BEI'WEEN THE SPECIES

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6(1

CHUCK REDMAN

139

CHAPTERCHAPTER ONEONE

Ch,Ch, God.God. ThankThank God.God. ProbablyProbably herher firstfirst --coherentcoherent thoughts.thoughts. SheShe hadhad finallyfinally traversedtraversed thatthat indefinableindefinable transitiontransition betweenbetween half­half­

sleepsleep andand consciousness.consciousness. SheShe couldcould bebe saidsaid toto bebe awakeawake now.now. HerHer sensesense ofof relief,relief, silentsilent acknowledgementacknowledgement ofof heaven,heaven, seemedseemed naturill.naturill.

AfterAfter all,all, justjust aa fewfew momentsmoments before.before. hadhad beenbeen justjust aa dream.dream. JustJust aa dream,dream, afterafter all.all. WhatWhat waswas itit now?now? SheShe concen­concen­trated.trated. Oh,Oh, yes,yes, thisthis waswas it,it, thisthis waswas thethe dream:dream: sheshe hadhad hadhad aa fair-sizedfair-sized partpart inin herher

highhigh schoolschool classclass play,play, butbut sheshe hadhad neglectedneglected

toto learnlearn herher lines.lines. SheShe waswas atat thethe pointpoint ofof havinghaving herher make-upmake-up appliedapplied backstagebackstage ->'Ii->'Iithth

onlyonly aa fewfew minutesminutes untiluntil curtaincurtain time,time, stillstill askingasking herselfherself whywhy sheshe hadn'thadn't spentspent timetime learninglearning herher lineslines •• •• aa realreal "butterfly""butterfly" situation.situation. •• vaguevague inagesinages ofof pulleyspulleys andand ropesropes allall overover thethe place,place, ladders,ladders, cat­cat­

walks.walks. Lise,Lise, herher bestbest friend,friend, waswas there,there, preparingpreparing toto gogo on,on, butbut sheshe alsoalso

seemed,seemed, atat thethe veryvery best,best, unsureunsure ofof herher lineslines•••••••• ThatThat waswas allall sheshe couldcould remember,remember, soso apparentlyapparently sheshe wokewoke upup beforebefore thethe dreadeddreaded momentmoment ofof decision,decision, beforebefore thethe cue-linecue-line sheshe wouldn'twouldn't havehave knownknown ifif sheshe hadhad heardheard it.it. TheThe

oldold paranoia.paranoia. ButBut thankthank GodGod itit waswas justjust aa dream.dream.

Inrnediately,Inrnediately, however,however, partpart ofof herher sensesense ofof wakingwaking reliefrelief waswas darkeneddarkened byby herher nextnext thought,thought, forfor itit suddenlysuddenly camecame toto herher thatthat thisthis waswas thethe day.day. TheThe pageant.pageant. activitiesactivities werewere toto _begin._begin. AA lotlot ofof "butterflies""butterflies" andand thethe oldold fearfear ofof stagefrightstagefright wouldwould bebe herher constantconstant chaperoneschaperones forfor thethe nextnext week.week. SheShe

knewknew itit couldn'tcouldn't bebe asas badbad asas thethe dream,dream, though.though. AtAt least,least, sheshe knewknew sheshe wouloowouloo ItIt

neglectneglect toto learnlearn herher lineslines••••••••

ButBut whatwhat waswas thatthat otherother dream,dream, thethe bigbig

one?one? WhatWhat waswas itit neM?neM? •••• ThereThere had,had, inin fact,fact, beer!beer! anotheranother dream,dream, muchmuch longer,longer, some­some­timetime an'an' hourhour oror twotwo beforebefore thethe classclass playplay dream.dream. SheShe concentratedconcentrated again,again, tryingtrying toto redefineredefine thethe eventsevents inin herher mind,mind, andand thenthen itit camecame rushingrushing backback toto her.her. InIn thisthis otherother dream,dream, sheshe waswas inin aa largelarge footballfootball stadirnnstadirnn packedpacked withwith anan enonoous,enonoous, roaringroaring crowd.crowd. TheThe

stadirnnstadirnn waswas likelike Nebraska'sNebraska's MerrorialMerrorial Stadirnn,Stadirnn, onlyonly thethe predominantpredominant colorcolor waswas gray,gray, notnot red.red.

SheShe waswas partpart ofof aa slowslow processionprocession acrossacross thethe fieldfield andand waswas beingbeing carriedcarried Cleopatra-styleCleopatra-style onon aa sortsort ofof loungelounge chairchair borneborne byby fourfour footballfootball lettennenlettennen inin blazers.blazers. TheThe cheeringcheering ofof thethe crowdcrowd waswas obviouslyobviously forfor her,her, andand aboveabove thethe constantconstant roarroar couldcould bebe heardheard thethe jovial,jovial,

energeticenergetic voicevoice ofof aa publicpublic addressaddress announcerannouncer describingdescribing herher achievementsachievements toto thethe peoplepeople inin thethe stands.stands. TheThe onlyonly wordswords ofof thethe pililicpililic

announcementannouncement whichwhich stuckstuck inin herher mind,mind, how­how­ever,ever, forfor thethe restrest hadhad slippedslipped away,away, werewere thethe wordswords "chosen"chosen Queen.Queen. ItIt

TheThe processionprocession stoppedstopped whenwhen itit reachedreached oneone sideside ofof midfield,midfield, andand herher chairchair andand bear­bear­ersers hadhad nownow becomebecome aa woodenwooden platform,platform, andand sheshe waswas standingstanding nearnear oneone edge.edge. HerHer eyeseyes wan­wan­dereddered brieflybriefly arrongarrong thethe facesfaces inin thethe crowdcrowd butbut camecame toto restrest suddenlysuddenly uponupon thethe faceface ofof aa nannan inin aa thinthin graygray overcoat,overcoat, aa strangelystrangely m:>tionlessm:>tionless figurefigure amidamid thethe heavingheaving seasea ofof cheeringcheering fans.fans. HisHis eyeseyes staredstared fixedlyfixedly backback atat hers.hers. AsAs sheshe gazedgazed atat hira,hira, hehe roserose fromfrom hishis seatseat andand liftedlifted andand stretchedstretched hishis armsarms outout fromfrom hishis sides.sides. HeHe thenthen loweredlowered hishis

outstretchedoutstretched annsanns inin anan expansiveexpansive gesturegesture toto thethe crowd,crowd, andand thethe crowdcrowd respondedresponded toto himhim byby

settlingsettling inin theirtheir seatsseats andand subduingsubduing com­com­pletelypletely withinwithin aa rronentrronent oror two.two. InIn watchingwatching thisthis renarkablerenarkable act,act, sheshe waswas surprisedsurprised toto see,see, however,however, marll'ler calmcalmthatthat hishis man:ler waswas notnot andand self-assuredself-assured butbut that,that, eveneven inin quietingquieting thethe huge,huge, theretoforetheretofore uncontrollableuncontrollable crowd,crowd,

hehe exhibitedexhibited extremeextreme agitation,agitation, manifestedmanifested inin thethe tremblingtrembling ofof hishis arms,arms, hishis body,body, thethe spaSIOC>dicspaSIOC>dic workingworking ofof thethe musclesmuscles inin hishis face,face,

andand thethe frightenedfrightened looklook inin hishis staringstaring eyes.eyes. AfterAfter hushinghushing thethe enonrousenonrous crowd,crowd, hehe beganbegan toto descenddescend fromfrom hishis placeplace inin thethe stands.stands. TheThe

crowdcrowd diddid notnot partpart forfor him,him, nornor diddid thethe peoplepeople offeroffer theirtheir handshands toto assistassist himhim onon hishis wayway down.down. Instead,Instead, hehe waswas forcedforced toto makemake hishis wayway slowlyslowly andand painfully,painfully, carefullycarefully steppingstepping betweenbetween bodiesbodies andand legs,legs, apologeticallyapologetically bor­bor­rowingrowing shouldersshoulders toto balancebalance himself,himself, awkward­awkward­lyly sttnnblingsttnnbling downdown fromfrom oneone rowrow toto thethe next.next. HisHis bearingbearing remainedremained agitatedagitated andand hishis faceface fullfull ofof fear.fear.

WhenWhen hehe reached,reached, atat longlong last,last, groundground levellevel atat thethe edgeedge ofof thethe field,field, hehe resumedresumed

hishis troubledtroubled starestare intointo herher captivecaptive eyeseyes andand slowlyslowly approachedapproached herher platform.platform. HeHe stoppedstopped atat thethe pointpoint directlydirectly belowbelow wherewhere sheshe stoodstood

andand onceonce againagain stretchedstretched outout hishis arms,arms, thisthis timetime towardtoward herher inin aa wannerwanner indicatingindicating hishis

desiredesire toto liftlift herher downdown franfran thethe platform.platform. SheShe waswas nownow completelycompletely obliviousoblivious toto thethe crowdcrowd andand toto thethe othersothers inin herher procession;procession; sheshe waswas consciousconscious onlyonly ofof him,him, hishis nearnessnearness toto her,her, hishis trembling,trembling, andand hishis frightenedfrightened eyes.eyes. InIn

thethe nextnext instant,instant, beforebefore sheshe knewknew it,it, sheshe hadhad allowedallowed himhim toto liftlift herher downdown byby thethe waist.waist. Then,Then, whenwhen sheshe stoodstood onon thethe groundground withwith him,him, hehe envelopedenveloped herher inin hishis tremblingtrembling armsarms andand

BEI'WEENBEI'WEEN THETHE SPECIESSPECIES 140140

,~ , __ ,.,

;7~ 'llii-kissedkissed herher withwith lipslips quiveringquivering asas thoughthough fromfrom thethe cold.cold. crCJll.dTheThe silentsilent cra..d seemedseemed farfar away,away, andand sheshe feltfelt littlelittle embarrassmentembarrassment inin thethe passionpassion withwith whichwhich sheshe resp:mded.resp::mded. SheShe knewknew andand feltfelt onlyonly thatthat thethe momentmoment waswas oneone ofof

profoundprofound empathyempathy andand kindnesskindness andand •••••• love.love.

And,And, perhapsperhaps forfor thethe best,best, sheshe nownow re­re­

flected,flected, thatthat roc>mentmoment waswas thethe endend ofof thethe

dream,dream, atat leastleast asas farfar asas sheshe couldcould strugglestruggle toto remember.remember. SheShe wishedwished soso much,much, inin thethe dimdim

morning thatthat shesheearlyearly rrorning lightlight ofof herher bedroom,bedroom, couldcould roc>mentreliverelive andand prolongprolong thatthat moment inin allall itsits depth.depth. SheShe thoughtthought forfor aa secondsecond ofof thethe songsong "Who"Who WillWill Buy"Buy" movieinin thethe rrovie Oliver.Oliver. WhyWhy isis it,it, sheshe thought,thought, thatthat thethe feelingsfeelings feltfelt inin dreamsdreams sometimessometimes seemseem strongerstronger thanthan inin realreal life?life? l;Jaybe,l;Jaybe, though,though, em::>tionsthethe enotions inin dreamsdreams areare deeperdeeper inin oneone sensesense butbut notnot asas deepdeep inin another.another. It'It' ss likelike beingbeing highhigh SIIOkingsrroking inin someone'ssomeone's apartment.apartment. WhenWhen you'reyou're high,high, thingsthings seemsseems luoreluore intense.intense. LikeLike aa murdermurder mystery~mystery~ LikeLike a--Ia--I don'tdon't know--revelationknow--revelation oror

something.something. Yet,Yet, thethe experiencesexperiences ofof beingbeing highhigh areare lessless real--orreal--or lessless fully,fully, somehow-­somehow-­thanthan everydayeveryday things.things. Yes,Yes, thethe bestbest partpart ofof beingbeing highhigh isis whenwhen youyou finallyfinally comecome downdown allall thethe way.way. Anyway,Anyway, it'sit's likelike withwith grass-­grass-­errotionserrotions inin realreal lifelife mustmust bebe nicernicer andand moremore realreal inin somesome wayway thanthan inin dreams,dreams, eveneven ifif dreamsdreams ~~ stronger.stronger. • • • Still,Still, sheshe couldn'tcouldn't stopstop thinkingthinking aboutabout howhow wonderfulwonderful

thatthat momentmoment hadhad beenbeen inin herher dream,dream, thethe momentmoment ofof theirtheir kisskiss onon thethe silentsilent field,field, andand howhow muchmuch sheshe wantedwanted toto feelfeel itit allall again.again.

HerHer bedroombedroom doordoor creptcrept openopen noiselessly.noiselessly.

"Gail,"Gail, dear,dear, •••••• it'sit's sevenseven o'clock."o'clock." mother's voicevoice brokebroke thethe icyicyTheThe soundsound ofof herher rrother' s

stillnessstillness thatthat hadhad formedformed throughthrough thethe nightnight andand overlayoverlay thethe surfacesurface ofof thethe placidplacid morn­IlOrn­

ing.ing.

"I"I know."know."

CHAPTERCHAPTER TWOTWO

AsAs sunlightsunlight graduallygradually filteredfiltered intointo herher room,room, GailGail movedmoved aboutabout withwith ghostlikeghostlike silencesilence betweenbetween bedroombedroom andand bathroom.bathroom. HerHer blueblue eyeseyes werewere tootoo busy,busy, andand herher mindmind tootoo preoccupied,preoccupied, toto noticenotice thatthat oneone ofof thethe pennantspennants onon thethe

bulletinbulletin boardboard aboveabove herher bedbed hadhad becomebecome par­par­

tiallytially unfastened.unfastened. ItIt waswas thethe "cave"cave ofof thethe Winds"Winds" pennant,pennant, andand itit hunghung now,now, fOintingpointing downward,downward, byby onlyonly aa singlesingle thumbtack.thumbtack. It'sIt's

danglingdangling nosenose coveredcovered upup oneone ofof herher p.1rplep.1rple

countycounty fairfair ribbons.ribbons.

ItIt waswas doubtfuldoubtful asas wellwell thatthat herher prettypretty mouth "found"found occasion,occasion, asas sheshe dressed,dressed, totorrouth frownfrown atat thethe dustdust thatthat hadhad accumulatedaccumulated onon herher bookshelvesbookshelves andand onon thethe novels,novels, mysteries,mysteries, andand WorldWorld BookBook EncyclopediaEncyclopedia thatthat linedlined them.them.

CertainlyCertainly sheshe hadhad nono timetime oror interestinterest thisthis morning inin blowingblowing thethe dustdust offoff herherrrorning

MinoltaMinolta cameracamera casecase asas itit restedrested onon thethe farfar cornercorner ofof herher dresser.dresser.

morn­EvenEven lessless reasonreason diddid sheshe havehave thisthis IlOrn­inging toto gogo pryingprying openopen thethe secondsecond drawerdrawer belowbelow herher bookcasebookcase andand siftingsifting throughthrough thethe antiqueantique

photographs collec­collec­lettersletters andand PlotograPls thatthat sheshe hadhad

tedted overover thethe years.years. SuchSuch anan ideaidea waswas thethe farthestfarthest thingthing fromfrom herher mindmind atat thethe moment.moment.

AndAnd eveneven ifif sheshe hadhad thoughtthought aboutabout it,it, sheshe probablyprobably wouldn'twouldn't havehave takentaken thethe timetime toto gogo intointo thethe drawerdrawer ofof herher bedstandbedstand justjust soso sheshe couldcould countcount herher treasures,treasures, likelike thethe oldold free-swimfree-swim passespasses sheshe hadhad receivedreceived forfor teach­teach­

inging RedRed CrossCross swimmingswimming inin tenthtenth grade.grade. No.No.

SomeSome otherother timetime maybe.maybe.

SheShe hadhad nono timetime toto spare,spare, eveneven toto peekpeek

intointo thethe bottombottom drawerdrawer beneathbeneath herher deskdesk soso asas toto verifyverify thethe safesafe conditioncondition ofof herher certifi­certifi­

catecate ofof membershipmembership onon thethe BuffaloBuffalo CountyCounty 4-H4-H MeatMeat IdentificationIdentification Team,Team, oror herher badgebadge asas co­co­chairmanchairman ofof thethe oldold PeppyPeppy PalsPals 4-H4-H Club,Club, oror eveneven herher snapshotsnapshot ofof herher brotherbrother StanStan whenwhen hehe receivedreceived aa trophytroPlY inin thethe 19731973 LiveLive MarketMarket HogHog ShowShow ahdahd CarcassCarcass Contest.Contest.

strangelystrangely enough,enough, despitedespite herher disinter­disinter­fOssessions, asasestest inin anyany ofof thesethese long-timelong-time possessions,

sheshe hurriedhw:ried toto getget readyready thisthis morningrrorning GailGail halted,halted, notnot onceonce butbut twice,twice, toto readread silentlysilently andand wordword forfor wordword aa smallsmall newspapernewspaper clippingclipping thatthat hadhad lainlain onon herher dresserdresser onlyonly sincesince Tues­Tues­

dayday ofof thatthat week:week:

Kearney,Kearney, Neb.:Neb.: TheThe 19781978 NebraskaNebraska

BeefBeef QueenQueen willwill bebe crownedcrowned duringduring cerem::>nies toto bebe ininpageantpageant cererronies heldheld

KearneyKearney Wednesday,Wednesday, octoberoctober 5.5. Fif­Fif­teenteen girlsgirls fromfrom acrossacross NebraskaNebraska

willwill bebe candidatescandidates forfor thethe crown.crown. GailGail Shreve,Shreve, 20,20, daughterdaughter ofof Mr.Mr.

andand Mrs.Mrs. WilliamWilliam Shreve,Shreve, willwill re­re­presentpresent KearneyKearney inin thethe Pageant.Pageant. PageantPageant festivitiesfestivities willwill bebe heldheld atat

thethe HolidayHoliday Inn.Inn.

141141 BE:IWEENBE'IWEEN THETHE SPECIESSPECIES

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CHAPTERCHAPTER THREETHREE

"Interstate"Interstate 8080 weatherweather forfor SaturdaySaturday andand thethe restrest ofof thethe weekend:weekend: FairFair toto p3.rtlyp3.rtly cloudycloudy onon Saturday,Saturday, withwith highshighs inin thethe 50'50' ss toto

lowlow 60'60' s.s.

"It's"It's 99 o'clocko'clock inin Kearney,Kearney, andand wewe nownow joinjoin thethe WorldWorld BroadcastingBroadcasting System.System. ThisThis isis AaronAaron SharmerSharmer inin NewNew YorkYork forfor WorldWorld News.News. TheThe hour'shour's leadlead story:story: ArabsArabs onon alertalert alongalong IsraeliIsraeli borders.borders. TheThe AssociatedAssociated PressPress reportsreports thatthat followingfollowing yesterday'syesterday's shellingshelling betweenbetween PalestiniansPalestinians andand IsraelisIsraelis alongalong thethe Lebanese-IsraeliLebanese-Israeli border,border, thethe militarymilitary forcesforces ofof FJ]ypt,FJ]ypt, Syria,Syria, andand thethe PalestiniansPalestinians havehave beenbeen placedplaced onon alertalert alongalong Israel'sIsrael's oordersoorders onon this,this, thethe fourthfourth anniversaryanniversary ofof thethe incep­incep­

tiontion ofof thethe 19731973 Arab-IsraeliArab-Israeli War.War. Reported­Reported­ly,ly, thethe ArabsArabs areare guardingguarding againstagainst thethe chancechance ofof IsraelIsrael turningturning thethe tablestables onon themthem forfor theirtheir suprisesuprise attackattack ofof 1973,1973, whenwhen ArabArab for­for­cesces launchedlaunched aa sudden,sudden, all-outall-out attackattack uponupon IsraelIsrael onon YomYom Kippur,Kippur, thethe JewishJewish dayday ofof fast­fast­inging andand atonement.atonement. •• •• ."."

GailGail roderode quietlyquietly inin thethe frontfront seat,seat, ponderingpondering alternatelyalternately thethe meaningmeaning ofof thethe newsnews onon thethe radio,radio, thethe sun-tingedsun-tinged earlyearly morningmorning

outlinesoutlines ofof thethe businessesbusinesses andand treestrees alongalong southsouth SecondSecond Avenue,Avenue, andand thethe eventsevents awaitingawaiting herher inin thethe weekweek ahead.ahead. TheThe newsnews arousedaroused sanesane fairlyfairly oldold questionsquestions inin her,her, likelike whywhy doesdoes

everyoneeveryone alwaysalways pickpick onon thethe Jews.Jews. SheShe hadhad nevernever reallyreally understoodunderstood this,this, andand sheshe thoughtthought backback toto thethe eventsevents theythey hadhad studiedstudied lastlast

springspring inin HistoryHistory 102,102, WorldWorld WarWar IIII andand howhow

thethe JewsJews werewere killedkilled byby thethe Germans.Germans. AndAnd inin highhigh school,school, inin AmericanAmerican History,History, thethe teacherteacher hadhad shownshown themthem aa filmfilm calledcalled TheThe TwistedTwisted

Cross.Cross. WalterWalter CronkiteCronkite waswas thethe narrator:narrator: thethe film-wasfilm-was inin blackblack andand white;white; andand itit was,was, asas sheshe rememberedremembered it,it, actualactual filmfilm ofof thethe warwar andand thethe concentrationconcentration camps.camps. InIn blackblack andand white,white, therethere werewere trainstrains loadedloaded withwith peoplepeople beingbeing takentaken toto thethe concentrationconcentration camps.camps.

InIn SlmdaySlmday schoolschool sheshe remembered,remembered, ratherrather

vaguely,vaguely, learninglearning thatthat thethe JewsJews werewere thethe forefathersforefathers ofof thethe Christians,Christians, andand JesusJesus

ChristChrist waswas bornborn aa Jew.Jew. Weren'tWeren't thethe JewsJews sortsort ofof toto Christianity--sheChristianity--she speculatedspeculated toto her­her­

self,self, reachingreaching intointo herher brainbrain toto pullpull outout namesnames implantedimplanted therethere inin HistoryHistory 101101 andand 102--what,102--what, II don'tdon't know,know, LeonardoLeonardo DaVinciDaVinci waswas

toto EinsteinEinstein oror somebody?somebody? Naturally,Naturally, thethe

ethnicethnic inversioninversion inin thisthis comp3.risoncomp3.rison escapedescaped her.her. GailGail simplysimply ponderedpondered herher ownown mindmind asas toto

whywhy thethe world,world, ArabsArabs oror whoever,whoever, hatedhated thethe JewsJews insteadinstead ofof thethe opposite.opposite.

GailGail couldn'tcouldn't rememberremember everever meetingmeeting anyany Jews,Jews, atat leastleast anyany thatthat sheshe knewknew werewere Jews.Jews. ButBut sheshe hadhad seenseen andand heardheard aa lotlot aboutabout them,them,

especiallyespecially inin IlIOviesIlIOvies andand television.television. AllAll inin thethe Fami!y,Fami!y, forfor instance,instance, hadhad aa lotlot aboutabout them.them. AndAnd what's-his-namewhat's-his-name inin Oliver.Oliver. HushedHushed

rum:>rsrum:>rs circulatedcirculated sanetimessanetimes thatthat certaincertain peoplepeople inin KearneyKearney werewere Jews.Jews. ButBut sheshe nevernever knewknew howhow lllllchlllllch truthtruth therethere waswas toto that.that. TheThe imageimage ofof aa manman withwith aa longlong beardbeard andand ••

ItIt waswas allall veryvery vaguevague •• TheThe imageimage meltedmelted awayaway asas sheshe peeredpeered outout thethe carcar window.window.

AlthoughAlthough Gail'sGail's awarenessawareness ofof SouthSouth Se­Se­condcond AvenueAvenue asas itit p3.ssedp3.ssed byby atat thisthis particu­particu­larlar timetime waswas casualcasual andand althoughalthough sheshe sawsaw thethe streetstreet moremore asas aa placeplace toto putput chainchain restau­restau­rantsrants thanthan anythinganything else,else, sanewheresanewhere inin herher

soulsoul laylay thethe significancesignificance ofof thisthis widewide boule­boule­vardvard streetstreet whichwhich ranran likelike aa diameterdiameter thethe entireentire widthwidth ofof Kearney,Kearney, straightstraight northnorth andand

south.south. ForFor somewheresomewhere deepdeep inin herher naturenature residedresided aa certaincertain se=ityse=ity thatthat isis bornborn fromfrom growinggrowing upup inin thethe GreatGreat Plains,Plains, inin aa citycity

wherewhere streetsstreets runrun straightstraight andand true,true, easteast andand west,west, avenuesavenues truetrue northnorth andand south,south, andand get­get­tingting lostlost oror turnedturned aroundaround isis nextnext toto impos­impos­sible.sible. ButBut herher sensesense ofof directionaldirectional andand specialspecial se=ityse=ity waswas soso ancientancient inin herher asas toto bebe almostalmost congenital,congenital, andand sheshe wouldwould probablyprobably

nevernever bebe awareaware ofof itit exceptexcept toto thethe extentextent ofof anan occasionaloccasional reflectionreflection thatthat KearneyKearney isis thethe wayway thethe worldworld shouldshould be.be.

ThusThus Gai:LGai:L satsat ridingriding quietlyquietly inin thethe frontfront seatseat asas herher fatherfather drove,drove, hishis leftleft handhand nownow lightlylightly cuppingcupping thethe turnturn indicatorindicator inin

prep3.rationprep3.ration forfor signallingsignalling aa leftleft turnturn intointo thethe Interstate.Interstate. HeHe worewore aa redred sweatersweater overover hishis lightlight greengreen shirt,shirt, brown,brown, straight-leggedstraight-legged

p3.llts,p3.llts, andand blackblack pull-onpull-on workwork boots.boots. OnOn thethe seatseat betweenbetween himhim andand Gail,Gail, Mr.Mr. ShreveShreve hadhad placedplaced aa redred feltfelt cowboycowboy hathat withwith aa whitewhite capitalcapital "N""N" onon thethe front.front. Gail'sGail's IlIOtherIlIOther satsat inin thethe backback seat,seat, quietlyquietly watchingwatching thethe scene­scene­ryry outout thethe left-handleft-hand side.side. SheShe worewore aa redred turtleneckturtleneck withwith herher graygray suit.suit. OnOn herher laplap laylay aa half-knittedhalf-knitted winterwinter scarfscarf withwith knittingknitting needlesneedles imbeddedimbedded intointo itsits thickness,thickness, itsits warmth.warmth. IntoInto itsits veryvery heart.heart.

TimeTime p3.ssedp3.ssed byby inin thethe car,car, herher mothermother dozingdozing andand herher fatherfather cruisingcruising thethe smoothsmooth

InterstateInterstate withwith aa steadinesssteadiness thatthat waswas wonder­wonder­

fulful toto watch.watch. TheyThey couldcould sitsit forfor longlong peri­peri­

odsods L'1L'1 canpletecanplete silence,silence, notnot aa wordword ofof con-con-

BElWEENBElWEEN THETHE SPECIESSPECIES 142142

----------.-,,-------------------

_ __

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versationversation passingpassing betweenbetween them.them. TheThe familiarfamiliar sceneryscenery betweenbetween KearneyKearney andand GrandGrand IslandIsland

flowedflowed byby outsideoutside Gail'sGail's windowwindow asas thoughthough itit werewere herher ownown personalpersonal m::lvierrovie screen.screen. NowNow andand the.rl sheshe atatthe.n involuntarilyinvoluntarily glancedglanced sidewayssideways thethe peoplepeople inin thethe slower-novingslower-rcoving carscars thatthat theythey passed.passed. OrOr sheshe contemplatedcontemplated thethe graygray hea.dshea.ds ofof dieharddiehard NebraskaNebraska fansfans inin thethe backback seatsseats ofof carscars overtakingovertaking themthem onon thethe left.left.

ButBut mostlymostly itit waswas thethe music.music. ItIt waswas thethe

musicmusic onon thethe radioradio thatthat filledfilled herher headhead andand commandedcommanded herher thoughts.thoughts. TheThe musicmusic onon thethe

re.rldered land­land­radioradio re.ndered poeticpoetic bothboth thethe RealistRealist scapescape paintingspaintings glidinggliding byby herher windowwindow andand thethe ImpressionistImpressionist week'spaintingspaintings ofof thethe comingcoming week'S eventsevents thatthat passedpassed beforebefore herher mind'smind's eye.eye. AsAs

thethe stationstation wagonwagon duckedducked underunder thethe overpassoverpass atat tiletile SheltonShelton interchange,interchange, sheshe waswas feelingfeeling amazedamazed atat allall thethe goodgood songssongs thethe KearneyKearney stationstation waswas playing.playing. The.rlThe.n camecame aa commercial,commercial, andand then,then, emergingemerging softlysoftly franfran thethe SOUlld­sou."1d­

shadows.shadows. ofof thethe dashboarddashboard radioradio waswas aa musicalmusical introductionintroduction thatthat GailGail knew.knew. AnticipatingAnticipating thethe voicevoice sheshe knewknew wouldwould follow,follow, aa gradualgradual chillchill wentwent upup herher spine.spine. ButBut itit spreadspread outout

suddenlysuddenly toto herher shouldersshoulders asas fullfull andand power­power­fulful thrillthrill ofof feelingfeeling whenwhen thethe songsong "People""People"

came,came, soso thatthat herher bodybody becamebecame taut,taut, rigid,rigid,

andand sheshe staredstared inin pensivepensive concentrationconcentration outout

atat thethe movingmoving landscape,landscape, withwith itsits tall-grasstall-grass pasture,pasture, soso wonderfullywonderfully flat,flat, andand cattlecattle grazinggrazing therethere atat randan,randan, justjust overover thethe woo­woo­de,-posted,de,-posted, barbed-wirebarbed-wire fencefence skirtingskirting thethe shouldershoulder ofof "people"people whowho needneed peoplepeople •• •• •• areare thethe luckiestluckiest people,"people," forfor aa briefbrief lIIClOOI1tnooont Gail'sGail's eyeseyes werewere capturedcaptured byby thethe rightright side­side­viewview mirrormirror justjust outsideoutside herher window,window, forfor inin itit sheshe observedobserved herher chin,chin, neck,neck, andand shoulder,shoulder, andand unlessunless sheshe slouchedslouched down,down, thatthat waswas allall

sheshe couldcould seesee ofof herselfherself "in"in thethe world"world" ex­ex­ceptcept aa fieldfield ofof broke.nbroke.rl stalksstalks leftleft behindbehind byby thethe corncorn harvestharvest movedmoved intointo view,view, andand thethe neatlyneatly plowedplowed rowsrows andand furrowsfurrows werewere easilyeasily discernible,discernible, runningrunning perpendicularperpendicular toto tiletile

highway,highway, rowssoso thatthat eacheach ofof thethe hundredshundreds ofof rr:MS flashedflashed asas itit camecame eveneven withwith GailGail forfor aa fractionfraction ofof aa secondsecond "where"where children,children, needingneeding

otherother children,children, andand yetyet lettingletting ourour grown-upgrown-up pridepride hidehide allall thethe needneed inside"inside II andand beyondbeyond allall tllis River,River, butbut thethethis hideshides thethe PlattePlatte treestrees givegive itit away,away, huddledhuddled inin relativelyrelatively densedense growth,growth, likelike aa longlong skinnyskinny woodswoods wind­wind­inging itsits wayway throughthrough thethe grasslandgrassland whereverwherever thethe riverriver decidesdecides toto gogo andand escape,escape, "acting"acting llDrellDre children, II thethelikelike childrenchildren thanthan children," butbut twistedtwisted cottonwoods,cottonwoods, poplars,poplars, elms,elms, RussianRussian

willows, allall "lovers"lovers.•olives,olives, weepingweeping willr:MS,areare veryvery specialspecial peoplepeople.• • • they'rethey're thethe

luckiestluckiest peoplepeople inin thethe world.world. • •• withwith oneone person,person, oneone veryvery specialspecial personperson • • • aa feeling"feeling" ofof blueblue skysky aboveabove thethe trees,trees, sanesane

m::lrning hori­hori­streaksstreaks ofof cloudsclouds inin thethe earlyearly rrorning zonzon andand "deep"deep inin youryour soul,soul, sayssays youyou werewere halfhalf nownow you'reyou're wholewhole •• •• •• m::lrenono m::>re hungerhunger oror thirst,"thirst," thethe sunsun finallyfinally havinghaving inchedinched itsits wayway upup aboveabove thethe windshield,windshield, soso thatthat itit nono longerlonger forcedforced herher toto squintsquint inin observingobserving thethe leaves,leaves, thosethose thatthat renained,renained, somesome stillstill green,green, othersothers brownbrown oror red,red, andand sheshe couldcould "but"but firstfirst bebe aa personperson whowho needsneeds peoplepeople •• •• •• peoplepeople whowho needneed peoplepeople •• •• •• areare thethe luckiestluckiest peoplepeople inin thethe world."world."

PartPart ofof thethe songsong repeated.repeated. ThenThen itit waswas over.over. SheShe relaxedrelaxed herher shoulders,shoulders, asas wellwell asas herher stare.stare. SheShe letlet herselfherself shiftshift inin herher seat.seat. AfterAfter aa momentmoment herher eyeseyes againagain soughtsought toto straystray andand roamroam tiletile countrysidecountryside andand in­in­quiredquired atat aa fannl10usefannl10use somesane distancedistance offoff tiletile Interstate.Interstate. Glimpses,Glimpses, tllroughthrough thethe rowrow ofof almost-barealmost-bare poplarspoplars frontingfronting thethe fannhouse,fannhouse, ofof aa bigbig brO\\II1brO\\II1 dogdog onon aa chainchain struckstruck herher curiously.curiously. ChainingChaining himhim seemedseemed unnecessary,unnecessary,

sheshe thought,thought, especiallyespecially outout inin thethe countrycountry wherewhere therethere waswas nono traffic,traffic, assumingassuming hehe wouldn'twouldn't wanderwander asas farfar asas thethe Interstate.Interstate. Reflexively,Reflexively, thethe sightsight ofof thethe chainedchained farmfarm dogdog sentsent herher thoughtsthoughts hurtlinghurtling backback toto anan earlierearlier toto aa rnennry aboutabouttime,time, childhoodchildhood memory whichwhich therethere remainedremained inin herher certaincertain unex­unex­pungedpunged andand arnbival­measuresmeasures ofof bothboth guiltguilt ambival­ence.ence.

CHAPTERCHAPTER FOURFOUR

SheShe hadhad been,been, atat thethe time,time, eighteight oror so;so; herher recallrecall lackedlacked thethe abilityability toto pinpointpinpoint thethe ageage exactly.exactly. ItIt waswas aa SaturdaySaturday morningmorning inin thethe • • • fall.fall. ItIt mustmust havehave beenbeen fall,fall, becausebecause ofof thethe crispcrisp airair andand sunshinesunshine andand thethe ubiquitous telltaleubiquitous deaddead leaves,leaves, fallenfallen telltale inin thethe yardyard andand onon thethe sidewalk.sidewalk. SheShe hadhad risenrisen beforebefore eight,eight, herher heartheart poundingpounding withwith excite­excite­ment.ment. SheShe hadhad slippedslipped onon sanesane brownbrown pantspants

andand tennistennis shoesshoes andand pulledpulled onon herher KearneyKearney StateState sweatshirt,sweatshirt, whichwhich mademade herher feelfeel warmwarm andand strong.strong. ThisThis m::>rning,m::lrning, anan otherwiseotherwise calm,calm, lazylazy Saturday,Saturday, waswas thethe predeterminedpredetermined timetime forfor carryingcarrying outout aa dangerousdangerous missionmission ofof mercy,mercy, oneone sheshe hadhad planned,planned, inin termsterms ofof details,details, thethe nightnight before,before, butbut hadhad actuallyactually beenbeen consider­consider­inging inin thethe abstractabstract forfor severalseveral weeks.weeks. TheThe missionmission wouldwould taketake herher overover thethe backyardbackyard fencefence intointo Mrs.Mrs. Parkonin'sParkonin's backyard.backyard. AndAnd

there,there, byby meansmeans ofof stealthstealth andand fastfast work,work, sheshe wouldwould letlet Nicky,Nicky, thethe littlelittle blackblack Scottie,Scottie,

143143 BEIWEEN 'rHEBE'IWEEN THE SPECIESSPECIES

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offoff hishis chainchain beforebefore anyoneanyone elseelse waswas upup inin eithereither house.house. ItIt wouldwould bebe tl1etl1e firstfirst timetime tl1attl1at thethe littlelittle dogdog couldcould runrun free;free; hehe waswas constantlyconstantly chainedchained upup inin thethe backyard,backyard, andand GailGail justjust couldn'tcouldn't standstand it--itit--it W"dSW"dS soso meanmean

toto keepkeep himhim thatthat wayway allall thethe time,time, sheshe felt.felt.

GailGail proceededproceeded uponupon herher missionmission withoutwithout hesi­hesi­tation.tation. SheShe couldn'tcouldn't affordafford toto delay.delay. SheShe wentwent outout thethe backback doordoor andand intointo thethe backyard,backyard,

climbedclimbed overover thethe westwest fence,fence, andand creptcrept overover toto Nicky,Nicky, whowho waswas strainingstraining onon hishis chainchain toto reachreach her.her. HeHe wouldn'twouldn't holdhold stillstill andand was"was" rattlingrattling hishis chain,chain, soso sheshe firstfirst unhookedunhooked thethe leashleash fromfrom thethe chain.chain. SheShe heldheld himhim thenthen byby hishis leashleash asas hehe struggledstruggled toto getget away,away, andand onlyonly afterafter severalseveral attemptsattempts W"dSW"dS sheshe ableable toto getget thethe leashleash disconnecteddisconnected fromfrom hishis collar.collar. HeHe dasheddashed offoff inin thethe directiondirection ofof thethe streetstreet andand outout ofof sight.sight. SheShe feltfelt likelike aa criminalcriminal asas sheshe sneakedsneaked backback intointo herher ownown yard.yard.

HerHer aotheraother camecame inin thethe frontfront doordoor andand

intointo thethe kitchenkitchen asas sheshe waswas sittingsitting downdown toto breakfast.breakfast. GailGail hadhad hopedhoped toto swallowswallow aa rea­rea­sonablesonable breakfastbreakfast inin spitespite ofof thethe lumplump sheshe feltfelt inin herher tl1roattl1roat andand herher stcxnach,stcxnach, inin aa fraudfraud ofof nonnalnonnal appetite.appetite. HerHer father,father, sit­sit­tingting withwith hishis backback toto thethe kitchenkitchen windowwindow andand

itsits streamsstreams ofof sunlight,sunlight, waswas engrossedengrossed inin thethe farmfarm newsnews sectionsection ofof thethe QnahaQnaha World-Herald.World-Herald. HeHe heldheld thethe outspreadoutspread paperpaper inin thethe airair beforebefore

himhim toto readread columnscolumns ofof marketmarket figuresfigures nearnear thethe bottombottom ofof thethe page.page. Mr.Mr. ShreveShreve hadhad al­al­readyready eaten.eaten.

HerHer lOOtherlOOther wentwent backback intointo thethe hallway,hallway, andand GailGail heardheard herher hanginghanging upup herher coatcoat inin thethe hallhall closet.closet.

"I"I •• II sawsaw Mrs.Mrs. PankoninPankonin outout inin

front,"front," l-lrs.l-lrs. ShreveShreve beganbegan asas sheshe camecame backback intointo thethe kitchen,kitchen, "looking"looking forfor Nick-y.Nick-y. SheShe sayssays somebodysomebody letlet himhim offoff hishis chainchain lastlast night,night, andand hehe ranran away.away. She'sShe's afraidafraid he'llhe'll getget runrun overover inin thethe street.street. •• Gail,Gail, II tlrinktlrink youyou couldcould helphelp Mrs.Mrs. PankoninPankonin looklook forfor NickyNicky thisthis flDrning."flDrning."

Gail'sGail's heartheart jumpedjumped whenwhen herher lOOtherlOOther pronouncedpronounced herher name,name, inin thethe awfulawful beliefbelief thatthat sheshe hadhad beenbeen foundfound out.out. FindingFinding herselfherself stillstill unsuspected,unsuspected, tl1ough,tl1ough, sheshe assentedassented toto herher lOOther'slOOther's suggestionsuggestion inin aa barelybarely audibleaudible voice.voice. HerHer waterywatery eyeseyes werewere downcastdowncast andand blinkingblinking inin anan efforteffort toto keepkeep fromfrom burstingbursting intointo tears.tears.

AnAn hourhour oror lOOrelOOre ofof lookinglooking andand callingcalling

forfor NickyNicky hadhad gonegone byby whenwhen oneone ofof tl1etl1e boysboys

fromfrom acrossacross thethe streetstreet showedshowed upup onon Mrs.Mrs. Pankonin'sPankonin's frontfront stepstep withwith thethe dogdog squirmingsquirming inin hishis aons.aons. Mrs.Mrs. PankoninPankonin rushedrushed overover toto taketake Nicky,Nicky, givinggiving himhim aa [rock-scolding[rock-scolding inin herher rough,rough, gratinggrating voice.voice. ItIt waswas obvious,obvious, how­how­ever,ever, thatthat sheshe waswas soso relievedrelieved tl1attl1at sheshe didn'tdidn't knowknow whatwhat toto do.do. Gail'sGail's sensesense ofof reliefrelief waswas probablyprobably equalequal toto Mrs.Mrs. Pankonin'sPankonin's atat tl1attl1at particularparticular rooment,rooment, andand GailGail knewknew whatwhat toto do:do: sheshe cried.cried.

WitltinWitltin IOOmen"ts,IOOmen"ts, NickyNicky waswas yappingyapping fromfrom hishis mandatorymandatory vigilvigil inin thethe backyard,backyard, securelysecurely chainedchained onceonce again.again. AndAnd GailGail couldcould hearhear thethe

faintfaint echoecho ofof Nicky'sNicky's yappingyapping inin herher headhead asas thethe imageimage ofof thethe bigbig brownbrown dogdog chainedchained inin thethe f.rrmyardf.rrmyard disappeareddisappeared behindbehind aa passingpassing clumpclump ofof trees.trees.

GailGail lookedlooked overover atat herher father,father, andand recognizedrecognized thethe misty,misty, drowsydrowsy qualityquality aboutabout hishis eyes.eyes.

AreAre youyou get­tingting sleepy?"sleepy?"

"How"How areare youyou doing,doing, Dad?Dad? get­

"Oh,"Oh, aa littlelittle bit."bit."

"You"You wantwant meme toto drive?"drive?"

"If"If youyou wantwant to.to. We'reWe're aboutabout fiftyfifty milesmiles fromfrom Lincoln.Lincoln. IfIf youyou wantwant toto drivedrive thethe restrest ofof thethe wayway ..""

"O.K."O.K. IIII

BillBill ShreveShreve pulledpulled overover ontoonto thethe shoul­shoul­der,der, andand hehe andand GailGail switchedswitched places.places.

"Were"Were youyou gettinggetting sleepy,sleepy, dear?"dear?" Phyl­Phyl­lislis ShreveShreve hadhad beenbeen rousedroused fromfrom herher napnap inin

thethe backback seat.seat.

"Yup."Yup. Gail'sGail's gonnagonna drivedrive onon intointo Lin­Lin­coln."coln." HeHe yawned.yawned. "Now..."Now... youyou knowknow wherewhere toto meetmeet everyoneeveryone whenwhen wewe getget toto thethe stadilllU?"stadilllU?"

"Yes."Yes. MomMom hashas allall thethe instructions."instructions."

"And"And thenthen they'rethey're gonnagonna taketake allall youyou girlsgirls backback toto KearneyKearney onon aa bus?"bus?"

"Yep."Yep. IIII

"Well,"Well, tl1at'lltl1at'll bebe aa busbus fullfull ofof gigglinggiggling gurdies,gurdies, II cancan bet."bet."

"Yes,"Yes, it'sit's gonnagonna bebe fun.fun. II justjust hopehope thatthat thethe girlsgirls areare friendlyfriendly andand everything."everything."

BImVEENBImVEEN THETHE SPECIESSPECIES 144144

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"Oh,"Oh, I'mI'm suresure they'llthey'll bebe nicenice girls,girls, justjust youryour typetype ofof girls,"girls," herher mothermother said.said.

GailGail p.1t and,and,p..1t herher left-turnleft-turn signalsignal onon waitingwaiting forfor aa breakbreak inin thethe eastboundeastbound traffic,traffic, pulledpulled backback ontoonto thethe highway.highway. p.1tHerHer fatherfather p..1t hishis headhead backback soso hehe couldcould nap.nap. InIn thethe cradlecradle ofof thethe backback seat,seat, herher mothermother wouldwould returnreturn toto sleepsleep almostalmost instantly.instantly.

TheThe KearneyKearney stationstation hadhad fadedfaded outout be­be­

neathneath aa symPlonysymphony ofof static,static, soso GailGail turnedturned toto

oneone ofof thethe bigbig QnahaQnaha stations.stations.

"It's"It's 10:33,10:33, nCM thetheandand now it'sit's timetime forfor mid-morning marketmarket reports.reports. Julie:Julie:mid-monring Here'sHere's GocrlGocrl rrorning. thethe livelive cattlecattle marketmarket ininmorning. OnOn

Onaha,Onaha, 10,00010,000 headhead today.today. SteersSteers fiftyfifty centscents lCMerlower atat 4444 1/2.1/2. BullsBulls steadysteady atat 43.43. Heif­Heif­ers,ers, twotwo lowslows atat 41.41. AtAt SiouxSioux City,City, steerssteers andand heifersheifers aheadahead atat 4242 1/2.1/2. OnOn thethe livelive hoghog marketmarket inin QnahaQnaha withwith 5,0005,000 head,head, 260260 toto 280280

pound hogshogs 3939 toto 4040 dollars.dollars. 230230 toto 240240PJundpound hogs,hogs, ChicagoChicagoPJund 3737 toto 3838 1/21/2 dollars.dollars.BoardBoard ofof Trade:Trade: corn,corn, upup 1111 soybeanssoybeans steadY1steadY1wheatwheat isis upup 44 •••••••• ""

"Ugh. II glancedglanced inin het" rearviewrearview"Ugh." GailGail bet" ItDVedmirrormirror andand ltDVed intointo thethe leftleft lanelane toto passpass aa

car.car. SheShe lookedlooked inin herher rearviewrearview mirrormirror againagain andand aa hugehuge trucktruck waswas comingcoming downdCMn uponupon herher asas thoughthough itit werewere intentintent onon runningrunning het"het" over.over. TheThe trucktruck continuedcontinued toto closeclose inin onon herher untiluntil

rroreitit waswas tailgatingtailgating withinwithin feet,feet, more thanthan

fillingfilling upup Gail'sGail's rearviewrearview mirror.mirror. GailGail boiledboiled withwith anger,anger, p.1shedp..1shed onon thethe gasgas toto fin­fin­ishish passingpassing thethe slCMerslower car,car, andand gotgot overover toto

thethe rightright lane.lane. AnAn instantinstant later,later, thethe semisemi roaredroared pastpast likelike aa behind-schedulebehind-schedule freightfreight train,train, justjust missingmissing thethe leftleft rearrear ofof thethe Shreve'sShreve's stationstation wagonwagon byby aa narrownarrow couplecouple ofof feet.feet. AtAt thisthis point,point, thethe hillhill bottomedbottomed out,out, andand thenthen thethe highwayhighway ascendedascended again.again. AsAs thethe hillhill steepened,steepened, GailGail sawsaw thethe rightright rearrear ofof thethe trucktruck growgrow closercloser andand closer,closer, andand inin aa fewfew secondsseconds thethe stationstation wagonwagon hadhad p.1lledp..1lled even.even. GailGail sawsaw nCMnow thatthat itit waswas aa cattlecattle truck.truck. ThroughThrough thethe metal-slatmetal-slat spacesspaces onon thethe sideside ofof thethe trucktruck sheshe couldcould makemake outout thethe darkdark fonns,forms, heavyheavy snouts,snouts, andand puzzledpuzzled browsbrows ofof thethe occupants.occupants.

"Son"Son ofof aa bitch,"bitch," GailGail saidsaid softlysoftly whenwhen eveneven withwith thethe cab,cab, hoping,hoping, really,really, thatthat thethe truckdriver SheShetruckdriver couldcould seesee andand readread herher lips.lips. waswas gladglad herher parentsparents werewere asleep.asleep.

GailGail heardheard fromfrom thethe radioradio thethe soundssounds ofof thethe beginningbeginning ofof thethe newnew beautifulbeautiful JenniferJennifer

WarnesWarnes song.song. "I'm"I'm Dreaming"Dreaming" thethe songsong waswas

titled.titled.

"Oh,"Oh, God.God. NotNot ncM,"ncM," sheshe whispered.whispered. InIn aa splitsplit secondsecond andand permittingpermitting nono hesitation,hesitation,

herher rightright handhand darteddarted outout and,and, justjust likelike that,that, turnedturned thethe radioradio off.off.

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CHAPTERCHAPTER FIVEFIVE

RedRed waswas everywhere.everywhere. AnAn hourhour andand aa halfhalf beforebefore kickoffkickoff onon thethe westwest sideside ofof thethe stadi­stadi­umum andand thethe crowdcrowd waswas pouringpouring inin already.already. AA

seasea ofof redred hatshats alone,alone, notnot toto mentionmention sweat­sweat­ers,ers, blazers,blazers, jackets.jackets. GailGail feltfelt sanewhatsanewhat self-consciousself-conscious notnot wearingwearing anyany red.red. AsAs thethe otherother girlsgirls beganbegan arrivingarriving withwith theirtheir par­par­ents,ents, rrost themthemsheshe waswas gladglad toto seesee thatthat most ofof worewore nono redred and,and, likelike herself,herself, werewere fairlyfairly dresseddressed up.up. SheShe stoodstood withwith herher parentsparents andand watchedwatched Mrs.Mrs. Glenn,Glenn, whanthethe pageantpageant directordirector whom

fromsheshe knewknew fran Kearney,Kearney, greetinggreeting thethe girlsgirls andand theirtheir parentsparents asas theythey arrivedarrived atat thethe pre­pre­

arrangedarranged gatheringgathering placeplace justjust outsideoutside thethe stadiumstadium fence.fence. Mrs.Mrs. GlennGlenn handedhanded outout Nebras­Nebras­ka-eoloradoka-eolorado ticketstickets toto eacheach girlgirl andand eacheach setset ofof parents.parents. TheThe otherother girlsgirls lookedlooked nice,nice, butbut GailGail waswas willingwilling toto waitwait fat"fat" oneone ofof themthem toto comecome overover andand saysay hello,hello, oror forfor Mrs.Mrs. GlennGlenn toto introduceintroduce oneone ofof themthem toto her.her. ThenThen sheshe sawsaw aa familiarfamiliar face.face.

"Hi,"Hi, Rhonda!"Rhonda!"

"Hi,"Hi, Gail."Gail."

"Did"Did youyou getget youryour tickets?"tickets?"

"Yeah."Yeah. Gail,Gail, thisthis isis mymy IOCltherrrother andand mymy

father."father."

"Hi."Hi. rron overoverAndAnd thisthis isis mymy man andand daddad here.here. M:nM::l'n andand Dad,Dad, thisthis isis RhondaRhonda FroelichFroelich

145145 BE'IWEENBEIWEEN THETHE SPECIESSPECIES

"',' , • H'M

andand Mr.Mr. andand Mrs.Mrs. Froelich.Froelich. Rhonda'sRhonda's repre­repre­sentingsenting GrandGrand Island,Island, butbut wewe knowknow eacheach otherother

atat KearneyKearney State.State. We'reWe're inin thethe samesame dormdorm together."together."

"Yeah,"Yeah, goodgood oldold CentennialCentennial Towers."Towers."

"Well,"Well, that'sthat's nice.nice. NowNow youyou girlsgirls willwill eacheach havehave someonesomeone thatthat youyou knowknow inin thethe pa­pa­geant,"geant," PhyllisPhyllis ShreveShreve carrmented.carrmented.

"Whereabouts"Whereabouts areare youyou folksfolks from?"from?" Rhon­Rhon­da'sda's fatherfather waswas inquiring.inquiring.

"Oh,"Oh, we'rewe're fromfrom Kearney,"Kearney," WilliamWilliam ShreveShreve said.said. "We"We fannfann justjust upup northnorth ofof Kearney."Kearney."

"Well,"Well, II fannfann overover byby WoodWood River.River. ThatThat ain'tain't to::lto::l farfar fromfrom wherewhere youyou folksfolks live."live."

"Yup."Yup. PracticallyPractically neighbors."neighbors."

"Say,"Say, youyou beenbeen gettin'gettin' muchmuch inin thethe wayway

ofof priceprice overover atat thethe P.P.V.V. ?"?"

TheThe twotwo farmersfarmers drifteddrifted offoff intointo aa con­con­versationversation ooncerningooncerning thethe recentrecent harvestharvest andand lowlow graingrain prices;prices; theirtheir wiveswives discusseddiscussed whatwhat thethe girlsgirls wouldwould bebe wearingwearing duringduring thethe pageantpageant andand itsits oonstituentoonstituent functions.functions. TheThe twotwo girlsgirls talkedtalked casually,casually, nonchalantly.nonchalantly. RhondaRhonda hadhad somesome uncertaintyuncertainty toto share.share. ItIt nadenade GailGail feelfeel betterbetter toto knowknow thatthat sheshe wasn'twasn't alonealone inin thatthat regard.regard.

•• I'mI'm gettinggetting kindakinda ner­

vous.vous. AreAre you?"you?"

"Oh,"Oh, gol.gol. ner­

"Yeah,""Yeah," GailGail admitted.admitted. "I'm"I'm havinghaving allall thesethese badbad dreamsdreams andand everythingeverything •• •• II getget

butterflies--youbutterflies--you know"know"

"Yeah,"Yeah, II hatehate thethe butterflies.butterflies. ItIt feelsfeels likelike thethe firstfirst timetime whenwhen II wentwent toto CampCamp Shel­Shel­

don,don, andand whenwhen II gotgot therethere II justjust hadhad ••

butterfliesbutterflies allall overover thethe place."place."

"I'm"I'm IlOstlyIlOstly justjust nervousnervous aboutabout somethingsomething badbad happeninghappening onon stage--notstage--not whetherwhether II winwin oror not.not. •• DoesDoes itit natternatter toto youyou veryvery muchmuch

aboutabout winning?"winning?"

"Huh-uh."Huh-uh. I'mI'm likelike you;you; II justjust wantwant everythingeverything toto gogo allall right."right."

AsAs theythey talked,talked, severalseveral fliesflies metmet eacheach other,other, buzzingbuzzing aroundaround Gail'sGail's armsarms andand waist,waist, doingdoing anan unacceptableunacceptable imitationimitation ofof thethe smallsmall groupgroup ofof birdsbirds soaringsoaring inin circlescircles highhigh over­over­

head.head. TheThe fliesflies werewere sluggishsluggish inin thethe coolcool fallfall air,air, thethe temperaturetemperature hoveringhovering asas list­list­lesslylessly asas theythey aroundaround 5050 degrees.degrees. NeitherNeither temperaturetemperature nornor fliesflies seemedseemed ableable toto riserise anyany higher.higher. GailGail watchedwatched andand feltfelt aa littlelittle sorrysorry forfor thethe fliesflies inin theirtheir oldold ageage andand weariness,weariness,

inin theirtheir stiffstiff arthriticarthritic attemptsattempts toto dodo whatwhat theythey hadhad donedone soso easilyeasily inin younger,younger, wannerwanner days.days.

Gail,Gail, Rhonda,Rhonda, andand theirtheir parentsparents beganbegan Hoving,Hoving, withwith thethe restrest ofof theirtheir groupgroup andand withwith thethe crowdcrowd inin general,general, towardtoward thethe archedarched open­open­ingsings leadingleading upup intointo thethe stadium.stadium. TheirTheir progressprogress waswas slow,slow, butbut eventuallyeventually theythey foundfound theirtheir seatsseats inin thethe loftylofty 20-yard20-yard lineline sectionsection reservedreserved forfor theirtheir group.group. TheThe girlsgirls satsat inin twotwo rowsrows ofof bleachers,bleachers, andand thethe parentsparents andand

pageantpageant officialsofficials occupiedoccupied fivefive oror sixsix rowsrows

justjust aboveabove t.hem.t.hem. TheyThey seemedseemed toto bebe situatedsituated inin IlOreIlOre oror lessless anan alumnialumni sectionsection ofof thethe stadium.stadium. TheThe game,game, likelike allall otherother NebraskaNebraska gamesgames ofof recentrecent years,years, waswas aa sellout.sellout.

GailGail andand RhondaRhonda satsat nextnext toto eacheach other,other, squishedsquished inin thethe middlemiddle ofof thethe girl'sgirl's twotwo rows.rows. InIn aa mattermatter ofof minutes,minutes, thethe girlsgirls werewere allall well-acquainted,well-acquainted, inevitablyinevitably so.so.

"He's"He's cute."cute." AA footballfootball program,program, openedopened toto thethe pagespages wherewhere thethe players'players' picturespictures appeared,appeared, waswas beingbeing passedpassed around..around..

"Oh,"Oh, he'she's gorgeous!"gorgeous!"

"Shhhhh.""Shhhhh."

"Don't"Don't youyou thinkthink eacheach BeefBeef QueenQueen oon­oon­testanttestant shouldshould getget aa datedate withwith thethe playerplayer ofof herher choicechoice outout ofof thisthis program?"program?"

"Or"Or atat leastleast withwith thethe KearneyKearney StateState playerplayer ofof herher choice."choice." ItIt waswas Gail'sGail's voice.voice.

"Yeah,"Yeah, .. wewe havehave plentyplenty ofof good-lookinggood-looking jocksjocks atat KSC,"KSC," Rhonda'sRhonda's voicevoice added.added.

"Go"Go -- BigBig -- Red!Red! GoGo -- BigBig -- Red!Red! Go-Go-BigBig -- Red!Red! GoGo -- BigBig •• .. ..""

"Cane"Cane on,on, let'slet's getget firedfired upup outout there.there. What'sWhat's thethe mattermatter withwith Osborne;Osborne; can'tcan't hehe getget thethe teamteam firedfired upup likelike he'she's s's'posedposed to?"to?"

"Block,"Block, damnit!"damnit!"

"Let's"Let's go,go, Huskers!"Huskers!"

"We"We -- WantWant -- AA -- Touchdown!Touchdown! wewe -- ~\'ant~\'ant ­­

146146BEIWEENBEIWEEN THETHE SPECIESSPECIES

44 ,, JM.~X£JM.~X£ itit

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----

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AA -- Touchdo\>'l11Touchdo\>'l11 we..we.. •.•. ,,

"Prograaaaaams"Prograaaaaams •• PrograaaaaamsPrograaaaaams •• OfficialOfficial prograaaams:prograaaams: oneone dollardollar • • • "."

"Sorley,"Sorley, thethe ball-carrierball-carrier.• •• TackleTackle byby Young.Young. SecondSecond andand sevenseven •• •• ."."

"Give"Give itit toto Isaiahl"Isaiahl"

"Pam"Pam isis majoringmajoring inin elementaryelementary educa­educa­tion.tion. SheShe doesn'tdoesn't knowknow forfor suresure ifif sheshe wantswants

•toto teachteach oror notnot ••• ""

"No"No II boughtbought thethe newnew BeeBee GeesGees albumalbum •••••• ItIt

"Get"Get youryour Seven-upSeven-up •• RightRight here,here, Seve..,-upSeve..,-up •• ""

"Well,"Well, ChrisChris waswas veryvery activeactive inin 4-H.4-H. InIn

fact,fact, herher marketmarket steersteer wonwon aa championshipchampionship atat thethe countycounty fairfair lastlast year.year. SheShe alsoalso gotgot aa TopTop ShowmanShowman awardaward fromfrom thethe LivestockLivestock Club.Club. ThisThis year,year, sheshe enteredentered aa skirtskirt inin thethe StyleStyle RevueRevue andand wonwon aa purplepurple ribbonribbon forfor CreativeCreative Clothing.Clothing. ""

"Hey"Hey II •••••• Hey,Hey, hey!hey! •••••• ""

"All"All rightl"rightl"

"Whooooooh"Whooooooh I"I"

"Touchdown,"Touchdown, NebraskaNebraska •••••• ~~ M.M. HippHipp 9!!9!! ~thethe carrycarry •• •• •• TheThe kickkick isis good.good. TheThe ~

ColoradoColorado 15,15, NebraskaNebraska 1010 •• •• ."."

gonua"Yeah,"Yeah, butbut Gail,Gail, howhow areare youyou gonna fin­fin­ishish youryour educationeducation majormajor ifif youyou startstart takingtaking allall thosethose otherother things?things? • • •• Ooh,Ooh, lookit,lookit, sheshe droppeddropped herher baton.baton. IsIs thisthis gamegame tele­tele­vised?"vised?"

"I"I don'tdon't thinkthink. so.so. • • • See,See, II justjust can'tcan't seesee notnot takingtaking anythinganything butbut ed.ed. cour­cour­ses.ses. I'dI'd feelfeel likelike I'mI'm wastingwasting mymy time.time. II stillstill wantwant toto taketake aa lotlot uoreuore psych,psych, andand sanesane anthro,anthro, pulosoPlY, andand stuffstuff likelikeandand somesome fhilosoP'lY, that."that."

gonua"Yeah,"Yeah, butbut howhow areare youyou gonna havehave enoughenough hourshours inin educationeducation toto graduategraduate inin time?"time?"

"I"I don'tdon't knCM.knCM. II couldcould taketake somesome surmnersurmner classes.classes. II mightmight asas well.well. It'sIt's notnot thatthat II lovelove studying.studying. It'sIt's justjust tilattilat II feelfeel sortsort ofof guiltyguilty ifif I'mI'm notnot takingtaking allall thethe liberalliberal artsarts stuff.stuff. See,See, colle<.Jecolle<.Je isis supp::>sedsupp::>sed toto makemake youyou aa ThatThat waswas mymy impres­well-roundedwell-rounded person.person. impres­

sionsion ofof collegecollege beforebefore II started.started. Isn'tIsn't thatthat whatwhat youyou thought?"thought?"

"I"I don'tdon't know.know. It'sIt's weird,weird, butbut II can'tcan't rememberremember whatwhat II thoughtthought collegecollege waswas gonnagonna bebe likelike backback whenwhen II waswas inin highhigh school."school."

"Yeah,"Yeah, II know.know. ButBut see,see, II wantwant toto makemake itit thethe bestbest experienceexperience II cal"l.cal"l. II wantwant toto makemake everyevery classclass count.count. God,God, it'sit's gonegone byby soso fastfast ........ 1111

"Yeah,"Yeah, II can'tcan't believebelieve we'rewe're juniorsjuniors already,already, andand thethe semestersemester isis halfhalf over.over. •• •• •• Shit,Shit, II havehave twotwo paperspapers toto do."do."

"All"All rightright II •••••• GoodGood grab!"grab!"

"Pass"Pass completecomplete toto S;rai.!IS;rai.!I •• •• .Second.Second andand two."two."

"Go"Go -- BigBig -- RedlRedl GoGo -- BigBig -- Red!Red! Go-Go-

BigBig .. .. .."""Donnell FirstFirst"~I]!lell thethe ball-carrierball-carrier ••

andand tenten Nebraska."Nebraska." ----..;.:;~""'-'--

"We"We -- WantWant -- AA -- Touchdown!Touchdown! wewe -- ~vant~vant ­­AA -- Touchdown!"Touchdown!"

"Come HuskersHuskers II •• •• •• AllAll thethe wayway II """Cane on,on,

"All"All rightright II •••• Whooohl"Whooohl"

"Whoooh!"Whoooh! •• •• •• WhoohWhooh I"I"

Nebraska. HippHipp thethe carry.carry."Touchdown"Touchdown N_eb_r_a_s_ka_. ~~~~

is 2,ood. s~re:Todd'sTodd's kickkick is2,ood. TheThe score: NebraskaNebraska 26,26, ColoradoColorado 15."15."

"Prograaaaaaaaams"Prograaaaaaaaams •• •• •• OfficialOfficial Nebras­Nebras­kaka prograaaaams."prograaaaams."

"I'd"I'd likelike toto useuse thethe ladies'ladies' roanroan beforebefore wewe .. .. ..""

DescendingDescending fromfrom thethe standsstands afterafter tiletile gamegame andand penetratingpenetrating onon windingwinding rampsramps throughthrough toto thethe stadium'sstadium's underside,underside, GailGail waswas confron­confron­tedted byby anan imageimage totallytotally unexpectedunexpected andand diffi­diffi­cultcult toto comprehend:comprehend: AA steadysteady shCMershCMer ofof lit­lit­terter fellfell fromfrom thethe standsstands asas farfar asas sheshe couldcould see,see, andand thethe groundground belowbelow waswas strewnstrewn wiwithth papers,papers, p::>pcorn,p::>pcorn, peanutpeanut shells,shells, and,and, toto anan eerieeerie degree,degree, plasticplastic paper-cuppaper-cup lids,lids, whichwhich werewere constantlyconstantly fallingfalling throughthrough thethe airair likelike crispcrisp autumnautumn leaves.leaves.

(To(To bebe continuedcontinued inin tiletile nextnext issue)issue)

147147 BE'IWEENBE'IWEEN THETHE SPECIESSPECIES

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