At night they find places to sleep. Structures they can barricade, rooftops onto which they can climb. They look at the stars, and she makes up stories about whats happening on the different earths going in circles around those different suns. Maury falls asleep easily, as though it were his natural state and wakefulness a chore to maintain. She herself has trouble sleeping. These are the times when she wishes she knew how to play a harmonica or a guitar or a mouth harp. She remembers the lighthouse, her magazines, pulling in the nets in the morning, circling the island like it was the perimeter of everything. And then her mind crowds with other things a noisy parade of memories that frustrate her because of the way they play themselves out. These memories it feels like shes back there, like she has the moment to do over and make different choices. But she cant, because theyre just memories, set down permanent as if they were chiselled in marble, and so she has to just watch herself do the same things over and over, and its a condemnation if its anything.

Shes taken to sleeping with her head on Maurys chest. The sound of his heartbeat steady where other things are calamitous.

Daylight they drive.

I sure wish you could read, Maury. I mean, have a look at that lake.

The road opens up and they are driving along the shore of a shimmering body of water. Through the trees, she can see the sun scintillating on the rippled surface. It widens as they drive and the opposite shore retreats until they can barely see the houses and docks on the other side.

Look at the pair of us, she says. It sure would help if one of us could read.

She looks at him, his eyes far gone in the horizon.

Hell, she says. Who knows? Maybe you can read, you just cant speak it out loud. Either way, it dont do us much good.

She would like to see people swimming out there in that lake. Getting their enjoyment out of it.

I mean, thats a beautiful thing right there, she says. I bet its got a beautiful name to it, too. Like Crystal Palace Lake or Lake Sparkle Heaven or something like that. And I bet that sign right there would tell us if either of us could decipher it.

She sighs.

Nope, she says. You and me, were not privy to the secrets of language. Good thing I got taught a few songs when I was little and lucky for you Im blessed with the voice of an angel. Watch out, dummy, Im gettin ready to let go.

Take me out of the ball game!

Take me out of the crowd!

Buy me some peanuts and snapplecracks!

I dont care if I ever go back!

So its hoot, hoot, hoot for the home range!

If you dont care, its a shame!