Chapter 12

           Highway66isthemainmigrantroad.66—thelongconcretepathacrossthecountry,wavinggentlyupanddownonthemap,fromtheMississippitoBakersfield—overtheredlandsandthegraylands,twistingupintothemountains,crossingtheDivideanddownintothebrightandterribledesert,andacrossthedeserttothemountainsagain,andintotherichCaliforniavalleys.

           66isthepathofapeopleinflight,refugeesfromdustandshrinkingland,fromthethunderoftractorsandshrinkingownership,fromthedesert’sslownorthwardinvasion,fromthetwistingwindsthathowlupoutofTexas,fromthefloodsthatbringnorichnesstothelandandstealwhatlittlerichnessisthere.Fromallofthesethepeopleareinflight,andtheycomeinto66fromthetributarysideroads,fromthewagontracksandtheruttedcountryroads.66isthemotherroad,theroadofflight.

           ClarksvilleandOzarkandVanBurenandFortSmithon64,andthere’sanendofArkansas.AndalltheroadsintoOklahomaCity,66downfromTulsa,270upfromMcAlester.81fromWichitaFallssouth,fromEnidnorth.Edmond,McLoud,Purcell.66outofOklahomaCity;ElRenoandClinton,goingweston66.Hydro,ElkCity,andTexola;andthere’sanendtoOklahoma.66acrossthePanhandleofTexas.ShamrockandMcLean,ConwayandAmarillo,theyellow.WildoradoandVegaandBoise,andthere’sanendofTexas.TucumcariandSantaRosaandintotheNewMexicanmountainstoAlbuquerque,wheretheroadcomesdownfromSantaFe.