,,*APT] ,,XXIII ,"O ?+ ,J]RY LE>N$ E>LY ON ! ,>IEL1 "NLY1 T NI7]-*AS+ 0 N P]MITT$4 ,EAG] 6PL1SE & S]VE 8 NEW GODS1 HE TOOK ADVANTAGE (! F/ OPPORTUN;Y 6WORRY A CANOE-LOAD ( BLACKS :O CAME VISIT+ ON BO>D4 ,! QK *ID+ ( ,VILLA &! -M& ( ,H>LEY MADE HM PAUSE 9 AMAZE;T4 ,FULLY 2LIEV+ HE _H BE5 MISTAK51 HE RESUM$ 8 RA7+ (! "PICUL> BLACK HE _H PICK$ ^U4 ,? "T ,H>LEY'S VOICE 0 P]EMPTORY1 & ,J]RY CAME 6HM1 8 WA7+ TAIL & WRI7L+ BODY ALL EAG];S ( APOLOGY1 Z 0 8 ROSE-/RIP ( T;GUE T KISS$ ! H& ( =GIVE;S ) : ,H>LEY PATT$ HM4 ,NEXT1 ,VILLA CALL$ HM 6H]4 ,HOLD+ HM CLOSE 6H] ) H] H&S ON 8 J[LS1 EYE 6EYE & NOSE 6NOSE1 %E TALK$ 6HM E>NE/LY AB ! S9 ( NI7]-*AS+4 ,%E TOLD HM T HE 0 NO -MON BU%-DOG1 B A BLOOD$ ,IRI% G5TLEMAN1 & T NO DOG T 0 A G5TLEMAN "E DID S* ?+S Z *ASE UN(F5D+ BLACK M54 ,6ALL ( : HE LI/5$ ) UNBL9K+ S]I\S EYES1 "U/&+ LL ( :AT %E SD1 YET -PREH5D+ ALL4 8,NAUIEL LANGUAGE HE _H ALR LE>N$1 & %E US$ X S"EAL "TS4 8,NAUL & SNAP :5 ! LEGS ( /RANGE & PRESUMPTU\S BLACKS PASS$ NE> HM AL;G ! ,>IEL'S :ITE DECK4 ,B "! 7 "TS & "TS1 Z HE 0 6LE>N1 &! "T CAME :5 ,VILLA ,K5NAN WANT$ A BA?1 A R1L BA? 9 FRE%1 RA9-DESC5D$1 RUNN+ WAT]1 & :5 ,JOHNNY1 ! BLACK PILOT F ,TULAGI1 MADE A MISTAKE4 ,! *>T %[$ A MILE (! ,SULI RIV] ": X EMPTI$ 96! SEA4 ,:Y X %[$ ONLY A MILE 0 2C NO :ITE MAN _H "E EXPLOR$ X F>!R4 ,:5 ,VILLA PROPOS$ ! BA?1 H] HUSB& ADVIS$ ) ,JOHNNY4 ,JOHNNY %OOK 8 H1D4 8,NO FELLA BOY /OP 'M AL;G T PLACE10 HE SD4 8,NO MAKE 'M TR\# AL;G Y4 ,BU% FELLA BOY /OP 'M L;G WAY TOO M*40 ,S X 0 T ! LAUN* W5T A%ORE1 &1 :ILE XS CREW LOLL$ 9 ! %ADE (! B1* COCONUTS1 ,VILLA1 ,H>LEY1 & ,J]RY FOLL[$ ! RIV] 9L& A QU>T] (A MILE 6! F/ LIKELY POOL4 8,"O C N"E 2 TOO SURE10 ,H>LEY SD1 TAK+ 8 AUTOMATIC PI/OL F XS HOL/] & PLAC+ X ON TOP 8 H1P ( CLO!S4 8,A /RAY BUN* ( BLACKS MIK JUNGLE RO( HI< OV]H1D "? : ONLY O3A.NAL %AFTS ( SUNLIK DE$10 %E SMIL$1 !N SCOOP$ A H&;L ( *ILL WAT] AG/ H] HUSB&1 :O PLUNG$ 9 9 PURSUIT4 ,=A "T ,J]RY SAT 0_! CLO!S & WAT*$ ! FROLIC4 ,!N ! DRIFT+ %AD[ (A HUGE BUTT]FLY ATTRACT$ 8 ATT5;N1 & SOON HE 0 NOS+ "? ! JUNGLE ON ! TRAIL (A WOOD-RAT4 ,X 0 N A V FRE% TRAIL4 ,HE KNEW T WELL 5\<2 B 9 ! DEEPS ( HM 7 ALL 8 9/9CTS ( ANCI5T TRA9+--9/9CTS 6HUNT1 6PR[L1 6PURSUE LIV+ ?+S1 9 %ORT1 6PLAY ! GAME ( GETT+ 8 [N M1T ?\< = AGES MAN _H GOT ! M1T = HM & 8 K9D4 ,S X WAS1 EX]CIS+ FACULTIES T 7 NO L;G] NEC1 B T 7 / ALIVE 9 HM & CLAMOR\S = EX]CISE1 HE FOLL[$ ! L;G-S9CE PASS$ WOOD-RAT ) ALL ! S(T-FOOT$ CR\*+ CRAFT (! M1T-PURSU] &) UTMO/ F9E;S ( R1D+ ! SC5T4 ,! TRAIL CROSS$ A FRE% TRAIL1 A TRAIL V FRE%1 V IMMLY FRE%4 ,Z IF A ROPE _H BE5 ATTA*$ 6X1 8 H1D 0 J]K$ ABRUPTLY 6"R ANGLES ) 8 BODY4 ,! UNMISTAKA# SMELL (A BLACK 0 9 8 NO/RILS4 ,FUR!R1 X 0 A /RANGE BLACK1 = HE DID N ID5TIFY X )! _M HE POSSESS$ FIL$ AWAY 9 ! PIGEON-HOLES ( 8 BRA94 ,=GOTT5 0 ! /ALE WOOD-RAT Z HE FOLL[$ ! NEW TRAIL4 ,CURIOS;Y & PLAY IMPELL$ HM4 ,HE _H NO ?"\ ( APPREH5.N = ,VILLA & ,H>LEY--N EV5 :5 HE R1*$ ! SPOT ": ! BLACK1 EVID5TLY />TL$ 0BE>+ _! VOICES1 _H /OOD & DEBAT$1 & S LEFT A V /R;G SC5T4 ,F ? PO9T ! TRAIL SW]V$ (F T[>D ! POOL4 ,N]V\SLY AL]T1 /RUNG 6EXTREME T5.N1 B )\T AL>M1 / PLAY+ AT ! GAME ( TRACK+1 ,J]RY FOLL[$4 ,F ! POOL CAME O3A.NAL CRIES & LAUS ,J]RY EXP]I;ED GLAD LL ?RILLS4 ,_H HE BE5 ASK$1 & _H HE BE5 A# 6EXPRESS ! S5S,NS ( EMO;N 9 T]MS ( ?"\1 HE WD H SD T ! SWEETE/ S.D 9 ! _W 0 ANY S.D ( ,VILLA ,K5NAN'S VOICE1 & T1 NEXT SWEETE/1 0 ANY S.D ( ,H>LEY ,K5NAN'S VOICE4 ,_! VOICES ?RILL$ HM1 ALW1 REM9D+ HM ( 8 LOVE = !M & T HE 0 2LOV$ ( !M4 ,)! F/ SI\S$4 ,HE 0 N 3DUCT+ HMF Z AN ORD9>Y BLACK1 N ON EVIL 9T5T1 %D 3DUCT HMF4 ,9/1D1 HE 2TRAY$ ALL ! AC;NS ( "O :O LURK$ 9 ! P]PETR,N ( H>M4 ,HE CR\*$ ON ! JUNGLE FLOOR1 PE]+ >.D A GRT ROOT (A BO>D TREE4 ,J]RY BRI/L$ & HMF CR\*$ Z HE WAT*$4 ,ONCE1 ! BLACK RAIS$ 8 RIFLE HALF-WAY 6HIS %\LD]2 B1 ) AN \TBUR/ ( SPLA%+ & LAUD TREE1 HE L[]$ 8 GUN 6HIS SIDE & CREPT CLOS] 6! POOL4 ,J]RY CR\*$ L[ & FOLL[$4 ,S L[ DID HE CR\* T 8 H1D1 EXT5D$ HORIZONT,Y =W>D1 0 M* L[] ?AN 8 %\LD]S : 7 HUMP$ UP QUE]LY & -POS$ ! HIS FLATT5$ & T;GUE LAU<+ 9 ! >MS (! LADY-GOD1 NO ,S+ ,S;G ,SILLY *ANT+ ANCI5T MEMORIES 9 ! CL\D-5TANGLE;T ( H] HAIR2 B A F\R-LE7$ CR1TURE ( BATTLE1 A FANG$ KILL] RIPE 6R5D & DE/ROY4 ,J]RY 9T5D$ 6ATTACK Z SOON Z HE _H CREPT SU6ICI5TLY NE>4 ,HE 0 UNAW>E (! ,>IEL TABOO AG/ NI7]-*AS+4 ,AT T MO;T X _H NO PLACE 9 8 3SCI\S;S4 ,ALL HE KNEW 0 T H>M ?R1T5$ ! MAN & WOMAN & T ? NI7] 9T5D$ ? H>M4 ,S M* _H ,J]RY GA9$ ON 8 QU>RY1 T :5 AG ! BLACK SQUATT$ = 8 %OT1 ,J]RY DEEM$ HE 0 NE> 5 6RU%4 ,! RIFLE 0 -+ 6%\LD] :5 HE SPRANG =W>D4 ,SWIFTLY Z HE SPRANG1 HE MADE NO S.D1 & 8 VICTIM'S F/ W>N+ 0 :5 ,J]RY'S BODY1 LAUN*$ L A PROJECTILE1 SMOTE ! BLACK SQU>ELY 2T ! %\LD]S4 ,AT ! SAME MO;T 8 TEE? 5T]$ ! BACK (! NECK1 B TOO NE> ! BASE 9 ! LUMPY %\LD] MUSCLES 6P]MIT ! FANGS 6P5ETRATE 6! SP9AL CORD4 ,9 ! F/ F"R ( SURPRISE1 ! BLACK'S F+] PULL$ ! TRI7] & 8 ?ROAT LOOS$ AN UNE>?LY YELL4 ,KNOCK$ =W>D ON 8 FACE1 HE ROLL$ OV] & GRAPPL$ ) ,J]RY1 :O SLA%$ *EEK-B"O & *EEK & RI2ON$ AN E>2 = X IS ! WAY ( AN ,IRI% T]RI] 6BITE REP1T$LY & QKLY R ?AN 6HOLD A BULLDOG GRIP4 ,:5 ,H>LEY ,K5NAN1 AUTOMATIC 9 H& & NAK$ Z ,ADAM1 R1*$ ! SPOT1 HE F.D DOG & MAN LOCK$ TGR & TE>+ UP ! =E/ M\LD 9 _! /RU7LE4 ,! BLACK1 8 FACE /R1M+ BLOOD1 0 ?ROTTL+ ,J]RY ) BO? H&S >.D 8 NECK2 & ,J]RY1 SNORT+1 *OK+1 SN>L+1 0 SCRAT*+ = DE> LIFE )! CLAWS ( 8 H9D FEET4 ,NO PUPPY CLAWS 7 !Y1 B ! /\T CLAWS (A MATURE DOG T 7 /I65$ 0A BACK+ ( H>D MUSCLES4 ,& !Y RIPP$ NAK$ *E/ & ABDOM5 FULL L5G? AG & AG UNTIL ! :OLE FRONT (! MAN 0 /R1M+ R$4 ,H>LEY ,K5NAN DID N D>E *.E A %OT1 S CLOSELY 7 ! -BATANTS LOCK$4 ,9/1D1 /EPP+ 9 CLOSE2 HE SMA%$ D[N ! BUTT ( 8 AUTOMATIC ^U ! SIDE (! MAN'S H1D4 ,REL1S$ 0! RELAX+ (! /UNN$ BLACK'S H&S1 ,J]RY FLUNG HMF 9 A FLA% ^U ! EXPOS$ ?ROAT1 & ONLY ,H>LEY'S H& ON 8 NECK & ,H>LEY'S %>P -M& MADE HM C1SE & /& CLE>4 ,HE TREM#D ) RAGE & 3T9U$ 6SN>L F]OCI\SLY1 AL? HE WD DESI/ L;G 5 6GL.E UP ) 8 EYES1 FLATT5 8 E>S1 & WAG 8 TAIL EA* "T ,H>LEY UTT]$ 8,GD BOY40 8,GD BOY0 HE KNEW = PRAISE2 & HE KNEW 2Y ANY D\BT1 0,H>LEY'S REPETI;N ( X1 T HE _H S]V$ HM & S]V$ HM WELL4 8,D Y "K ! BE7> 9T5D$ 6BU%-:ACK U10 ,H>LEY TOLD ,VILLA1 :O1 HALF-DRESS$ & / DRESS+1 _H JO9$ HM4 8,X WASN'T FIFTY FEET & HE CDN'T H MISS$4 ,LOOK AT ! ,W9*E/]4 ,NO OLD SMOO? BORE4 ,&A FELL[ )A GUN L T WD "K H[ 6USE X40 8,B :Y DIDN'T HE80 %E QU]I$4 ,H] HUSB& PO9T$ 6,J]RY4 ,VILLA'S EYES B"R5$ ) QK -PREH5.N4 8,Y M1N 4 4 4 80 %E 2GAN4 ,HE NO4$4 8,J T4 ,S+ ,S;G ,SILLY B1T HM 6X40 ,HE B5T1 ROLL$ ! MAN OV]1 & 4COV]$ ! LAC]AT$ BACK (! NECK4 8,T'S ": HE L&$ ON HM F/1 & HE M/ H _H 8 F+] ON ! TRI7]1 DRAW+ D[N ON Y & ME1 MO/ LIKELY ME F/1 :5 ,S+ ,S;G ,SILLY BROKE UP 8 CALCUL,NS40 ,VILLA 0 ONLY HALF HE>+1 = %E _H ,J]RY 9 H] >MS & 0 CALL+ HM 8,B.S$ ,DOG10 ! :ILE %E /ILL$ 8 SN>L+ & SOO!D D[N ! LA/ BRI/L+ HAIR4 ,B ,J]RY SN>L$ AG & 0 = L1P+ ^U ! BLACK :5 HE /IRR$ RE/.SLY & DIZZILY SAT UP4 ,H>LEY REMOV$ A KNIFE F 2T ! B>E SK9 &A BELT4 8,:AT "N 2L;G Y80 HE DEM&$4 ,B ! BLACK _H EYES ONLY = ,J]RY1 />+ AT HM 9 WOND]+ AMAZE UNTIL HE PIEC$ ! SITU,N TGR 9 8 GR[+ CL>;Y ( BRA9 & R1LIZ$ T S* A SMALL *UNKY ANIMAL _H SPOIL$ 8 GAME4 8,MY ^W10 HE GR9N$ 6,H>LEY1 8T FELLA DOG PUT 'M CRIMP AL;G ME ANY AM.T40 ,HE FELT \ ! W.DS ( 8 NECK & FACE1 :ILE 8 EYES EMBRAC$ ! FACT T ! :ITE MA/] 0 9 POSSES.N ( 8 RIFLE4 8,Y GIVE 'M MUSKET 2L;G ME10 HE SD IMPUD5TLY4 8,I GIVE 'M Y BANG AL;GSIDE H1D10 0 ,H>LEY'S ANSW]4 8,HE DOESN'T SEEM 6ME 6BE A REGUL> ,MALAITAN10 HE TOLD ,VILLA4 8,IN ! F/ PLACE1 ": WD HE GET A RIFLE L T8 ,!N ?9K ( 8 N]VE4 ,HE M/ H SE5 U DROP AN*OR1 & HE M/ H "KN \R LAUN* 0 ON ! B1*4 ,YET HE PLAY$ 6TAKE \R H1DS & GET AWAY ) !M BACK 96! BU%--0 8,:AT "N 2L;G Y80 HE AG DEM&$4 ,B N UNTIL ,JOHNNY &! LAUN* CREW >RIV$ BR1?.S F _! RUN1 DID HE LE>N4 ,JOHNNY'S EYES GLOAT$ :5 HE 2HELD ! PRISON]1 & HE A4RESS$ ,K5NAN 9 EVID5T EXCITE;T4 8,Y GIVE 'M ME T FELLA BOY10 HE BE7$4 8,EH8 ,Y GIVE 'M ME T FELLA BOY40 8,:AT "N Y WANT 'M80 ,N = "S "T WD ,JOHNNY ANSW] ? "Q1 & !N ONLY :5 ,K5NAN TOLD HM T "! 0 NO H>M D"O & T HE 9T5D$ 6LET ! BLACK G4 ,AT ? ,JOHNNY PROTE/$ VEHE;TLY4 8,MAYBE Y FET* 'M T FELLA BOY AL;G ,GOV]N;T ,H\SE1 ,TULAGI1 ,GOV]N;T ,H\SE GIVE 'M Y TW5TY P.DS4 ,HM PL5TY BAD FELLA BOY TOO M*4 ,MAKAWAO HE "N /OP AL;G HM4 ,BAD FELLA BOY TOO M*4 ,HM ,QUE5SL& BOY--0 8,:AT "N ,QUE5SL&80 ,K5NAN 9T]RUPT$4 8,HE 2L;G T FELLA PLACE80 ,JOHNNY %OOK 8 H1D4 8,HM 2L;G AL;G ,MALAITA F/ "T4 ,L;G "T 2F TOO M* HE RECRUIT 'M AL;G S*OON] G "W AL;G ,QUE5SL&40 8,HE'S A RETURN ,QUE5SL&]10 ,H>LEY 9T]PRET$ 6,VILLA4 8,Y "K1 :5 ,AU/RALIA W5T ,8ALL :ITE10' ! ,QUE5SL& PLANT,NS _H 6S5D ALL ! BLACK BIRDS BACK4 ,? ,MAKAWAO IS EVID5TLY "O ( !M1 &A H>D CASE Z WELL1 IF "!'S ANY?+ 9 ,JOHNNY'S GAMMON AB TW5TY P.DS REW>D = HM4 ,T'S A BIG PRICE =A BLACK40 ,JOHNNY 3T9U$ 8 EXPLAN,N :1 REDUC$ 6FLAT & SOB] ,5GLI%1 0 6! E6ECT T ,MAKAWAO _H ALW BORNE A BAD "*4 ,9 ,QUE5SL& HE _H S]V$ A TOTAL ( F\R YE>S 9 JAIL = !FTS1 RO2]IES1 & ATTEMPT$ MURD]4 ,RETURN$ 6! ,SOLOMONS 0! ,AU/RALIAN GOV]N;T1 HE _H RECRUIT$ ON ,BULI ,PLANT,N =! PURPOSE--Z 0 AFWS PROV$--( GETT+ >MS & AMMUNI;N4 ,= AN ATTEMPT 6KILL ! MANAG] HE _H RCVD FIFTY LA%ES AT ,TULAGI & S]V$ A YE>4 ,RETURN$ 6,BULI ,PLANT,N 6F9I% 8 LAB\R S]VICE1 HE _H 3TRIV$ 6KILL ! [N] 9 ! MANAG]'S ABS;E & 6ESCAPE 9 A :ALEBOAT4 ,9 ! :ALEBOAT ) HM HE _H TAK5 ALL ! W1PONS & AMMUNI;N (! PLANT,N1 ! [N]'S H1D1 T5 ,MALAITA RECRUITS1 & TWO RECRUITS F ,SAN ,CRI/OBAL--! TWO LA/ 2C !Y 7 SALT-WAT] M5 & CD H&LE ! :ALEBOAT4 ,HMF &! T5 ,MALAITANS1 2+ BU%M51 7 TOO IGNORANT (! SEA 6D>E ! L;G PASSAGE F ,GUADALCAN>4 ,ON ! WAY1 HE _H RAID$ ! LL ISLET ( ,UGI1 SACK$ ! /ORE1 & TAK5 ! H1D (! SOLIT>Y TRAD]1 A G5TLE-S\L$ HALF-CA/E F ,NORFOLK ,ISL& :O TRAC$ BACK DIRECTLY 6A ,PITCAIRN ANCE/RY /RAIRIV$ SAFELY AT ,MALAITA1 HE & 8 FELL[S1 NO L;G] HAV+ ANY USE =! TWO ,SAN ,CRI/OBAL BOYS1 _H TAK5 _! H1DS & EAT5 _! BODIES4 8,MY ^W1 HM BAD FELLA BOY ANY AM.T10 ,JOHNNY F9I%$ 8 TALE4 8,GOV]N;T ,H\SE1 ,TULAGI1 DAMN GLAD GIVE 'M TW5TY P.DS AL;G T FELLA40 8,Y B.S$ ,S+ ,S;G ,SILLY10 ,VILLA1 MURMUR$ 9 ,J]RY'S E>S4 8,IF X _HN'T BE5 = Y--0 8,YR H1D & M9E WD EV5 N[ 2 GALUMP+ "? ! BU% Z ,MAKAWAO HIT ! HI< PLACES = HOME10 ,H>LEY 3CLUD$ = H]4 8,MY ^W1 "S FELLA DOG T1 ANY AM.T10 HE A4$ LILEY 3FIRM$ H] MUTT]$ S5TI;T )A NOD4 8,ANY WAY10 HE SD1 )A SMILE1 8"! WD H BE5 "O 3SOL,N IF YR H1D _H G"O UP 96! BU%40 8,3SOL,N60 %E CRI$1 ?ROATY ) 9DIGN,N4 8,:Y1 YES2 2C 9 T CASE MY H1D WD H G"O AL;G40 8,Y DE> & B.S$ ,HUSB&-,MAN10 %E MURMUR$1 A QK CL\DI;S ( MOI/URE 9 H] EYES1 Z ) H] EYES %E EMBRAC$ HM1 H] >MS / >.D ,J]RY1 :O1 S5S+ ! EC/ASY (! MO;T1 KISS$ H] FRAGRANT *EEK ) 8 RI2ON-T;GUE ( LOVE4