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Greer’s voice was tight: "We better getwas slow, the dirt track crowded by brush In the dark, Peter had absorbed al of the landscape Now he saw it for what it was: an inhospitable swaoons, ruined structures clawed by vines, the earth vague, like so water obscured the roadway, its depth unknown; Greer plowed through

The foliage began to thin; a cyclonic tangle of highway overpasses appeared Greer threaded through the detritus beneath the freeway, located a rahway; then Greer veered away Despite the violent jostling of the Huion of collapsed overpasses, then clihway

Michael turned in his seat "Easier going fro the windshield; then the clouds broke, revealing a strong Texas sun Ah of wakefulness; Peter looked to find that her eyes had opened She blinked at hi fiercely, covered her eyes with her arht," she said

"What was that?" Greer said froht"

"She’s been in the dark for twenty years--the light may bother her awhile" Greer bent forward to reach under his seat "Give her these"

Over his shoulder, he passed Peter a pair of dark glasses The lenses were scratched and pitted, the fralasses over her face, wrapping the wires gently behind her ears

"Better?"

She nodded Her eyes closed once more "I’m so tired," she murmured

Peter leaned forward "How much farther?"

"We shouldto need fuel, too There should be some in the hardbox west of Sealy"

They continued in silence Despite the tension, Peter felt hi to find that the truck had stopped Greer and Michael were toting two heavy plastic jugs of fuel frohts were fuzzy; his limbs, heavy and slow, moved like pooled liquid Everywhere in his body, he felt his age