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(F MY H1D ) S\R APPLES60
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  8,GO% D>N MY BUTTONS6 IF ,I DIDN'T
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8 L;G-DELAY$ FIRE4 ,FLAPJACKS & BACON &
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*94 ,8 FACE %[$ :ITE 9 ! MOONLI<T1 L !
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  8,GD NI<T1 ,MR4 ,POCKET10 HE CALL$
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  ,HE SLEPT "? ! E>LY GRAY ( MORN+ UNTIL
! DIRECT RAYS (! SUN SMOTE 8 CLOS$
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PREVI\SLY LIV$4
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  8,KEEP Y] %IRT ON1 ,BILL2 KEEP Y] %IRT
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RU%9'8 ,NO USE 9 GETT9' ALL HET UP AN'
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BR1KFA/4 ,N[1 :AT Y WANT1 ,BILL1 IS "S?+
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AN' GET X40
  ,HE CUT A %ORT POLE AT ! WAT]'S $GE &
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DRA7L$ FLY T _H ONCE BE5 A ROYAL
COA*MAN4
  8,ME2E !Y'LL BITE 9 ! E>LY MORN+10 HE
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MO;T LAT] HE 0 GLEE;LLY CRY+3 8,:AT'D ,I
TELL Y1 EH8 ,:AT'D ,I TELL Y80
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WAY 6HIS HILLSIDE1 HE 0 /RUCK 0A SU45
?"\1 & PAUS$4
  8,I'D J BETT] TAKE A HIKE D[N-/R1M A
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MAY 2 SNOOP9' >.D40
  ,B HE CROSS$ OV] ON ! /"OS1 &)A 8,I
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  ,AT NI<TFALL HE /RAI<T5$ UP4 ,! SMALL
( 8 BACK 0 /IFF F /OOP+ TOIL1 & Z HE PUT
8 H& 2H HM 6SOO! ! PROTE/+ MUSCLES1 HE
SD3
  8,N[ :AT D'YE ?9K ( T1 0DAMN8 ,I CL1N
=GOT MY D9N] AG6 ,IF ,I DON'T WAT* \1
,I'LL SURE 2 DEG5]AT9' 96A TWO-M1L-A-"D
CRANK40
  8,POCKETS IS ! DAMN$E/ ?+S ,I "E SEE =
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  ,RIS+ )! SUN1 & SNAT*+ A HA/Y BR1KFA/1
HE 0 E>LY AT "W4 ,A FEV] SEEM$ 6BE GR[+
9 HM1 NOR DID ! 9CR1S+ RI*;S (! TE/-PANS
ALLAY ? FEV]4 ,"! 0 A FLU% 9 8 *EEK O!R
?AN T MADE 0! H1T (! SUN1 & HE 0
OBLIVI\S 6FATIGUE &! PASSAGE ( "T4 ,:5
HE FILL$ A PAN ) DIRT1 HE RAN D[N ! HILL
6WA% X2 NOR CD HE =BE> RUNN+ UP ! HILL
AG1 PANT+ & /UMBL+ PROFANELY1 6REFILL !
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X4
  8,J AB TWO Y>DS ABV T MANZANITA BU%
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6! TEMPT,N1 & CURS$ HMF BLASPHEM\SLY &
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UP ! CROSS-CUTT+4
  8,SL[ AN' C]TA91 ,BILL2 SL[ AN'
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,X 0 ONLY AT ?IRTY 9*ES 2N ! SURFACE T
HE CD GET COLORS 9 8 PAN4 ,! DIRT HE F.D
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! GOLD COLORS AT ! GRASS ROOTS4 ,! HI<]
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6GET "O TE/-PAN 0 A TASK ( NO M1N
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SOO!D 8 A*+ BACK4
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S(T BR[N E>?1 ! MAN TOIL$ UP ! HILL4 ,2F
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PANS4 ,TW5TY C5TS1 ?IRTY C5TS1 FIFTY
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9 ! PANS1 & AT NI<TFALL HE WA%$ 8 BANN]
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F A %OVEL;L ( DIRT4
  8,I'LL J BET X'S MY LUCK 6H "S
9QUISITIVE CUSS -E BUTT9' 9 "H ON MY
PA/URE10 HE MUM#D SLEEPILY T NI<T Z HE
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  ,SU45LY HE SAT UP"R4 8,BILL60 HE CALL$
%>PLY4 8,N[1 LI/5 6ME1 ,BILL2 D'YE HE>6
,X'S UP 6Y1 TM MORN9'1 6MOSEY R.D AN'
SEE :AT Y C SEE4 ,"U/&8 ,TM MORN+1 AN'
DON'T Y =GET X60
  ,HE YAWN$ & GL.ED ACR AT 8 SIDE-HILL4
8,GD NI<T1 ,MR4 ,POCKET10 HE CALL$4
  ,9 ! MORN+ HE /OLE A M>* ON ! SUN1 =
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! MA9 CRE/1 ": ! BACKB"O (! ,WE/]N _W
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! MA9 TR5D (! SEA ( M.TA9S4 ,6! WE/ !
RANGES FELL AWAY1 "O 2H ! O!R1 DIM9I%+ &
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  ,& 9 ALL T MI<TY SWEEP ( E>? HE SAW NO
SIGN ( MAN NOR (! H&I"W ( MAN--SAVE ONLY
! TORN BOSOM (! HILLSIDE AT 8 FEET4 ,!
MAN LOOK$ L;G & C>E;LLY4 ,ONCE1 F> D[N 8
[N CANYON1 HE ?"\ HE SAW 9 ! AIR A FA9T
H9T ( SMOKE4 ,HE LOOK$ AG & DECID$ T X 0
! PURPLE HAZE (! HILLS MADE D>K 0A
3VOLU;N (! CANYON WALL AT XS BACK4
  8,HEY1 Y1 ,MR4 ,POCKET60 HE CALL$ D[N
96! CANYON4 8,/& \ F "U6 ,I'M A-COM9'1
,MR4 ,POCKET6 ,I'M A-COM9'60
  ,! H1VY BROGANS ON ! MAN'S FEET MADE
HM APPE> CLUMSY-FOOT$1 B HE SWUNG D[N F
! GI4Y HEI<T Z LI<TLY & AIRILY Z A M.TA9
GOAT4 ,A ROCK1 TURN+ "U 8 FOOT ON ! $GE
(! PRECIPICE1 DID N 4CONC]T HM4 ,HE
SEEM$ 6"K ! PRECISE "T REQUIR$ =! TURN
6CULM9ATE 9 4A/]1 & 9 ! M1N"T HE UTILIZ$
! FALSE FOOT+ XF =! MO;T>Y E>?-3TACT NEC
6C>RY HM ON 96SAFETY4 ,": ! E>? SLOP$ S
/EEPLY T X 0 IMPOSSI# 6/& =A SECOND
UP"R1 ! MAN DID N HESITATE4 ,8 FOOT
PRESS$ ! IMPOSSI# SURFACE = B A FRAC;N
(! FATAL SECOND & GAVE HM ! B.D T C>RI$
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SECOND'S FOOT+ 0 \ (! "Q1 HE WD SW+ 8
BODY PA/ 0A MO;T'S H&-GRIP ON A JUTT+
KNOB ( ROCK1 A CREVICE1 OR A PREC>I\SLY
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HE EX*ANG$ ! FACE (! WALL = AN E>?-SLIDE
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SLID+ E>? & GRAVEL4
  ,8 F/ PAN (! MORN+ WA%$ \ OV] TWO
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8,V40 ,6EI SIDE ! DIM9U;N 9 ! VALUES (!
PANS 0 SWIFT4 ,8 L9ES ( CROSSCUTT+ HOLES
7 GR[+ V %ORT4 ,! 3V]G+ SIDES (! 9V]T$
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,0E>LY AFN HE 0 S9K+ ! TE/-HOLES FIVE
FEET 2F ! PANS CD %[ ! GOLD-TRACE4
  ,= T MATT]1 ! GOLD-TRACE _H 2COME "S?+
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MAN RESOLV$ 6-E BACK AF HE _H F.D !
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! WOR? (! PANS _H GR[N 6?REE & F\R
DOLL>S4 ,! MAN SCRAT*$ 8 H1D P]PLEX$LY &
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MANZANITA BU% T M>K$ APPROXIMATELY !
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ORACUL>LY3
  8,X'S "O O' TWO ?+S1 ,BILL2 "O O' TWO
?+S4 ,EI ,MR4 ,POCKET'S SPILL$ HMF ALL \
AN' D[N ! HILL1 OR ELSE ,MR4 ,POCKET'S T
DAMN$ RI* Y MAYBE WON'T 2 A# 6C>RY HM
ALL AWAY ) Y4 ,& T'D 2 HELL1 WDN'T X1
N[80 ,HE *UCKL$ AT 3TEMPL,N ( S PL1SANT
A DILEMMA4
  ,NI<TFALL F.D HM 0! $GE (! /R1M 8 EYES
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FIVE-DOLL> PAN4
  8,WI%T ,I _H AN ELECTRIC LI<T 6G ON
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  ,HE F.D SLEEP DI6ICULT T NI<T4 ,_M "TS
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6OV]TAKE HM2 B 8 BLOOD P.D$ ) TOO /R;G
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CAU<T HM ) BR1KFA/

F9I%$ & CLIMB+ ! HILLSIDE 9 ! DIREC;N (!
  SECRET
ABID+-PLACE ( ,MR4 ,POCKET4

  ,! F/ CROSS-CUT ! MAN MADE1 "! 0 SPACE
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  8,BE CA'M1 ,BILL2 2 CALM10 HE ADMONI%$
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/ROKE4
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  8,SU6]9' ,S>DANOPOLIS60 HE CRI$4
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( X60
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96HIS PAN & EXAM9$ ANO!R PIECE4 ,LL
YELL[ 0 6BE SE51 B ) 8 /R;G F+]S HE
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  8,TALK AB Y] ,TOO ,M* ,GOLD DI79'S60 !
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,8;D MAKE X LOOK L ?IRTY C5TS4 ,? DI790'
IS ,ALL ,GOLD4 ,AN' "R "H AN' N[ ,I "N ?
Y]E CANYON ,8,ALL ,GOLD ,CANYON10' B'
GO%60
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CAME 6HM A PREMONI;N ( DANG]4 ,X SEEM$ A
%AD[ _H FALL5 ^U HM4 ,B "! 0 NO %AD[4 ,8
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0 *OK+ HM4 ,!N 8 BLOOD SL[LY *ILL$ & HE
FELT ! SW1T ( 8 %IRT COLD AG/ 8 FLE%4
  ,HE DID N SPR+ UP NOR LOOK >.D4 ,HE
DID N MOVE4 ,HE 0 3SID]+ ! NATURE (!
PREMONI;N HE _H RCVD1 TRY+ 6LOCATE !
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6"K2 & ? AURA HE FELT1 B KNEW N H[ HE
FELT X4 ,8 0 ! FEEL+ Z :5 A CL\D PASSES
OV] ! SUN4 ,X SEEM$ T 2T HM & LIFE _H
PASS$ "S?+ D>K & S"M+ & M5AC+2 A GLOOM1
Z X W]E1 T SWALL[$ UP LIFE & MADE = D1?
--HIS D1?4
  ,E =CE ( 8 2+ IMPELL$ HM 6SPR+ UP &
3FRONT ! UNSE5 DANG]1 B 8 S\L DOM9AT$ !
PANIC1 & HE REMA9$ SQUATT+ ON 8 HEELS1 9
8 H&S A *UNK ( GOLD4 ,HE DID N D>E 6LOOK
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ALL ! "T HE KNEW T "S?+ 2H HM 0 LOOK+ AT
! GOLD OV] 8 %\LD]4
  ,/ FEIGN+ 9T]E/ 9 ! *UNK ( GOLD 9 8
H&1 HE LI/5$ 9T5TLY & HE HE>D ! BR1?+ (!
?+ 2H HM4 ,8 EYES SE>*$ ! GR.D 9 FRONT (
HM =A W1PON1 B !Y SAW ONLY ! UPROOT$
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8 PICK1 A H&Y W1PON ON O3A.N2 B ? 0 N S*
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0 9 A N>R[ HOLE T 0 SEV5 FEET DEEP4 ,8
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A TRAP4
  ,HE REMA9$ SQUATT+ ON 8 HEELS4 ,HE 0 Q
COOL & COLLECT$2 B 8 M9D1 3SID]+ E
FACTOR1 %[$ HM ONLY 8 HELP.S;S4 ,HE
3T9U$ RU2+ ! DIRT F ! QU>TZ FRAG;TS &
?R[+ ! GOLD 96! PAN4 ,"! 0 NO?+ ELSE =
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8 BACK4
  ,! M9UTES PASS$1 &)! PASSAGE ( EA*
M9UTE HE KNEW T 0S M* HE 0 NE>] ! "T :5
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MI<T RCV D1? Z HE /OOP$ "! OV] 8
TR1SURE4
  ,/ HE SQUATT$ ON 8 HEELS1 RU2+ DIRT F
GOLD & DEBAT+ 9 J :AT MANN] HE %D RISE
UP4 ,HE MI<T RISE UP )A RU% & CLAW 8 WAY
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?+ T BR1!D AT 8 BACK4 ,8 9/9CT & E FI<T+
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FAVOR$ ! SL[ & CAUTI\S MEET+ )! ?+ T
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! LEFT SIDE (! BACK1 & F ! PO9T ( IMPACT
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9 SU45 H1T1 & HE CAME D[N1 8 *E/ ACR 8
PAN ( GOLD1 8 FACE 9 ! DIRT & ROCK1 8
LEGS TANGL$ & TWI/$ 2C (! RE/RICT$ SPACE
AT ! BOTTOM (! HOLE4
,8 LEGS TWIT*$ 3VULSIVELY S"EAL "TS4 ,8
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,!N ! AIR 0 SL[LY1 V SL[LY1 EXHAL$1 & 8
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  ,ABV1 REVOLV] 9 H&1 A MAN 0 PE]+ D[N
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/RANG] SAT D[N ON ! $GE (! HOLE S T HE
CD SEE 96X1 & RE/$ ! REVOLV] ON 8 KNEE4
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SMOKE 96HIS LUNGS )A C>ESS+ 9TAKE (!
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/UDI$ ! BODY 2N HM4
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