In the arrangement of letters and numerals below, by how many different paths can one spell A M C 8 ? Beginning at the A in the middle, a path allows only moves from one letter to an adjacent (above, below, left, or right, but not diagonal) letter. One example of such a path is traced in the picture.
\begin{array}{c|c|c|c|c}
& 8 & C & 8 & \\
\hline
8 & C & M & C & 8 \\
\hline
C & M & A & M & C \\
\hline
8 & C & M & C & 8 \\
\hline
& 8 & C & 8 & \\
\end{array}
Answer Choices
A. 8
B. 9
C. 12
D. 24
E. 36