February 2003: Interim

           TheybroughtinfifteenthousandlumberfeetofOregonpinetobuildTenthCity,andseventy-ninethousandfeetofCaliforniaredwoodandtheyhammeredtogetheraclean,neatlittletownbytheedgeofthestonecanals.OnSundaynightsyoucouldseered,blue,andgreenstained-glasslightinthechurchesandhearthevoicessingingthenumberedhymns."Wewillnowsing79.Wewillnowsing94."Andincertainhousesyouheardthehardclatterofatypewriter,thenovelistatwork;orthescratchofapen,thepoetatwork;ornosoundatall,theformerbeachcomberatwork.Itwasasif,inmanyways,agreatearthquakehadshakenloosetherootsandcellarsofanIowatown,andthen,inaninstant,awhirlwindtwisterofOz-likeproportionshadcarriedtheentiretownofftoMarstosetitdownwithoutabump.