I pulled my sleeve across my face to erase
the tears. The car, a warm shell of light,
seemed heaven, but I couldnвt find where
to say yes from. When I tried to speak,
the car door groaned instead. It closed. I
was inside, in front, squeezed between the
door and the man with one long eyebrow.
"How did you know?" I tried to say;
instead, the sun rose.
4. Relic Background Radiation
Sarvaduhka pressed a button, and there was
the United States of America: news, music,
tractor pull ads?"SUNDAYYYYYY!"?static,
evangelist patter, a song by Johnny
Abilene . . .
Thereвs a splash across the southern sky
Named "I love you-oo!"
And I know just what a big man
Ought to do-yodelayhee-do.
Iвm sorry I left you somewhere in the
blue-boo-hoo-hoo
With your mama singing lullabies to
baby-boo . . .
. . . used automobiles, paid political
announcements, weather reports . . .
"Wait a damn minute," Izzy said. "Turn it
back to the Haymakers, Duke. I wanna hear
that song."
"Haymakers, Izzy?"
"Gimme that." He pushed Sarvaduhkaвs hand
away and manned the radio dial himself. I
felt as if someone were reaming my navel.
The smears of sound as the needle skimmed
the tuner scale were gurgles of cud
surging up my throat. Finally he found it.
There were the slightly off-key notes and
