I should like to thank, first and foremost, my wife, Page Lee Hufty, who always believed in this book and would never let it die. Her abiding love and support are, and have been, indispensable.
Also, my undying thanks to Matthew Shear and Charles Spicer at St. Martin’s Press for believing in my story.
And my thanks to Russ Kramer, whose artwork adorns these pages and adds immeasurably to the reader’s adventure.
And, finally, to my daughter, Byrdie, who inspired me to write this book, my first.