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"You're brothers?"

"Yes, Jaround thesethe financial details and probleiantand dealing, enjoyed the center of attraction Until noere a pretty successful combination" San of farewell

"God bring you luck" And then a sar"

"You can count on it," Pitti on one permanent irresistible purpose that held hisforce, the hatred that had been s within hi blo exploded into an intense burning flame that consuhts were pulled back to reality by the low voice of the Russian diplomat, Tamareztov

"The heart of a good Cooes with you, Major Pitt"

Pitt barely paused to reply "I'm honored It's not often a Communist has to rely on a capitalist to save his life"

"It is not an easy pill to s"

Pitt stopped and looked down at Ta li Then his face softened

"If you proone, I'll bring you back a bottle of vodka", Tamareztov stared back at Pitt curiously "A display of Yankee humor, Major? But I think you really mean what you say about the vodka"

A grin touched the corners of Pitts lips "Don'ta short walk to the corner 77

liquor store, I ht I'd save you the trip" Then, before the uncoan cli the embankment toward the top of the ravine

Cautiously at first, a few inches at a ti to move at a pace that favored his cracked ribs, Pitt clawed at the soft, slippery earth and pulled hiht ahead The first twenty feet were easy Then the slope steepened and the soil beca the shallow hand and toeholds which afforded his only source of support

The cliony of his injuries All e and pull, dig and pull He tried to keep count of each foot gained but lost track after thirty, his mind totally void of all mental function

He was like a blind ht in a blind world, and the only sense he still possessed was the sense of touch Then for the first ti or fear of injury, but the honest, cold fear of failing over twenty people whose lives depended on his reaching that line between earth and sky that seemed so far above him Minutes passed that seemed like hours How many? He didn't knoould never know Tier existed His body was sih repeated motions without the benefit of constant commands from the mind

He began counting again, only this time he stopped at ten Then one ain His breath was coers were raw, the ends of the nails jagged and spotted with blood, his arn his body was about spent Sweat trickled down his face, but the irritating tickle could not be felt through 'his agonized flesh He paused and looked up, seeing little through the swollen slits that were his eyes The edge of the ravine blended into a nebulous line of angles and shadowy profiles that defied any judgment of distance