< previous page page_83 next page >

Page 83
Her breathing quickened as she realized that what she viewed was the same expanse of desert she had first spotted upon reaching the end of the mountain pass. But instead of a barren stretch of sand and scrub, she sawwell, she was not certain what.
There were great metal skeletons stretching from horizon to horizon, strung together with more wires than any telegraph could ever need.
The gray road led to another, then more, and on each zoomed many other conveyances. Some looked much like the one she rode in, but there were some much smaller and still others that dwarfed it. No matter what their size, they all went at enormous speeds, and each contained peopleso many people to be traveling through this barren wilderness! There were no horses, no wagons to be seen.
Farther on, Abby saw signs along the road that spoke of food where there was no inn offering sustenance. Bridges crossed atop their road at places labeled exits, and there were things in the skya bird traveling in a straight line much like the one she had visualized in her nighttime imagining, and the one she had seen last night.
Three smaller silvery birds flying beside each other rolled in unison over the desert. "I always enjoy watching Air Force jets practicing formations," Mike said, gesturing toward them, but she did not understand.
She said nothing as she watched everything with awe. The magazines must be correct. She must somehowthrough the magic of the an-

 
< previous page page_83 next page >