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With the baby balanced on her shoulder she trudges across the back of somebody’s cornfield.

Just make it to that far corner; then we can rest again.

Everything hurts. Everything.

The baby lies across her shoulder like velvet. No complaints now; no stirrings. Poor kid’s exhausted.

I understand, Ellen. I know how it is. It’s always harder to be a passenger than to be a driver.

Feels like a blister coming up on the left heel. Damn. All we need. Well what did you expect, feet all soaking wet and everything?

One foot and then the other. That’s it. Just put one foot down and then put the other foot down. One foot at a time. We’ll get there.

How far do you suppose we’ve walked? Time’s it? Takes too much energy to shift things around so I can look at the watch; take a guess by the sun shadows.

Probably somewhere between four and six. Split the difference. Say it’s five. I don’t believe less than nine hours ago Charlie and I were making love.

Charlie. I wonder what happened to the airplane and the helicopter. Haven’t noticed them since God knows how long ago. No sign of them now.

Hell with them. Come on. Almost to the corner now.

Nasty rip in the sleeve of this blouse from those thorns back there. Cheek feels all scratched from the thickets. Burrs in my hair, what’ll you bet. I must look a sight.

Well this ain’t no beauty contest, honey.

This is the corner. We can sit down now. Jesus-it feels as if I’ve got drill bits in my joints. God, that hurts!

Now then. What’s the plan?

Are they back there? Tracking?

Maybe. Maybe not. You can’t do anything about it so quit thinking about it.

Can’t be too far to the Interstate. Keep walking east you’re bound to find it.

What then?

God knows. Worry about it when we get there. One thing at a time. Too tired to think.

Let’s see what we’ve got in here, kid. You want Gerber’s applesauce or Gerber’s apricot? Where’s the Goddamn plastic spoon?

Here, quit making such a mess all over your face. You handle the mouth, let me handle the spoon, all right? Try to get the food inside the mouth, right? That’s the idea.

Now stop looking at me like that. Like I’m taking food out of the mouths of babes. In the first place the damn things are too heavy to go on carrying. And in the second place Momma needs nourishment too, you know. One jar of Gerber’s apricot isn’t going to make that much difference in your life, kid, take my word for it.

God, it tastes good. I think I’m going to start eating baby food for a regular diet. If we ever get out of this mess alive.

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