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           AndthedawncameupbehindthemwhenthelightsofMojavewereahead.Andthedawnshowedhighmountainstothewest.TheyfilledwithwaterandoilatMojaveandcrawledintothemountains,andthedawnwasaboutthem.

           Tomsaid,"Jesus,thedesert’spast!Pa,Al,forChristsakes!Thedesert’spast!"

           "I’mtoogoddamnedtiredtocare,"saidAl.

           "Wantmetodrive?"

           "No,waitawhile."

           TheydrovethroughTehachapiinthemorningglow,andthesuncameupbehindthem,andthen—suddenlytheysawthegreatvalleybelowthem.Aljammedonthebrakeandstoppedinthemiddleoftheroad,and,"JesusChrist!Look!"hesaid.Thevineyards,theorchards,thegreatflatvalley,greenandbeautiful,thetreessetinrows,andthefarmhouses.

           AndPasaid,"GodAlmighty!"Thedistantcities,thelittletownsintheorchardland,andthemorningsun,goldenonthevalley.Acarhonkedbehindthem.Alpulledtothesideoftheroadandparked.

           "Iwanttalookather."Thegrainfieldsgoldeninthemorning,andthewillowlines,theeucalyptustreesinrows.

           Pasighed,"Ineverknowedtheywasanythinglikeher."Thepeachtreesandthewalnutgroves,andthedarkgreenpatchesoforanges.Andredroofsamongthetrees,andbarns—richbarns.Algotoutandstretchedhislegs.

           Hecalled,"Ma—comelook.We’rethere!"

           RuthieandWinfieldscrambleddownfromthecar,andthentheystood,silentandawestruck,embarrassedbeforethegreatvalley.Thedistancewasthinnedwithhaze,andthelandgrewsofterandsofterinthedistance.