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A broindshield veiled the world and they couldn’t waste water for cleaning it At every gas stop, the attendant wiped the road dust and dead bugs aith a rag

When they pulled into the gas station, they saw a grocery store not far away A crowd had gathered in front of it: more people than they’d seen in one place since Albuquerque

These weren’t town folks, for the ed clothes and rucksacks These were bindle stiffs—homeless men, the kind who juoing so at each one, searching for her husband’s face She knew Loreda did the same

Elsa pulled up to the gas pump

“Why are there so many people over there?” Loreda asked

“It looks like a parade or sumpin’,” Ant said

“They look angry,” Elsa said She waited for an attendant to coas, but no one came

“Theretime,” Loreda said

Elsa understood She and her daughter now shared an awareness of a different kind of danger on the road If they didn’t get gas here, they wouldn’t make it across the desert

Elsa honked her horn

A uniforet out, lady Lock your doors”

“What’s going on?” Elsa said, rolling down her

“Folks have had enough,” he said, purocery store”

Elsa heard sory Give us food”

“Help us!”