September was a good time for the prefabs, neither too cold nor too hot. Bills had a chipper, almost cheerful air. The front porch was swept, the windows clean, the neon beer signs glowing and the last of the nasturtiums bursting into bloom next to the porch. Liam escorted Amelia Gearhart up the stairs and in the door. Bill was washing glasses behind the bar. “Oh hell, she said when she saw them coming. She was over sixty, silver of hair, blue of eye and zaftig. She knew it, too, and today had chosen to accent her manifest charms with blue jeans cinched in at the waist by a woven leather belt and a tight pink T-shirt which purported to advertise last Mays Jazz Festival in New Orleans but which really was advertising Bill.

Moses Alakuyak sat at the bar. Too tall for a Yupik, eyes too Asian for a white, he was a mongrel and gloried in it. “Ever see a purebred dog, missy? hed been heard to tell some poor tourist who had wandered in off the Newenham street. “Nervous, stupid, half the time got them some epilepsy or hip problems or some other goddamn thing. Always barking, always jumping on you or whoever else is in range, cant trust them around kids or anybody else, either. Give me a good old Heinz 57 mutt every time for smarts and good manners. Hed glared down at the hapless tourist. “Same goes for people. Mongrel horde, my ass. Well inherit the earth, not the goddamn meek.

The tourist had murmured something soothing and drifted slowly but surely out the door. Anyone in Newenham could have told her she was in no danger; Mount Moses in full eruption was a common sight, worthy of attention and respect, but it was never necessary to get the women and children off the streets.

“Married five months, Moses said, looking at Amelia, “and now shes drinking her breakfast. He said something in Yupik that sounded less than complimentary. Amelia wasnt too drunk to understand, and colored to the roots of her hair.

“Knock it off, Moses, Bill said. She looked at Liam. “What do you want to do, Liam?

He sighed and looked around the bar. It was empty except for them, but it was going on ten-thirty and it wouldnt be long before the lunch crowd showed. “Hell, Bill, I dont know. This is the third time this week.

“Want to swear out an arrest warrant?

An arrest warrant. State of Alaska, plaintiff, versus Amelia Gearhart, defendant. To any peace officer or other authorized person, you are commanded to arrest the defendant and bring the defendant before the nearest available judicial officer without unnecessary delay to answer to a complaint/information/indictment charging the defendant with violation of Alaska Statute 28.35.030, driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. If Liam requested one, Bill would sign it; hell, she wouldnt even have to take Liams oath, Amelia was her own worst prosecution witness. The criminal process would begin, he would arrest Amelia, Bill would set bail and order Amelia to court, and she would be charged, arraigned, tried, convicted and sentenced. DWI was a Class A misdemeanor and carried a mandatory sentence and fine. More important, she would have a record, and penalties escalated for repeat offenders.