Part 25 (1/2)

CHAPTER XIX

Lucky Lefty

Rick awoke to fiery agony His face was burning, the fla his flesh He tried to reach a hand up to ease the pain and found the hand gripped firled, and Steve's voice said, ”Take it easy, Rick We'll be through in a ritted his teeth If Steve was there, it was okay

But why didn't Steve put out the fire?

”Don't move,” Steve said sharply ”I don't want to hurt you any ht the pain He heard Steve say, ”Givespread over his face

An ar position He opened his eyes and looked into Scotty's worried face Rick rin ”It's okay,” he said hoarsely

”If being alive is okay, then it's okay,” Scotty said with relief ”But you're aat hiht,” the boy lad you finally came around You had us worried for a bit And, Rick, aunt man stepped forward ”Howdy, Rick? How do you feel?”

”Woozy,” Rick said honestly ”Help uided him to a lawn chair ”Sit down You're too weak to stand”

Rick subsided gratefully He could see better now, although it was nearly dark There were other people seated in chairs on the Calvert's Favor lawn Cath, covered by a blanket, was the guard He looked up at Rick, his eyes dull and

”What happened?” Rick asked

Joe Vitalli stood behind Caent et up to his arht from behind Rick, and he carried an open first-aid kit

”You jumped for the balloon,” Steve reuard ”This one tried a pot-shot at you and Scotty nailed hiot knocked out The piling was rough Yourthe wood just enough to take the skin off and leave you full of splinters We were taking the biggest splinters out when you came to

How does your face feel?”

”Awful,” Rick said The soothing effect of the antiseptic spray earing off and the pain was returning ”Where's the balloon?”

”On the ground behind you Scotty got to you first, and with his weight on it, the thing finally caly

”We had to pry your hands off the rocket Never saw such a stubborn cuss inon”

”Persistent,” Rick said weakly ”Not stubborn Did you round up the whole gang?”

”The whole lot”

Lefty Calared at Rick from a chair on the other side of the small circle

”Why did you do it?” Rick asked ”What did you hope to gain?”

The syndicate chief shrugged, but kept his silence