Echoes of the last realm

n said, filling the car

sor

r. Your

ar something bright when I'm hitching. And also, I figured it might help me get rides with older folks if I wore somethin

re great. I haven't seen anything lik

e were part of a bigger project she did a few year

they were carve

she's

ver them. Do

t's

ople give

's working or not. I shower and shave clean before heading out, wear a brigh

sured: he was a jovial fellow, but not a clown. Fifty thousand miles ago such artifice had bothered

n said. "We're all exactly

. So he would be a God-fearin

ything, in parti

tattoo until I saw her bir

he way to do i

alf gone, and

ts were an imperfect match for the upholstery, which was worn, but unstained and unabraded. Altogether, the modest two-door had held together nicely-but no glue or mechanic's sure hands could suppress the intrusion of the highway. The floorpan seemed to provide as much protection from the rumble din of the road as a cafeteria tray on wheels, and Sam could imagine a good swipe with a boxcutter making the coupe a convertibl

e south, origina

hanging out there.

York

een

Why did

-six years seem

t si

a paralegal for two years after co

never complain, unless they've already complained, and th

need to tell me about lawyers. I coul

nd it paid well, so I did it for as

at's great. To be

am never complained about hitchhiking. "When I run low on cash, I stop and do some temp work-paralegal, clerical, whatever. I pack

him in a one-bedroom right on South Beach. I was on his couch for a few days, and then he got

stationed in

serio

ain, Germany, C.A.R., Italy, Korea, Panama-too many.

people around, but I di

need you, and I trained guys,

nd of tr

e, hand-to-h

nse. But

n. I don't think so. Now

private

rain figh

ea

ys, ex-Army, one Mari

how does

ght change it because I can't figure out what t

, ma

ht. And a ring and a ref. Not an underground fight club. Good. "We're just getting started, still working out the detai