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“In a way It’s a quote froes and its works, for all the talk of men, are wrapped in ertip “Whales die every day We lose so nets and starve to death, or they get nailed by a ship, or we poison them with pollution because some people think it’s okay to use the sea for a toxic waste duories Even without interference fro and readjusting But it’s not a cacophony It’s like the i a piano solo, going off on his own, catching up with his rhythh “Hell, I’ sense”

“Don’t forget I’ve seen your jazz collection, Kurt You’re saying there’s a sour note here”

“More a universal dissonance” He thought about it so that there’s a big bad-ass shark lurking just out of sight and it’s hungry as hell”

Zavala pushed his empty plate away “As they say back hory”

“I happen to know you grew up in the desert, aree hat you’re saying Let’s go fishing”

Frohway and headed south As in Tijuana, the cohent down to two lanes They turned off the highway past Maneadero and followed back roads past agricultural fields, scattered fared, lonely country with fog-shrouded rolling hills that dropped down to the sea Zavala, as navigating, checked the map

“We’re almost there Just around the corner,” he said

Austin didn’t knohat he was expecting Even so he was surprised when they rounded the curve and he saw a neatly lettered sign in Spanish and English announcing they were at the home of the Baja Tortilla Con was at the beginning of a long, clay drive bordered with planted trees They could see a large building at the end of the driveway

Austin leaned on the steering wheel and pushed his Foster Grants up onto his forehead “You’re sure this is the right spot?”

Zavala handed the map over for Austin’s examination “This is the place,” he said

“Looks like we drove all this way for nothing”

“Maybe not,” Zavala said “The huevos rancheros were excellent, and I’ve got a new Hussong’s Cantina T-shirt”

Austin’s eyes narrowed “Coincidenceas we’re here, let’s take them at their word”

He turned the truck off the highway and drove a few hundred yards to a neatly tended gravel parking lot marked with spaces for visitors Several cars with California plates and a couple of tour buses were parked in front of the building, a corrugated aluminum structure with a portaled adobe façade and tiled roof in the Spanish style The sh the pickup’s open s

“Diabolically clever disguise,” Zavala said