Chapter 3

           Atsunset,glancingup,JulianaFrinksawthedotoflightintheskyshootinanarc,disappeartothewest.OneofthoseNazirocketships,shesaidtoherself.FlyingtotheCoast.Fullofbigshots.AndhereIamdownbelow.Shewaved,althoughtherocketshipofcoursehadalreadygone.

           ShadowsadvancingfromtheRockies.Bluepeaksturningtonight.Aflockofslowbirds,migratory,madetheirwayparallelwiththemountains.Hereandthereacarturneditsheadlightson;shesawthetwindotsalongthehighway.Lights,too,ofagasstation.Houses.

           FormonthsnowshehadbeenlivinghereinCanonCity,Colorado.Shewasajudoinstructor.

           Herworkdayhadendedandshewaspreparingtotakeashower.Shefelttired.Alltheshowerswereinuse,bycustomersofRay’sGym,soshehadbeenstanding,waitingoutdoorsinthecoolness,enjoyingthesmellofmountainair,thequiet.Allsheheardnowwasthefaintmurmurfromthehamburgerstanddowntheroadbythehighway’sedge.Twohugedieseltruckshadparked,andthedrivers,inthegloom,couldbeseenmovingabout,puttingontheirleatherjacketsbeforeenteringthehamburgerstand.

           Shethought:Didn’tDieselthrowhimselfoutthewindowofhisstateroom?Commitsuicidebydrowninghimselfonanoceanvoyage?MaybeIoughttodothat.Butheretherewasnoocean.Butthereisalwaysaway.LikeinShakespeare.Apinstuckthroughone’sshirtfront,andgood-byeFrink.Thegirlwhoneednotfearmaraudinghomelessfromthedesert.