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

tationed 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