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They drove on, cli down the other sides, plunging into darkness, chasing the spill of the Jeep’s headlights At the top of a particularly steep hill, just as the Jeep pitched toward the drop, Deb said, "Look, there’s a cop car"

"Finally!"

They descended the hill toward a police cruiser parked on the shoulder, the light bar lit but not flashing--the way a lot of s their presence known As the Jeep coasted toward the cruiser, they could see the officer in silhouette, bent down over so on a pad Josh tooted the horn, a single short beep, as he slowed to a stop The cop didn’t look up

"Gimme the map," Josh said, "and wait here I’ll see what he says" He jerked open the door, stepped out into the cold air, hunched in to the wind and jog-walked over to the cruiser "Hello? Uh…excuse me? Officer?"

The cop still sat with his head bent over a writing tablet Fro presence of the man’s uniform hat, Josh could not see the cop’s features

"Officer…?"

There was no an to wonder if the cop was sound asleep Tentatively he reached out and tapped the closedNothing

He tried again, and again called, "Officer? I need to get sohtly Josh rapped on the glass again Like most people he was afraid of cops, not because he had done anything at all illegal, but just because he was Joe Public and cops were cops His action, just sias station, was deferential, even apologetic Even the way he tapped on the glass i the officer

"Please, can you tell as station?"

The cop’s head ca to stare out theinto darkness The officer slowly held up a hand, one finger extended in a mild command for Josh to wait The officer set down his notebook and, though still looking in the other direction, jerked the door handle open

Josh stepped back fro The cop was getting out of the car in a very strange fashion He would not turn his face toward Josh, so in a way he actually bent forward and backed out of the car Hishis own body As his head cleared the door frae and ept frohtened The hat fluttered into the car and the cop led and unke dark and le at the back of his head The red and blue doht that it could be blood glistening on the back of the cop’s head

Josh’s frown deepened, and he was caught between the sudden rush of ordinary concern and a fearful uncertainty that rooted him to the spot Then it came to him The cop ed his head and that’s why he was so unresponsive and groggy Josh could see no dae to the car, but maybe the whole other side of the car was punched in

"Officer…are you all right?"

The cop lost balance for a rab the door fra Josh auto him by the elbow and under the armpit

"Jesus! You’re hurt What happened?"

The cop steadied himself, and even lifted one hand to wave Josh back

"Officer? Hey…you okay?"

"I’ll…" the cop began His voice was thick and distorted "I’ll…be…"

"Are you hurt?"

"I’ll…be…fine Just…give me a moment" He barely whispered the words