,,*APT] #AH
            ,! ,WR;G ,ROAD6

  ,,NEXT "D1 \R DE"PURE TOOK PLACE AT A
V E>LY H\R4 ,"! 0 NO "T =! L1/ DELAY4
,AC 6MY A3.T1 WE _H FIVE "DS' H>D "W
6GET BACK 6! PLACE ": ! GALL]IES DIVID$4  ,I C N"E TELL ALL ! SU6]+S WE     #AFH
5DUR$ ^U \R RETURN4 ,MY UNCLE BORE !M L
A MAN :O HAS BE5 9 ! WR;G- T IS1 )
3C5TRAT$ & SUPPRESS$ ANG]2 ,HANS1 ) ALL
! RESIGN,N ( 8 PACIFIC "*2 & ,I- ,I
3FESS T ,I DID NO?+ B -PLA91 & DESPAIR4
,I _H NO HE>T = ? BAD =TUNE4
  ,B "! 0 "O 3SOL,N4 ,DEF1T AT ! \TSET
WD PROBABLY UPSET ! :OLE J\RNEY6
  ,Z ,I _H EXPECT$ F ! F/1 \R SUPPLY (
WAT] GAVE -PLETELY \ ON \R F/ "D'S M>*4
,\R PROVI.N ( LIQUIDS 0 REDUC$ 6\R
SUPPLY ( ,S*IEDAM2 B ? HORRI#- NAY1 ,I W
SAY X- ? 9F]NAL LIQUOR BURNT ! ?ROAT1 &
,I CD N EV5 BE> ! SI<T ( X4 ,I F.D !
TEMP]ATURE 6BE /IFL+4 ,I 0 P>ALYZ$ )
FATIGUE4 ,M ?AN ONCE ,I 0 AB 6FALL
9S5SI# 6! GR.D4 ,! :OLE "PY !N HALT$1 &!
WOR?Y ,ICEL&] & MY EXCELL5T UNCLE DID _!
BE/ 63SOLE & -=T ME4 ,I CD1 H["E1 PLA9LY
SEE T MY UNCLE 0 3T5D+ PA9;LLY AG/ !
EXTREME FATIGUES ( \R J\RNEY1 &! AW;L
TORTURE G5]AT$ 0! ABS;E ( WAT]4
  ,AT L5G? A "T CAME :5 ,I C1S$
6RECOLLECT ANY?+- :5 ALL 0 "O AWFULLHIDE\S1 FANTA/IC DR1M6              #AFI
  ,AT LA/1 ON ,TUES"D1 ! SEV5? (! MON? (
,JULY1 AF CRAWL+ ON \R H&S & KNEES = _M
H\RS1 M D1D ?AN ALIVE1 WE R1*$ ! PO9T (
JUNC;N 2T ! GALL]IES4 ,I LAY L A LOG1 AN
9]T MASS ( HUMAN FLE% ON ! >ID LAVA
SOIL4 ,X 0 !N T5 9 ! MORN+4
  ,HANS & MY UNCLE1 L1N+ AG/ ! WALL1
TRI$ 6NIB# AWAY AT "S PIECES ( BISCUIT1
:ILE DEEP GROANS & SI<S ESCAP$ F MY
SCOR*$ & SWOLL5 LIPS4 ,!N ,I FELL (F 96A
K9D ( DEEP LE?>GY4
  ,PRES5TLY ,I FELT MY UNCLE APPROA*1 &
LIFT ME UP T5D]LY 9 8 >MS4
  8,POOR BOY10 ,I HE>D HM SAY 9 A T"O (
DEEP -MIS],N4
  ,I 0 PROF.DLY T\*$ 0^! ^WS1 2+ 0NO
M1NS A3U/OM$ 6SIGNS ( WOMANLY W1K;S 9 !
,PROFESSOR4 ,I CAU<T 8 TREMBL+ H&S 9 M9E
& GAVE !M A G5TLE PRESSURE4 ,HE ALL[$ ME
6D S )\T RESI/.E1 LOOK+ AT ME K9DLY ALL
! "T4 ,8 EYES 7 WET ) TE>S4
  ,I !N SAW HM TAKE ! G\RD : HE WORE AT
8 SIDE4 ,6MY SURPRISE1 OR R 6MY
/UPEFAC;N1 HE PLAC$ X 6MY LIPS4  8,DR9K1 MY BOY10 HE SD4           #AGJ
  ,0 X POSSI# MY E>S _H N DCVD ME8 ,0 MY
UNCLE MAD8 ,I LOOK$ AT HM1 )1 ,I AM
SURE1 Q AN IDIOTIC EXPRES.N4 ,I CD N
2LIEVE HM4 ,I TOO M* FE>$ ! C.T]AC;N (
4APPO9T;T4
  8,DR9K00' HE SD AG4
  ,_H ,I HE>D A"R8 ,2F1 H["E1 ,I CD ASK
MYF ! "Q A SECOND "T1 A M\?;L ( WAT]
COOL$ MY P>*$ LIPS & ?ROAT- "O M\?;L1 B
,I D 2LIEVE X BR"\ ME BACK 6LIFE4
  ,I ?ANK$ MY UNCLE 0CLASP+ MY H&S4 ,MY
HE>T 0 TOO FULL 6SP1K4
  8,YES10 SD HE1 8"O M\?;L ( WAT]1 ! V
LA/- D Y HE>1 MY BOY- ! V LA/6 ,I H TAK5
C>E ( X AT ! BOTTOM ( MY BOTTLE Z !
APPLE ( MY EYE4 ,TW5TY "TS1 A HUNDR$
"TS1 ,I H RESI/$ ! FE>;L DESIRE 6DR9K X4
,B- NO- NO1 ,H>RY1 ,I SAV$ X = Y40
  8,MY DE> UNCLE10 ,I EXCLAIM$1 &! BIG
TE>S ROLL$ D[N MY HOT & FEV]I% *EEKS4
  8,YES1 MY POOR BOY1 ,I KNEW T :5 Y
R1*$ ? PLACE1 ? CROSSROAD 9 ! E>?1 Y WD
FALL D[N HALF D1D1 & ,I SAV$ MY LA/ DROP
( WAT] 9 ORD] 6RE/ORE Y4  8,?ANKS10 ,I CRI$2 8?ANKS F MY    #AGA
HE>T40
  ,Z LL Z MY ?IR/ 0 RE,Y QU5*$1 ,I _H
N"E!.S "PI,Y RECOV]$ MY /R5G?4 ,!
3TRACT$ MUSCLES ( MY ?ROAT RELAX$- &!
9FLAMM,N ( MY LIPS 9 "S M1SURE SUBSID$4
,AT ALL EV5TS1 ,I 0 A# 6SP1K4
  8,WELL10 ,I SD1 8"! C 2 NO D\BT N[ Z
6:AT WE H 6D4 ,WAT] HAS UTT]LY FAIL$ U2
\R J\RNEY IS "!=E AT AN 5D4 ,LET U
RETURN40
  ,:ILE ,I SPOKE ?US1 MY UNCLE EVID5TLY
AVOID$ MY FACE3 HE HELD D[N 8 H1D2 8
EYES 7 TURN$ 9 E POSSI# DIREC;N B ! "R
"O4
  8,YES10 ,I 3T9U$1 GETT+ EXCIT$ 0MY [N
^WS1 WE M/ G BACK 6,SNE6ELS4 ,MAY H1V5
GIVE U /R5G? 65A# U ONCE M 6REVISIT !
LI<T ( "D4 ,WD T WE N[ /OOD ON ! SUMMIT
(! CRAT]40
  8,G BACK10 SD MY UNCLE1 SP1K+ 6HMF1 8&
M/ X 2 S80
  8,G BACK- YES1 & )\T LOS+ A S+LE
MO;T01 ,I VEHE;TLY CRI$4
  ,= "S MO;TS "! 0 SIL;E "U T D>K &GLOOMY VAULT4                       #AGB
  8,S1 MY DE> ,H>RY10 SD ! ,PROFESSOR 9
A V S+UL> T"O ( VOICE1 8^? FEW DROPS (
WAT] H N SU6IC$ 6RE/ORE YR 5]GY &
C\RAGE40
  8,C\RAGE60 ,I CRI$4
  8,I SEE T Y >E Q Z D[NCA/ Z 2F- & /
GIVE WAY 64C\RAGE;T & DESPAIR40
  ,:AT1 !N1 0 ! MAN MADE (1 & :AT O!R
PROJECTS 7 5T]+ 8 F]TILE & AUDACI\S
BRA96
  8,Y >E N 4C\RAG$1 SIR80
  8,:AT6 ,GIVE UP J Z WE >E ON ! V]GE (
SU3ESS80 HE CRI$4 8,N"E1 N"E % X 2 SD T
,PROFESSOR ,H>DWIGG RETR1T$40
  8,!N WE M/ MAKE UP \R M9DS 6P]I%10 ,I
CRI$ )A HELP.S SI<4
  8,NO1 ,H>RY1 MY BOY1 C]TA9LY N4 ,G1
L1VE ME1 ,I AM V F> F DESIR+ YR D1?4
,TAKE ,HANS ) Y4 ,I W G ON AL"O40
  8,Y ASK U 6L1VE Y80
  8,L1VE ME1 ,I SAY4 ,I H "UTAK5 ?
DANG]\S & P]IL\S ADV5TURE4 ,I W C>RY X
6! 5D- OR ,I W N"E RETURN 6! SURFACE (
,"M ,E>?4 ,G1 ,H>RY- ONCE M ,I SAY 6Y-G60                                 #AGC
  ,MY UNCLE Z HE SPOKE 0 T]RIBLY EXCIT$4
,8 VOICE1 : 2F _H BE5 T5D]1 ALM WOMANLY1
2CAME H>% & M5AC+4 ,HE APPE>$ 6BE /RU7L+
) DESP]ATE 5]GY AG/ ! IMPOSSI#4 ,I DID N
WI% 6AB&ON HM AT ! BOTTOM ( T ABYSS1
:ILE1 ON ! O!R H&1 ! 9/9CT ( PRES]V,N
TOLD ME 6FLY4
  ,M1N:ILE1 \R GUIDE 0 LOOK+ ON ) PROF.D
CALM;S & 9DI6];E4 ,HE APPE>$ 6BE AN
UNCONC]N$ "PY1 & YET HE P]FECTLY WELL
KNEW :AT 0 GO+ ON 2T U4 ,\R GE/URES
SU6ICI5TLY 9DICAT$ ! DI6]5T ROADS EA*
WI%$ 6FOLL[-& : EA* TRI$ 69FLU;E ! O!R
6"UTAKE4 ,B ,HANS APPE>$ N 6TAKE !
SLI<TE/ 9T]E/ 9 :AT 0 RE,Y A "Q ( LIFE &
D1? = U ALL1 B WAIT$ Q R1DY 6OBEY !
SIGNAL : %D SAY G AL(T1 OR 6RESUME 8
DESP]ATE J\RNEY 96! 9T]IOR (! E>?4
  ,H[ !N ,I WI%$ ) ALL MY HE>T & S\L T
,I CD MAKE HM "U/& MY ^WS4 ,MY
REPRES5T,NS1 MY SI<S & GROANS1 ! E>NE/
A35TS 9 : ,I %D H SPOK5 WD H 3V9C$ T
COLD1 H>D NATURE4 ,^? FE>;L DANG]S &
P]ILS ( : ! /OLID GUIDE _H NO IDEA1 ,IWD H PO9T$ !M \ 6HM- ,I WD H1 Z X   #AGD
W]E1 MADE HM SEE & FEEL4 ,2T U1 WE MI<T
H 3V9C$ ! OB/9ATE ,PROFESSOR4 ,IF ! WOR/
_H -E 6! WOR/1 WE CD H -PELL$ HM 6RETURN
6! SUMMIT ( ,SNE6ELS4
  ,I QUIETLY APPROA*$ ,HANS4 ,I CAU<T 8
H& 9 M9E4 ,HE N"E MOV$ A MUSCLE4 ,I
9DICAT$ 6HM ! ROAD 6! TOP (! CRAT]4 ,HE
REMA9$ MO;N.S4 ,MY PANT+ =M1 MY HA7>D
C.T5.E1 M/ H 9DICAT$ ! EXT5T ( MY
SU6]+S4 ,! ,ICEL&] G5TLY %OOK 8 H1D &
PO9T$ 6MY UNCLE4
  8,MA/]10 HE SD4
  ,! ^W IS ,ICEL&IC Z WELL Z ,5GLI%4
  8,! MA/]60 ,I CRI$1 2S MYF ) FURY--
8MADMAN6 NO- ,I TELL Y HE IS N ! MA/] (
\R LIVES2 WE M/ FLY6 WE M/ DRAG HM ) U6
D Y HE> ME8 ,D Y "U/& ME1 ,I SAY80
  ,I H ALR EXPLA9$ T ,I HELD ,HANS 0!
>M4 ,I TRI$ 6MAKE HM RISE F 8 S1T4 ,I
/RU7L$ ) HM & TRI$ 6=CE HM AWAY4 ,MY
UNCLE N[ 9T]POS$4
  8,MY GD ,H5RY1 2 CALM10 HE SD4 8,Y W
OBTA9 NO?+ F MY DEVOT$ FOLL[]2 "!=E1
LI/5 6:AT ,I H 6SAY40  ,I FOLD$ MY >MS1 Z WELL Z ,I      #AGE
CD1 & LOOK$ MY UNCLE FULL 9 ! FACE4
  8,? WRET*$ WANT ( WAT]10 HE SD1 8IS !
SOLE OB/ACLE 6! SU3ESS ( MY PROJECT4 ,9
! 5TIRE GALL]Y1 MADE ( LAVA1 S*I/1 &
COAL1 X IS TRUE WE F.D N "O LIQUID
MOLECULE4 ,X IS Q POSSI# T WE MAY 2 M
=TUNATE 9 ! WE/]N TUNNEL40
  ,MY SOLE REPLY 0 6%AKE MY H1D ) AN AIR
( DEEP 9CR$UL;Y4
  8,LI/5 6ME 6! 5D10 SD ! ,PROFESSOR 9 8
WELL-"KN LECTUR+ VOICE4 8,:ILE Y LAY
YOND] )\T LIFE OR MO;N1 ,I "UTOOK A
RECONNOIT]+ J\RNEY 96! 3=M,N ( ? O!R
GALL]Y4 ,I H 4COV]$ T X GOES DIRECTLY
D[NW>DS 96! B[ELS (! E>?1 & 9 A FEW H\RS
W TAKE U 6! OLD GRANITIC =M,N4 ,9 ? WE %
UND\BT$LY F9D 9NUM]A# SPR+S4 ,! NATURE (
! ROCK MAKES ? A MA!MATICAL C]TA9TY1 &
9/9CT AGREES ) LOGIC 6SAY T X IS S4 ,N[1
? IS ! S]I\S PROPOSI;N : ,I H 6MAKE 6Y4
,:5 ,*RI/OPH] ,COLUMBUS ASK$ ( 8 M5 ?REE
"DS 64COV] ! L& ( PROMISE1 8 M5 ILL1
T]RIFI$1 & HOPE.S1 YET GAVE HM ?REE "DS-
&! ,NEW ,_W 0 4COV]$4 ,N[ ,I1 !,*RI/OPH] ,COLUMBUS ( ?             #AGF
SUBT]RAN1N REGION1 ONLY ASK ( Y "O M "D4
,IF1 :5 T "T IS EXPIR$1 ,I H N F.D !
WAT] ( : WE >E 9 SE>*1 ,I SWE> 6Y1 ,I W
GIVE UP MY MI<TY 5T]PRISE & RETURN 6!
E>?'S SURFACE40
  ,DESPITE MY IRRIT,N & DESPAIR1 ,I KNEW
H[ M* X CO/ MY UNCLE 6MAKE ? PROPOSI;N1
& 6HOLD S* 3CILIATORY LANGUAGE4 ,"U !
CIRCUM/.ES1 :AT CD ,I D B YIELD8
  8,WELL10 ,I CRI$1 8LET X 2 Z Y WI%1 &
MAY H1V5 REW>D YR SUP]HUMAN 5]GY4 ,B Z1
UN.S WE 4COV] WAT]1 \R H\RS >E NUMB]$1
LET U LOSE NO "T1 B G AH1D40