,,*APT] ;,V
  ,! G;G S.D$4 ,X SEEM$ !Y _H BE5 FI<T+
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& RUNN+ HM 96HIS CORN] =! B.S$ M9UTE (
RE/4 ,"O MAN1 SQUATT+ ON ! FLOOR 2T 8
\T/RET*$ FEET & ELEVAT+ !M 0RE/+ !M ON 8
KNEES1 0 VIOL5TLY *AF+ 8 LEGS4 ,JOE SAT
ON ! /OOL1 L1N+ F> BACK 96! CORN]1 H1D
?R[N BACK & >MS \T/RET*$ ON ! ROPES
6GIVE EASY EXPAN.N 6! *E/4 ,) WIDE-OP5
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0TWO (! SECONDS1 :ILE LI/5+ 6! C\NSEL (
/ ANO!R SECOND :O TALK$ ) L[ VOICE 9 8
E> & AT ! SAME "T SP;G$ (F 8 FACE1
%\LD]S1 & *E/4
  ,H>DLY _H ALL ? BE5 A3OMPLI%$ 7X _H
TAK5 NO M ?AN S"EAL SECONDS71 :5 ! G;G
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P>APH]NALIA1 & ,JOE & ,PONTA 7 ADVANC+
AG/ EA* O!R 6! C5TRE (! R+4 ,G5EVIEVE _H
NO IDEA T A M9UTE CD 2 S %ORT4 ,=A MO;T
%E FELT T ? RE/ _H BE5 CUT1 & 0
SUSPICI\S ( %E KNEW N :AT4
  ,PONTA LA%$ \1 "R & LEFT1 SAVAGELY Z
"E1 & ?\< ,JOE BLOCK$ ! BL[S1 S* 0 ! =CE
( !M T HE 0 KNOCK$ BACKW>D S"EAL /EPS4
,PONTA 0 AF HM )! SPR+ (A TIG]4 ,9 !
9VOLUNT>Y EF=T 6MA9TA9 EQUILIBRIUM1 ,JOE
_H UNCOV]$ HMF1 FL++ "O >M \ & LIFT+ 8
H1D F 2N ! %ELT]+ %\LD]S4 ,S SWIFTLY _H
,PONTA FOLL[$ HM1 T A T]RI# SW++ BL[ 0
-+ AT 8 UNGU>D$ JAW4 ,HE DUCK$ =W>D &
D[N1 ,PONTA'S FI/ J MISS+ ! BACK ( 8
H1D4 ,Z HE CAME BACK 6! P]P5DICUL>1
,PONTA'S LEFT FI/ DROVE AT HM 9 A /RAI<T
PUN* T WD H KNOCK$ HM BACKW>D "? !
ROPES4 ,AG1 &)A SWIFT;S AN 9APPRECIA#
FRAC;N ( "T QK] ?AN ,PONTA'S1 HE DUCK$
=W>D4 ,PONTA'S FI/ GRAZ$ ! BACKW>D SLOPE
(! %\LD]1 & GL.ED (F 96! AIR4 ,PONTA'S
"R DROVE /RAI<T \1 &! GRAZE 0 REP1T$ Z
,JOE DUCK$ 96! SAFETY (A CL9*4
  ,G5EVIEVE SI<$ ) RELIEF1 H] T5SE BODY
RELAX+ &A FA9T;S -+ OV] H]4 ,! CR[D 0
*E]+ MADLY4 ,SILV]/E9 0 ON 8 FEET1 %\T+1
GE/ICULAT+1 -PLETELY \ ( HMF4 ,& EV5
,MR4 ,CLAUS5 0 YELL+ 8 5?USIASM1 AT !
TOP ( 8 LUNGS1 96! E> ( 8 NE>E/ NEI<BOR4
  ,! CL9* 0 BROK5 &! FI<T W5T ON4 ,JOE
BLOCK$1 & BACK$1 & SLID >.D ! R+1 AVOID+
BL[S & LIV+ "SH[ "? ! :IRLW9D ONSLAU<TS4
,R>ELY DID HE /RIKE BL[S HMF1 = ,PONTA
_H A QK EYE & CD DEF5D Z WELL Z ATTACK1
:ILE ,JOE _H NO *.E AG/ ! O!R'S ENORM\S
VITAL;Y4 ,8 HOPE LAY 9 T ,PONTA HMF %D
ULTIMATELY 3SUME 8 /R5G?4
  ,B ,G5EVIEVE 0 2G9N+ 6WOND] :Y H] LOV]
DID N FI<T4 ,%E GREW ANGRY4 ,%E WANT$
6SEE HM WR1K V5GE.E ON ? B1/ T _H
P]SECUT$ HM S4 ,EV5 Z %E WAX$ IMPATI5T1
! *.E CAME1 & ,JOE :IPP$ 8 FI/ 6,PONTA'S
M\?4 ,X 0 A /A7]+ BL[4 ,%E SAW ,PONTA'S
H1D G BACK )A J]K &! QK DYE ( BLOOD ^U 8
LIPS4 ,! BL[1 &! GRT %\T F ! AUDI;E1
ANG]$ HM4 ,HE RU%$ L A WILD MAN4 ,! FURY
( 8 PREVI\S ASSAULTS 0 Z NO?+ -P>$ )!
FURY ( ? "O4 ,& "! 0 NO M OPPORTUN;Y =
ANO!R BL[4 ,JOE 0 TOO BUSY LIV+ "? !
/ORM HE _H ALR CAUS$1 BLOCK+1 COV]+ UP1
& DUCK+ 96! SAFETY & RESPITE (! CL9*ES4
  ,B ! CL9* 0 N ALL SAFETY & RESPITE4 ,E
9/ANT ( X 0 9T5SE WAT*;L;S1 :ILE !
BR1KAWAY 0 / M DANG]\S4 ,G5EVIEVE _H
NOTIC$1 )A SLI<T T\* ( AMUSE;T1 ! CURI\S
WAY 9 : ,JOE SNU7L$ 8 BODY 9 AG/
,PONTA'S 9 ! CL9*ES2 B %E _H N R1LIZ$
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CD 2 E6ECT$1 ,PONTA'S FI/ :IPP$ /RAI<T
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HAIR'S-BR1D?4 ,9 ANO!R & LAT] CL9*1 :5
%E _H ALR RELAX$ & SI<$ H] RELIEF AT
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,JOE'S %\LD]1 LIFT$ 8 "R >M & /RUCK A
T]RI# D[NW>D BL[ ON ! SMALL (! BACK4 ,!
CR[D GROAN$ XS APPREH5.N1 :ILE ,JOE QKLY
LOCK$ 8 OPPON5T'S >MS 6PREV5T A REPETI;N
(! BL[4
  ,! G;G /RUCK1 & AF ! FLEET+ M9UTE (
RE/1 !Y W5T AT X AG--IN ,JOE'S CORN]1 =
,PONTA _H MADE A RU% 6MEET HM CLE> ACR !
R+4 ,": ! BL[ _H BE5 OV] ! KIDNEYS1 !
:ITE SK9 _H 2COME B"R R$4 ,? SPLA% (
COLOR1 ! SIZE (! GLOVE1 FASC9AT$ & F"R5$
,G5EVIEVE S T %E CD SC>CELY TAKE H] EYES
F X4 ,PROMPTLY1 9 ! NEXT CL9*1 ! BL[ 0
REP1T$2 B AF T ,JOE USU,Y MANAG$ 6GIVE
,PONTA ! HEEL (! GLOVE ON ! M\? & S HOLD
8 H1D BACK4 ,? PREV5T$ ! /RIK+ (! BL[2 B
?REE "TS M1 2F ! R.D 5D$1 ,PONTA E6ECT$
! TRICK1 EA* "T /RIK+ ! SAME VULN]A# "P4
  ,ANO!R RE/ & ANO!R R.D W5T BY1 ) NO
FUR!R DAMAGE 6,JOE & NO DIM9U;N ( /R5G?
ON ! "P ( ,PONTA4 ,B 9 ! 2G9N+ (! FIF?
R.D1 ,JOE1 CAU<T 9 A CORN]1 MADE Z ?\<
6DUCK 96A CL9*4 ,J 2F X 0 E6ECT$1 & AT !
PRECISE MO;T T ,PONTA 0 R1DY ) 8 [N BODY
6RCV
! SNU7L+ 9 ( ,JOE'S BODY1 ,JOE DREW BACK
SLI<TLY & DROVE ) 8 FI/S AT 8 OPPON5T'S
UNPROTECT$ /OMA*4 ,LI<TN+-L BL[S !Y W]E1
F\R ( !M1 "R & LEFT2 & H1VY !Y W]E1 =
,PONTA W9C$ AWAY F !M & /A7]$ BACK1 HALF
DROPP+ 8 >MS1 8 %\LD]S DROOP+ =W>D & IN1
Z ?\< HE 7 AB 6D\# 9 AT ! WAI/ &
COLLAPSE4 ,JOE'S QK EYE SAW ! OP5+1 & HE
SMA%$ /RAI<T \ ^U ,PONTA'S M\?1 FOLL[+
9/ANTLY )A HALF SW+1 HALF HOOK1 =! JAW4
,X MISS$1 /RIK+ ! *EEK 9/1D1 & S5D+
,PONTA /A7]+ SIDEWAYS4
  ,! H\SE 0 ON XS FEET1 %\T+1 6A MAN4
,G5EVIEVE CD HE> M5 CRY+1 8,HE'S GOT 'M1
HE'S GOT 'M60 & X SEEM$ 6H] ! 2G9N+ (!
5D4 ,%E1 TOO1 0 \ ( H]F2 S(T;S & T5D];S
_H VANI%$2 %E EXULT$ ) EA* CRU%+ BL[ H]
LOV] DELIV]$4
  ,B ,PONTA'S VITAL;Y 0 YET 6BE RECKON$
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,JOE N[ FOLL[$ HM UP4 ,HE MADE ANO!R
HALF SW+1 HALF HOOK1 = ,PONTA'S JAW1 &
,PONTA1 ALR RECOV]+ 8 WITS & /R5G?1
DUCK$ CL1NLY4 ,JOE'S FI/ PASS$ ON "?
EMPTY AIR1 & S GRT 0 ! MO;TUM (! BL[ T X
C>RI$ HM >.D1 9 A HALF TWIRL1 SIDEWAYS4
,!N ,PONTA LA%$ \ ) 8 LEFT4 ,8 GLOVE L&$
ON ,JOE'S UNGU>D$ NECK4 ,G5EVIEVE SAW H]
LOV]'S >MS DROP 6HIS SIDES Z 8 BODY
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FLOOR4 ,! REF]EE1 B5D+ OV] HM1 2GAN 6C.T
! SECONDS1 EMPHASIZ+ ! PASSAGE ( EA*
SECOND )A D[NW>D SWEEP ( 8 "R >M4
  ,! AUDI;E 0 / Z D1?4 ,PONTA _H "PLY
TURN$ 6! H\SE 6RCV ! APPROVAL T 0 8 DUE1
ONLY 6BE MET 0? *ILL1 GRAVEY>D SIL;E4
,QK WRA? SURG$ UP 9 HM4 ,X 0 UNFAIR4 ,8
OPPON5T ONLY 0 APPLAUD$--IF HE /RUCK A
BL[1 IF HE ESCAP$ A BL[2 HE1 ,PONTA1 :O
_H =C$ ! FI<T+ F ! />T1 _H RCVD NO ^W (
*E]4
  ,8 EYES BLAZ$ Z HE GA!R$ HMF TGR &
SPRANG 6HIS PRO/RATE FOE4 ,HE CR\*$
AL;GSIDE ( HM1 "R >M DRAWN BACK & R1DY
=A SMA%+ BL[ ! 9/ANT ,JOE %D />T 6RISE4
,! REF]EE1 / B5D+ OV] & C.T+ ) 8 "R H&1
%OV$ ,PONTA BACK ) 8 LEFT4 ,! LATT]1
CR\*+1 CIRCL$ >.D1 &! REF]EE CIRCL$ )
HM1 ?RU/+ HM BACK & KEEP+ 2T HM &! FALL5
MAN4
  8,F\R--FIVE--SIX--0 ! C.T W5T ON1 &
,JOE1 ROLL+ OV] ON 8 FACE1 SQUIRM$ W1KLY
6DRAW HMF 6HIS KNEES4 ,? HE SU3E$$ 9
DO+1 RE/+ ON "O KNEE1 A H& 6! FLOOR ON
EI SIDE &! O!R LEG B5T "U HM 6HELP HM
RISE4 8,TAKE ! C.T6 ,TAKE ! C.T60 A DOZ5
VOICES RANG \ F ! AUDI;E4
  8,= ,GOD'S SAKE1 TAKE ! C.T60 "O (
,JOE'S SECONDS CRI$ W>N+LY F ! $GE (!
R+4 ,G5EVIEVE GAVE HM "O SWIFT GL.E1 &
SAW ! "Y FELL['S FACE1 DRAWN & :ITE1 8
LIPS UNCONSCI\SLY MOV+ Z HE KEPT ! C.T
)! REF]EE4
  8,SEV5--EI<T--N9E--0 ! SECONDS W5T4
  ,! N9? S.D$ & 0 G"O1 :5 ! REF]EE GAVE
,PONTA A LA/ BACKW>D %OVE & ,JOE CAME
6HIS FEET1 BUN*$ UP1 COV]$ UP1 W1K1 B
COOL1 V COOL4 ,PONTA HURL$ HMF ^U HM )
T]RIFIC =CE1 DELIV]+ AN UPP]CUT &A
/RAI<T PUN*4 ,B ,JOE BLOCK$ ! TWO1 DUCK$
A ?IRD1 /EPP$ 6! SIDE 6AVOID A F\R?1 & 0
!N DRIV5 BACKW>D 96A CORN] 0A HURRICANE
( BL[S4 ,HE 0 EXCE$+LY W1K4 ,HE TOTT]$ Z
HE KEPT 8 FOOT+1 & /A7]$ BACK & =?4 ,8
BACK 0 AG/ ! ROPES4 ,"! 0 NO FUR!R
RETR1T4 ,PONTA PAUS$1 Z IF 6MAKE D\BLY
SURE1 !N FE9T$ ) 8 LEFT & /RUCK FI]CELY
) 8 "R ) ALL 8 /R5G?4 ,B ,JOE DUCK$ 96A
CL9* & 0 =A MO;T SAV$4
  ,PONTA /RU7L$ FRANTIC,Y 6FREE HMF4 ,HE
WANT$ 6GIVE ! F9I% 6? FOE ALR S F> G"O4
,B ,JOE 0 HOLD+ ON = LIFE1 RESI/+ !
O!R'S E EF=T1 Z FA/ Z "O HOLD OR GRIP 0
TORN LOOSE F9D+ A NEW "O 0: 6CL+4
8,BR1K60 ! REF]EE -M&$4 ,JOE HELD ON
TI<T]4 8,MAKE 'M BR1K6 ,:Y ! HELL DON'T
Y MAKE 'M BR1K80 ,PONTA PANT$ AT !
REF]EE4 ,AG ! LATT] -M&$ ! BR1K4 ,JOE
REFUS$1 KEEP+1 Z HE WELL KNEW1 )9 8 "RS4
,EA* MO;T (! CL9* 8 /R5G? 0 -+ BACK 6HM1
8 BRA9 0 CLE>+1 ! COBWEBS 7 4APPE>+ F 2F
8 EYES4 ,! R.D 0 "Y1 & HE M/ LIVE1 "SH[1
"? ! NE>LY ?REE M9UTES ( X YET 6RUN4
  ,! REF]EE CLUT*$ EA* 0! %\LD] & S"U$
!M VIOL5TLY1 PASS+ QKLY 2T !M Z HE ?RU/
!M BACKW>D 9 ORD] 6MAKE A CL1N BR1K ( X4
,! MO;T HE 0 FREE1 ,PONTA SPRANG AT ,JOE
L A WILD ANIMAL BE>+ D[N XS PREY4 ,B
,JOE COV]$ UP1 BLOCK$1 & FELL 96A CL9*4
,AG ,PONTA /RU7L$ 6GET FREE1 ,JOE HELD
ON1 &! REF]EE ?RU/ !M A"P4 ,& AG ,JOE
AVOID$ DAMAGE & CL9*$4
  ,G5EVIEVE R1LIZ$ T 9 ! CL9*ES HE 0 N
2+ B1T5--:Y1 !N1 DID N ! REF]EE LET HM
HOLD ON8 ,X 0 CRUEL4 ,%E HAT$ ! G5IAL-
FAC$ ,$DY ,J"OS 9 ^? MO;TS1 & %E "PLY
ROSE F H] *AIR1 H] H&S CL5*$ ) ANG]1 !
NAILS CUTT+ 96! PALMS TILL !Y HURT4 ,!
RE/ (! R.D1 ! ?REE L;G M9UTES ( X1 0 A
SU3ES.N ( CL9*ES & BR1KS4 ,N ONCE DID
,PONTA SU3E$ 9 /RIK+ 8 OPPON5T ! D1DLY
F9AL BL[4 ,& ,PONTA 0 L A MADMAN1 RAG+
2C ( 8 IMPOT5CY
9 ! FACE ( 8 HELP.S & ALL B VANQUI%$
FOE4 ,"O BL[1 ONLY "O BL[1 & HE CD N
DELIV] X6 ,JOE'S R+ EXP]I;E & COOL;S
SAV$ HM4 ,) %AK5 3SCI\S;S & TREMBL+
BODY1 HE CLUT*$ & HELD ON1 :ILE ! E2+
LIFE TURN$ & FLOOD$ UP 9 HM AG4 ,ONCE1 9
8 PAS.N1 UNA# 6HIT HM1 ,PONTA MADE Z ?\<
6LIFT HM UP & HURL HM 6! FLOOR4
  8,V'Y DON'T Y BITE HM80 ,SILV]/E9
TAUNT$ %RILLY4
  ,9 ! /ILL;S ! S,Y 0 HE>D OV] ! :OLE
H\SE1 &! AUDI;E1 RELIEV$ ( XS ANXIETY =
XS FAVORITE1 LAU<$ ) AN UPRO>I\S;S T _H
9 X ! NOTE ( HY/]IA4 ,EV5 ,G5EVIEVE FELT
T "! 0 "S?+ IRRESI/IBLY FUNNY 9 ! REM>K1
&! RELIEF (! AUDI;E 0 -MUNICAT$ 6H]2 YET
%E FELT SICK & FA9T1 & 0 OV]WR"\ )
HORROR AT :AT %E _H SE5 & 0 SEE+4
  8,BITE 'M6 ,BITE 'M60 VOICES F !
RECOV]$ AUDI;E 7 %\T+4 8,*EW 8 E> (F1
,PONTA6 ,T'S ! ONLY WAY Y C GET 'M6 ,EAT
'M UP6 ,EAT 'M UP6 ,OH1 :Y DON'T Y EAT
'M UP80
  ,! E6ECT 0 BAD ON ,PONTA4 ,HE 2CAME M
FR5ZI$ ?AN "E1 & M IMPOT5T4 ,HE PANT$ &
SO2$1 WA/+ 8 EF=T 0TOO M* EF=T1 LOS+
SAN;Y & 3TROL & FUTILELY TRY+ 6-P5SATE
=! LOSS 0EXCESS ( PHYSICAL 5D1VOR4 ,HE
KNEW ONLY ! BL DESIRE 6DE/ROY1 %OOK ,JOE
9 ! CL9*ES Z A T]RI] MI<T A RAT1 /RA9$ &
/RU7L$ = FREEDOM ( BODY & >MS1 & ALL !
:ILE ,JOE CALMLY CLUT*$ & HELD ON4 ,!
REF]EE "W$ MAN;LLY & FAIRLY 6SEP>ATE !M4
,P]SPIR,N RAN D[N 8 FACE4 ,X TOOK ALL 8
/R5G? 6SPLIT ^? CL++ BODIES1 & NO SOON]
_H HE SPLIT !M ?AN ,JOE FELL UNH>M$
96ANO!R EMBRACE &! "W _H 6BE D"O ALL OV]
AG4 ,9 VA91 :5 FRE$1 DID ,PONTA TRY
6AVOID ! CLUT*+ >MS & TW9+ BODY4 ,HE CD
N KEEP AWAY4 ,HE _H 6-E CLOSE 9 ORD]
6/RIKE1 & EA* "T ,JOE BA6L$ HM & CAU<T
HM 9 8 >MS4
  ,& ,G5EVIEVE1 CR\*$ 9 ! LL DRESS+-ROOM
& PE]+ "? ! PEEP-HOLE1 0 BA6L$1 TOO4 ,%E
0 AN 9T]E/$ "PY 9 :AT SEEM$ A D1?-/RU7LE
--WAS N "O (! FI<T]S H] ,JOE8--B !
AUDI;E "U/OOD & %E DID N4 ,! ,GAME _H N
UNVEIL$ 6H]4 ,! LURE ( X 0 2Y H]4 ,X 0
GRT] MY/]Y ?AN "E4 ,%E CD N -PREH5D XS
P[]4 ,:AT DELI<T CD "! 2 = ,JOE 9 T
BRUTAL SURG+ & /RA9+ ( BODIES1 ^? FI]CE
CLUT*ES1 FI]C] BL[S1 & T]RI# HURTS8
,SURELY1 %E1 ,G5EVIEVE1 (F]$ M ?AN T--
RE/1 & 3T5T1 & SWEET1 CALM JOY4 ,H] BID
=! HE>T ( HM &! S\L ( HM 0 F9] & M G5]\S
?AN ! BID (! ,GAME2 YET HE DALLI$ ) BO?
--HELD H] 9 8 >MS1 B TURN$ 8 H1D 6LI/5
6T O!R & SIR5 CALL %E CD N "U/&4
  ,! G;G /RUCK4 ,! R.D 5D$ )A BR1K 9
,PONTA'S CORN]4 ,! :ITE-FAC$ "Y SECOND 0
"? ! ROPES )! F/ CLA% ( S.D4 ,HE SEIZ$
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RAN ) HM ACR ! R+ 6HIS [N CORN]4 ,8
SECONDS "W$ OV] HM FURI\SLY1 *AF+ 8
LEGS1 SLAPP+ 8 ABDOM51 /RET*+ ! HIP-CLO?
\ ) _! F+]S S T HE MI<T BR1! M EASILY4
,=! F/ "T ,G5EVIEVE SAW ! /OMA*-BR1?+ (A
MAN1 AN ABDOM5 T ROSE & FELL F> M ) E
BR1? ?AN H] BR1/ ROSE & FELL AF %E _H
RUN =A C>4 ,! PUNG5CY ( AMMONIA BIT H]
NO/RILS1 WAFT$ 6H] F ! SOAK$ SP;GE
":FROM HE BR1!D ! FI]Y FUMES T CLE>$ 8
BRA94 ,HE G>GL$ 8 M\? & ?ROAT1 TOOK A
SUCK AT A DIVID$ LEMON1 & ALL ! :ILE !
T[ELS "W$ L MAD1 DRIV+ OXYG5 96HIS LUNGS
6PURGE ! P.D+ BLOOD & S5D X BACK
REVIVIFI$ =! /RU7LE YET 6-E4 ,8 H1T$
BODY 0 SP;G$ ) WAT]1 D\S$ ) X1 & BOTTLES
7 TURN$ M\?-D[NW>D ON 8 H1D4