296 srg ront aston 1 alongide loving loving stops. And you sl ver with death etched ot alone ve eenebon ors snake iiss andes. Youdont en Ta pcg or ty co say something wo hen because coal aan yey ale You havent ben able co—ro what? To Ope OU Tee Yok open your burcart or don't dae anymore, 0 open your hee teatae thi Ee i vie eyen They fac like ll he stars are oUt They rT eke i Sorcerer at es cere ey anny het secon rh tas see sere ng Sgr Sires Seno tye Set eck senile len pepe eee CConstomearions rox Carica Twain ax WITS Set eg Oe rerun ar Sere cera ges entero 2 She ean por i Se pemrmente tne gett * Wetomericatmerscenmicensealist Cece coragcere ras ia et a Mae ‘ieee anager eee eirtae See "T. ComaGHESSAN BOYLE (0.1948) ‘Bom in Pecks, New York, . Coraghestan Boys earned a doctorate port esi of fone and bse aight a the Unversity of Sout Clr Nae es ery avands 2 National Endowment forthe Ars (eer iting Pelowship andthe PEN/Paulkner Award for Sexon Ube bn Go eb. Meper Bedboed St. Martie ronsjemarevomance 237 i Geran has sppeated in a vay of including the Nor Ameren Know the New Yorker Harper, dhe Aan ti and Pay, His noel taclude Word? End (98), Eat 15 Eas (990), The Roa to Wolo (93), Drp Cy (20), TalkTalk (2208), The Women (009), and Wid Ch snd Other Sts (200). Tis shore stores Ste collecead in Gren Late and One Sts (G05 fie Rie War Whey G8); ane (How and Ose Sor (9), om which ‘coraltooweir sepa Cok ‘Stone The Calle Sas of Caraga Bose (998); Afr te Page and One Ses (soo and Tone and Cle (a0) Carnal Knowledge der ely hug mh about me es hia espera ls wpe cae ete ds of nih apd ifn di plc ondheeeeapurened nd andor teil Scot pede sd the sppene on te pa boc he iat pli telomerase contac a ung USS pli oe jue ret sun por venon dipping borers tele inlay fo uae ing cochor iment oot onus beh ge eet Sook nie thee erate ucones Pedepe™ tplessone Bey on ins we carat home» quarrel cn fs fisage of Shale nak. ve Top suing od aren pany and ‘teFowey othe ope pl ssn and pa os of ested Ed womdceorche a bso onencnging the Se Si nt nb nt nd ld a eye od [Feely Fodor Chien Mtge a thee als te nage Shes tm Se ts ta showed chee aspen up nthe om teh be sophnd an thr won sopmped allt atic PEy adie et sr nse urwhen ek edo Aaa Naso colt nee ete el cop indica lo jorge Tras yar agen otf Thahgig I emember he dare ene na ny yy ean ad nd foe te beach own my cea ony and fl lie omy EP te Seca aver cing andl al ee way 8 Cal bth ousan edges he ase ofr hargng er lysosome det | a he be ey SOLIDE FEA ated pins ontlcorboulaer sped ose Reng mee ee Ped. 20 SbsA@ RM. a298 sre roueawossoxt 4 blanket, and seated down aac the pastrami on rye Fa brought flong for noushiment. Then I comed 1 my book-e confor) Spociypic tact about the demise of the planet—andlet the sun warm Bots ead aboot the denadng of ee as fore, che posoning of the neophers, andthe swift lent eadicanon of species. Gul coated by (recht Liaw he dane gine of einer must have doze my heed throw back, che book spread open in rmylap because the net ching I semember, a aang dog mas hore rere and the sun had dipped behind the rocks. The dog wae big, Wtithived, with one stcing Cae epe, and it [ux looked at me, ers TNighey cocked, at sie expected a MileBone or something. {was {sled no that] donee dogs buch was this wooly hing pol fg is snout in my face and guess that T mut have made some sre tt defensive geture becuse dhe dog wagered back a sep and fowe. Even inthe confusion ofthe momene I ould se the thee was Some- hing wrong th this dog an ansteadines a gmp, a wobble cit legs Festa mtoe of pry and cevlson had ie Seen ht by car, was that {ip—when all sconce became aware of wetness on the bresst of my ttindbenker, and an unmatakable odor rose rom nests Td beer pissed on, Pron fell he nape cjingein cee he solace ths epi base a fed seg and ned me a2 pissor—and Sowitwaspesed hereon he edge ofthe lankerssFiexpeed evar tudden gested me cap off he Manke wih curse and icas| ‘alythen dara imappreeralon seed 1oerp ino the dog socheres, the brown one and ie ached back rt fel on fac jus out of reach, ‘nu heat arched and fl gain, bobbing and weaving across the sind {Sioa ca out of water Iason ny fet nw, murderous lad tse tac the ching as hobbled Ir would snp the ak framing down and Eesingsteo death “Ait vole called and as che dog foundered inthe san, sumed and saw lens Jngensen poised on the bolder behind me Tote want {mabe to mc of he moment dont want mytholgie cox ae fete sce wth allusions to Apres sing ro he wavesor 32 {gt golden apple rom Par, bur abe was a prey impressive sight ibe leged, fda ll nd uncompromising her Nowic ancestor, fl desed ina GoreTer bikini sod howded sweat naipped © the wast she blew me away, in any event Pssprtered and ssupeied ‘ule only gage up ache, ‘Yoo Get boy thes scolding "you ger outof there” She glanced from the dag to me and back agnn. “Oh, you bad boy, what hive you dover” she demande, an was realy ro ami o anyon, but ce, the dog she was adésening and the dog Bopped ovr in te sand au ir had been shot Alena sigped igh down fom the rock ands the text moment before cou pots he was rung athe anon my ‘indbeeker wih the wade up hem of her west. 1 ied oop etal sig” Tid ie’ nothing” a if do rousigely pased on my watdrobe-buishewoudnthearefi "Nj" she sad rubing her hae Bing fn my fac he naked kin fer high pening snconecouay ty Sams "hy eae ible Tn fo embarrased Alf you bud boy anf you, whe te leae~of look a tha i's stained ight chrough co your Fir Teo ber he mouse she taeda ere coup ore 0 fame, te alone’ odor of her west ~shed been jogging tar waste murmured someshingabour olngitcotie seaneresya She stopped rubbing and senightned op. She war ny bight, rnaybe een t xeon tier and her syn wes ever so gh Sa tach, ike che doy dee eres ble in he igh ig Sing > ‘green and vrquoue inthe Ife We were so lose we mig have been Ganeing "Tell you wae” se aid and bor faces wi silence Jpire pace dour toi ding adn jople oat en they knew what poor AlFhas been through, why don’ you let me ash iryooraniae rane Tener Twas alte daconcered shi point —Twas che one who'd been ised on aerall—bursysngewan pone Ile weigatesn ad ke Pres of atoning onthe ste “ise,"Tatd and forthe momen Toudlookiveri he ee, dn’ wane fo peeyou any wouble ten minutes up the beach, and Ive got = water and der, ‘Comeon irsn0 woublesesl. Ordojou have plans iean ould ost paylortheceanersifyouvase. = Tas berweenratondhipethepeson Fé been seting ff and on forthe pas year woulda’ eer reruns toy cals and my plas conssed cof aking doltary lam afferoon mons as bithday Cea then hed {ng oer wy mchers for chaer andthe cake mith oe candles My ‘An ree woul be tere ands0 would my grandmother They wool claim over how big was and how handsone andthe they would begin to concaat my presen lf with my prvi sore nace tnernstion ond aly work semua op toa eof einen that would cansnse bard ely toch dee them mes nd then fas lucy. ge out to angles brand make thescositance ‘oft vored compute programme in her n- arcs thee ds Sndbad bese {Shrugged “Plane? No, noc eal: Fea, othingin paca” _lsa was howsesitng&onesor ungalow ha rose rump fom esa tore han ty fee fom che elie. There were est heyard behind and the place was sandviced berween lass ores wth creel decks whipping Sage and ge bulking eoctee Pons Sing on the toch Coie yet ola el ce dalleoeeraion each wate eng Se shores sw seay pulse tat roe dined the pac for me len gave mea faced UC Davis sweats that nay Be spre stain rnever on my Tic and windbreaks and insinge aid moion fipped down thei of the washer and extracted ewo een the rfngeror bene ie "There was anwar momenta she eed ico the chair opposie ane and we conned on our beets 1 in’ know what cas ‘Toten sll srugling to gesp what had happened. Fie ‘Bn cre ee go he ba nem ny ae 2nd [Edington for mea and oot Tar naconcdin cory beach owe fhe pee of Aun orgenuen ad hernaked pil eg, dinkingaber. ‘So thar do you dor shea ering here down on the coer ble Tek geet forthe quotuons eo gael maybe Tdescbed co her atlengih hw dull ny job wanes een eats ith these age, thang af copy, my brain gone numb with dine. 1 was somewhere TEESE bloweiflow acoune of our coment campaign for Ginn vodka sted fom calabas busts when she suc “Tknow ‘Shae you mean? and cold meshed dropped out of vexinary school eal “ater a se they ded ote ama can ous eterng «dg js: orour coven, jas because fs eer or esi They don har naen fe? Her vece gow hot. “Tes the same ld 0, Spode scam at two” “if was png any es, ranting softy and looking up orally cou of is sary Hit ee a8 ames a cease as eer ed sae ‘SShaul nose ofagreanent and thes focused on Ale "And your dog 1 EE thet arin? Or i tip dpi or wha?” L was pled wth ‘Syeafo the quaisonaside fom “apeworm” “hip dyplaa” wa ‘Brenly weerosy tr [coud dredge up fom che memory bank ad {ul ste thar Alfs problems a deeper han worms ‘nena looked anpry suddenly. “Don't wish she sd Se passed 20 to dena bs bret "Thee othing wrong with AP Pac was. {ced on him They corcred him, maimed him ulate hr” Toreured him’ 1 echoed eling the indignation se in me—ehis beaut gi chisinnocent ease “Who?” “eae fra and ee was el ei er ees Sheen ones prominent shoe compar’ spr out dhe name, tal Te wat seoetindry name fama one a9d thang nthe ar beeween us, Sa ‘Esp snster hod been part ofan expentnen fo matt boots or {dogs _suce, cordowan pater leather, te works The dogs were made fo pace sad inthe Dots, assess wes, A was prt of He ‘al go “Ege group? I could feel the hackles sing on sb back of th vgaperon the treads 0 aceera ch ved eighty. sandpaper on the treads 0 acceate che procert nena shea gnc ute window to wheres pounded Freshers irbe ip. af was ne ofthe dogs without booses” Teas Seed Tmanted to grup and comfore her, but ght a 2 wate brn fied he hae "do'rbelee Ti. "How could Saybey— “Bale it” she oid Sh sruied me a moment, che down her ber and tod she oom to dig shou acrdboard rin he corner {lea cawedby che noon the led pas maed ven oe ty she ag af hebendng over te box er Gove Tex kn mg 2 the edge ofthe cir at fe were phnging celle coaster A moment Ibert ropped a doen Seeders nya. Phe uppermonrtoe the tame of the shoe company, and is was crammed wi news cpp Several pages of ay eltng to plan operaons and workes sh ‘the Grand Raps nt 4 floorplan ofthe laboratories The fbi beneath were need wih etme of outs Be oe ‘onda rch cee, fre anne tetpacer Alea perched Cmte edge the cote fable and watched arated though thers *ouow the Dra ae Iga bers blak look "Thyme cement abit’ ee ose hom michel ake before thy go Bind The assem pe thousands of tem, and they tke nese snd iia hepa you ke wy ot ines inthe name of wha reat humana ae sgl, cwonaswe spe 1 Know The uf pounded amy fr glanced at Aland chen backintherangry ey ae "acars chat. Mascara. They toeue countless house feito women can look ty” Tchought the characterization abit harsh, bu when studied ber pale her nd up lips noth asthe she meant Atay "tthe noton the tod honed na not se, string with her Saves: hands, quoting Sure, gag through Ec" ile rhe odd phoco of gla mie Or ovphineaddicted ge bik She tld me how shel ecard AlPherele rating she labortony With sk other members of the Antal Liberation Pry the mle {oun honor of hich Aad ben nes. A ree she been con Erle woe lect and cary placards, but now, withthe ver of 0 ‘ony amas ae seks she'd ured o more tet acon: arse, ‘andr saborage She deve how se! pe es wi Ear ‘inte Oregon curses of oarbed- ne fence om st tances Neds, desroyed records in biomedical eeuch lab ep and down {he cout and tsinuated hers beeen the hunters and he bighors ‘heap in the mountsne of Arizona fcold ony nod and exclaim, Enid rfl and whe in alow holy cow! or of way. Fal, the patsed ro evel her unseaing eyes on me. "You know wht eae Bathe Staged "Werwere on our third beer. The sun was gone. 1dida'chave a cue. ‘Alena leaned forward, "Every days Aust fo the animals ‘Hooked down in he amr aperture of my beer bot and node det my hea sly The dryer had sapped an hour andl go Two dered she'd go out eo clnner wth me and what she could eat he242 sms. toee ao max si. "Ub, Twas wondering" Ts... fyou mighe wan to go out for Somethingtocat—* “Af chose char moment to heave himself up fom the floor and uri- nae on the wall behind me. My dinner propa hung in he bales {3 Alena shot up of the edge of the abet seal him nd then gene Uther him out she doe “Poor Al” she sighed. caring back vo me wth Eetoe tle Fry eid rnd men ‘Buri rare wo find Somebody on your ot wavelength” She smiled On jour oun suneengh the words iluminated me, ‘ected me setup eros I ould al the way osm in he ep” ‘Gtaodes of my eproducve wac.°So how abour dinner I persisted Reseauranes were running rug my head would chav fo bewegpe? oui there be even a whiff grilled flesh onthe a Cured goats milk and bbouleh, of lenel Soup, spr: Fry day Ache for ‘Be anoma "No place with mess of core Sete rie 7 ean T do eat meat yl” ee acl, ne anymore” — sine the param sandwich, har "bat {do realy now ay lace thar, Teale ley Stim Vegan’ ses ‘Aer evo houts of blind bunnies, butchered calves and mutilated pups, Teouldn eet che joke "Tm from Venus yee? ‘She lage, but ould ese did’ nd ial cha ane ewan dia eat mea or She exsinedor mill or cheese or eg and Sey dare wear woo! orleacher~ cfu, of course. Ofcourse?” Tsai We were both sending there, hoveing over the coffe abe Twas bepaning eel ait ook why done we just eather” he sai “The deep ehrob of he ocean sme set in ny Dones as we ay thee inbod dat aghe, Alena and Land I earned all abou the Bency of her limbs and the svetness of er vegetable tongue Alf prawied on the floor beneath us, wheesing and groaning in hs slep, ad Tbesed him forbis incontinence ae Ns doggy sept. Something wes happening tome could il iin the te bards shed under fel th tach bea of che suf —and Twas ead eo go along with Ta che morn ing Teale nick gan ‘Alena was watching me fm bed a sled che ofc and described how che had migrated rommy Read to my got and beyond and hee wasalookin bree char old eT woul pee the est of de day ight There beside he, pring grapes and dropping chem ne by one ewer her parted and expectant ips Twas wrong. Half a hourly, afer a breakfase of brewers yeast and what appeared be sme sr of bask ‘snared in yogure found nj narching up and down he sidewalk in frot ofa fur empodiu in Bevel il, waving a placard hat ead Mow boorr ruse wos Coase dsped ie bod Ie was ashock. seen pret marches on TV anna lie ad ii rights demonstadons nal that, bue Td never want ny heals nthe pavement ot chanted slogans ff the naked sack ny a ‘There seve maybe fry of us all mos women and we vase eat placards a pasing cas en blocked tec on te sdewale One woman [ba smearet er face and hands wa cold oom sped ied pe oad ‘Alena bad found at mink sole somes the nd that ctret signa seed opti. soe fol cis mins me and te'd keh wean af ern othr izes ‘0 that they looked Feely Kile She branched cs gry buon ot st atck high above her ead whooping ikea snrage andl Goencing, Per 1s death fis death” one and ver ga il became ¢ aes the rod The day wae urassnahly Say the Japs gee a the Sin andthe pals nodded inthe bere, and no one, be a gle Shipped talesman gloweing fom behind the ses mms ‘indows pate sigh bof arena sos matched ou there on the eer lng eposed and conspicuous, tutmarchingtontchesefor onisake under hese oe avd arent and al theres, and for my own sake to: with exch ep | ‘ook cou el ny consciousness expancing like aloo, the best ‘smn seping steal neo me Up tochis punt Pd wr socks snd leather leans ses aide bots ond Al ordan.a bomb Jacked ner igh schol FF dew the ie wih fax, ees nly Erenuse Pé never had any use for cI lied in the Yon and sane tines, droning cough merng at wor] found myself anasiang 2Seu irl woul ave worn a, no compuscton, ao second thought ut not anymore. Now I wu the petson a paced wares oe ses ighng forthe sgh fey las eae aed pas to prom aed Ge peel now's erage lands ete eee ‘ned with, Of course my fer rear Iwas running wea an poy hae no one om work would dive yan se me theron the eral ‘ith my crazy cohorts and denunstery sgn {We marched for hours, back nd forty eT shoughe wed wear 3 ‘cove inthe pavement. We chanted and jered und nobody 20 mach ‘looked a vce We coal hve ber Hare fshnae busy tach Boston o pers what dc mae? Toth of ta nied nave vo whose ery number belonged fas ne four hous eclr, we were vic Iwas hungry, ciel docouragce Alena was ignoring me. Ben he woman intl was sowing ete, bee chant zhoare whisper shar wae sucked wp and cliente ‘orf traffic And ten ss the afternoon faded foward ash hous swe ned very old Wore whe igh have Ben an aging eto aes ‘mother or een the fs dimly remembered wie foto eae grout of long white cata th et and sods fay toma a Bete {he hea cus have been egy dares ths pot she mas wea ‘ngan ankle lengsh ster oxcon ting souk wang mas otey hat mast have decimated evry burrow on the unr. Te was the Iroment we ben wating fr ‘Ary wear up shril and ulatng and we converged othe lone okt oman ike ® Chee wr puny ceusag te passe oe Beside me went down eal ors and howe Ie a bg Alena sae the sir wt her imp mink and dhe ood sangin my ea “Mrdee | screamed going ino “Toro Nex Te sing in ek ese ‘ight {ddr tknew what wan saying The crowd gered. The leads inced. Iwas so ese oh ld woman could ll heehee gene, ‘sof mocha fom the coat and intone me, wedded toe andl seed int of he obo ber pa mith al te cede ing malcanc Blk of my one hundred eighty he pounds of snc ahd cl ner sate chauffeur Alena coldme aiervard hat ews for ‘es kckboning hampion who'd been tanned fom he spre or sae sive rutliy te fs low sere to drop down fom above shell {obbed fom dep win enemy tetany the oes came ae ie = weil churning ina storm, Someone scearned remember cing ‘on the fas rig plea ofthe chanics ous and en aa sorabichany. {Woke to te dull chump ofthe sr slamming athe shore and the such of Alena ison my own. asi ben olen onthe we emailed and pur back eoqeher agin. Li sil] she sud a het tongue moved aguas my oven check, Sica cul ony dog hea across he llow nd gueineo he depen oe par soared “Youte one of ow she whispered ‘Ne meming dn ven shes cain sick By the end ofthe wee Id ecovered enough rave mest, fr which {fle deeply ashamed, and co wear out pir of on hurache te picket line Tegether, and wich varus tuations of anoerinonse ‘ltt Vegans and es lovers Alena and I amped s hundod ee of sidewall, spreypinted inflammatory slogans cross the windows oF supernates sal barge stands, denounced tanners, fiery pul ‘eri and sausage maker, and smichow found te to bees op + see oer aig hay dan aan dlaconneced che past was plaged fn now | fee aphex sce nite has easte “Sn had Alena Ae soon a Se fascinated me, ated me, rade est ikea roma leaping sad one of econd-atry windows olivous to the Fite and te pcke feet below There washer beau, of cour, a rumph of volaton and the happy incerchange of genes going al fe way Dak he eae, bu wabimore than that wat ber commie! animal co eagheng sf wrongs, to moral cat made her resiible Wasi love? The tes Is someshng Te ays had eiffel with, bu suppose it wa, Stee ‘as Love, pure andsmple Thad ihe “You know wha” Alena sid one nighcas she stood over he minis ure stove, searing toi in ol and gatic We'd spat the seer ders, jonstrating out font of trea factory chr used solr elena at a Scongeling agent after which wed been chase thre locks by ance, ‘weight amistant manager a Vos who objected Alen'sspey puscag MziTis bear over che spcialsin the Fore window Iwas ged wh che adolescent joy ofc. sank inc the couch with abet ard watched limp acosi the fee oflng himself down and ck aa suspicoas spot ‘on the lor, The sue boomed like thunder What’ Lid, ‘Thankspsng' coming ec z ade a moment) wondering if should invite Alena to my ‘mothers forthe big busted bird stuffed with canned eysers and ue ‘ered bread crumbs and then realized probably wouldnt be sh gratiden sid nothing She planed over her shoulder. “The animale dont ave « whole {or so be shank foc, thar’ Yor sue les just an excure forthe one industry to Bucher a couple mln seks eal cin> She patna ot saflower oil popped in dhe pan, “think i's time fora ts rosd ps Shesaia "Can we ake your far? "Suze, Dutwhere ate we going?” She gave me her Gioconda smile, To berate some turkey” 4 the momig I lle my boss cll him Thad pancreatic cance nd ‘would be in fora whl, chen we threw somethings theca lp ALF scrabble into the back sec and headed up Route 5 for the San fou (gla Valley We drove for three hours though a fog 2 dens te sun dows might as well have ben packed with cotton, fens was acetone, but cull see se was excited. knew only chat we were om our ay ‘endesvous witha certain “Rolfe” a longtime fend of hes ands ig name in the word of eectage and animal sights ater which we would commit some desperate and gl ac for which the eackeys woul be ‘ccrally grate “There was stack stalled infront of he siga for or ext at Clpuenia ‘Springs and ad wo brake hard anc jek the whee! around sce ace theirs onthe pasemenc Alenacameupcucofhersestand af darned ino the armrest ike a sack of meal, but we made Aon minutes later we mere gliding through the ghoaty vacany ofthe town fel Highs fog past ina nimbus of fog gloing pink, yellom, and whee then there was onthe Blacktop ad and the pale word thar engl {We'd gone ten miles or so when Alen nstroced ie fo ow down ad tepinto sy the ig hand shoulder with keen unwaveing oe ‘The earth bested in and out, Taguined hard ino the sh di ing sow of che headlights, “There, chert” ake cried andl mang the wheal the sight, and sudden we were lrching slong « ped dirt ‘oad thar ose up from the Backtop ike oat path wort ito these446 rm.rorm swoon ofa moun. ve mies ate Ale pin che ack sean began ‘Thine anc dhon acre unpainted shack Began to detach cel from she Taprebesscrund ee Rolfe me uo the porch, He was all and lathe ins ies, grunts shock of urs eelFearre tht brought Same] Sick tome He war wating umbooe and jeans ae 2 faded om Dojeck size that looked arf ad been washed a hundred tines. AE tekesgeick peeagune: te sideo the house, thea fumbled upshe steps {Srl ver and fawn at his fee "Rol Alena called an there ws too much animation n herve, too much fama, fx my tse She tok se aps na bound and ‘fear herlfin his am. atthe therm kb and it wast a fate Ghightclyserof sy noc arall Tear kis with ome meaningbehiod SRaRET dole ale houghe Wnt kindof ame sth “olf” Alena gasped sila le breadhles from bouncing up the ssepsltescheeseader Ta ike you mee fin” “Zhe nos mi sgl ascended the porch tes and held my hand Ral gure et lockout ofthe Boodeddepehraf sees and then {Sor ny has ins had clloused grip, che grip ofthe wood opis, the Eee mene nerf hcp ued wb mise" jeasure he sai, ard is woice espe Uke sande Pleas ie gong tide, and Alena a Isat before and swarmed our hands whe Alfwhined and sniffed and Rolfe seved Res ne crn Jopancre cups tne se of thimble, lena ha’ stopped Ziakecng snes we stepped though te doo, and Rf came igh back Giheris hs wooug ep, the ro of them exchanging names ad ews Sea gomip othe wee takings code. [staid the reproductions ‘Teel and widgtn har ng fom the poling wal noted de cae of ‘lor cope beans ate Comer and he hal gaon ofc Dies ee sane Ply arse hid co of es, lena sted back Secchalc huge old Salvaton Army sort of ting wih soiled ants: (Saran sid So wha the plas?” oid pave me athe: lok, a guck pedaory dstng ofthe ys as beeen ne oul be Snes ad then urd ack co Alena. Shedaa Gables Range'ed Turkey Ranch” he tid. “And no, dont Soddhesame cue no ata” He looked at me now, along teu ay Thy grind up the heade force foo, nd dhe neck he organs and che rr arches erp up in paper ae scl ack in he bode kee Si awar arco or someting Wharover is ackey go and do ros ‘Disa aaelike hae” “gon wan thor cen seme oe ben ie acme and maemo espe er than compose my ein alos IL ealed get cup and resolve Tes dunking ofall the cee Tilsen ther doom, ofthe pashed watbenes the pope ose and fepesnne Sangfeshe ey eno and oe pol: the crap browned skin I dt elit ai Tebroughe lamp fo my ee eee Ben Fratklin wanted ro make dem our national ymbo,” Alena chimed ind you know tha? Bur the meat eaters wor uc” ify chousand burs” Role sa, glascing st Aloe and bringing hisincenay sae back cea om me. *Thave information hee pong fostar slaughtering ser tomorrow, for she fak nx frozen marke” “Tuppis pouty Alenss voce was drenched in dog Foramoment noone spoke I Beeame aware of the crackling ofthe fr. The fog pesed athe windows Te was gets cask ‘You canst the place fom te highway Rolfe suid ally, “bot the only acess shou Calpunia Spring 1s aboue oven) mls minim ane he bec nnn "Mena oes were gh: She was gaxing on Rolfe as if he jst cio do one I sameting ee my Soma : vest conighe” Rol ins ha we tke my car—"venbody around here boos Polugandl at ke ony canes ona ele operation ibe oe Eodi? mat she plete ont and Sack, wth an inee-cc smear of {nud We Blackened ou faces like commandos and collected our tools Tom the sed outback ~tnanip, crowbar, and two five gallon cas cf guoline “Gasoline? Tad. aping the bet of theca, Rolfe gave me Siggy lode “To cece aversion? he si AU for obvious reson, Srayedbchindin the shack. The fog bad Bon chick in dalgh fe was impeneerBle now, the shy calapsl apon tne athe eck hold of he Belg and theew hem back ame el yes began fo water fom the effort of keeping the car onthe road Du or ce rus and Enmpe we might have Gece owing in space. Anas up fron between Role and me, cous, Sone Hole didn't have mith t say echer, save for the ocasonal ranted command: "Hang aright eve’ "ard lets “Esp es” T Sone abou rei and ja and the role proportions ew mich was lout osvel in Ales ees and what [sntended co do tober when we fal goto bed Iwas.co st by the dashboard dock. Gay Rolfe sud andHvoee ame ae 50 saddeny stared sn paler ere=and il he ighes™ sped out into the hush of night and eased the doors shut behind ue I couldn see a thing buc could ear the note fica iss ‘feni onthe hips, and another sound, too, fed and indir fcr, he gel unconscious sapiration of howsands upon thousands tf mfg centres And [coud smell ser aeething rancid odor oF ffevandfesthersand naked seal fe thar creed down ny hota Dadi oui" Whewfanawpsguamet hemy TRU and alena were vague presences amy side Rol doce ndivar ma mteds iene eeereteteinattfin snips in my hand, “Listen, you, im,” Rolfe whispered aking me bythe wean is iro pip and ieading me bal doaen sep forward "Fee hi” Hela grid ofwite which he peompely cue: ony np, i. a "Thin ther eacioure—cheyve ut these che da, scathing szoupd in he rt You gt x you fellow this wit Now, Youre ing teste aston out is de Ales go the wat ade snd pike ‘bush Once thats done spl wih he asigh aad we bse opea he dors eo che erkeyRouss= they ths blow wie bung, youl Sethe cnn a cs Del ry oat Tar wormed Worn aber seorhing om sone fared farmer with hong or Akay or whaueve they coed hese das fo Toning Alena inte foo the tatkye terse How bg mee th? ‘Wer ey en Thad ws a beaks rth? Ando wee they gong ofl abou me buat to dcr browne dof thems nl when thegascas go up, ou hight cback theca gi” Toul ear he suey os in hl. A rck shied pas outon the high think 0" Twhinpere. had ond mont hing bento ese esinhe gion” ‘This gave me pe “But “Tegra Alen a lose Lol fel her rath on mye ot mean dont want abe ning rnd forthe Kee wen al is breakngioosou cher So me™ Tested open the dor and esr the ys in the on, een though the foromac busser warned ie apne fe “Okay? I mr "red, but chey were ale gone, soaked up he shadows and the ‘rst A this pint my bee Sar ammerog sul Vou bey he dng of i nes hay, ld ps he ‘and wrong for © mension legal Sprpainang logan was one thing, bur tis was something est aogeher [thought of the ur ey fame sleepin hs bl an eneeprenear working to make Aer ‘SZasoog, «man witha wit aod idk sad a omage, buchen ‘hough fl hose innocent crkeys consigned wo dec, and aly ‘Bough of ales lonloged anova the wy she cme se ‘Su che danas of te throm anche boom atthe su 120k Se napeeo cere Tus ave been ac half an hour, forgive minutes, radaly rocking my way fowar he ig whe sheds thar had Bogan emerge forte gloom up ahead whee Inu Roles ashe Biking of toy lef "Pas wes ny sgl cohen to te nner shed, snap che Pk iy eta gape gor an Ec of "any supe gobles out nto te nigh eas now oe nee cold we round esr then Bake fea shed a ake ‘ward crouching asc The rurkeys must have sensed char someting was ptm tind te lg oie vindowea al emotes wah A poling Steghing Ren er ee eee Uedops dongs oly cee Pe ee ine wlnaad bepedect doce peed ten nae ericson iad sf edldagtoer ant oe eopes Seen Toy rete ant eae eee tenr nace ‘ns tnd of a eat een an te Often fale Thc ign pes nee a copier et ed ig Sag a ei he bk ing cnt’ ey a ARSE acral Sled wresiante cies oeetaun serena nee Neting No oene Bar tie an dy Sed Nest gi hae ee cp ya wi hie bend od cal ce eh oat snfal dc cinngs Pe ekaga eee Motch tooghcthcacvecen ne oe nsf Sogwenesp he tip rode the ear foe, ewe cge me ef hay sped my aay ae ee oe of pir haledinreedaees Dagens a Fakel hon ontigny ry aortas actege ect e sec cbr Shr et era reer engi Serco opens ad indo day wr eg ae ee png cg nose teen ees gic hengee as Sans cea ee Beshget cand gr rears Te ioniea nae Sone coeaiaas aang Toe ern {Eesti ack mca of he dered whip sadtis ein of be paces ee a ie ‘Gescinanen ny od cess eee et Extourseilg fr edo nt mccer eptonat royce apg ae ere Sco pa ears eae cong ee Gras igeiienn Stars nana eae tee Situated scaly ooeeeae atc ee Sy tnlden te come fe aoe tae ae (and data wee apie oa as dee eh Sacked een ued Se cad rene ona ‘Fh he hes ate Wircrianim can fetes deed lees rey et eT ‘relly igs ear hyper tas aes et set ede cece ea a mn epee ee eetil ie glowed Blood and belli. Bue where was the fence? And wherethe ca? Tigoc contol of my feet then and stood stock siln ary oft keys sguicing nto th wal of oy, Was hat i? Was thatthe car over thect Ae chat moment heard an eagine startup somewhere behind tne faraiac engine vith» Gaia coughing purge i the thoat of Be career “obs te ips be bray tee handed yards away. I beard eh engine race and Usened elles asthe cat Toared afin the oppose direction Loo there a moment longer, foem and forsaken and hen Tran binlyof int the night, ing the fre and the shouts and he baking and Ue incesant mands gus Spot the urkeyeas fa Shinde ss could ‘When dawn inal bro, i was only ast perceptibly so hick was the Tog Ta made my way ta blacktop foudwhich road and where ed I didnt know and st soached and shivering in = clamp oF weed just (off the showlde Alena wouldnt esr ews sure thats loved ‘ne, a5 loved ber needed me a8 Tender and Twas re bed be ‘ricng slong the back rou looking for me My pride was wounded, feourts an ft never iad jes on Rafe gain 1 (tT woulda be mis. {ng much, bur at leas T adn ben deed fll of hoe swvaged by farm dag or pecked o dea by rte ete, was sore ll ves, shin {hobbed where Pl summed ico something subsanal whl aking {through the gh there were feather my as, nd my face and as free a mouse of ca ard scratches and long ang fasres of die Pd ‘een sng tec for wha seemed like hour cursing Raft, developing spicons about Alea and unflaceing chess about eneronmenta Scan genera, when Gali heard the fri slp sad roar of 17 Chewy Craton cuting dough the mine ahead oF Rolfe was driving hs fae impasse I fing myelin the road ike a tatsered Beggs waving my aris over ny head and ging ene © iy joyrand he vey aly ra ne down, Alena was tof he cr Before ‘stopped, wrapping me up inher ems and den she was bundling me [itp Weer el wh und we vere onour my oak oe deny. ‘What happened?” she ce, asthe cool have guessed. “Where sere youo We wate song as we could ras fling ely, betrayed, felng ae if 1 war owed a whole le smote than a perfunctory gan ating of insipid questions. Sela Tea ny ale begat waz 0 €~ they gor avay nthe a wth the heater ging, and stayed behind vo ge the ureys the mers and the eleens to, and that wan’ heroic, Pike know what was | Ieoked into Alna’s admiring eyes and pcrredRolfs shack, aap oF ‘wo ftom the bocle of Jack Daniel maybe » peanur user and-oft ‘Sbich, and then the ed with Alena ine Rod aid noching Tack a Rolfe, Ieook 3 shower and scrubbed the warkey droppings ioc my pore, hen heed myself the bourbon. e was ten the sk i a ad Bg aires wha i ea ne peckeantatt deel ipeicnieesei ae at Seguenacd tooo een Sa ee cae nea mer a ee ree Benlimohig oh ce Mea nero ‘Gite Whee nepal ‘She laughed, but she pushed herself up and crossed the room to serene oc alee el Sg poeceperdy eet obec ere Beoqey etRetet ten Fone eager Fe ctl She rd ad eke Oa tt Siok cone pS Gmep tne ence ‘Yallowstone—" re i Tet mtn Tew chs ra 20 acknowledgment of all we'd done and meant to each other. “Por what? So erate “Tages sh fh, soul ed ay en sing pas uc he pu Oct enna prt Sem deche gin Seen avin ee foitnd teats ecu ak eeet mpensteonag gray chsh ene Seg soos eran ea a WigaceooeNaa ng ohare skin Ta codons Sacra eeanatges tae" ‘Seok ethndsony-Nore un We he paguen i planes, don’t you know that” ee ii ou Sing ie cen ae seme lap oc patopape say Sora uaa Sipe ph ke tow mats ats at i da gle ateal ae pe ee per rare ory” ace hdd rua Rpsrpet atemnders Se temmeneanmnpaetate "Water the planes for me?” oe sl ‘Am hour later twas onthe road again. Td helped Rolf stack che wood Desde the fireplace, allowed alens to brush ty lips with a good ye ‘sand then stod chere on de porch we Rolfe locked up, ie AlF ‘nto the bed ot his pickup and rumbled dawn the raed rt road with Alena athissdeT wasched il hi brake lights dsslved nthe aiing £0 mit, hn ied up he Cision and hd do he oud eid ‘Eo Asonth or follow ne ped foot ole aang aU chet gen stopping mcs og pened ag oses Tue hllownes opened py cored me ove il leas Td keen iSstand puoedand sted op spine ys Tsun Syuy ek ough Caps peg vthutincdene there er no fue no Bashing hs an goneong oops ‘Sichig in an ck a fers is nba creer Sida eas dom ho bak “borates toed ons ge ‘ifr Los Alpe, ed chck. Ta nsw the adn ages ‘kealed om ofthe lone igs cube gal is and Pecan oon sowie won ey igen iearcny fom cating as dh ein and png an fk when 12a the tucked up abe. lowed to fr cir, Sldiosiicetele opin ine mtr west ci otes here wassomcng on teen sty an evince ‘tet hough mt hae br ang es the tack al of a Paper orc of sap poner speed onthe perce: Ion et Re mcd cou the tes Coping nw ke ple of oe is aE nw thn te rans coe nee ack tek Sorel chem kbs and melas fee eka fre, te pulp pun tote usec tad oor pe SGikomutaleatearsbad oe goundbra Ormane shebafthe wack Tulse lnk cee Secor cupe foc che one waded wiper, the suse btn tnd fra moment ssc fae lod Coated “islowe and te balownes open! op mde sed enh ols inde cor Bhd encore wasn on kon trooper loomed ot thea nang en ei he ded tare as ati cheatir of Alas ti fr sk Al ce es Seren us had conto pects gone ses eet on Ge toa yan oe otandatoct ya sain covey oe Sed mis opin pins n dsj eplng ever {Tine pas. Nothing med Ad shen, taco 2 aoe in emp rn bebe seared as sh by ofthe lps lowing ode ah wt ate sn CaBoe Log sesPand even he nk iciakine somes pcsing he plae th promi hee coef the gence od of ced Be bangla ony thse Aghia thetic dak marca snd checurger Te eae ‘otghed Th igh glowed | hak Aen es a ek SP or gab Be scot bing nos tnd wee ar ‘Eetna Eline nd cancerous ne 1 dougie oo te cee ‘pening inside me and how to fl "Meat." and | spoke the word loud, ealling co calm mpeell seid awakened from 2 bad dies, Fesonly meat ‘Consioenarions Fox Carica Tannin ano WT © marron. Hoe dour em eof nda Sige peacanapearaasomsae + Cont show Boje hos horn ee sgh it Sirgen eae > Deni neh fpeen mu ow dt hm Se enti pls win ad rey ncn Diecqeih ogee eae nee ee an advercising agency? ree 4: Howden hoje mel th natch Secs poesia staal acer 5 ew dc he ary ee Serta fe ofan aS ng ow 6: Howden mn chances Petree tery Fodoyehn te one fom Ae’ arom a. ari he ner sic in ho? Howie in th Sos o- How othe wd, mens ight on ‘psec i th oe ati ws. eanmcno tssormmanscno Cpr the ono oes StaeatoflcwitiSosn nee e-Eice (pao