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The quiet ofof creaturesin the dark The howl of a coyote She saw an owl, perched in a high branch, watching them

Elsa iined spies and fore for those ould dare to raise their voices in protest This was a stupid idea Stupid and dangerous

“Mom—”

“Hush,” Elsa said “Not a word”

They passed the newer section of tents and turned into the laundry—a long, wooden structure that held ers Men rarely stepped foot in the place, but now there were about forty of theht knot

Elsa and Loreda slipped to the back of the crowd

Ike stood at the front “We all knoe’re here,” he said quietly

There was no answer, not even a movement of feet

“They cut wages again today, and they’ll do it again Because they can We’ve all seen the desperate folks pouring into the valley They’ll work for anything They have kids to feed”

“So do we, Ike,” someone said

“I know, Ralph But we gotta stand up for ourselves or they’ll destroy us”

“I ain’t no Red,” someone said

“Call it whatever you want, Gary We deserve fair wages,” Ike said “And we aren’t going to get ’eht”

Elsa heard the distant sound of truck engines