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IS NO NE$ ( FUR!R 4CUS.N40 8,:AT'S T80 ,SKIFF ,MILL] DEM&$1 8 BR[S L[]+ & AN OB/9ATE FLU% ( BLOOD R$D5+ 8 =EH1D4 8,I SD ! DOG DOESN'T G1 & T SETTLES X4 ,I DON'T 2LIEVE HE'S YR DOG4 ,Y MAY H SE5 HM "S"T4 ,Y MAY EV5 "S"T H DRIV5 HM = 8 [N]4 ,B 8 OBEY+ ! ORD9>Y DRIV+ -M&S (! ,ALASKAN TRAIL IS NO DEMON/R,N T HE IS YRS4 ,ANY DOG 9 ,ALASKA WD OBEY Y Z HE OBEY$4 ,2SS1 HE IS UND\BT$LY A VALUA# DOG1 Z DOGS G 9 ,ALASKA1 & T IS SU6ICI5T EXPLAN,N ( YR DESIRE 6GET POSSES.N ( HM4 ,ANYWAY1 Y'VE GOT 6PROVE PROP]TY40 ,SKIFF ,MILL]1 COOL & COLLECT$1 ! OB/9ATE FLU% A TRIFLE DEEP] ON 8 =EH1D1 8 HUGE MUSCLES BULG+ "U ! BLACK CLO? ( 8 COAT1 C>E;LLY LOOK$ ! POET UP & D[N Z ?\< M1SUR+ ! /R5G? ( 8 SL5D];S4 ,! ,KLONDIK]'S FACE TOOK ON A 3TEMPTU\S EXPRES.N Z HE SD F9,Y1 8,I RECKON "!'S NO?9' 9 SIMS & %\LD]S SEEM$ 6/I65 & GR[ T5SE4 ,8 WIFE FLUTT]$ APPREH5SIVELY 96! BR1*4 8,MAYBE ,MR4 ,MILL] IS "R01 %E SD4 8,I AM AFRAID T HE IS4 ,WOLF DOES SEEM 6"K HM1 & C]TA9LY HE ANSW]S 6! "N ( ,8,BR[N40' ,HE MADE FRS ) HM 9/ANTLY1 & Y "K T'S "S?+ HE N"E DID ) ANYBODY 2F4 ,2SS1 LOOK AT ! WAY HE B>K$4 ,HE 0 J BUR/+ ) JOY ,JOY OV] :AT8 ,)\T D\BT AT F9D+ ,MR4 ,MILL]40 ,WALT'S /RIK+-MUSCLES RELAX$1 & 8 %\LD]S SEEM$ 6DROOP ) HOPE.S;S4 8,I GUESS Y'RE "R1 ,MADGE10 HE SD4 8,WOLF ISN'T ,WOLF1 B ,BR[N1 & HE M/ 2L;G 6,MR4 ,MILL]40 8,P]H ,MR4 ,MILL] W SELL HM10 %E SU7E/$4 8,WE C BUY HM40 ,SKIFF ,MILL] %OOK 8 H1D1 NO L;G] BELLIG]5T1 B K9DLY1 QK 6BE G5]\S 9 RESPONSE 6G5]\S;S4 8,I _H FIVE DOGS10 HE SD1 CA/+ AB =! EASIE/ WAY 6TEMP] 8 REFUSAL4 8,HE 0 ! L1D]4 ,!Y 0 ! CRACK T1M ( ,ALASKA4 ,NO?9' CD T\* 'EM4 ,9 #AHIH ,I REFUS$ FIVE ?\S& DOLL>S =! BUN*4 ,DOGS 0 HI<1 !N1 ANYWAY2 B T WASN'T :AT MADE ! FANCY PRICE4 ,X 0 ! T1M XF4 ,BR[N 0 ! BE/ 9 ! T1M4 ,T W9T] ,I REFUS$ TWELVE HUNDR$ = 'M4 ,I DIDN'T SELL ,8;M !N1 AN0' ,I A9'T A-SELL9' ,8;M N[4 ,2SS1 ,I ?9K A MIDON4 ,I CDN'T 2LIEVE MY EYES :5 ,I SE5 ,8;M J N[4 ,I ?"\ ,I 0 DR1M90'4 ,X 0 TOO GD 6BE TRUE4 ,:Y1 ,I 0 8 WET-NURSE4 ,I PUT 'M 6B$1 SNUG E NIS A C :5 ,I CDN'T AF=D X 9 MY [N C(FEE4 ,HE N"E KNEW ANY "M B ME4 ,HE US$ 6SUCK MY F+] REGUL>1 ! D>N LL CUSS -- T F+] "R "!60 ,& ,SKIFF ,MILL]1 TOO OV]WR"\ = SPEE*1 HELD UP A =E F+] = !M 6SEE4 8,T V F+]10 HE MANAG$ 6>TICULATE1 Z ?\< X "SH[ CL9*$ ! PRO( ( [N]%IP &! BOND ( A6EC;N4 ,HE 0 / GAZ+ AT 8 EXT5D$ F+] :5 ,MADGE 2GAN 6SP1K4 8,B ! DOG10 %E SD4 8,Y HAV5'T 3SID]$ ! DOG40 ,SKIFF ,MILL] LOOK$ PUZZL$4 8,H Y ?"\ AB HM80 %E ASK$4 8,DON'T "K :AT Y'RE DRIV9' AT10 0 ! RESPONSE4 8,MAYBE ! DOG HAS "S *OICE 9 ! MATT]10 ,MADGE W5T ON4 8,MAYBE HE HAS 8 LIKES & DESIRES4 ,Y H N 3SID]$ HM4 ,Y GIVE HM NO *OICE4 ,X HAS N"E 5T]$ YR M9D T POSSIBLY HE MIM APPROVAL4 8,:AT D Y ?9K80 ! ,KLONDIK] SU45LY DEM&$4 ,X 0 H] TURN 6BE PUZZL$4 8,:AT D Y M1N80 %E ASK$4 8,D'YE ?9K HE'D SOON] /AY 9 ,CALI=NIA80 ,%E NO4$ H] H1D ) POSITIVE;S4 8,I AM SURE ( X40 ,SKIFF ,MILL] AG DEBAT$ ) HMF1 ?\< ? "T AL\D1 AT ! SAME "T RUNN+ 8 GAZE 9 A JUDICIAL WAY OV] ! MOOT$ ANIMAL4 8,HE 0 A GD "W]4 ,HE'S D"O A H1P ( "W = ME4 ,HE N"E LOAF$ ON ME1 AN' HE 0 A JOE-D&Y AT HAMM]9' A RAW T1M 96%APE4 ,HE'S GOT A H1D ON HM4 ,HE C D "EY?+ B TALK4 ,HE "KS :AT Y SAY 6HM4 ,LOOK AT ,8;M N[4 ,HE "KS WE'RE TALK90' AB HM40 ,! DOG 0 LY+ AT ,SKIFF ,MILL]'S FEET1 H1D CLOSE D[N ON PAWS1 E>S ERECT & LI/5+1 & EYES T 7 QK & EAG] 6FOLL[ ! S.D ( SPEE* Z X FELL F ! LIPS ( F/ "O & !N ! O!R4 8,AN' "!'S A LOT ( "W 9 ,8;M YET4 ,HE'S GD = YE>S 6-E4 ,AN0' ,I D L HM4 ,I L HM L HELL40 ,ONCE OR TWICE AF T ,SKIFF ,MILL] OP5$ 8 M\? & CLOS$ X AG )\T SP1K+4 ,F9,Y HE SD3 8,I'LL TELL Y :AT ,I'LL D4 ,YR REM>KS1 MA'AM1 HAS "S WEID1 & MAYBE HE'S E>N$ A S(T B]? AN' HAS GOT A "R 6*OOSE4 ,ANYWAY1 WE'LL L1VE X UP 6HM4 ,:AT"E HE SAYS1 GOES4 ,Y P /AY "R "H SETT9' D[N4 ,I'LL SAY GD-BY & WALK (F CASUAL-L4 ,IF HE WANTS 6/AY1 HE C /AY4 ,IF HE WANTS 6-E ) ME1 LET 'M -E4 ,I WON'T CALL ,8;M 6-E AN0' DON'T Y CALL 'M 6-E BACK40 ,HE LOOK$ ) SU45 SUSPICION AT ,MADGE1 & A4$1 8,ONLY Y M/ PLAY FAIR4 ,NO P]SUAD9' AF MY BACK IS TURN$40 8,WE'LL PLAY FAIR10 ,MADGE 2GAN1 B ,SKIFF ,MILL] BROKE 9 ON H] ASSUR.ES4 8,I "K ! WAYS ( WOM510 HE ANN\NC$4 8,_! HE>TS IS S(T4 ,:5 _! HE>TS IS T\*$ !Y'RE LIKELY 6/ACK ! C>DS1 LOOK AT ! BOTTOM (! DECK1 AN' LIE L ! DEVIL -- BE79' YR P>DON1 MA'AM4 ,I'M ONLY 4C\RS9' AB WOM5 9 G5]AL40 8,I DON'T "K H[ 6?ANK Y10 ,MADGE QUAV]$4 8,I DON'T SEE Z Y'VE GOT ANY CALL 6?ANK ME10 HE REPLI$4 8,BR[N A9'T DECID$ YET4 ,N[ Y WON'T M9D IF ,I G AWAY SL[8 ,X'S NO MORE'N FAIR1 SEE9' ,I'LL 2 \ ( SIDS40 -- ,MADGE AGRE$1 & A4$1 8,& ,I PROMISE Y FAI?;LLY T WE WON'T D ANY?+ 69FLU;E HM40 8,WELL1 !N1 ,I MIY T"OS ( "O DE"P+4 ,AT ? *ANGE 9 8 VOICE1 ,WOLF LIFT$ 8 H1D QKLY1 & / M QKLY GOT 6HIS FEET :5 ! MAN & WOMAN %OOK H&S4 ,HE SPRANG UP ON 8 H9D LEGS1 RE/+ 8 =E PAWS ON H] HIP & AT ! SAME "T LICK+ ,SKIFF ,MILL]'S H&4 ,:5 ! LATT] %OOK H&S ) ,WALT1 ,WOLF REP1T$ 8 ACT1 RE/+ 8 WEID "O1 N[ T[>D ! O!R1 9 PA9;L 9DECI.N1 N "K+ 8 [N M9D1 DESIR+ BO? & UNA# 6*OOSE1 UTT]+ QK %>P :9ES & 2G9N+ 6PANT4 ,HE SAT D[N ABRUPTLY ON 8 HAUN*ES1 ?RU/+ 8 NOSE UPW>D1 ! M\? OP5+ & CLOS+ ) J]K+ MOVE;TS1 EA* "T OP5+ WID]4 ,^! J]K+ MOVE;TS 7 9 UNISON )! RECURR5T SPASMS T ATTACK$ ! ?ROAT1 EA* SPASM SEV]] & M 9T5SE ?AN ! PREC$+ "O4 ,& 9 A3ORD ) J]KS & SPASMS ! L>YNX 2GAN 6VIBRATE1 AT F/ SIL5TLY1 A3OMPANI$ 0! RU% ( AIR EXPELL$ F ! LUNGS1 !N S.D+ A L[1 DEEP NOTE1 ! L[E/ 9 ! REGI/] (! HUMAN E>4 ,ALL ? 0 ! N]V\S & MUSCUL> PRELIM9>Y 6H[L+4 ,B J Z ! H[L 0 ON ! V]GE ( BUR/+ F ! FULL ?ROAT1 ! WIDE-OP5$ M\? 0 CLOS$1 ! P>OXYSMS C1S$1 & HE LOOK$ L;G & /1DILY AT ! RETR1T+ MAN4 ,SU45LY ,WOLF TURN$ 8 H1D1 & OV] 8 %\LD] J Z /1DILY REG>D$ ,WALT4 ,! APP1L 0 UNANSW]$4 ,N A ^W NOR A SIGN DID ! DOG RCV1 NO SU7ES;N & NO CLEW Z 6:AT 8 3DUCT %D BE4 ,A GL.E AH1D 6": ! OLD MA/] 0 NE>+ ! CURVE (! TRAIL EXCIT$ HM AG4 ,HE SPRANG 6HIS FEET )A :9E1 & !N1 /RUCK 0A NEW IDEA1 TURN$ 8 ATT5;N 6,MADGE4 ,HI!RTO HE _H IGNOR$ H]1 B N[1 BO? MA/]S FAIL+ HM1 %E AL"O 0 LEFT4 ,HE W5T OV] 6H] & SNU7L$ 8 H1D 9 H] LAP1 NUDG+ H] >M ) 8 NOSE -- AN OLD TRICK ( 8 :5 BE7+ = FAVORS4 ,HE BACK$ AWAY F H] & 2GAN WRI?+ & TWI/+ PLAY;LLY1 CURVETT+ & PRANC+1 HALF RE>+ & /RIK+ 8 =E PAWS 6! E>?1 /RU7L+ ) ALL 8 BODY1 F ! :E$L+ EYES & FLATT5+ E>S 6! WA7+ TAIL1 6EXPRESS ! ?"\ T 0 9 HM & T 0 D5I$ HM UTT].E4 ,?1 TOO1 HE SOON AB&ON$4 ,HE 0 DEPRESS$ 0! COLD;S ( ^! HUMANS :O _H N"E BE5 COLD 2F4 ,NO RESPONSE CD HE DRAW F !M1 NO HELP CD HE GET4 ,!Y DID N 3SID] HM4 ,!Y 7 Z D1D4 ,HE TURN$ & SIL5TLY GAZ$ AF ! OLD MA/]4 ,SKIFF ,MILL] 0 R.D+ ! CURVE4 ,9 A MO;T HE WD 2 G"O F VIEW4 ,YET HE N"E TURN$ 8 H1D1 PLO4+ /RAID1 SL[LY & ME?ODIC,Y1 Z ?\< POSSESS$ ( NO 9T]E/ 9 :AT 0 O3URR+ 2H 8 BACK4 ,& 9 ? FA%ION HE W5T \ ( VIEW4 ,WOLF WAIT$ = HM 6REAPPE>4 ,HE WAIT$ A L;G M9UTE1 SIL5TLY1 QUIETLY1 )\T MOVE;T1 Z ?\< TURN$ 6/"O -- )AL /"O QK ) EAG];S & DESIRE4 ,HE B>K$ ONCE1 & WAIT$4 ,!N HE TURN$ & TROTT$ BACK 6,WALT ,IRV9E4 ,HE SNI6$ 8 H& & DROPP$ D[N H1VILY AT 8 FEET1 WAT*+ ! TRAIL ": X CURV$ EMPTILY F VIEW4 ,! T9Y /R1M SLIPP+ D[N ! MOSSY-LIPP$ /"O SEEM$ SU45LY 69CR1SE ! VOLUME ( XS GURGL+ NOISE4 ,SAVE =! M1D[-L>KS1 "! 0 NO O!R S.D4 ,! GRT YELL[ BUTT]FLIES DRIFT$ SIL5TLY "? ! SUN%9E & LO/ !MVS 9 ! DR[SY %AD[S4 ,MADGE GAZ$ TRIUMPHANTLY AT H] HUSB&4 ,A FEW M9UTES LAT] ,WOLF GOT ^U 8 FEET4 ,DECI.N & DELIB],N M>K$ 8 MOVE;TS4 ,HE DID N GL.E AT ! MAN & WOMAN4 ,8 EYES 7 FIX$ UP ! TRAIL4 ,HE _H MADE UP 8 M9D4 ,!Y KNEW X4 ,& !Y KNEW1 S F> Z !Y 7 3C]N$1 T ! ORD1L _H J 2GUN4 ,HE BROKE 96A TROT1 & ,MADGE'S LIPS PURS$1 =M+ AN AV5UE =! C>ESS+ S.D T X 0 ! W ( H] 6S5D =?4 ,B ! C>ESS+ S.D 0 N MADE4 ,%E 0 IMPELL$ 6LOOK AT H] HUSB&1 & %E SAW ! /]N;S ) : HE WAT*$ H]4 ,! PURS$ LIPS RELAX$1 & %E SI<$ 9AUDIBLY4 ,WOLF'S TROT BROKE 96A RUN4 ,WID] & WID] 7 ! L1PS HE MADE4 ,N ONCE DID HE TURN 8 H1D1 8 WOLF'S BRU% /&+ \ /RAIPLY ACR ! CURVE (! TRAIL & 0 G"O4