA
SKEPTICAL4 ,"S"O HI< 9 ,DU,%ANE'S ADM9-
I/R,N _H HELP$ ,&REW ,C>LISLE AT L1/
ONCE 2F4 ,X MI<T V WELL HAPP5 AG4
  8,I DON'T WANT 6H 6BRIEF "S"O ELSE IF
X ISN'T NEC10 ,F>RELL H$G$4 8,TRY GETT+
"? 6,WALK]4 ,I'M J N[ PASS+ ,PICA*O
,P1K4 ,IF Y C'T R1* HM )9 A MATT] ( M9-
UTES1 !N WE'LL H 6D "S?+ ELSE40

  ,0SIX-?IRTY ,W&A ,ORTIZ1 ,FAT ,CRACK'S
WIFE1 0 F9I%+ ! LA/ BAT* ( TORTILLAS4
,%E _H />T$ \ E>LY T MORN+ 0MAK+ SIX
DOZ5 TAMALES1 A BIG VAT ( P9TO B1NS1 &
ANO!R ( *ILI4 ,)A DOZ5 PREP>,NS LEFT 6D
2F ! S+]S >RIV$1 %E 0 HOT1 SW1TY1 &
TIR$4 ,%E 0 AL ANNOY$4
  ,%E 0 ANNOY$ 2C H] "M-IN-LAW1 ,JUANI-
TA1 _H REFUS$ 6LIFT A F+] 6HELP H]4 ,R1L
,PRESBYT]IANS DIDN'T "PICIPATE 9 PAGAN
BAPTISMS1 ,JUANITA _H >*LY 9=M$ ,FAT
,CRACK :5 HE _H G"O 6HIS "M'S H\SE ASK+
= HELP4 ,%E WDN'T L5D H] SUPPORT 6,LOOKS
,AT ,NO?+'S CRAZY IDEA1 N EV5 Z A FAVOR
= H] [N SI/]4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FCB
  ,S ,W&A _H D"O ALL ! COOK+ H]F1 N COM-
PLA9+1 B )A LAY] ( V UN-,*RI/IANLIKE AN-
G] SEE?+ J 2N H] SEEM+LY PLACID SURFACE4
,? 0 ,W&A'S SECOND *UR*-RELAT$ BATTLE )
H] "M-IN-LAW 9 LESS ?AN A MON?4 ,! F/ _H
BE5 OV] :E!R OR N ,JUANITA'S GR&*N WD
ATT5D ,PRESBYT]IAN ,DAILY ,VAC,N ,BI#
S*OOL4 ,JUANITA _H WON ! SKIRMI% H&S D[N
S9CE ! ,PRESBYT]IAN *UR* AL HAPP5$ 6[N !
RES]V,N'S ONLY SWIMM+ POOL4
  ,"! 7 "TS1 ,W&A ?"\1 SLAPP+ ! LA/ TOR-
TILLA ON ! GRI4LE & PICK+ X (F ) NIM#
F+]S1 T %E WI%$ ALL ! ,ANGLO MIS.N>IES
WD G BACK ": !Y CAME F4 ,EV5 ,FAT
,CRACK'S ,*RI/IAN-,SCI;E /UDIES "S"TS
PROVOK$ H]4
  ,W&A 0 / NURS+ H] GRUDGE :5 ,LOOKS ,AT
,NO?+ P.D$ ON ! DOOR ) 8 WALK+ /ICK4 ,%E
WASN'T ESPECI,Y HAPPY 6SEE HM1 EI4 ,AT T
"PICUL> MO;T1 ! ,9DIAN M$IC9E MAN 0 M
TR\# ?AN ALL ! O!RS PUT TGR4
  8,:AT IS X80 %E ASK$ CURTLY1 WIP+ H]
H&S ON H] APRON4
  8,": IS YR HUSB&80
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FCC
  8,TAK+ A NAP4 ,HE HAS 6/AY UP ALL NI<T
)! S+]S4 ,HE WANT$ 6SLEEP 2F GO+ 6GET
,RITA40
  8,WE M/ G N[10 ,LOOKS ,AT ,NO?+ SD UR-
G5TLY4 8,X'S />T$40
  ,W&A %OOK H] H1D4 ,GABE _H GIV5 H]
/RICT ORD]S N 6WAKE HM UP UNTIL SEV54
,HE _H SP5T ! :OLE AFN DRA7+ A /ALL$
,,BIA ROAD GRAD] \ (A S&Y WA%1 & HE _H
WANT$ 6SLEEP Z L;G Z POSSI#4 ,LOOK+ AT !
AGITAT$ OLD MAN1 ,W&A WOND]$ IF P]H HE 0
CRAZY 9 A4I;N 62+ BL4
  8,NO10 ,W&A REPLI$4 8,NO?+ HAS />T$
YET4 ,X'S TOO E>LY4 ,! S+]S DON'T -E UN-
TIL N9E40
  8,N ! S+]S10 HE SNAPP$4 8,! .OHB4 ,WE
M/ G QKLY1 OR X W 2 TOO LATE40

  ,9 ,DR4 ,JOHN/ON'S WAIT+ ROOM1 ,DIANA
,LADD ALT]NATELY SAT & PAC$ :ILE ,"F
,JOHN ?UMB$ "? A WORN PET-FOOD CATALOG4
,%E 2RAT$ H]F = L1V+ ,RITA & ,DAVY HOME
AL"O1 = 2+ /UPID AB WAIT+ =! DOG1 = N
A3EPT+ ,BR&ON ,WALK]'S (F] ( HELP4 ,:5
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FCD
,DR4 ,JOHN/ON'S RECEP;NI/ GOT UP 6L1VE1
,DIANA ASK$ 6USE ! PH"O4
  ,! PH"O AT HOME RANG N9E OR T5 "TS )\T
ANY"O ANSW]+4 ,T 9 XF WASN'T AL>M+4 ,:5
,RITA 0 \ 9 H] ROOM1 %E & ,DAVY "S"TS
DIDN'T HE> ! PH"O R++4
  ,J Z ,DIANA />T$ 6HANG UP1 ,RITA AN-
SW]$4 8,HELLO40
  8,RITA1 X'S ME4 ,DIANA4 ,IS "EY?+ OKAY
"!80
  8,OKAY80 ,RITA'S VOICE SEEM$ 4TANT1
HOLL[4 8,YES4 ,"EY?+ "H IS OKAY40
  8,B"O'S / ) ,DR4 ,JOHN/ON10 ,DIANA
RU%$ ON4 8,WE'RE WAIT+ = HM4 ,WE'LL 2
HOME Z SOON Z WE C4 ,DID ,DAVY TELL Y HE
C G ) Y IF Y H 6L1VE 2F ,I GET HOME80
  8,NO10 ,RITA REPLI$4 8,HE DIDN'T TELL
ME1 B T'S GD40
  ,DIANA HUNG UP1 TOO PREO3UPI$ 6?9K X
ODD T ,RITA _H ANSW]$ ! PH"O 9/1D (
,DAVY4 ,)\T L1V+ ! DESK1 ,DIANA DECID$
6SWALL[ H] PRIDE & CALL ,BR&ON ,WALK]4
,! L1/ %E CD D 0 LET HM "K :AT _H HAPP5$
& ASK = 8 ADVICE1 B HE WASN'T IN4 ,)A
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FCE
FRU/RAT$ SI<1 ,DIANA SAT BACK D[N4 ,X 0
PROBABLY J Z WELL4 ,:AT %E & ,RITA
PLANN$ = ,&REW ,C>LISLE %D 2 KEPT TOT,Y
SECRET4 ,IF %E TALK$ 6,BR&ON ,WALK]1 %E
MI<T A3ID5T,Y LET "S?+ SLIP4
  ,"F ,JOHN GL.ED AT H]4 8,! DOG'S GO+
6BE F9E10 ! PRIE/ SD REASSUR+LY1 MISR1D+
H] AGIT,N Z 3C]N = ,B"O4 8,WE GOT HM "H
S SOON AF X HAPP5$ T ,I'M SURE HE'LL 2
OKAY40
  ,DIANA NO4$ B SD NO?+4 ,AC 6,RITA1 ?+S
7 / ALL "R AT HOME1 B ) ,&REW ,C>LISLE
ON ! LOOSE1 ! DOG 0 RE,Y ! L1/ ( H] WOR-
RIES4 ,%E SAT "! WI%+ %E'D LEFT ! #DE AT
HOME ) ,RITA4
  8,X'S TAK+ S L;G10 %E SD1 GLANC+ AT H]
WAT* =! SECOND "T 9 LESS ?AN A M9UTE4
  8,"S ?+S C'T 2 RU%$10 ,"F ,JOHN RE-
PLI$4
  ,DIANA />T$ 6>GUE & !N ?"\ BETT] ( X4
,:AT ,"F ,JOHN DIDN'T "K WDN'T HURT HM4
,IF HE ?"\ %E 0 ONLY WORRI$ AB ! DOG1 S
2 X4

         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FCF

  ,N[ T HE 0 ACTU,Y 9SIDE ,DIANA ,LADD'S
H\SE1 ,C>LISLE FELT D[N"R 9V9CI#4 ,8
PLANS 7 "W+ P]FECTLY4 ,/ HOLD+ ! BOY1
,C>LISLE ORD]$ ! OLD WOMAN 6SIT D[N ON !
C\*4 ,%E DID S AT ONCE4 ,H] IMM -PLI.E
GRATIFI$ HM4 ,C>LISLE 0 SURE T HOLD+ !
BOY HO/AGE WD "W EXACTLY ! SAME MAGIC ON
,DIANA ,LADD4 ,) ,DAVY 9 JEOP>DY1 %E WD
H 6SUBMIT 6HIS E DEM&1 GIVE HM :AT"E HE
WANT$ :5 & H[ HE WANT$ X4
  ,! PH"O BL>$1 />TL+ HM S T HE ALM
DROPP$ ! *4 ,HE HELD ! KNIFE 6,DAVY'S
?ROAT4 8,ANSW] X10 HE GR[L$ AT ! OLD
WOMAN4 8,TRY ANY?+ FUNNY &! BOY DIES40
  ,CLUMSILY1 ,RITA H1V$ H]F (F ! C\* &
HOB#D OV] 6! PH"O4 ,C>LISLE NO4$ ) SAT-
ISFAC;N AT H] CURT ANSW]S4 ,Z F> Z HE CD
TELL1 %E MADE NO ATTEMPT 6PASS AL;G ANY
SECRET MESSAGES4
  8,:O 0 X80 HE ASK$ :5 %E PUT ! PH"O
BACK 9 ! CRADLE4 8,DIANA ,LADD80 ,! OLD
WOMAN NO4$4 8,:AT DID %E SAY80
  8,%E'LL 2 BACK SOON40
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FCG
  8,GD10 HE SD4 8,WE'LL 2 WAIT+1 WON'T
WE8 ,PULL ! CORD \ (! WALL40
  ,! OLD WOMAN HESITAT$ Z ?\< %E DIDN'T
"U/& HM4 ,HE BR&I%$ ! KNIFE OV] ! N[
FULLY AWAKE BOY4 ,SEE+ ! KNIFE1 ! BOY
REG>D$ HM "? T]RIFI$ EYES1 B HE MADE NO
EF=T 6FI<T4
  8,I SD PULL X \10 ,C>LISLE REP1T$4
8,NO M PH"O CALLS40 ,RITA YANK$ ! PH"O
CORD F XS RECEPTACLE1 & ,C>LISLE SMIL$4
8,GD4 ,N[1 BACK ON ! C\*40 ,HE ALM LAU<$
AL\D AT ! WAY ! OLD WOMAN JUMP$ 6D 8
BI4+4 ,HE 0 5JOY+ HAV+ !M ALL 0! %ORT
HAIRS4
  ,C>LISLE KNEW F/H& H[ ABJECT SUBMIS.N
"WS4 ,IF HE _H LE>N$ NO?+ ELSE1 8 TORM5-
TORS 9 ,FLOR;E _H TAU<T HM T LESSON
WELL4 ,HE _H SE5 H[1 9 ORD] 6AVOID PA91
VICTIMS C 2COME S EAG] 6PL1SE T !Y
TRANS=M !MVS 96WILL+ "PICIPANTS 9 _! [N
DE/RUC;N4 ,! OLD WOMAN'S REAC;N 0 A
TEXTBOOK CASE4 ,DIANA ,LADD'S WD 2 Z
WELL4
  ,)! "Y] WOMAN1 ?\<1 HE WD H 6BE C>E;L4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FCH
,PAC+ WD 2 "EY?+4 ,HE WD H 6RE/RA9 HMF 9
! 2G9N+ & N G TOO F>4 ,! K9D ( DEHUMAN-
IZ+ SUBMIS.N HE WANT$ F H] WD TAKE "T &
EF=T &A C]TA9 AM.T ( FI;SE4
  ,"! 7 ^? 9 ! PRISON -MUN;Y :O TOOK !
POSI;N T RAP+ A RAPI/ QUALIFI$ Z POETIC
JU/ICE & MAYBE EV5 Z A K9D ( AV].N !RA-
PY4 ,WELL1 ,&REW ,C>LISLE 0 "H 6TELL ^?
JOK]S T X _HN'T "W$ \ T WAY = HM4 ,PHYS-
ICAL VIOL,N _HN'T 8CUR$0 HM AT ALL4 ,IN-
/1D1 X _H ONLY A4$ FUEL 6HIS ,DIANA
,LADD BLOODLU/1 GIV5 HM "S?+ ELSE 6BLAME
H] =4 ,HE'D SP5T YE>S PLANN+ E MOVE ( 8
CAMPAIGN AG/ H]4 ,HE WDN'T SETTLE = ANY-
?+ LESS ?AN TOTAL CAPITUL,N4 ,HE LOOK$
=W>D 6HAV+ ,DIANA ,LADD CRAWL+ NAK$ ON !
FLOOR 2F HM4 ,HE WANT$ 6SEE H] ON H] H&S
& KNEES1 SUBJECT 6HIS E :IM4 ,HE WANT$ !
PL1SURE ( HE>+ ! BIT* BEG4
  ,C>LISLE SAT ! BOY D[N ON "O 5D (! C\*
& ORD]$ HM 6/AY / :ILE HE TI$ UP ! OLD
WOMAN4 ,BUSY )! TW9E1 ,C>LISLE F.D HE 0
HAV+ DI6ICULTY 3C5TRAT+4 ,8 :OLE BODY
PULS$ ) EAG];S =! -+ 3FRONT,N4 ,:AT WD
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FCI
HAPP5 9 ^? F/ CRUCIAL M9UTES8 HE WOND]$4
,WD %E FI<T OR GIVE 9 AT ONCE8 ,WD ! V
SI<T ( HM /RIKE T]ROR 9 H] HE>T8 ,WD %E
GUESS :AT 0 9 /ORE = H]8 ,HE DIDN'T ?9K
S4 ,! O!RS _HN'T1 :Y %D %E8
  ,=! F/ "T1 ,C>LISLE 3SID]$ :E!R OR N
%E'D BR+ ! PRIE/ BACK ) H]4 ,HE HOP$ N4
,C>LISLE 0 N A RELIGI\S MAN1 NOR 0 HE
T]RIBLY SUP]/ITI\S1 B ! IDEA ( KILL+ A
PRIE/ LACK$ APP1L4 ,N ONLY T1 HE 0 RE-
LUCTANT 6EXP5D 8 5]GIES ON ANY SIDE IS-
SUE T MI<T DULL 8 APPETITE =! MA9 C\RSE4
  8,:AT >E Y GO+ 6D80 ! OLD WOMAN ASK$1
9TRUD+ RUDELY 96HIS ?"\S4 ,HE DIDN'T AN-
SW] IMMLY4 ,F9I%$ TY+ H] "O GD H& 6!
CUMB]"S CA/1 HE W5T 6"W B9D+ H] SWOLL5
ANKLES TGR1 HO2L+ H] L A HORSE )! %ORT
L5G?S ( TW9E HE _H CUT UP & BR"\ AL;G =
T EXPRESS PURPOSE4 ,ADV.E PLANN+ 0 "EY-
?+4
  8,:AT"E ,I WANT10 HE REPLI$ NON*ALANT-
LY4 8,I'M GO+ 6D :AT"E ,I WANT40

  ,DIANA 0 AB 6CALL HOME AG :5 ,DR4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FDJ
,JOHN/ON RETURN$ 6! WAIT+ ROOM4 ,X 0 ALM
SEV51 A :OLE H\R AF ! VET]9>IAN'S (FICE
_H BE5 S*$UL$ 6CLOSE4
  8,I ?9K WE'RE OV] ! HUMP N[10 ,DR4
,JOHN/ON SD4 8,HE'S BE5 "O SICK PUPPY1 B
,I 2LIEVE HE'S GO+ 6BE OKAY4 ,PL5TY (
RE/1 PL5TY ( LIQUIDS4 ,TELL ,DAVY N TO
OV]TAX HM =! NEXT FEW "DS4 ,HE'S PROBA-
BLY "? ! WOR/ ( X1 B WE'D BETT] COV] YR
C> S1T ) "S OLD BLANKETS1 J 9 CASE40
  ,DR4 ,JOHN/ON'S ASSI/ANT1 A BURLY TE5-
AG] "ND ,SCOTT1 C>RI$ ! AIL+ DOG BACK \
6,"F ,JOHN'S C> & LAID HM G5TLY ON A
LAY] ( HA/ILY ASSEM#D BLANKETS4 ,)A HUGE
SI<1 ! DOG PUT 8 *9 ON 8 FRONT PAWS &
CLOS$ 8 EYES4
  8,CALL ME 9 ! MORN+10 ,DR4 ,JOHN/ON
SD1 8& LET ME "K H[ HE'S DO+40
  ,DIANA REPLI$ )A GRATE;L NOD4 8,I'LL
CALL F/ ?+40
  8,T 0 WEIRD10 ,SCOTT SD Z ,"F ,JOHN'S
,BUICK PULL$ \ (! (FICE P>K+ LOT4
  8,:AT'S WEIRD80 ,DR4 ,JOHN/ON ASK$4
  8,H[ -E T LADY 0 WE>+ A GUN80
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FDA
  8,A GUN8 ,0 %E RE,Y80 ,DR4 ,JOHN/ON
S.D$ />TL$4 8,I 0 S 3C]N$ AB ! DOG T ,I
N"E EV5 NOTIC$40

  ,! OLD WOMAN SAT SIL5TLY AT "O 5D (!
C\*4 ,C>LISLE ORD]$ ,DAVY 6! OPPOSITE
5D1 ": HE 2GAN TY+ ! BOY UP Z WELL4 ,HE
WANT$ 8 PRISON]S RELATIVELY IMMOBILE B
EASILY TRANSPORTA# :5 NEC1 2C ,C>LISLE
_H NO 9T5;N ( PLAY+ \ 8 :OLE GAME 9 ,DI-
ANA ,LADD'S H\SE4
  ,X 0 F9E =! F/ MAJOR SKIRMI% 6TAKE
PLACE "H4 ,9VAD+ ,DIANA'S PRIVATE T]RI-
TORY & BLOODY+ H] "! 0 AN ESS5TIAL "P (
8 PSY*OLOGICAL W>F>E AG/ H]4 ,B AF T1 AF
HE'D HUMILIAT$ H] & E/ABLI%$ A PATT]N (
ABSOLUTE 3TROL1 !N HE WD TAKE 8 PRISON]S
6! CAVE1 6,G>Y ,LADD'S [N SPECIAL CAVE1
= DESS]T4
  ,C>LISLE !ORIZ$ T ! ISOLAT$ CAVE 0:AT
_H ONCE BE5 ,RATTLESNAKE ,SKULL ,VILLAGE
0 EM95TLY SUIT$ 6HIS PURPOSES4 ,NO "O1 N
EV5 T WISE-ASS "Y DETECTIVE1 _H "E FIG-
UR$ \ T ! CAVE1 N ! .CHARCO1 _H BE5 !
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FDB
ACTUAL SC5E ( ,G9A ,ANT"O'S LA/ MO;TS ON
? E>?4
  ,DUR+ ! PRETRIAL PROCE$+S1 ,C>LISLE _H
MADE ABSOLUTELY SURE T NO "O KNEW (! EX-
I/;E ( ,G>Y ,LADD'S MANUSCRIPT ) XS :9+
REF];ES 6! CAVE4 ,ONCE HE LEFT ?REE M
BODIES "! 6ROT1 HE WD H ALL ! M R1SON TO
SEE T ,G>Y ,LADD'S CRUDE MANUSCRIPT 4AP-
PE>$ (F ! FACE (! E>?4 ,TOO BAD ,MYRNA
,L\ISE _HN'T ?R[N T 9 ! BURN+ B>REL 9/1D
( .,SAVAGE4 ,%E WD H BE5 DO+ "S?+ USE;L
=A *ANGE4
  ,HE ?"\ L;G+LY AB ! COOL1 D>K CAVE1 AB
H[ ! "T.S LIME/"O WALLS WD SWALL[ UP
:AT"E AGONIZ$ S.DS 8 "PICUL> BR& ( PL1S-
URE MI<T WR+ F 8 CAPTIVES4 ,9 T DUSKY
CAVE1 )! A4$ LUXURY ( TOTAL ISOL,N1 NO
"O WD 9T]RUPT HM OR 9T]F]E )! PROCESS4
,"!1 ONCE &= ALL '''
  ,C>LISLE _H TRI$ EXPLA9+ T SAME ?+ TO
,G>Y ,LADD YE>S 2F1 ! MORN+ AF _! LL DE-
BACLE1 B ! MAN _H BE5 HY/]ICAL :5 HE
LE>N$ ! GIRL 0 D1D1 A/.D$ T ?+S _H GOT S
F> \ ( H& :ILE HE SLEPT4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FDC
  ,EV5 !N1 ?+S WD H BE5 F9E IF ,LADD
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BODY S %E CD H A PROP] BURIAL4 ,! FOOL
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LISLE _HN'T /OPP$ HM1 ,LADD WD H G"O TO
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LI<T WASN'T ALL ! FIRE 0 =1 N AT ALL4
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COALS4
 ,62G9 )1 %E _H LIK$ 2+ TI$ UP1 GI7L+
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         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FDD
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FE> & !N 6T]ROR & DR1D Z ! T5OR (! NI<T
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C]TA9 LACK ( DELICACY & FI;SE ON 8 "P4
,HE M* PREF]R$ ! SMALL1 ANIMAL-L :IMP]S
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CIT$ HM6 ,EV5 ?\< X 0 9 A LANGUAGE HE
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C\RSE1 B HE _H "U/OOD4
  ,& ALL ! :ILE T JACKASS (A ,G>Y ,LADD
0 D1D DRUNK 9 ! PICKUP4 ,:5 HE DID WAKE
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,C>LISLE MANAG$ 63V9CE ,G>Y T HE1 TOO1
_H BE5 AN ACTIVE "PICIPANT 9 ALL T _H
G"O 2F1 T 2+ TOO DRUNK 6REMEMB] 0 NO EX-
CUSE4
  8,B %E'S D1D10 ,LADD _H PROTE/$1 Z ?\<
HE CDN'T Q 2LIEVE X4 ,( C\RSE %E 0 D1D4
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:OLE IDEA1 WASN'T X8 ,B ,G>Y ,LADD 0 F>
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:AT HE 0 LE>N+1 & HE _HN'T BE5 SM>T 5 TO
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FDE
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  ,C>LISLE %OOK HMF \ ( :AT 0 ALM A /U-
POR & F.D HE 0 SITT+ ON ! FLOOR 9 FRONT
( ,DIANA ,LADD'S C\*4 ,BO? ! BOY &! OLD
WOMAN 7 TI$ UP1 AL? HE DIDN'T REMEMB]
F9I%+ ! JOB4 ,!Y 7 BO? WAT*+ HM ) /RANGE
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A MO;T OR :AT8
  ,^! EPISODES 7 2G9N+ 6BO!R HM4 ,X _H
HAPP5$ S"EAL "TS ( LATE1 & X SC>$ ! %IT
\ ( HM4 ,0 HE LOS+ 8 M9D8 ,HE'D -E BACK
6HMF FEEL+ Z ?\< HE'D BE5 ASLEEP :5 HE
KNEW HE _HN'T BE54 ,"S"TS ONLY SECONDS
WD H PASS$1 "S"TS :OLE M9UTES4
  ,HE 9SPECT$ ! KNOTS4 ,!Y 7 PROP]LY
TI$1 B HE _H NO RECOLLEC;N ( DO+ X4 ,"S-
H[ X SEEM$ Z ?\< 8 BODY & 8 M9D FUNC;N$
9DEP5D5TLY4 ,HE'D H 6WAT* T4 ,X CD 2
DANG]\S1 ESPECI,Y 9 5EMY T]RITORY4
  8,:O >E Y80 ! BOY DEM&$4
  ,C>LISLE LOOK$ H>D AT ! *1 RECOGNIZ+
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C]TA9 T\<;S T _H BE5 TOT,Y LACK+ 9 8 "F4
  8,WELL1 SON10 ,C>LISLE SD 9 A K9D T"O
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FDF
T 2LI$ 8 ^WS1 8Y C J ?9K ( ME Z RETRIBU-
;N P]SONIFI$1 A WALK+1 TALK+ ,EYE-=-AN-
,EYE40
  ,DAVY ,LADD FR[N$ AT ! UNFAMILI> ^WS1
B HE DIDN'T BACK (F4 8,:AT DOES T M1N80
  ,&REW ,C>LISLE LAU<$1 GIV+ ! BOY CR$IT
= RAW N]VE4 8,X M1NS T ! S9S (! "FS >E
VISIT$ ON ! SONS1 J L ! ,GD ,BOOK SAYS4
,X AL M1NS T IF Y DON'T D E S+LE GOD-
DAMN$ ?+ ,I SAY1 !N ,I USE MY TRU/Y
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ALL D1D M1T4 ,D Y "U/& T80
  ,DAVY NO4$4
  ,! ROOM 0 QUIET =A MO;T :5 SU45LY1
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OLD LADY 2GAN :AT S.D$ L A M\RN;L1 ALM
:ISP]$ *ANT 9 A LANGUAGE ,C>LISLE DIDN'T
RECOGNIZE4 ,HE GL[]$ AT H]4 8,%UT UP60
HE ORD]$4
  ,%E /OPP$4 8,I'M PRAY+10 %E SD1 SP1K+
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  ,T MADE HM LAU<1 EV5 ?\< HE DIDN'T L !
WAY %E LOOK$ AT HM4 8,Y G "R AH1D1 !N4
,IF Y ?9K "S K9D ( ,9DIAN MUMBO-JUMBO IS
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FDG
GO+ 6FIX ALL ?1 !N 2 MY GUE/4 ,B ,I
WDN'T C.T ON X1 OLD WOMAN4 ,N AT ALL40
  8,:Y DID Y D X80 %E ASK$4
  8,D :AT80
  8,:Y DID Y KILL MY GR&DAU<T]80
  ,PROSECUTORS & LAWY]S & POLICE T5D TO
LIMP >.D "QS L T4 ,C>LISLE WASN'T A3US-
TOM$ 6S* A DIRECT APPROA*4 ,X CAU<T HM
MO;T>ILY (F GU>D4
  8,2C ,I FELT L X10 HE SD )A GR94 8,T'S
ALL ! R1SON ,I NE$$40

  ,A :ILE LAT]1 ,COYOTE FOLL[$ ! TRAIL
6": ,COTTONTAIL 0 SITT+4 8,BRO!R1 Y
TRICK$ ME BACK "!1 & N[ ,I RE,Y AM GO+
6EAT Y UP40
  8,PL1SE10 SD ,COTTONTAIL1 8DON'T EAT
ME YET4 ,I DON'T WANT 6DIE UNTIL ,I H
SE5 A JIG D.ER "O LA/ "T4 ,D ? = ME & !N
Y MAY EAT 6YR HE>T'S 3T5T40
  8,ALL "R10 SD ,COYOTE4 8,:AT D Y WANT
ME 6D80
  8,-E ) ME OV] "H10 SD ,COTTONTAIL4
8,F/ ,I W PLA/] YR EYES %UT ) PIT*4 ,!N1
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FDH
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! D.E IS OV]1 !N Y MAY EAT ME40
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,:5 ,COYOTE 0 9 ! MI4LE (! FIELD1 ,COT-
TONTAIL SET FIRE 6X4 ,SOON ! CANE />T$
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! H1T1 B HE ?"\ HE 0 HOT 2C HE 0 DANC+ S
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  ,& T1 MY FR1 IS ! /ORY (! SECOND "T
,COTTONTAIL TRICK$ ,COYOTE4

  ,F ! S.D & CAD;E ( T S(TLY CROON$
*ANT1 "S"O LI/5+ MI<T H ?"\ ,RITA ,ANT"O
0 GIV+ VOICE 6"S ANCI5T TRADI;NAL ,PAPA-
GO LULLABY4 ,X 9CLUD$ ! REQUISITE NUMB]
( REPETI;NS1 ! PROP] RHY?M1 B X 0 RE,Y A
W> *ANT1 &! ^WS 7 5TIRELY NEW3

8,D N LOOK AT ME1 LL ,OLHONI4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FDI
,D N LOOK AT ME :5 ,I S+ 6Y
,S ? MAN W N "K WE >E SP1K+
,S ? EVIL MAN W ?9K HE IS W9N+4

8,D N LOOK AT ME
,:5 ,I S+1 LL ,OLHONI1
,B LI/5 6:AT ,I SAY4
,? MAN IS EVIL4
,? MAN IS ! 5EMY4
,? MAN IS .OHB4
,D N LET ? F"R5 Y4

8,:AT"E HAPP5S 9 ! BATTLE1
,WE M/ N LET HM W94
,I AM S++ A W> S;G = Y1
,LL ,OLHONI4 ,I AM S++
,A HUNT]'S S;G1 A KILL]'S S;G4
,I AM S++ A S;G 6,I'ITOI
,ASK+ HM 6HELP U4
,ASK+ HM 6GUIDE U 9 ! BATTLE
,S ! EVIL .OHB DOES N W94

8,D N LOOK AT ME1 LL ,OLHONI1
,D N LOOK AT ME :5 ,I S+ 6Y4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FEJ
,I M/ S+ ? S;G F\R "TS
,= ALL ( NATURE GOES 9 F\RS1
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,:5 ! .OHB ATTACKS U1
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,Y M/ LI/5 V C>E;LLY
,& D EXACTLY :AT ,I SAY4
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,Y M/ RUN Z FA/ Z ,W9D ,MAN4
,RUN FA/ & HIDE YRF
,& D N LOOK BACK4
,:AT"E HAPP5S1 LL ,OLHONI1
,Y M/ RUN & N LOOK BACK4

8,REMEMB] X IS SD T
,L;G AGO ,I'ITOI MADE HMF A FLY
,& HID HMF 9 ! CRACK4
,I'ITOI HID 9 ! SMALLE/ CRACK
,:5 ,EAGLE ,MAN CAME SE>*+ = HM4
,2 L ,I'ITOI1 LL ,OLHONI4
,2 L ,I'ITOI & HIDE YRF
,9 ! V SMALLE/ CRACK4
,HIDE YRF "S":
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FEA
,& D N -E \ AG1
,D N %[ YR FACE
,UNTIL ! BATTLE IS OV]4
,LI/5 6:AT ,I S+ 6Y1
,LL ,OLHONI4 ,LI/5 6:AT ,I S+4
,2 C>E;L N 6LOOK AT ME
,B D EXACTLY Z ,I SAY40

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LOOK+ /UDI\SLY 9 ANO!R DIREC;N4 ,HE _H
LI/5$4 ,HE 0 ONLY A BOY1 "O :O _H N YET
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  ,9 ! GA!R+ TWILI<T1 ,RITA GL.ED AT !
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,FAT ,CRACK M/ -E = H] SOON1 2C ! S+]S 7
S*$UL$ 6/>T AT N9E4 ,! V LATE/ HE CD -E
0 EI<T O'C1 AN H\R AWAY4
  ,"O H\R1 %E ?"\4 ,SIXTY M9UTES4 ,IF !Y
CD /AY ALIVE UNTIL ,FAT ,CRACK GOT "!1
!Y MI<T YET LIVE1 B DEEP 9 H] HE>T1
,RITA FE>$ O!RWISE4 ,Z HE TI$ !M UP1 %E
_H LOOK$ 96,&REW ,C>LISLE'S S\L4 ,ALL %E
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         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FEB
,APA*E W>RIORS F ,RATTLESNAKE ,SKULL
,VILLAGE4 ,!Y _H "SH[ F.D ? .,MIL-GAHN'S
S\L & 9FECT$ X ) _! EVIL4 ,&REW ,C>LISLE
0 DEF9ITELY ! DANG] ! BUZZ>DS _H W>N$ H]
AB1 ! EVIL 5EMY :O ,LOOKS ,AT ,NO?+ SD 0
BO? .,OHB & N .,OHB1 ,APA*E & N ,APA*E4
,& AL? ! PROCESS _H BE5 />T$1 ,DAVY 0 /
UNBAPTIZ$4
  ,! MAN SAT ON ! FLOOR 9 FRONT ( H]1
UNMOV+1 SEEM+LY ASLEEP AL? 8 EYES 7 OP54
,%E _H HE>D ( ^! K9DS ( ,:ORE-,SICK;S
TR.ES 2F1 AL? %E H]F _H N"E WIT;S$ "O4
,%E KNEW FULL WELL ! DANG]4
  ,LOOK+ AWAY F _! CAPTOR1 ,RITA />$ OV]
H] %\LD] AT ! BASKET MAZE HANG+ ON !
WALL 2H H]4 ,%E REMEMB]$ ! ANCI5T YU3A
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.,HOWI1 A YU3A1 AN OLD CACTUS1 _H WILL+-
LY SACRIFIC$ XF T ,DIANA ,LADD MI<T [N ?
BASKET4
  ,&1 SU45LY1 ,RITA KNEW T ,I'ITOI _H
HE>D H] S;G & S5T H] A MESSAGE EV5 )\T !
USE ( ,LOOKS ,AT ,NO?+'S SACR$ SMOKE4
,%E WD 2 L ! PLANT T _H GIV5 UP XS LIFE
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FEC
S ,I'ITOI'S DESIGN CD SPR1D \ F ! C5T] (
! BASKET4 ,DAVY ,LADD _H 2COME ! C5T] (
,RITA ,ANT"O'S BASKET4 ,%E WD 2 8 R$
YU3A ROOT4
  8,:AT"E Y'RE GO+ 6D10 %E SD S(TLY1 8!
BOY %D N SEE40
  ,&REW ,C>LISLE SEEM$ />TL$1 Z ?\< %E
_H PE]$ 96HIS BRA9 & R1D ! SECRET PLANS
WRITT5 "!4 8,D Y H A BETT] IDEA80
  ,RITA NO4$4 8,"!'S A ROOT CELL>10 %E
SD4 8,(F ! KIT*54 ,PUT ! BOY 9 "!4 ,I W
/AY ) HM40

  8,A ROOT CELL>80
  ,C>LISLE S.D$ ALM 4BELIEV+4 ,HE _H BE5
WORRI$ AB H[ 6H&LE ! GR[+ NUMB] ( HOS-
TAGES 9 CASE ! PRIE/ %[$ UP Z WELL1 B N[
"H 0 ! OLD LADY HELP+ \1 SOLV+ ! PRO#M =
HM4 ,C>LISLE KNEW ALL AB ROOT CELL>S4
,"! _H BE5 "O 9 8 GR&"M'S HOME1 A PLACE
": HE'D BE5 LEFT ON O3A.N = 4CIPL9>Y
PURPOSES4 ,A ROOT CELL> WD D NICELY4
  ,HE RU%$ 96! KIT*5 6SEE = HMF1 WORRI$
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         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FED
! OLD LADY 0 ABSOLUTELY "R4 ,EXCEPT =A
/ACK ( M/Y OLD BOXES &A FEW CANN$ GDS1
"! 0 NO?+ ELSE "!4
  ,BACK 9 ! LIV+ ROOM1 HE GRA2$ ! BOY &
C>RI$ HM 96! ROOT CELL>4 ,!N HE HAUL$ !
OLD WOMAN 6H] FEET & HELP$ H] %U6LE
AL;G4 ,) BO? PRISON]S SAFELY /A%$ 9SIDE
! ROOM1 HE SLAMM$ ! DOOR %UT & LOCK$ X )
! OLD-FA%ION$ SKELETON KEY T 0 "R "! 9 !
LOCK4 ,= SAFEKEEP+1 HE PUT ! KEY 9 8
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,C>LISLE HURRI$ BACK 6! LIV+ ROOM & /,N$
HMF \ ( SI<T 2H ! DOOR4
  ,ACTU,Y1 ! M HE ?"\ AB X1 ! M HE LIK$
! IDEA ( HAV+ ^? F/ FEW M9UTES ) ,DIANA
ALL 0HMF--J ! TWO ( !M1 "O ON "O1 SORT (
A H"OYMOON4 ,HE PULL$ A :ET/"O F 8 POCK-
ET & 2GAN 6%>P5 ! BLADE (! HUNT+ KNIFE4
,X WASN'T NEC--! BLADE 0 ALR %>P 5\<1 B
X GAVE HM "S?+ 6D ) 8 H&S :ILE HE WAIT$4

  ,! DOG _H ALR _H TWO A3ID5TS 9 !
PRIE/'S C> 2T ,DR4 ,JOHN/ON'S (FICE &!
DRIVEWAY4 ,DIANA 0 EMB>RASS$4 ,! VET _H
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FEE
BE5 "R ALL AL;G4 ,%E %D H LEFT ,B"O "!
OV]NI<T 6RECUP]ATE4
  8,I'M SORRY AB YR C>1 ,"F10 %E APOLO-
GIZ$4
  8,DON'T WORRY AB X10 ,"F ,JOHN SD1
DRIV+ 96! Y>D & /OPP+ 9 FRONT (! H\SE4
8,^! ?+S HAPP54 ,WD Y L HM 9SIDE80
  ,DIANA %OOK H] H1D4 8,I DON'T ?9K S4
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SICK 9 "! Z WELL4 ,IF Y C1 TAKE HM ON \
6! BACK PATIO1 :ILE ,I "W ON CL1N+ UP ?
MESS4 ,ASK ,DAVY 6FILL 8 WAT] DI% ) FRE%
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  ,! VET _H S5T ! AIL+ ,B"O HOME ON A
BORR[$ L1%4 ,US+ ?1 ,"F ,JOHN COAX$ !
N[-DOCILE DOG "? A GATE AT ! SIDE (!
H\SE & 96! BACKY>D4 ,M1N:ILE1 ,DIANA
D1LT )! L+]+ PHYSICAL EVID;E (! DOG'S
ILL;S1 REMOV+ SOIL$ BLANKETS F ! PRIE/'S
C> & DRAP+ !M OV] ! WALL =A QK HOSED[N4
  ,%E 0 SURPRIS$ T ,DAVY WASN'T WAIT+ ON
! POR* 6GREET !M1 B %E 0 S BUSY CL1N+ UP
AF ! DOG T ! IDEA N"E Q SURFAC$ Z A CON-
SCI\S ?"\4 ,L1V+ ! W9D[S OP5 6LET ! C>
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FEF
AIR \1 %E />T$ 96! H\SE4

  ,) 8 HE>T HAMM]+ 9 8 *E/1 ,C>LISLE
WAT*$ ! C> PULL 96! DRIVEWAY4 ,DAMN6 ,!
PRIE/ 0 "!4 ,:AT ! HELL %D HE D N[8
  ,! MAN & WOMAN 9 ! C> SPOKE BRIEFLY1
!N ! PRIE/ GOT \1 OP5$ ! DOOR1 & B5T 96!
BACKS1T4 ,:AT 0 HE DO+8 ,GETT+ ! DOG8
,GODDAMN6 ,! DOG 0 BACK1 TOO8 ,:AT !
HELL K9D ( 3/ITU;N DID T DOG H8
  ,=A MO;T1 ,C>LISLE VACILLAT$ 2T FOLL[+
! MAN & /AY+ 6KEEP AN EYE ON ,DIANA
,LADD4 ,AT F/ HE CDN'T "U/& :AT 0 GO+
ON1 B !N1 :5 %E PULL$ ! BLANKETS \ (! C>
& TURN$ ON ! HOSE1 HE R1LIZ$ HE 0 GETT+
ANO!R *.E4 ,"! 0 "T 6D BO?4 ,HE H1D$ =!
KIT*5 AT A D1D RUN4

  ,"F ,JOHN LEFT ! DOG RE/+ ON ! DUSKY
PATIO & ROSE 6G 96! H\SE4 ,SEE+ NO SIGN
( ,RITA OR ,DAVY1 HE /EPP$ UP 6! SLID+
PATIO DOOR1 : _H BE5 LEFT SLI<TLY AJ>4
  8,HELLO10 HE CALL$4 8,ANYBODY HOME80
  ,HE>+ NO ANSW]1 HE CROSS$ ! ?RE%OLD &
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FEG
TURN$ 6CLOSE ! DOOR 2H HM J Z "S?+ H1VY
CRA%$ 96! BACK ( 8 SKULL4

  ,! ROOT-CELL> DOOR FLEW OP54 ,F ! D>K-
5$ KIT*51 "S?+ H1VY 0 ?R[N 9 ) !M 2F !
DOOR SLAMM$ %UT AG4 ,DAVY FELT ) 8 FEET
& R1LIZ$ X 0 A P]SON LY+ FLAT ON !
FLOOR1 "S"O :O DIDN'T MOVE :5 ,DAVY T\*$
HM4 ,AT F/ ! * 0 AFRAID X MI<T 2 8 "M1 B
F9,Y HE R1LIZ$ ! / BODY 2L;G$ 6,"F
,JOHN4
  8,X'S ! PRIE/10 HE :ISP]$ 6,RITA4
  ,2F LOCK+ !M IN1 ,C>LISLE _H W>N$ !Y
WD DIE IF !Y MADE NOISE1 S ,DAVY & ,NANA
.,DAHD SPOKE 9 SUBDU$ :ISP]S4
  8,TRY 6WAKE HM UP10 ,RITA SD4
  ,DAVY MOV$ CLOS] 6! MAN & NUDG$ HM1 B
! PRIE/ DIDN'T /IR4 ,8 LABOR$ BR1?+ TOLD
!M HE WASN'T D1D4 8,HE WON'T WAKE UP10
,DAVY SD4
  8,KEEP TRY+10 ,RITA TOLD HM4

  ,DIANA /EPP$ ONTO ! POR* & TURN$ !
DOORKNOB4 ,SU45LY1 ) NO W>N+1 ! DOOR
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FEH
GAVE WAY 2N H] H&1 YANK+ ,DIANA 96!
H\SE4
  ,2F %E CD MAKE A S.D1 2F %E CD R1* =!
H&LE (! #.DE1 IRON F+]S CLAMP$ D[N OV]
H] FACE & M\?4 ,! RAZOR-%>P BLADE (A
HUNT+ KNIFE PRESS$ H>D AG/ ! TAUT SK9 (
H] ?ROAT4
  8,WELCOME HOME1 H"OY10 ,&REW ,C>LISLE
SD4 8,Y'RE LATE4 ,X'S N NICE 6KEEP A MAN
)A H>D-ON WAIT+40
  ,DIANA %OOK H] H1D WILDLY1 /RU7L+ 6ES-
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T5D] FLE% ( H] FACE4 8,OH1 NO1 Y DON'T
LADY4 ,MAKE "O S.D1 & "EYBODY DIES4
,/>T+ ) Y40









         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FEI

                  #BA

  ,S ,I'ITOI W5T 6SEE ,GOPH] ,BOYS1 :O
GU>D ! GATES ( ^? :O LIVE 2L4 8,I NE$ P
6-E HELP ME10 ,I'ITOI SD4 8,I H P F !
,EA/ &! ,WE/1 F ! ,NOR? &! ,S\?1 :O W
HELP ME FI<T ,EVIL ,SIWANI4 ,>E "! ANY P
"H :O W HELP ME FI<T MY 5EMY80
  8,F/10 SD ,GOPH] ,BOYS1 8Y M/ S+ = F\R
"DS 6W1K5 YR 5EMY4 ,AF T1 -E AG1 & WE W
OP5 ! GATES40
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,BABOQUIV>I & LOOK$ D[N J Z ,GOPH] ,BOYS
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/>T$ -+ \1 M & M ( !M ALL ! "T4
  ,X IS SD T L;G AGO1 IF ,COYOTE DIDN'T
L "S?+1 HE CD LAU< & *ANGE X4 ,S ,COYOTE
LAU<$ & SD1 8,W ^! P N"E /OP -+80 ,"R !N
! HOLE 9 ! E>? SLAMM$ %UT1 & NO M P CAME
\4
  ,COYOTE RAN BACK 6TELL ,EVIL ,SIWANI T
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FFJ
,I'ITOI 0 ON 8 WAY ) _M W>RIORS4 ,:]"E
"! 7 P :O HE>D AB ! -+ BATTLE1 !Y 7 HAP-
PY 6JO9 =CES ) ,I'ITOI4 ,F9,Y1 ,I'ITOI'S
W>RIORS CAMP$ =! NI<T J A LL WAY F ,EVIL
,SIWANI'S VILLAGE4 ,I'ITOI CALL$ 8 P
TGR4
  8,:O"E KILLS F/ 9 ! MORN+ W H F/ *OICE
(! PLACE HE WANTS 6LIVE40

  ,%E WANT$ 6SCR1M1 B %E CDN'T1 N ) 8 H&
CLAMP$ OV] H] FACE1 CRU%+ H] *EEKS &
NO/RILS TGR1 CUTT+ (F H] ABIL;Y 6BR1!4
,C>LISLE _H GRA2$ H] F 2H4 ,%E FELT 8
HOT BR1? ON ! BACK ( H] NECK4
  8,TAKE ! GUN \ (! HOL/]10 HE ORD]$1
8NICE & EASY4 ,HOLD X 0! H&LE ) YR ?UMB
& =EF+]4 ,WE'RE GO+ 6WALK OV] & PUT X
D[N ON ! TA#1 V C>E;LLY40
  ,": >E ,DAVY & ,RITA8 %E WOND]$4 ,":
IS ,"F ,JOHN8 ,IF HE 0 / \ 2H ! H\SE1 HE
MI<T -E 9 & HELP4 '''
  ,! BLADE (! KNIFE PRESS$ AG/ H] SK94
8,I DON'T WANT 6CUT Y1 BABY4 ,BLOOD'S
R1L MESSY = :AT ,I H 9 M9D1 B ,I W IF ,I
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FFA
H TO4 ,DON'T TRY ME4 ,! GUN4 ,N[60
  ,FA9T F LACK ( OXYG51 %E ?"\ MAYBE T 0
ALL HE 9T5D$--/RANGL+ H]1 B !N HE EAS$ 8
P9C]LIKE PRESSURE1 ALL[+ H] 6GULP DESP]-
ATE M\?;LS ( AIR4
  8,! GUN60 HE REP1T$4
  ,%E R1*$ = X SIL5TLY1 CURS+ ,BR&ON
,WALK] Z %E DID S4 ,HE _H BE5 "R1 DAMN
HM4 ,%E'D N"E _H A *.E 6T\* ! GUN1 6SAY
NO?+ ( US+ X4 ,ALL HAV+ ! GUN _H D"O 0
6MAKE H] /UPID1 6GIVE H] A FALSE S5SE (
SECUR;Y4
  ,%E REMOV$ ! GUN F XS HOL/] & HELD X Z
%E'D BE5 TOLD4 ,) ,C>LISLE CLUT*+ H] F
2H1 !Y GLID$ F DOOR 6TA# L A PAIR ( GRO-
TESQUE WALTZ+ SKAT]S4
  8,T'S BETT]10 HE MUTT]$ ONCE ! #.DE 0
RE/+ ON ! TA#TOP4 8,M* BETT]4 ,N[ TURN
>.D & LET ME LOOK AT Y40
  8,":'S ,DAVY80 %E ASK$1 )\T TURN+4
8,:AT H Y D"O ) ,DAVY & ,RITA80
  ,8 VOICE ROSE M5AC+LY4 8,I GAVE Y AN
ORD]1 GODDAMNIT6 ,TURN >.D40 ,HE GRA2$
H] 0"O %\LD] & SPUN H] T[>D HM4 ,!
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FFB
ABRUPT MO;N ?REW H] SLI<TLY (F BAL.E4
,%E ALM FELL1 B HE CAU<T H] 0"O WRI/ &
HELD H] UP"R4 ,! KNIFE SEEM$ 6H 4APPE>$
96?9 AIR1 B Z SOON Z 8 P[];L F+]S CLOS$
>.D H] WRI/1 ,DIANA KNEW HE DIDN'T NE$ !
KNIFE4 ,N RE,Y4 ,8 H&S AL"O 7 PL5TY /R;G
5\<4
  8,":'S ,DAVY80 %E ASK$ AG1 TRY+ 6KEEP
H] VOICE /1DY1 TRY+ N 6LET X EXPOSE H]
RIS+ T]ROR4
  ,HE GR9N$ BACK AT H]4 8,":'S ,DAVY80
HE MOCK$4 8,": D Y ?9K HE IS8 ,:AT W Y
GIVE ME IF ,I %[ HM 6Y8 ,A KISS MAYBE8
,A PIECE ( TAIL80
  ,C>LISLE'S T"O 0 LI<T & BANT]+1 B ,DI-
ANA'S WRI/ A*$ F ! PUNI%+ PRESSURE ( 8
F+]S4 ,%E KNEW !N1 )A S9K+ HE>T1 T /RAN-
GL+ WASN'T X4 ,C>LISLE WD N"E LET H] (F
T EASY4
  ,"S"O SEE+ ! FROZ5 TABL1U F \TSIDE !
W9D[ MI<T H ?"\ ! MAN & WOMAN 6BE LOV]S
/&+ FACE 6FACE1 MI<T H IMAG9$ !M HOLD+
H&S & EX*ANG+ 5DE>;TS 9 PREP>,N =A RO-
MANTIC KISS4 ,! MAN 0 SMIL+4 ,ONLY A
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FFC
GLIMPSE (! WOMAN'S /RICK5 FACE 2TRAY$ !
R1L;Y ( _! DESP]ATE LIFE-&-D1? /RU7LE4
  8,LET ME G60 ,%E />T$ 6ADD1 8,Y'RE
HURT+ ME10 B %E DIDN'T4 ,LIFE ) ,MAX
,COOP] _H TAU<T H] BETT] ?AN T4 ,9 AN
UNEV5 3TE/ ": DEF1T IS 9EVITA#1 %E _H
LE>N$ 6%[ NO REAC;N AT ALL1 6D5Y H] TOR-
;TOR 8 ULTIMATE GRATIFIC,N--! P]CEPTI#
PRO( ( 8 VICTIM'S PA94
  8,Y "K Y'RE GO+ 6GIVE ME :AT"E ,I
WANT1 DON'T Y80 HE LE]$ AT H]1 REL5T.SLY
PULL+ H] CLOS]4 ,/EEL+ H]F1 %E REFUS$ TO
%R9K AWAY F HM1 REFUS$ 6CR+E1 B EV5 Z %E
/RU7L$ AG/ HM1 %E 0 2G9N+ 6FE> ! WOR/--
,DAVY & ,RITA 7 D1D4 ,!Y _H 6BE4 ,IF N1
!Y WD H GIV5 H] "S SIGN1 "S R1SON 6HOPE4
  8,"O WAY OR ANO!R10 ,C>LISLE 3T9U$1 8L
X OR N1 ,I'M GO+ 6H Y SIX WAYS 6,SUN"D1
LL LADY1 S Y CD J Z WELL GET US$ 6!
IDEA1 LAY BACK & 5JOY X1 Z !Y SAY4 ,N[
TELL ME1 H['S X GO+ 6BE1 H>D OR EASY80
  ,%E DIDN'T RESPOND4
  8,T 0 A JOKE10 HE SD1 LAU<+4 8,DIDN'T
Y GET X80
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FFD
  ,0!N1 _! LIPS 7 ALM T\*+4 ,= AN ANSW]1
%E BR"\ H] KNEE UP & RAMM$ X 96HIS GRO94
,/UNN$1 HE D\#D OV]1 GRA2+ HMF1 GROAN+ )
PA94 ,MO;T>ILY1 HE LET G ( H] H&1 GIV+
H] ! *.E %E NE$$4 ,DODG+ BACKW>D & 6"O
SIDE1 ,DIANA GROP$ =! H&LE (! #.DE4
  ,! GUN 0 A M]E ?REE FEET AWAY1 B X CD
J Z WELL H BE5 ?REE MILES4 ,%E PICK$ X
UP & US$ BO? H&S 6PULL BACK ! HAMM]1 B
2F %E CD AIM OR PULL ! TRI7]1 ,C>LISLE
TACKL$ H]1 SLAMM+ H] H>D AG/ ! WALL1
KNOCK+ ! W9D F H] LUNGS1 =C+ H] H& UP
96! EMPTY AIR OV]H1D4 ,! GUN 4*>G$ ) AN
E>SPLITT+ RO>1 BLA/+ A HOLE 9 ! /U3O
CEIL+ 2F HE KNOCK$ X F H] H& & S5T X
:IRL+ ACR ! ROOM4
  8,T'S GO+ 6CO/ Y1 BIT*60 HE SN>L$4 8,T
CUTE TRICK IS RE,Y GO+ 6CO/ Y40
  ,HE CAME AF H] !N 9 A BL H1T ( RAGE1
TE>+ ! CLO!S F H] BODY1 S5D+ H] SPRAWL+4
,!Y CRA%$ 6! FLOOR TGR ) HM ON TOP1 US+
,DIANA'S BODY 6CU%ION 8 [N FALL4 ,! BACK
( H] H1D B\NC$ (F ! ,MEXICAN TILE4 ,A
KALEIDOSCOPE ( LI<TS D.ED 2F H] EYES4 ,!
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FFE
ROOM SWIRL$ >.D H] :ILE %E DR[N$ 9 A SEA
( DESPAIR4 ,DAVY'S D1D1 %E ?"\4 ,MY SON
IS D1D4 '''
  ,0! "T %E CD SEE AG OR BR1! OR MOVE1
RESI/.E 0 USE.S4 ,C>LISLE 0 ON H]1 9SIDE
H]1 P.D+ AWAY4

  ,DAVY 0 / TRY+ 6WAK5 ! PRIE/ :5 ! ROOT
CELL> 0 ROCK$ 0! RO> ( GUNFIRE4 ,F"R5$1
! BOY CR+$ AG/ ! WALL4 ,NO "O _H 6TELL
HM :AT ! S.D M1NT4 ,T T]RI# MAN1 T .OHB1
0 \ "! ) 8 "M1 TRY+ 6KILL H]4 ,MAYBE HE
ALR _H4 ,\ 9 ! LIV+ ROOM1 BRAC$ 0,NANA
.,DAHD'S SECRET S;G1 X _H BE5 EASY 6PRE-
T5D 6BE BRAVE1 B N[ C[>DLY TE>S SPRANG
6HIS EYES4
  8,DON'T LET HM KILL MY MOMMY1 ,NANA
.,DAHD10 HE SO2$4 8,PL1SE DON'T LET HM40
  8,QUIET60 ,RITA ORD]$4
  ,DAVY 0 />TL$ 0! H>%;S 9 ,NANA
.,DAHD'S VOICE4 ,N"E _H %E SPOK5 6HM S
%>PLY4 8,LI/54 ,-E HELP ME )! M$IC9E
BASKET4 ,I C'T GET X \ 0MYF40
  ,DAVY SCRAM#D OV] ! PRIE/'S PR"O =M4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FFF
,HE FELT >.D ,RITA'S BODY UNTIL HE LO-
CAT$ ! M$IC9E BASKET / HI45 2N ! AMPLE
FOLDS ( H] DRESS4 ,! BASKET 0 TOO L>GE
6SLIP \ )\T F/ UNFA/5+ "S (! BUTTONS4
  8,HURRY10 %E URG$ Z HE /RU7L$ 9 ! D>K
)! BUTTONS &! SLIPP]Y MAT]IAL4 ,:5 !
BASKET CAME FREE1 X POPP$ \ & FELL 6!
FLOOR4 8,F9D X10 ,RITA ORD]$4 8,TAKE (F
! LID & GIVE ME ! .OWIJ40
  ,DAVY GROP$ ON ! FLOOR UNTIL HE F.D !
BASKET ) XS TI<T-FITT+ LID / SECURELY
CLOS$4 ,AF "S /RU7LE1 HE F9,Y PRI$ OP5 !
LID & FUM#D 9SIDE UNTIL 8 F+]S CLOS$ >.D
! AWL4
  8,"H X IS10 HE SD4
  8,GD4 ,PUT X 9 MY GD H&1 !N -E CLOSE4
,HOLD YR H&S /1DY & Z F> A"P Z Y C40
  8,:AT >E Y GO+ 6D80 HE ASK$4
  ,= AN ANSW]1 %E POK$ AT ! TW9E >.D 8
WRI/S )! %>P PO9T (! AWL1 ! SAME WAY %E
_H POK$ X "? ?\S&S ( /R&S ( COIL$ CAC-
TUS4 ,PULL$ TAUT1 ! TW9E CUT %>PLY 9TO
,DAVY'S WRI/S4 ,! * YELP$ ) PA94
  8,QUIET10 %E -M&$4 8,DON'T MAKE A S.D1
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FFG
,OLHONI1 NO MATT] H[ M* X HURTS40 ,HE
BIT 8 LIP 6/IFLE ANO!R CRY4
  8,ONCE WE >E FREE10 ,RITA 3T9U$1 8WE
M/ /& ON EI SIDE (! DOOR & 2 ABSOLUTELY
SIL5T4 ,:5 ! DOOR OP5S1 ! .OHB W 2 "!4
,HE W EXPECT U 6BE TI$ UP J Z HE LEFT U4
,:5 HE DOES N SEE U1 HE W /EP 96! CELL>4
,I W TRY 6HIT HM ) MY CA/ OR /AB HM )!
.OWIJ4 ,WE W H ONLY "O *.E4 ,Y M/ N WAIT
6SEE :AT HAPP5S4 ,L ,I SD 9 ! S;G1 Y M/
RUN "S": & HIDE40
  8,B :AT AB Y & MY "M80 ,DAVY :ISP]$4
  8,NO MATT] :AT HAPP5S1 Y M/ /AY HI45
UNTIL MORN+1 UNTIL "S"O Y "K -ES 6F9D
Y40

  ,LOOKS ,AT ,NO?+ SAT HUN*$ =W>D 9 !
SPE$+ T[ TRUCK Z ?\< 0M]ELY PE]+ BLLY
AH1D "? ! W9D%IELD HE CD "SH[ REMOVE ALL
OB/ACLES F _! PA?4 8,H[ SOON W WE 2 "!80
HE ASK$4
  ,FAT ,CRACK 0 DRIV+ FLAT \1 R$ LI<TS
FLA%+4 8,FIFTE5 M9UTES10 HE SD1 N D>+ TO
TAKE 8 EYES F ! ROAD L;G 5 6*ECK 8 WAT*4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FFH
8,T5 IF WE'RE LUCKY40
  ,=A "T1 "! 0 NO S.D 9 ! CAB O!R ?AN !
W9D RU%+ "? ! OP5 W9D[S4 8,WE W PROBABLY
H 6KILL HM1 Y "K10 ! OLD MAN SD F9,Y4
8,2F X'S OV]1 "O ( U MAY KILL ! .OHB4 ,H
Y "E KILL$ 2F80
  ,X 0 A />TL+ "Q1 ASK$ 9 ! SAME MANN]
,LOOKS ,AT ,NO?+ MI<T H 9QUIR$ AB ! W1?-
]1 B ? 0 NO RHETORICAL "Q1 & X DEM&$ A
S]I\S ANSW]4 8,NO10 ,FAT ,CRACK REPLI$4
  8,I H10 ,LOOKS ,AT ,NO?+ 3T9U$4 8,L;G
AGO4 ,:5 ,I "W$ 9 ! M9ES 9 ,AJO1 ,I A3I-
D5T,Y KILL$ A MAN1 ANO!R ,9DIAN4 ,AFW1
"! 0 NO "O 6HELP ME PA9T MY FACE BLACK1
NO "O 6BR+ ME FOOD & WAT] = SIXTE5 "DS4
,T IS "O (! R1SONS ,I'ITOI TOOK AWAY MY
SI<T4 ,IF Y >E ! "O :O KILLS ! .OHB1 ,I
W BR+ Y FOOD & WAT]4 ,IF ,I D1 W Y BR+ X
6ME80
  ,Z A *1 ,FAT ,CRACK _H HE>D /ORIES (
H[ ANCI5T ,PAPAGO W>RIORS :O KILL$ 9
BATTLE 7 =C$ 6REMA9 \TSIDE _! VILLAGES1
PURIFY+ !MVS 0EAT+ V LL & 0PRAY+ = SIX-
TE5 "DS UNTIL ! S\LS ( ^? !Y KILL$ 7
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FFI
F9,Y QUIET4 ,? 0 #AIGE4 ,HE 0 DRIV+ A
TWO-TON T[ TRUCK1 N RID+ A HORSE4 ,AF-
BATTLE C]EMONIES %D H BE5 A ?+ (! PA/1 B
!Y 7 N4 ,LOOKS ,AT ,NO?+ 0 ABSOLUTELY
S]I\S1 & ,FAT ,CRACK CD N BR+ HMF 6D5Y !
M$IC9E MAN'S REQUE/4
  8,YES1 OLD MAN10 ,FAT ,CRACK REPLI$4
8,IF Y KILL ! .OHB1 ,I W BR+ FOOD & WA-
T]40

  ,L\ELLA ,WALK] LEFT ,TOBY'S B$SIDE L;G
5 6USE ! RE/ ROOM D[N ! HALL4 ,:5 %E RE-
TURN$1 %E T\*$ ,BR&ON'S %\LD]4 ,AL? 8
EYES 7 WIDE OP51 HE JUMP$ Z ?\< WAK5$ F
A S.D SLEEP4 ,%E NO4$ T[>D ! DOOR1 & HE
FOLL[$ H] 96! HALLWAY4
  8,:AT IS X80 HE ASK$4
  8,"!'S A PH"O CALL = Y AT ! NURSES'
/,N40
  ,HE SEEM$ DAZ$4 8,A PH"O CALL8 ,= ME80
HE ASK$ VAGUELY4
  ,%E NO4$4 8,OV] "!40
  ,WAT*+ HM G 6! PH"O MADE H] HE>T A*E4
,HE LOOK$ M* Z 8 "F _H LOOK$ YE>S E>LI]
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FGJ
--! SAME IMPATI5T GE/URES1 ! SAME L1N
F1TURES4 ,B ,BR&ON 0 ALM A /RANG] 6H]4
,%E _H EXP5D$ S M* 5]GY & 3C5TR,N D5Y+
:AT 0 HAPP5+ 6,TOBY T %E _H TOT,Y LO/
T\* ) H] SON4
  ,PUTT+ D[N ! PH"O1 HE TURN$ BACK T[>D
H] ) 8 FACE 3TORT$ 0ANG] OR GRIEF1 ,L\-
ELLA CDN'T TELL :4 ,%E WOND]$ :O _H BE5
ON ! PH"O4 ,F 8 LOOK1 ! NEWS M/ H BE5 Z
BAD OR WORSE ?AN :AT 0 GO+ ON 2Y ! SW++
DOOR ( H] HUSB&'S ROOM4
  8,BR&ON10 %E SD1 R1*+ \ 6HM4 8,:AT'S
WR;G80
  ,HE PU%$ H] H& ASIDE & %OOK 8 H1D4
8,NO?+10 HE SD IRRITABLY4 8,X'S "W40
  8,DON'T LIE 6ME10 ,L\ELLA FL>$4 8,X
ISN'T NO?+4 ,X M/ 2 IMPORTANT4 ,I C SEE
X 9 YR FACE40
  ,6H] 4MAY1 ,BR&ON EXPLOD$ 9 ANG]4
8,Y'RE "R4 ,X IS IMPORTANT4 ,T]RIBLY IM-
PORTANT1 B :AT ! HELL AM ,I SUPPOS$ 6D8
,I C'T 2 9 TWO GODDAMN$ PLACES AT ONCE60
  ,) H] * (A HUSB& F> 2Y HELP1 ,L\ELLA
SE>*$ H] HE>T = /R5G? 5 6ONCE M 2 A "M
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FGA
6H] *4 8,X'S ALL "R1 ,BR&ON10 %E SD1
GIV+ 8 %\LD] A REASSUR+ PAT4 8,Y D :AT Y
H TO4 ,YR "F & ,I W /AY "R "H4 ,WE'LL 2
F9E UNTIL Y GET BACK40

  ,Z ,DAVY'S H&S CAME FREE1 ,RITA'S HE>T
OV]FL[$ ) ?ANKS 6,"U/&+ ,WOMAN = GIV+ H]
GR&DAU<T] ! .OWIJ1 = T1*+ ,DANC+ ,QUAIL
6BE AN EXP]T ) X4 ,"! 0 NO TOOL ,RITA
KNEW BETT]1 NO?+ %E _H HELD 9 H] H&S
L;G]4
  ,AT ONCE %E R1*$ D[N & W5T 6"W ON !
TW9E B9D+ ,DAVY'S FEET4 ,X 0 IMPORTANT T
HE 2 TOT,Y FREE & CAPA# ( RUNN+1 EV5 IF
H] [N KNOTS 7 / SECURELY TI$4
  ,BR1?+ %ALL[LY1 ! PRIE/ LAY /1 :ILE NO
S.DS AT ALL CAME F ! RE/ (! H\SE4 ,! OM-
9\S SIL;E FILL$ ! OLD WOMAN ) MISGIV+4
,%E KNEW "S ( :AT _H BE5 D"O 6,G9A1 & %E
HAT$ 6?9K :AT T .HO'OK1 T MON/]1 MI<T 2
DO+ 6,DIANA4 ,:AT"E X WAS1 AT L1/ ,DAVY
WDN'T SEE1 N IF HE FOLL[$ H] DIREC;NS &
DID Z HE'D BE5 TOLD4
  ,! TW9E >.D ,DAVY'S LEGS TU7$ FREE AT
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FGB
LA/4 ,RITA TURN$ H] ATT5;N ON H] [N B9D-
+S4 ,) "O >M 9 A CA/1 X %D H BE5 M* M
DI6ICULT1 B H] CRAFTSMAN'S F+]S QKLY
LE>N$ ! SECRETS ( ,&REW ,C>LISLE'S CRUDE
KNOTS1 : MELT$ A"P 2N ! PROB+ PO9T ( H]
AWL4
  ,) ,DAVY QUAK+ 2S H]1 ,RITA 2GAN TO
PRAY4 ,F/ %E A4RESS$ ,I'ITOI1 ASK+ T !
BOY & 8 "M BO? 2 GRANT$ /R5G? & C\RAGE4
,!N %E SPOKE 6,"F ,JOHN'S ,GOD1 ASK+ T !
PRIE/ 2 SP>$ F DY+ "! ON ! ROOT-CELL>
FLOOR4 ,F9,Y1 6-=T H]F Z M* Z ! BOY1 %E
TOOK UP ! REFRA9 ( H] S;G1 CROON+ S(TLY
9 ! D>K;S4

8,REMEMB] :AT ,I SAY1 ,LL ,OLHONI1
,Y M/ RUN SWIFTLY & N LOOK BACK4
,T IS ! ONLY WAY 6HELP YR "M4
,T IS ! ONLY WAY 6HELP ME4
,2 L ,I'ITOI1 LL ,OLHONI4
,HIDE 9 A CRACK & D N -E \40

  8,GET DRESS$10 HE :ISP]$ 9 H] E>1
SNAPP+ H] H1D BACK )A SAVAGE PULL ON H]
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FGC
HAIR T LOOS5$ "S ( X F ! ROOTS4 ,Z TE>S
SPRANG F H] EYES1 ! <O/ ( AN ELUSIVE
MEMORY FLUTT]$ BRIEFLY1 B %E CDN'T CAP-
TURE X4 ,X REQUIR$ ALL H] M5TAL /AM9A TO
RESI/ ! TEMPT,N 6CRY \4 ,E>LI]1 S9K+ 8
TEE? DEEP 96! T5D] FLE% ( H] BR1/1 HE _H
ELICIT$ "O 9VOLUNT>Y GASP ( PA94 ,%E _H
S5S$ 8 EXCIT$1 EAG] RESPONSE4 ,%E 0
GRIMLY DET]M9$ N 6LET X HAPP5 AG4
  ,C>LISLE LET G ( H] HAIR1 & %E FELL
LIMPLY BACK 6! B$4 8,I SD MOVE60
  ,DIANA _H LO/ ALL S5SE ( "T4 ,%E MI<T
H BE5 BATTL+ ) HM = M9UTES OR H\RS OR
"DS4 ,AF 8 F/1 FR5ZI$ ATTACK1 HE _H
DRA7$ H] F ! LIV+ ROOM 6! B$ROOM1 ": HE
_H ASSAULT$ H] AG4 ,SURVIVAL 9/9CTS W>N$
H] 6OBEY 8 -M&S1 B H] BODY REFUS$4
,BRUIS$ & BLOODI$1 H] FLE% FUNC;N$ AT A
LEVEL T 0 "SH[ 2Y :AT"E FUR!R VIOL,N
,&REW ,C>LISLE CD 9FLICT4
  .,DAVY'S .D1D4 ,! ^WS RAN "? H] H1D L
A BROK5 RECORD4 ,DAVY'S D1D1 & S IS
,RITA4 ,GRAPPL+ ) CATA/ROPHE1 ,DIANA LO/
ALL W 6C>RY ON4 ,:AT"E HAPP5$ 6H] NO
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FGD
L;G] MATT]$4

  ,C>LISLE GRA2$ "O ANKLE & TWI/$ X UN-
TIL ,DIANA 0 =C$ ONTO H] BACK4 ,%E LAY
NAK$ ON ! B$ :ILE HE F1/$ 8 EYES ON H]4
,HE "PICUL>LY ADMIR$ ! S]IES ( ANGRY
BRUISES >.D H] SWOLL5 NIPPLES4 ,HE CON-
GRATULAT$ HMF = 8 SELP-RE/RA9T = 2+ A#
6LET G ONCE HE _H FA/5$ 8 TEE? ON H]4
,HE 0 SAV+ ! NIPPLES = LAT]4
  ,HE 5JOY$ ! LOOK ( W>Y WAT*;L;S 9 H]
EYES4 ,%E M/ 2 WOND]+1 DR1D+ 6LE>N :AT
MI<T -E NEXT4 ,HE REGRETT$ T HE CDN'T
GET X UP AG "R T M9UTE1 B "! 0 PL5TY (
"T4 ,HE WD %[ H] T1 H>D-ON OR N1 HE 0 /
FULL ( SURPRISES4
  ,H] GRITTY SIL;E ANNOY$ HM4 ,DIANA
,LADD 0 "O T\< COOKIE1 B HE KNEW %E
WDN'T 2 A# 6D5Y HM ="E4 ,HE'D F9D H]
W1K;S EV5TU,Y4 ,9 ! FACE ( 8 C>E;LLY FO-
CUS$ EF=TS1 %E WDN'T ALW KEEP QUIET4 ,:5
! AGONIZ$ S.DS F9,Y ESCAP$ H] LIPS1 !Y
WD 2 MUSIC 6HIS E>S4 ,Y'LL -E >.D1 HE
?"\1 SMIL+ D[N AT H]4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FGE
  ,C>LISLE _H 2GUN ! -PLICAT$ PROCESS (
SUBJUG,N4 ,HAV+ ONCE E/ABLI%$ DOM9.E1 X
0 IMPORTANT 63SOLIDATE 8 3TROL1 6%[ ,DI-
ANA ,LADD EXACTLY :O 0 BOSS4
  ,/EPP+ F ! FOOT (! B$ 6! SIDE ( X1 HE
R1*$ D[N & YANK$ RU?.SLY ON ! EXPOS$ M.D
( AUBURN PUBIC HAIR1 PULL+ \ A H&;L (!
/IFF1 CURLY /UFF4 ,%E W9C$ & GRITT$ H]
TEE?1 B AG %E REFUS$ 6CRY \4 ,DAMN H]6
,%E 0 DELIB]ATELY SPOIL+ 8 FUN4
  ,HE MOV$ 6! H1D (! B$ & /OOD LOOK+ D[N
AT H]1 HOP+ T %E'D %R9K AWAY F HM & TRY
6GET AWAY1 B %E LAY 2N 8 GAZE )\T MOV+1
/>+ BRAZ5LY BACK AT HM1 D>+ HM 6HIT H]4
  ,& S HE DID1 SLAPP+ H] H>D ACR ! FACE4
,HE SMIL$ AT ! REW>D+ DROPLET ( BLOOD T
APPE>$ ALM 9/ANTLY AT ! CORN] ( H] M\?4
,MAYBE N[ HE'D />T GETT+ "? 6H]4 ,HE HIT
H] ?REE "TS 9 ALL--TWICE OP5H&$ & ONCE )
! BACK ( 8 H&4 ,HE DIDN'T H 6PUT M* EF=T
96X4 ,! BL[S 7 GRATUIT\S1 /++ SLAPS1 AD-
M9I/]$ ME*ANIC,Y & )\T EMO;N1 CALCULAT$
M 6HUMILIATE ?AN HURT4
  ,&REW ,C>LISLE HIT ! WOMAN PRIM>ILY =
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FGF
E6ECT &= 8 [N AMUSE;T4 ,HE HIT H] 2C %E
D>$ />E BACK AT HM4 ,HE HIT H] 2C HE CD4
,X N"E O3URR$ 6HM T HITT+ H] 0 A TACTI-
CAL BL"U4 ,T ?"\ N"E CROSS$ 8 M9D4

  ,DIANA TA/$ BLOOD 9 H] M\? ": A TOO?
_H CUT "? H] *EEK4 ,%E FOCUS$ ON ! SALTY
TA/E1 & T1 -B9$ )! TEE?-RATTL+ BL[S1
%OCK$ ,DIANA \ ( H] /UNN$ LE?>GY & =C$
H] 6REMEMB] T O!R MAN :O _H ONCE HIT H]
L ?1 :O _H PULL$ H] HAIR \ 0! ROOTS4 ,!
SU45 SURGE ( MEMORY GALVANIZ$ H] 9 A WAY
,C>LISLE CDN'T POSSIBLY H =ESE5 OR PRE-
DICT$4 ,X REK9DL$ ! SP>K ( H] OLD ANG]1
RELIT A RAG+ FIRE T LO/ HOPE _H ALM EX-
T+UI%$4
  ,)\T A ^W1 %E SAT UP4
  8,GET DRESS$10 HE ORD]$ AG1 FL++ A
PAIR ( %ORTS &A TANK TOP 9 H] DIREC;N4
8,WE> ^!1 B NO %OES4 ,I L MY S]V+ WOM5
DRESS$ B B>EFOOT40
  ,%E />$ BLANKLY AT ! CLO?+4 ,!Y W]5'T
:AT %E'D BE5 WE>+ 2F4 ,^?1 TORN F H]
BODY 9 8 9ITIAL FI]CE ATTACK1 / LAY 9 A
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FGG
H1P ON ! LIV+-ROOM FLOOR4
  ,C>LISLE LE]$ AT H] F ! DOORWAY1 SA-
VOR+ ! M>KS HE'D LEFT ON H] SORE & NAK$
BODY1 B %E REFUS$ 6TURN AWAY F HM :ILE
%E DRESS$4 8,HEY10 HE SD JOK+LY1 8EXCEPT
=A FEW /RET* M>KS "H & "!1 Y'VE GOT A
PRETTY GD BOD4 ,ANYBODY "E TELL Y T80
  ,A FLU% ( EMB>RASS;T CREPT UP H] FACE4
,%E SD NO?+4 ,HE CAME OV] 6": %E SAT ON
! $GE (! B$ & %OV$ ! MUZZLE (! GUN H>D
96! T5D] FLE% ( H] ALR BRUIS$ BR1/4
  8,DON'T Y H ANY MANN]S AT ALL80 HE DE-
M&$4 8,DIDN'T YR "M T1* Y T :5 "S"O PAYS
Y A -PLI;T1 Y'RE SUPPOS$ 6SAY ?ANK Y80
  8,?ANK Y10 %E MURMUR$4
  8,T'S BETT]4 ,N[1 GET MOV+4 ,WE'RE GO+
6! KIT*54 ,I WANT Y 6FIX ME "S D9N] OR1
BETT] YET1 BR1KFA/4 ,SEX ALW MAKES ME
HUNGRY4 ,H[ AB Y80
  ,)\T ANSW]+1 %E />T$ =! KIT*5 AT ONCE1
HOP+ HE WD R1D DEF1T & SUBMIS.N 9 H] E
AC;N4 ,B ,DIANA ,LADD KNEW %E 0 FI<T+ HM
AG1 & ,&REW ,C>LISLE 0 F> TOO PL1S$ )
HMF 6NOTICE4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FGH

  ,"! 7 TWO S.DS 9 ! ROOM--! PRIE/'S
BR1?+ &! M\SE-L TWIT*+S ( ,RITA'S .OWIJ
PICK+ AT ! TW9E4 ,DAVY WI%$ ,B"O 7 "!4
,HE L;G$ =! DOG'S -=T+ PRES;E1 B ,B"O 0
AT ! VET'S OR D1D N[1 TOO1 AL;G ) "EY-
BODY ELSE4
  ,=BI45 6MAKE A S.D1 ,DAVY ?"\ AB :AT
,RITA _H TOLD HM1 = HM 6RUN AWAY1 6F9D A
CRACK1 6HIDE4 ,A CRACK4
  ,HE ?"\ AB CRACKS1 AB ! JA7$ "O 9 !
LUMPY PLA/] 2S 8 B$4 ,HE ALW EXAM9$ T
CRACK 9 GRT DETAIL :5 HE 0 SUPPOS$ 6BE
TAK+ A NAP1 WOND]+ IF X _H GR[N BI7] OR
SMALL] S9CE ! LA/ "T HE SAW X4 ,B A FLY
CD N"E HIDE 9 "!4 ,DAVY CDN'T EV5 PUT 8
?UMBNAIL 9 X4 ,FLIES 7 BI7] ?AN T4
  ,A CRACK4 ,! V]SE CAME 6HM1 S+S;G1 !
WAY HE _H HE>D X AT S*OOL4 8,/EP ON A
CRACK1 & Y'LL BR1K YR "M'S BACK40 ,B T 0
A SIDEWALK CRACK4 ,AG1 N BIG 5\<4
  ,"! 0 ,FAT ,CRACK1 B HE WASN'T A CRACK
AT ALL4 ,HE 0 A P]SON4
  ,!N1 F9,Y1 ,DAVY REMEMB]$ ! CAVE HE &
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FGI
,B"O _H F.D1 ! *IMNEY 9 ! M.TA9 2H !
H\SE4 ,N[ T HE ?"\ AB X1 MAYBE T CAVE
WASN'T A CAVE AT ALL4 ,X 0 A CRACK--A
CRACK 9 ! M.TA94 ,T 0 ": HE WD G1 ": HE
WD RUN 6HIDE IF HE "E GOT A *.E4
  ,SU45LY1 "! 7 VOICES ON ! O!R SIDE (!
DOOR4 ,DAVY'S HE>T P.D$1 WOND]+ H[ SOON
! DOOR WD FLY OP5 AG1 H[ SOON 2F HE WD H
6MAKE 8 DA% = FREEDOM4
  ,AT F/1 ,DAVY HE>D ONLY ! MAN'S VOICE1
TALK+ ON & ON1 B !N HE HE>D ANO!R VOICE1
T (A WOMAN1 S(T] & HI<]4 ,/RA9+1 HE REC-
OGNIZ$ 8 "M'S VOICE4 ,%E WASN'T D1D AF
ALL4
  ,RITA _H F9,Y MANAG$ 6FREE H]F4 ,DAVY
TU7$ AT ! OLD WOMAN'S H&1 WANT+ 6TELL H]
! NEWS1 B %E LAID H] F+]S ON 8 LIPS1
W>N+ HM 6SIL;E4 ,C>E;LLY !Y MOV$ 96POSI-
;N4 ,A SLIV] ( LI<T _H APPE>$ "U ! DOOR4
,!Y US$ T Z A GUIDE4
  ,!Y /OOD ON EI SIDE (! DOOR = :AT
SEEM$ L ="E4 ,EV5TU,Y1 ! SMELL ( FRY+
BACON CAME WAFT+ 96,DAVY'S NOSE4 ,X 0 A
L;G "T S9CE HE &! ,B"O _H %>$ _! LA/
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FHJ
TORTILLAS4 ,! SMELL ( T FRY+ BACON FILL$
,DAVY'S NO/RILS & MADE 8 M\? WAT]4 ,8
FEET IT*$4 ,HE NE$$ 6G 6! BA?ROOM4 ,DAVY
2GAN 6D\BT T ! DOOR WD "E OP54 ,HE FIDG-
ET$ A LL1 B ,RITA CLAMP$ H] GD H& D[N
H>D ON 8 %\LD]1 POK+ HM PA9;LLY )! AWL 9
! PROCESS4 ,AF T1 HE /OOD QUIETLY &
WAIT$4

  ,A HUNDR$ Y>DS OR S F ! TURN(F1 ,FAT
,CRACK D\S$ ! LI<TS & P>K$ ! TRUCK4 ,HE
_H KEPT ! LI<TS FLA%+ ALM ! 5TIRE WAY1 B
Z !Y NE>$ ! H\SE1 HE TURN$ (F "EY?+1
FLA%]S & H1DLI<TS 9CLUD$4
  8,N[ :AT80 HE ASK$1 %UTT+ D[N ! IGNI;N
& P>K+ ! TRUCK J 2Y A CURVE T 3C1L$ !
H\SE F VIEW4
  8,WE G D[N "! & TRY 6TAKE HM 0SUR-
PRISE40
  8,GD LUCK10 ,FAT ,CRACK RETURN$4 8,:AT
AB ! DOG80
  8,DOG80
  8,RITA HAS A HUGE DOG "ND ,OH'O4 ,:5
,I 0 "H E>LI]1 HE ALM BIT MY LEG (F40
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FHA
  8,HE M/ 2 9SIDE10 ,LOOKS ,AT ,NO?+ SD4
  ,"R1 ,FAT ,CRACK ?"\4 ,SURE HE IS4
,FAM\S LA/ ^WS4 ,)A 4GU/$ %AKE ( 8 H1D1
! "Y] MAN HURRI$ >.D 6! PASS5G] SIDE &
HELP$ ,LOOKS ,AT ,NO?+ CLIMB D[N4 ,MOV+
Z QUIETLY Z POSSI#1 !Y H1D$ =! DRIVEWAY
T L$ D[N 6! H\SE4 ,! D>K MADE NO DI6];E
6! BL M$IC9E MAN1 B :5 !Y /EPP$ (F !
PAVE;T1 ,FAT ,CRACK _H "S DI6ICULTY NE-
GOTIAT+ ! ROCKY T]RA94
  ,!Y'D G"O ONLY A FEW /EPS :5 ,FAT
,CRACK SAW1 A MILE OR S AWAY1 ! APPROA*+
H1DLI<TS ( ANO!R VEHICLE4 ,T O!R C> WOR-
RI$ HM4 ,:AT IF ,LOOKS ,AT ,NO?+ 0 WR;G8
,:AT IF ! .OHB 0 ONLY N[ -+ 6! H\SE1 ON-
LY N[ 2G9N+ 8 ATTACK8 ,IF HE DROVE UP "R
!N1 !Y WD 2 TRAPP$ 9 ! OP5 DRIVEWAY ) NO
M1NS ( RETR1T OR DEF5SE4
  8,I H MY /ICK10 ! OLD MAN 0 SAY+4
8,:AT W Y USE =A W1PON80
  8,A ROCK1 ,I GUESS10 ,FAT ,CRACK RE-
PLI$4 8,I DON'T SEE ANY?+ ELSE40
  8,GD10 ,LOOKS ,AT ,NO?+ SD4 8,GET "O40
  ,FAT ,CRACK 0 B5T OV] PICK+ "O UP :5
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FHB
HE HE>D ! DOG4 ,? "T "! 0 NO W>N+ B>K1
ONLY A HAIR-RAIS+1 L[-?ROAT$ GR[L4 ,!
NI<T 0 BLACK1 & ,B"O 0 A BLACK & BR[N
DOG1 TOT,Y 9VISI# 6! NAK$ EYE4 ,FAT
,CRACK /RAI<T5$ UP & LOOK$ >.D1 EXPECT+
6F5D (F AN ALL-\ ATTACK4 ,9/1D1 ,LOOKS
,AT ,NO?+ SPOKE =CE;LLY 96! D>K;S4
  8,OH'O1 .IHAB60 ! M$IC9E MAN -M&$4
8,B"O1 "H60
  ,6,FAT ,CRACK'S A/ONI%;T1 ! DOG OBEY$
AT ONCE1 MAT]IALIZ+ \ (! BRU% 2S ! ROAD4
,HE W5T DIRECTLY 6! OLD MAN1 TAIL L[]$ &
WA7+ T5TATIVELY4
  ,PREO3UPI$ )! DOG1 !Y FAIL$ 6NOTICE !
O!R C> AG UNTIL X BRAK$ AT ! H1D (!
DRIVE4 ,TOO LATE ,FAT ,CRACK TU7$ AT
,LOOKS ,AT ,NO?+'S >M1 TRY+ 6PULL HM D[N
! HILL T[>D ! M1G] COV] (A MESQUITE
TREE4

  ,ALL ! WAY F ,,TMC1 ,BR&ON _H CURS$
HMF = 2+ 9 8 "M'S C> 9/1D (! ,GALAXY1 =
2+ CUT (F F ALL -MUNIC,NS4 ,IF ONLY HE
_H TALK$ 6,MA4]N AG1 !Y MI<T H COORD9AT$
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FHC
"S K9D ( GAME PLAN4 ,Z X WAS1 ! ONLY ?+
HE'D ?"\ 6TELL ,HANK 0 = HM 6CALL ,DIANA
& W>N H]4
  ,HE R1*$ D[N & *ECK$ ! #.CH ,SMI? &
,WESSON ,SPECIAL 9 8 ANKLE HOL/]4 ,PO-
LICE (FIC]S 7 REQUIR$ 6BE >M$ AT ALL
"TS4 ,ANKLE HOL/]S 7 ! ONLY F1SI# *OICE
:5 WE>+ ORD9>Y CLO?+4
  ,BR&ON'S C> SP$ OV] ! TOP (! RISE &
RO>$ D[N ! L;G CANYON ROAD4 ,AH1D & 6!
"R1 HE CD SEE LI<TS GL[+ P1CE;LLY 9 !
W9D[S ( ,DIANA ,LADD'S SOLIT>Y H\SE4
,MAYBE HE & ,F>RELL 7 PU%+ PANIC BUTTONS
= NO GD R1SON4
  ,WALK] SL[$ & SWIT*$ ON 8 TURN SIGNAL4
,Z 8 TIRES DROPP$ (F ! H>D SURFACE ONTO
! DIRT DRIVEWAY1 ! H1DLI<TS CAU<T TWO
%AD[Y FIGURES DODG+ 96! "UBRU% AH1D (
HM4 ,WALK] FELT A RU% ( ADR5AL9E4 ,HE _H
SURPRIS$ !M1 CAU<T !M 9 ! ACT4
  ,HE JAMM$ ON ! BRAKES1 CUTT+ ! MOTOR1
TURN+ (F ! LI<TS4 ,EXPECT+ GUNFIRE1 HE
DUCK$ D[N ON ! S1T & DREW 8 W1PON4 ,HE>T
P.D+1 HE LAY "! WAIT+1 )! DES]T NI<T / &
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FHD
EXPECTANT >.D HM4
  ,TWO ( !M1 HE ?"\4 ,S :O _H T BA/>D
,C>LISLE BR"\ ) HM8 ,:O"E X WAS1 ,BR&ON
?"\1 !Y'RE GO+ 6GET M ?AN !Y B>GA9$ =4
,N ONLY 0 HE "H1 ,GEET ,F>RELL 0 ON 8
WAY ) PL5TY ( RE9=CE;TS4 ,9 A4I;N1 "! 0
T GODAW;L DOG4 ,IF ^? TWO JOK]S RAN 9TO
,B"O \ "! 9 ! D>K "S":1 !Y'D H YET ANO!R
RUDE AWAK5+4

  ,C>LISLE SCR\NG$ "? ! REFRIG]ATOR &
CAME AWAY )A P.D ( BACON & HALF A DOZ5
E7S1 : HE H&$ OV] 6,DIANA4 8,BACON1
CRISP4 ,E7S1 OV] EASY4 ,TOA/4 ,ORANGE
JUICE & C(FEE4 ,?9K Y C H&LE T1 H"OY8 ,Y
"K1 IF Y'RE A GD-5\< COOK1 MAYBE ,I'LL
KEEP Y >.D A:ILE4 ,WE'LL PLAY H\SE1 J !
TWO ( U--COOK+ & FUCK+--& N NECESS>ILY 9
T ORD]4 ,:AT D Y ?9K AB T80
  ,DIANA SD NO?+4 ,C>LISLE1 5AMOR$ )!
S.D ( 8 [N VOICE1 DIDN'T NOTICE4 ,:ILE
HE 3T9U$ ) 8 RAMBL+ MONOLOGUE1 ,DIANA
GA!R$ :AT %E NE$$ = COOK+--FRY+ PAN1
SALT & PEPP] %AK]S1 ! SPATULA4 ,:AT WD
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FHE
HAPP5 IF %E TURN$ ON ! GAS 9 ! OV5 &
DIDN'T LI<T X8 ,WD 5 PROPANE A3UMULATE
6CAUSE AN EXPLO.N1 OR WD ! OV5 J -E ON
EV5TU,Y :5 ! GAS SEEP$ \ F> 5 6R1* ! PI-
LOT LI<TS ON TOP (! /OVE8 ,ANY?+ 0 WOR?
A TRY4 ,DIANA TURN$ ON ! 3TROL4
  ,%E "W$ ME*ANIC,Y1 TRY+ N 6?9K AB
,RITA & ,DAVY4 ,T WD DIV]T H]1 TAKE H]
M9D AWAY F ! PRO#M4 ,%E PUT A FEW PIECES
( BACON 96! FRY+ PAN1 />T$ ! FIRE "U X1
& LOAD$ C(FEE & WAT] 96! P]COLATOR4
  ,/ TALK+1 ,C>LISLE _H ME&]$ 96A L;G
SELF-P;Y+ 4S]T,N AB PRISON LIFE4 8,D Y
"K :AT !Y D 6P L ME 9 PLACES L T80 HE 0
SAY+4 8,D Y H ANY IDEA8 ,ANSW] ME :5 ,I
SP1K 6Y40
  8,NO10 %E SD4 8,I H NO IDEA40
  ,A SPATT] ( HOT FAT L1P$ \ (! FRY+ PAN
Z %E TURN$ ! BACON1 /++ ,DIANA'S WRI/4
,%E JUMP$ BACK1 B ! PA9 ON H] B>E WRI/
GAVE H] ! 2G9N+ GLIMM] ( AN IDEA4 ,QKLY1
%E DUMP$ ! RE/ (! P.D ( BACON 96! FRY+
PAN & TURN$ UP ! H1T4
  8,H[ D Y L YR E7S80 %E ASK$4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FHF
  8,I ALR TOLD Y4 ,OV] EASY1 SAME Z ,I L
MY WOM54 ,GET X80 ,HE LAU<$4 8,PAY ATT5-
;N1 GIRL4 ,Y PAY ATT5;N 6"EY?+ ,I SAY1 &
MAYBE ,I'LL LET Y HANG >.D A LL L;G]40
  ,%E NO4$1 "K+ X 0 A LIE1 & /IRR$ !
SIZZL+ BACON1 WILL+ ! FAT 6R5D] \ ( X1
WELCOM+ ! PA9;L SPATT]S T F.D _! WAY 6!
B>E SK9 ( H] >M & WRI/4
  8,T 0 ,G>Y'S PRO#M1 Y "K10 HE 3T9U$
(FH&$LY4 8,HE DIDN'T PAY ATT5;N4 ,T'S :Y
,I _H 6GET RID ( HM40
  ,TRY+ 6%UT HM \1 ,DIANA ALM MISS$ ,C>-
LISLE'S ?R[-AWAY ADMIS.N4 ,!N1 :5 %E DID
"U/&1 ! :AT ( X IF N ! H[1 %E F"\ (F !
TEMPT,N 6REACT4 ,X 0 / TOO SOON4

  ,DUCK+ D[N ON ! S1T 6MAKE HMF LESS (A
T>GET1 ,BR&ON WAIT$ =! B>K F ,B"O T WD
SIGNAL ! DOG'S ATTACK OR AT L1/ AL]T ^?
9 ! H\SE 6_! DANG]4 ,! EXPECT$ B>K N"E
CAME4
  8,DAMN10 ,WALK] MUTT]$4 ,! DOG 0 PROB-
ABLY 9SIDE ! H\SE1 SLEEP+ ON ! JOB4 ,!
DETECTIVE LAY "! & TRI$ 6/RATEGIZE4 ,HE
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FHG
_H 6ASSUME T BO? 8 OPPON5TS 7 >M$ & DAN-
G]\S4 ,TWO-TO-"O O4S >5'T V GD1 ESPECI,Y
=A COP D1L+ ) CROOKS :O MAY N C>E T M*
IF !Y LIVE OR DIE4
  ,HE 3SID]$ HONK+ ! HORN 6AL]T ! P 9 !
H\SE (! IMP5D+ DANG]1 B T MI<T D M H>M
?AN GD4 ,IF ,DIANA CAME \TSIDE 6SEE :AT
0 GO+ ON1 %E MI<T POSSIBLY FALL 96! WR;G
H&S4 ,:AT IF ! CROOKS TOOK (F ) H] 2F
HELP >RIV$8
  ,F9,Y1 ,WALK] HIT ON ! ONLY /RATEGY T
SEEM$ F1SI#4 ,HE WD ATTEMPT 6MAKE 8 WAY
6! H\SE UNDETECT$4 ,ONCE 9SIDE1 HE &
,DIANA CD PROBABLY HOLD ! BAD GUYS (F
L;G 5 = HELP 6>RIVE & CAT* !M 9 A CROSS
FIRE4 ,ONCE ! DECI.N 0 MADE1 ,WALK] MOV$
6PUT X 96AC;N4
  ,CLOS+ 8 EYES S ! OV]H1D LI<T WDN'T
ROB HM ( NI<T VI.N1 HE EAS$ OP5 ! PASS5-
G] DOOR & QKLY DROPP$ 6! GR.D4 ,! DOOR
CLOS$ 2H HM )A DULL ?UD1 & HE SCUTTL$
SIL5TLY (F 96! DES]T1 SW++ WIDE & HOP+
6MAKE X 6! SIDE (! H\SE 2F ,C>LISLE & 8
PAL R1LIZ$ :AT HE 0 UP TO4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FHH

  ,! BACON TURN$ 6H>D1 BRITTLE CURLS 9 !
PAN1 B AN OBLIVI\S ,&REW ,C>LISLE 3T9U$
TALK+4 8,"! >E TOOLS = RAPE1 Y SEE1 ?+S
Y WDN'T NORM,Y ?9K AB1 B 9 PRISON Y H TO
USE :AT"E'S H&Y4 ,Y'D 2 SURPRIS$ :AT P
GET (F ON4 ,? GUN1 = 9/.E4 ,:AT WD Y ?9K
IF ,I CRAMM$ T ALL ! WAY UP 9SIDE Y8 ,WD
X MAKE Y -E8 ,! METAL GUN SI<T MI<T BO!R
Y A LL1 DON'T Y ?9K80
  ,DIANA'S /OMA* LUR*$ ) DR1D1 &! H&
HOLD+ ! WOOD5 SPATULA TREM#D UNCONTROL-
LABLY4
  ,8 VOICE ROSE 9 PIT*4 8,LOOK AT ME :5
,I SP1K 6Y4 ,I ASK$ Y A SIMPLE "Q4 ,:AT
WD Y ?9K ( X80
  ,%E LOOK$4 ,HE 0 GR9N+ AT H]1 HOLD+ !
#.DE1 FONDL+ X1 S5SU,Y /ROK+ ! L;G B>REL
) 8 F+]TIPS4 8,I WDN'T L X10 %E SD4
  8,WDN'T Y80 HE ASK$1 EYE+ H] SPECULA-
TIVELY4 8,I ?9K Y WD4 ,MAYBE AF ,I EAT1
WE CD H A LESSON4 ,I'LL %[ Y H[ X "WS "R
"H ON ! KIT*5 TA#4 ,MR4 ,COLT HAS A P]-
MAN5T H>D-ON = Y4 ,I ?9K HE'D 5JOY X40
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FHI
  ,HE PAUS$1 Z IF WAIT+ = ,DIANA 6-;T4
,:5 %E DIDN'T1 HE B5T OV] & PULL$ "S?+ \
(! TOP ( 8 BOOT4 ,%E SAW HM \ (! CORN] (
H] EYE & TREM#D 6?9K T HE _H RETRIEV$ 8
KNIFE1 : HE WD USE ON H] Z WELL1 B :5 HE
/RAI<T5$ UP1 HE WASN'T HOLD+ ! KNIFE AT
ALL4 ,2T 8 F+]S 0 A KEY--A FAMILI>1 OLD-
FA%ION$ SKELETON KEY4
  8,OR MAYBE1 LL ,MAMA10 HE A4$ )A MALI-
CI\S GR91 8S9CE Y DON'T ?9K Y'D L X1
MAYBE ,I %D BR+ T KID ( YRS \ "H & CRAM
X D[N 8 ?ROAT OR MAYBE UP 8 ASS A C\PLE
( 9*ES4 ,H[ M* CD HE TAKE8 ,H[ M* CD Y8
,:AT WD Y D !N1 ,DIANA8 ,WD Y ASK ME TO
/OP8 ,WD Y BEG ME 6D X 6Y 9/1D ( HM8 ,WD
Y CRAWL ON YR H&S & KNEES ON ! FLOOR &
KISS MY FEET & BEG80
  ,A %OCK ( RECOGNI;N S5T NE$LES & P9S
"? H] H&S & FEET4 ,DAVY WASN'T D1D AF
ALL4 ,HE 0 ALIVE & 9 ! ROOT CELL>4 ,"! 0
/ HOPE1 / A *.E4
  ,SU45LY1 FR[N+1 ,C>LISLE /OOD UP4
8,HEY1 WAIT A M9UTE1 >5'T Y BURN+ ! BA-
CON80
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FIJ
  ,PUTT+ ! KEY D[N ON ! TA# & RETRIEV+ !
GUN1 HE />T$ T[>D ! /OVE4 ,:5 HE 0 ?REE
/EPS AWAY1 ,DIANA GRA2$ ! OV]H1T$ H&LE (
! FRY+ PAN & H1V$ X FULL 9 8 FACE4
,PIECES ( BLACK5$ BACON CLUNG 6HIS SK9
:]"E !Y L&$4 ,HE SCR1M$ Z FI]Y-HOT FAT
BURN$ "? 8 CLO?+1 S1L+ X 6HIS SK94
  ,DIANA DODG$ 6"O SIDE Z ! GUN RO>$ TO
LIFE1 %ATT]+ ! W9D[ 2H H]4

  ,WALK]1 RIVET$ 0BO? ! UNGODLY SCR1M &!
GUNFIRE1 KNEW 8 WOR/ NI<TM>E _H -E TRUE4
,"SH[ 8 OPPON5TS _H MADE _! WAY 9SIDE &
7 FIR+ GUNS4 ,"S"O 0 HIT & DY+4
  ,=GETT+ AB COV]1 ,WALK] *>G$ T[>D !
H\SE HMF1 CIRCL+ >.D ! ?ICKET ( GIGANTIC
PRICKLY PE> & -+ UP ON ! FRONT POR* F !
OPPOSITE DIREC;N4 ,HE TRI$ ! DOOR H&LE &
F.D X LOCK$4 ,HE TRI$ KICK+ X1 B ! /\T
OLD DOOR DIDN'T GIVE WAY4 ,! W9D[S ALL
_H SCRE5S4 ,F 9SIDE ! H\SE1 ,WALK] HE>D
! S.DS ( AN ONGO+ BATTLE1 B (F 6! SIDE (
! POR*1 ! DETECTIVE CAU<T SI<T ( MOVE;T4
  8,/OP10 HE %\T$1 B TWO %AD[Y FIGURES
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FIA
SIMPLY 4APPE>$ 96! D>K;S 2Y ! POR*4 ,TWO
( !M1 HE ?"\4 ,"S 9SIDE & AT L1/ TWO / \
"H4 ,H[ ! HELL _M ( !M >E "!8 ,WALK]
WOND]$ GRIMLY4
  ,9 SIL5T PURSUIT1 HE MOV$ SIDEWAYS (F
! POR*4 ,AT ! SIDE (! H\SE1 HE 5C.T]$
ONLY A MASSIVE WALL )A TALL WOOD5 GATE4
,HE TRI$ ! GATE1 B X APPE>$ 6BE LAT*$ F
! 9SIDE4

  ,"? A NI<TM>E ( SE>+ PA91 ,&REW ,C>-
LISLE TRI$ 6WIPE ! CL++ GR1SE F 8 FACE &
EYES4 ,HE CD SEE NO?+4 ,I'M BL6 HE ?"\
FURI\SLY4 ,! BIT* BL9D$ ME6
  ,HE SLIPP$ ON ! GR1SY FLOOR & CRA%$
96! TA#1 BANG+ X 96! WALL 2F MANAG+ 6"R
HMF4 ,) SUP]HUMAN EF=T1 HE PULL$ HMF ABV
! T]RI# PA94
  8,I'LL KILL Y10 HE :ISP]$ HO>SELY4 8,S
HELP ME ,GOD1 BIT*1 ,I'LL KILL Y IF X'S
! LA/ ?+ ,I D60

  ,DIANA WAT*$ 9 HORROR Z ,C>LISLE AT-
TEMPT$ 6WIPE ! BLI/]+ GR1SE F 8 SK9 &
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FIB
EYES4 ,PIECES ( 8 FACE SEEM$ 6MELT AWAY
) 8 H&1 4SOLV+ L ! WAT]-SOAK$ ,WICK$
,WIT* (! ,WE/ 9 ! .,WIZ>D .( .,OZ4
  8,I'LL KILL Y10 ,C>LISLE MUTT]$ OV] &
OV]4 ,X 0 A *ANT & 9CANT,N4 8,I'LL KILL
Y40
  ,"SH[ HE / HELD ,DIANA'S #.DE4 ,FROZ5
) FE>1 ,DIANA />$ AT ! W1PON1 WAIT+ =!
D1?-D1L+ EXPLO.N T WD 5D H] LIFE1 B = "S
/RANGE R1SON ,C>LISLE DIDN'T SEEM 6BE
PO9T+ X AT H]4 ,HE TURN$ >.D & >.D1 L A
* PLAY+ BLMAN'S BLUFF4
  8,": >E Y1 BIT*80 HE DEM&$4 ,ONLY !N
DID ,DIANA R1LIZE T HE CDN'T SEE4 ,! BA-
CON GR1SE _H BL9D$ HM4
  ,HOLD+ H] BR1? = FE> ! S.D MI<T 2TRAY
H] ":ABS1 ,DIANA GL.ED >.D ! ROOM1 LOOK+
= AN ESCAPE HAT* OR PLACE 6HIDE4 ,ON !
FLOOR 2S ! UP-5D$ TA#1 %E SPI$ ! FALL5
KEY 6! ROOT CELL>4 ,Z SOON Z %E SAW X1
%E DIV$ = X1 EV5 ?\< ,C>LISLE 0 2T H] &!
KEY4
  ,HE>+ MOVE;T1 ,C>LISLE LUNG$ 9 H] DI-
REC;N4 ,!Y COLLID$ 9 MIDAIR & CRA%$ 6!
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FIC
FLOOR TGR4 ,! =CE (! BL[ KNOCK$ ! #.DE F
,C>LISLE'S H&4 ,X SPUN ACR ! FLOOR1 -+
6RE/ AT ! BASE (! S9K4 ,(! TWO1 HE 0 F>
/R;G]1 B 2+ A# 6SEE GAVE ,DIANA A SLI<T
ADVANTAGE4 ,TWI/+ AWAY1 %E ELUD$ 8 GRASP
& RETRIEV$ ! KEY4 ,%E SCRAM#D T[>D !
ROOT-CELL> DOOR & 0 ALM "! :5 8 P[];L
F+]S CLAMP$ %UT >.D H] ANKLES4
  ,%E KICK$ AT 8 F+]S1 B H] B>E FEET _H
NO E6ECT ON ! H&S 9EXORABLY DRA7+ H]
AWAY F ! DOOR4 ,%E F"\ HM DESP]ATELY B
DESPAIR+LY1 R1LIZ+ %E 0 NO MAT* = HM1 T
X 0 ONLY A MATT] ( "T4
  ,DIMLY1 ,DIANA 2CAME AW>E ( ,B"O'S
FRANTIC SCRAT*+ ON ! SLID+ GLASS DOOR4
,IF ONLY %E CD LET HM 96! H\SE4 ,MAYBE1
)! DOG'S HELP '''
  ,SU45LY1 =! B>E/ MO;T1 ,C>LISLE LET G
( H]4 ,%E SCRAM#D AWAY F HM1 & ? "T MAN-
AG$ 6%OVE ! KEY 96! LOCK 2F HE GRA2$
HOLD ( H] AG4 ,%E TRI$ 6PU% HM AWAY ONLY
6H A SM>T+ PA9 %OOT ACR H] H& & UP H]
>M4 ,%OCK$1 ,DIANA LOOK$ AT H] >M & H& Z
BLOOD SPURT$ \4 ,C>LISLE _H 8 KNIFE AG4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FID
,? "T %E KNEW HE WD KILL H] ) X4 ,"! WD
2 NO ESCAPE4

  ,/YMI$ 0! LAT*$ GATE1 ,BR&ON ,WALK]
DROPP$ BACK & !N VAULT$ OV] ! B>RI]1 :
SEEM$ 6BE COV]$ 0A LAY] ( WET BLANKETS4
,9SIDE ! Y>D1 HE L&$ ON "S?+ S(T &
YIELD+1 "S?+ HUMAN4 ,8 A4$ WEI<T BR"\ !
O!R MAN D[N4 ,!Y FELL 6! GR.D Z "O &
GRAPPL$ "! BRIEFLY UNTIL HE GLIMPS$ ,FAT
,CRACK'S FACE 9 ! PALE />LI<T4
  8,FAT ,CRACK60 ,WALK] EXCLAIM$4 8,:AT
! '''0
  8,X'S ! DETECTIVE10 ,FAT ,CRACK SD SI-
MULTANE\SLY4
  ,F DEEP] 9 ! Y>D CAME ,LOOKS ,AT ,NO?-
+'S -M&+ VOICE4 8,WE M/ HURRY6 ,-E10 HE
ORD]$4
  ,FAT ,CRACK LET G AT ONCE1 & !Y BO?
/RU7L$ 6_! FEET4 ,9 ! MELEE1 ,WALK] _H
DROPP$ 8 #.CH ,SPECIAL4 ,!Y WA/$ PRECI\S
SECONDS SE>*+ = X4 ,AT LA/ ,FAT ,CRACK
F.D X & GAVE X BACK4
  8,IF Y'RE \ "H10 ,BR&ON :ISP]$1 8:O'S
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FIE
9 "!80
  8,! .OHB10 ,FAT ,CRACK ANSW]$4 8,X'S !
.OHB40

  ,FAC$ ) H] BLOODI$ >M & 9>GUA# EVID;E
( H] [N MORTAL;Y1 ,DIANA RESOLV$ T EV5
IF %E DI$1 "SH[ H] SON WD LIVE4 ,ONCE M
,C>LISLE'S F+]S LOCK$ ONTO H] ANKLE4
,ONCE M HE DRA7$ H] T[>D HM & T[>D !
RAIS$ KNIFE HE HELD ABV 8 H1D1 WAIT+ TO
PLUNGE X 96H]4
  ,%E SE>*$ DESP]ATELY = "S?+ 6HOLD ON-
TO1 "S?+ 6GIVE H] PUR*ASE ON ! SLIPP]Y
FLOOR4 ,SU45LY1 H] FLAIL+ H&S 5C.T]$ H1T
--! / FI]Y-HOT FRY+ PAN4 ,IGNOR+ ! BLIS-
T]+ H&LE1 %E PICK$ X UP & DROVE X ) ALL
H] /R5G? T[>D ,&REW ,C>LISLE'S =EH1D4

  ,HE CDN'T SEE X1 B ,C>LISLE FELT ! SU-
P]H1T$ FRY+ PAN :IZZ+ T[>D HM4 ,HE DREW
BACK 9 PANIC1 HOLD+ UP 8 >MS 9 AN AT-
TEMPT 6W>D (F ! BL[4 ,! FRY+ PAN MISS$ 8
SKULL B /RUCK 8 H&1 KNOCK+ ! KNIFE AWAY
F HM4 ,:ILE HE GROP$ BLLY = X1 HE HE>D
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FIF
H] SCRA2L+ AWAY F HM AG4 ,W1PON.S EXCEPT
= 8 B>E H&S1 HE CRAWL$ AF H]4
  ,"PWAY ACR ! ROOM1 "S?+ RU%$ PA/ HM1
MAK+ =! \TSIDE DOOR4 ,HE TURN$ 6X Z IF
6FOLL[4

  ,! MO;T>Y RESPITE GAVE ,DIANA "O M
*.E4 ,? "T %E MADE X ALL ! WAY 6! ROOT-
CELL> DOOR4 ,/ ON H] KNEES1 %E R1*$ UP &
TURN$ ! KEY 9 ! LOCK4 ,2F %E CD MOVE \ (
! WAY1 ! DOOR BANG$ OP51 KNOCK+ H] BACK-
W>D 96! WALL4

  ,AT ! S.D (! SECOND GUN%OT1 ,DAVY ALM
BUR/ 96TE>S4 ,ONCE M ,RITA %U%$ HM4
8,R1DY N[10 %E :ISP]$4 8,:5 ! KEY TURNS1
OP5 ! DOOR & RUN40
  8,I'LL KILL Y10 ! MAN 0 SAY+ OV] & OV]
\TSIDE ! DOOR4 8,I'LL KILL Y40
  ,DAVY'S HE>T L1P$ 6HIS ?ROAT4 ,8 "M 0
/ ALIVE4 ,WD %E 2 :5 ! DOOR OP5$8 ,HE
CROSS$ 8 F+]S & TRI$ 6REMEMB] H[ 6PRAY4
  ,! KEY FILL$ ! LOCK4 ,! T9Y KEYHOLE-
%AP$ PAT* ( LI<T 4APPE>$1 B ! KEY DIDN'T
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FIG
TURN4 ,! DOOR DIDN'T OP54
  ,AG !Y WAIT$4 ,DAVY HE>D ANO!R S.D N[
--! ,B"O1 SCRAT*+ FRANTIC,Y AT ! BACK
DOOR1 WANT+ 6BE LET IN4 ,OH'O 0 HOME1 B
HE CDN'T GET 9SIDE 6HELP !M4
  ,& !N1 MIRACUL\SLY1 ! KEY DID TURN4
,DAVY %OV$ ! DOOR ) ALL 8 MI<T1 FLUNG X
OP51 & DA%$ \TSIDE4 ,9 ! MI4LE (! ROOM1
HE 5C.T]$ A MAN--AT L1/ X LOOK$ L A MAN
--CRAWL+ T[>D HM ON 8 H&S & KNEES4 ,?
T]RI# APP>I;N1 XS FACE A MIS%AP5 MASS (
BLOODI$ BLI/]S1 M/ 2 ! .OHB4
  ,PAUS+ L;G 5 = ONLY "O LOOK AT T T]RI-
FY+ VISAGE1 ,DAVY TURN$ & RAC$ =! SLID+
GLASS DOOR4

  ,! PA9 0 T]RI#1 2Y ANY?+ HE CD H IMAG-
9$1 B :AT 0 WORSE1 ,C>LISLE FE>$ ,DIANA
,LADD _H ESCAP$4 ,HE />T$ T[>D ! DOOR4
  8,": >E Y1 BIT*80
  8,"H10 ,DIANA RESPOND$ F "SPLACE ELSE
9 ! ROOM4 8,I'M 2H Y40 ,6DECOY ,DAVY'S
SAFE ESCAPE1 %E WANT$ ,C>LISLE'S ATT5;N
FOCUS$ SOLELY ON H]4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FIH
  8,":80
  8,"R "H10 %E ANSW]$ AG1 & X S.D$ Z ?\<
%E 0 LAU<+ AT HM4
  ,DO7$LY1 L AN UN/OPPA# MON/] F AN OLD
;,B-GRADE MOVIE1 ,&REW ,C>LISLE :IRL$ &
CAME CRAWL+ T[>D H]1 B 2F HE MADE ANY
PROGRESS1 "S?+ H1VY L&$ ON 8 BACK4 ,HOR-
RIFI$1 HE FELT A DOG'S 9*-L;G CAN9ES
PLUNGE 96! BACK ( 8 NECK4

  ,TOO /UNN$ 6MOVE & TRY+ 6/EM ! FL[ (
BLOOD F H] [N >M1 ,DIANA CD D NO?+ B
WAT*4 ,! DOG 0 "EY": AT ONCE1 HUGE JAWS
SNAPP+4 ,HE L1P$ UP & BACKW>D & SIDE-
WAYS1 ALW /AY+ J \ (! MAN'S R1*4 ,F9,Y1
,B"O'S JAWS CLOS$ OV] ,C>LISLE'S WRI/4
  ,:ILE ! MAN H[L$ 9 9HUMAN RAGE1 ! DOG
%OOK 8 MASSIVE H1D4 ,B"OS CRUN*$ 9 ,C>-
LISLE'S MANGL$ WRI/4 ,T5DONS & N]VES
SNAPP$ L S _M BROK5 RU2] B&S4

  ,>M UPRAIS$1 .OWIJ 9 H&1 ,RITA EM]G$ F
! ROOT CELL> R1DY 6D BATTLE4 ,%E1 TOO1
/OOD TRANSFIX$1 WAT*+ ! MAN /RU7LE TO
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #FII
ESCAPE ! ATTACK+ DOG4 ,TRY+ 6SAVE 8 MAN-
GL$ WRI/1 ,C>LISLE ATTEMPT$ "O LA/ KICK4
,! DOG LET G (! H& & P\NC$ ON ! FOOT4 ,Z
! DOG'S JAWS CLOS$ ONCE M1 ,C>LISLE
FOLD$ HMF 96A FETAL POSI;N4
  ,RITA REMA9$ ": %E 0 =A MO;T1 SURVEY+
! ROOM1 :ILE ,C>LISLE SO2$ BROK5LY4
8,GET ! DOG (F ME4 ,PL1SE1 GET HM (F40
  ,! ,9DIAN WOMAN POCKET$ H] .OWIJ4 ,X 0
NO L;G] NE$$4 ,ACR ! ROOM1 %E SAW BO? !
KNIFE &! GUN4 ,%E HURRI$ AT ONCE 6RE-
TRIEVE !M4 ,ONLY :5 %E _H !M BO? FIRMLY
9 H] POSSES.N DID %E SP1K 6! DOG4
  8,OH'O1 .IHAB40 ,! DOG CAME 6H] SIDE
AT ONCE1 WA7+ 8 TAIL1 WAIT+ 6BE PETT$4
8,GD .GOGS10 %E CROON$1 PATT+ 8 %A7Y
H1D4 8,X'S OV]40
  ,RITA TURN$ F ! DOG & PLAC$ ! GUN 9
,DIANA'S LAP4 8,"H10 %E SD4 8,IF Y WI%
6%OOT HM1 N['S YR *.E4 ,D X QKLY40
  ,DIANA LOOK$ F ,RITA 6! /RICK5 =M (
,&REW ,C>LISLE1 :O LAY SO2+ ON ! FLOOR 9
A WID5+ POOL ( 8 [N UR9E4 ,F9,Y1 ,DIANA
LOOK$ D[N AT ! GUN & %OOK H] H1D4
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GJJ
  8,NO10 %E SD4 8,I DON'T H 6N[4 ,X
WDN'T 2 SELF-DEF5SE40
  ,A RADIANT SMILE SU6US$ ,RITA'S W1!R$
OLD FACE4 8,GD10 %E SD4 8,I'ITOI WD 2
PR\D ( Y40
  ,2H !M1 ,BR&ON ,WALK] BUR/ 96! ROOM4
,B"O TURN$ 6F5D (F ? NEW ATTACK1 B 2F HE
CD1 ! OV5 DOOR BLEW XS H+ES )A RES.D+
?UMP1 KNOCK+ ! DOG 6! FLOOR4
  ,CRY+ & LAU<+ BO?1 ,DIANA KNELT 2S
,B"O & CRADL$ 8 MASSIVE H1D 9 H] LAP4 ,!
DOG LOOK$ UP AT H] GRATE;LLY & ?UMP$ 8
L;G TAIL ON ! FLOOR4 ,HE WASN'T HURT1 B
X _H BE5 A H>D "D =A DOG4 ,HE DIDN'T
WANT 6GET UP4

  ,DETECTIVE ,F>RELL & ,MYRNA ,L\ISE >-
RIV$ J AH1D (A PHALANX ( POLICE C>S DIS-
PAT*$ 0,HANK ,MA4]N AT ! ,PIMA ,C.TY
,%]IFF'S ,DE"P;T4 ,=! F/ "T 9 H] LIFE1
%E REFUS$ ,&REW'S SUMMONS :5 HE ASK$ =
H]4 ,/"O-FAC$ & )\T GETT+ \ (! C>1
,MYRNA ,L\ISE WAT*$ :ILE H] SON 0 LOAD$
96A WAIT+ AMBUL.E4 ,IRONIC,Y1 HE 0 TAK5
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GJA
F/4 ,( ALL ! 9JURIES1 8 7 DEEM$ ! MO/
S]I\S4
  ,B N S]I\S 5\<1 ,MYRNA ,L\ISE ?"\ BIT-
T]LY1 N NE>LY S]I\S 5\<4 ,IF %E'D BE5
LUCKY--& %E _H N"E BE5 LUCKY ": H] SON 0
3C]N$--,&REW WD H DI$4 ,"S"O WD H PUT A
BULLET "? 8 WRET*$ H1D & TAK5 HM \ ( 8
MIS]Y1 ! WAY !Y US$ 6D ) RABID DOGS4
  ,AF T1 ANO!R /RET*] CAME \ (! H\SE )
"S"O /RAPP$ 6X4 ,! OLD ,9DIAN WOMAN--:AT
0 H] "N AG--LIMP$ H1VILY AL;G 2S !
/RET*] & CLIMB$ 96! WAIT+ AMBUL.E 6RIDE
6! HOSPITAL1 AL? %E H]F DIDN'T SEEM 6BE
HURT4
  ,A FEW M9UTES LAT]1 ,MYRNA ,L\ISE REC-
OGNIZ$ ,DIANA ,LADD4 ,%E1 TOO1 0 C>RI$
PA/ ! DETECTIVE'S C> 6AN AMBUL.E1 )A MAN
WALK+ AL;G 2S H]4 ,?ANK ,GOD !Y W]5'T
D1D1 ,MYRNA ,L\ISE ?"\ GRATE;LLY4 ,%E
N"E CD H LIV$ ) H]F IF T _H HAPP5$4
  ,MYRNA ,L\ISE SAT "! QUIETLY1 "K+ T
EV5TU,Y X WD 2 H] TURN 6ANSW] "QS4 ,:AT
WD %E SAY AB ,&REW :5 !Y ASK$ H]8 ,TELL
! TRU?1 %E ?"\4 ,& :AT WD HAPP5 :5 !
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GJB
NEI<BORS ON ,WEB] ,DRIVE F.D \ T ,&REW
,C>LISLE 0 H] SON8 ,WD !Y / SP1K 6H]8
  ,MYRNA ,L\ISE SI<$4 ,%E CD ALW MOVE
AG1 %E SUPPOS$4 ,%E'D D"O X 2F4 ,MAYBE
%E'D GET H]F "O ( ^? ;,U-,HAULS4 ,:AT
DID !Y CALL T1 8AN ADV5TURE 9 MOV+08
,%E'D DRIVE H]F F> AWAY & />T OV] AG1
"S": ": NOBODY KNEW H]4
  ,B F/1 %E ?"\1 %E'D H 6GET H]F A DRIV-
]'S LIC5SE1 & MAYBE EV5 A PAIR ( GLASS-
ES4

  ,DAVY SAT 9 ! CRACK & WAIT$4 ,T'S :AT
HE WD CALL X F N[ ON1 ,I'ITOI'S CRACK4
,HE WOND]$ H[ X WD FEEL 6BE A FLY & 6G
BACK D[N 6! H\SE4 ,HE WD 2 A# 6SEE :AT 0
HAPP5+1 B NOBODY WD "K HE 0 "!4 ,HE
WANT$ 6"K & YET HE DIDN'T4 ,HE 0 AFRAID
6"K4
  ,8 "M 0 / ALIVE :5 HE RAN PA/ H]1 & S
0 ,NANA .,DAHD1 B 7 !Y /8 ,HE CDN'T
TELL4 ,B"O _H WANT$ 6-E ) HM1 B HE _H
ORD]$ ! DOG 6/AY4 ,N[1 HE WI%$ HE _HN'T4
,:Y DIDN'T ,B"O -E LOOK+ = HM8 ,:Y
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GJC
DIDN'T "S"O ELSE8
  ,:ILE HE WAT*$1 A /R+ ( COP C>S CAME
/R1M+ D[N ! CANYON ROAD1 LI<TS FLA%+4 ,X
LOOK$ L A P>ADE1 EXCEPT X WASN'T4 ,"! 7
NO FLOATS1 NO M>*+ B&S4 ,! POLICE C>S 7
ALL GO+ 6HIS H\SE4 ,:AT WD !Y F9D "!8
,WD 8 "M / 2 ALIVE8
  ,:5 HE F/ R1*$ ! CLEFT 9 ! ROCK1 HE 0
PANT+1 \ ( BR1?1 AFRAID T ! T]RI# MAN 0
"R 2H HM4 ,N[1 Z M "T PASS$1 HE WOND]$
:O WD -E = HM4 ,NANA .,DAHD _H BE5 V
SPECIFIC AB T4 ,%E _H TOLD HM HE M/ WAIT
UNTIL MORN+1 WAIT = "S"O HE KNEW4
  ,HE %IFT$ 8 BODY4 ,! %>P ROCKS 2H 8
BACK 7 GR[+ UNCOM=TA#4 ,:AT IF !Y =GOT
ALL AB HM & NOBODY CAME8 ,MAYBE HE'D 5D
UP LIV+ "! ="E4 ,H[ L;G 0 ="E1 ANYWAY8
  ,?REE M SETS ( FLA%+ LI<TS CAME D[N !
W9D+ ROAD & PULL$ 9 AT ! DRIVEWAY4 ,H[
_M POLICE C>S DID X TAKE8 HE WOND]$4
,:AT 0 HAPP5+8 ,HE KEPT ?9K+ 8 "M WD -E
= HM OR ,RITA1 B ! L;G] X W5T )\T ANY"O
-+1 ! M HE 0 AFRAID !Y 7 D1D4
  ,:AT HAPP5$ 6Y AF Y 7 D1D8 ,T 0 "O (!
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GJD
?+S HE 0 SUPPOS$ 6TALK AB ) ,"F ,JOHN !
NEXT "T HE SAW HM4 ,DAVY ?"\ AB ,"F
,JOHN LY+ "! S / ON ! ROOT-CELL> FLOOR1
& HE ?"\ AB :AT ! PRIE/ _H SD Z !Y 7
L1V+ 6TAKE ,B"O 6! VET4
  ,H[ _H T PRAY] G"O8 ,DAVY SQUEEZ$ 8
EYES %UT & 3C5TRAT$1 TRY+ 6REMEMB] ! EX-
ACT ^WS4
  8,IN ! "N (! ,"F1 (! ,SON1 &(! ,HOLY
,<O/40
  ,! ,"F HE CD "U/&1 & HE CD "U/& !
,SON1 B :O 0 ! ,HOLY ,<O/8 ,MAYBE1 ?"\
,DAVY1 ! ,HOLY ,<O/ 0 ,I'ITOI4 ,S HE B[$
8 H1D1 J Z HE _H SE5 ,RITA D1 J L ,"F
,JOHN1 & HE SD A PRAY] = 8 "M1 = ,NANA
.,DAHD1 = ,"F ,JOHN1 & AL = ,OH'O4 ,HE
F9I%$ 0PRAY+1 8,IN ! "N (! "F1 (! ,SON1
&( ,I'ITOI4 ,AM540 ,X S.D$ A LL DI6]5T1
B ,DAVY 0 SURE X M1NT ! SAME ?+4
  ,J !N1 Z HE F9I%$ ! PRAY]1 HE HE>D A
ROCK G SCRA2L+ D[N ! FACE (! CLIFF4 ,HE
DREW BACK 9SIDE ! ROCKY CLEFT1 MAK+ HMF
Z SMALL Z POSSI#1 HOLD+ 8 BR1?1 AFRAID T
"SH[ ! .OHB _H MANAG$ 6ESCAPE & 0 -+ AF
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GJE
HM4
  ,HE LI/5$4 ,CLE>LY N[1 HE CD HE> FOOT-
/EPS -+ CLOS] & CLOS]1 Z ?\< :O"E 0 -+
KNEW ! PA? 6! CRACK1 Z ?\< !Y KNEW ALL
AB ,DAVY'S SECRET HID+ PLACE4
  8,OLHONI80 ,"S"O 0 CALL+ 8 "N1 8 ,9DI-
AN "N1 B X WASN'T ,NANA .,DAHD4 ,:O CD X
2 !N8 ,NO "O ELSE CALL$ HM T4 ,! VOICE
WASN'T FAMILI>1 & ,NANA .,DAHD _H GIV5
HM /RICT ORD]S 6WAIT = "S"O HE KNEW4
  ,!N1 SU45LY1 ,B"O ?RU/ 8 SPIK$ H1D 96!
5TR.E 6! CRACK & COV]$ ! BOY'S FACE )
WET1 SLO2]Y KISSES4 ,2H ! DOG1 A MAN'S
FACE PE]$ 9 ! SMALL OP5+4
  8,OLHONI8 ,>E Y 9 "!80
  ,W1K ) RELIEF1 ,DAVY LET 8 BR1? \4 ,X
0 ,FAT ,CRACK4 8.,HEU'U10 HE ANSW]$4
8,YES40
  8,-E ON1 BOY10 ! ,9DIAN SD1 G5TLY MOV+
! DOG ASIDE4 8,AN OLD MAN & ,I >E WAIT+
6TAKE Y 6! HOSPITAL40
  ,HOSPITAL8 ,! ^W MADE ,DAVY'S HE>T
HURT4 8,IS MY "M ALL "R80 HE ASK$4 8,IS
,NANA .,DAHD80
         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GJF
  8,YR "M IS HURT1 B N BAD10 ! ,9DIAN SD
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  8,:AT AB ! .OHB80 ,DAVY ASK$4 8,IS HE
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8,T1 ,OLHONI1 IS UP 6! .,MIL-GAHN1 ISN'T
X40

         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GJG

               ,EPILOGUE

  ,WANT+ 6BE ! F/ 6KILL1 ,RATTLESNAKE
CREPT CLOSE 6,EVIL ,SIWANI'S CAMP1 S !
NEXT MORN+1 :5 ! BATTLE />T$1 ,RATTLE-
SNAKE KILL$ F/1 & HE *OSE ! PLACE T IS
N[ CALL$ ,RATTLESNAKE ,H\SE4
  ,:5 ! BATTLE 0 F9,Y OV]1 ,EVIL ,SIWANI
0 D1D1 & 8 H\SE & ALL 8 P _H BE5 DE-
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RIV]4 ,S9CE !N !Y H BE5 CALL$ .,AKIMEL
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  ,"S (! W>RIORS 7 HUNT]S1 S !Y W5T TO
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,ROCK & : ! .,MIL-GAHN CALL ,BABOQUIV>I4
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         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GJH
F ! C5T] (! E>? 6HELP ,I'ITOI BATTLE !
,EVIL ,SIWANI1 & H[ !Y CAME 6LIVE "H 9 ?
DES]T C.TRY ":1 .NAWOJ1 MY FR1 !Y / 3T9-
UE 6LIVE EV5 6? "D4

  ,! F1/ 0 WELL "U WAY4 ,9 F\R "DS' "T1
^W _H GOT >.D ! RES]V,N T ,RITA ,ANT"O'S
LUCK _H *ANG$ =! BETT]4 ,! RITUAL S++ _H
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         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GJI
2F D>+ 6SAY :AT %E _H -E 6SAY4 8,I RE-
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         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GAJ
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         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GAA
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         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GAB
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         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GAC
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         ,,H\R ,,( ,,! ,,HUNT]      #GAD