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we know is that they are lying to us."
    "Maybe I can get another station?"
    "The hell with it." He concentrated on driving. The road was very bad.
    As it began to get light she said, "Potty — do you know where we're going? Are we just keeping out of cities?"
    "I think I do. If I'm not lost." He stared around them.
    "Nope, it's all right. See that hill up forward with the triple gendarmes on its profile?"
    "Gendarmes?"
    "Big rock pillars. That's a sure landmark. I'm looking for a private road now. It leads to a hunting lodge belonging to two of my friends — an old ranch house actually, but as a ranch it didn't pay."
    "Oh. They won't mind us using it?"
    He shrugged. "If they show up, we'll ask them. If they show up. They lived in Los Angeles, Meade."
    "Oh. Yes, I guess so."
    The private road had once been a poor grade of wagon trail; now it was almost impassable. But they finally topped a hogback from which they could see almost to the Pacific, then dropped down into a sheltered bowl where the cabin was. "All out, girl. End of the line."
    Meade sighed. "It looks heavenly."
    "Think you can rustle breakfast while I unload? There's probably wood in the shed. Or can you manage a wood range?"
    "Just try me."
    Two hours later Breen was standing on the hogback, smoking a cigarette, and staring off down to the west. He wondered if that was a mushroom cloud up San Francisco way? Probably his imagination, he decided, in view of the distance. Certainly there was nothing to be seen to the south.
    Meade came out of the cabin. "Potty!"
    "Up here."
    She joined him, took his hand, and smiled, then snitched his cigarette and took a deep drag. She expelled it and said, "I know it's sinful of me, but I feel more peaceful than I have in months and months."
    "I know."
    "Did you see the canned goods in that pantry? We could pull through a hard winter here."
    "We might have to."
    "I suppose. I wish we had a cow."
    "What would you do with a cow?"
    "I used to milk four cows before I caught the school bus, every morning. I can butcher a hog, too."
    "I'll try to find one."
    "You do and I'll manage to smoke it." She yawned. "I'm suddenly terribly sleepy."
    "So am I. And small wonder."
    "Let's go to bed."
    "Uh, yes. Meade?"
    "Yes, Potty?"
    "We may be here quite a while. You know that, don't you?"
    "Yes, Potty."
    "In fact it might be smart to stay put until those curves all start turning up again. They will, you know."
    "Yes. I had figured that out."
    He hesitated, then went on, "Meade ... will you marry me?"
    "Yes." She moved up to him.
    After a time he pushed her gently away and said, "My dear, my very dear, uh — we could drive down and find a minister in some little town?"
    She looked at him steadily. "That wouldn't be very bright, would it? I mean, nobody knows we're here and that's the way we want it. And besides, your car might not make it back up that road."
    "No, it wouldn't be very bright. But I want to do the right thing."
    "It's all right. Potty. It's all right ."
    "Well, then ... kneel down here with me. We'll say them together."
    "Yes, Potiphar." She knelt and he took her hand. He closed his eyes and prayed wordlessly.
    When he opened them he said, "What's the matter?"
    "Uh, the gravel hurts my knees."
    "Well stand up, then."
    "No. Look, Potty, why don't we just go in the house and say them there?"
    "Hub? Hells bells, woman, we might forget to say them entirely. Now repeat after me: I, Potiphar, take thee, Meade —"
    "Yes, Potiphar. I, Meade, take thee, Potiphar —"

Chapter Three
    "OFFICIAL: STATIONS WITHIN RANGE RELAY TWICE. EXECUTIVE BULLETIN NUMBER NINE — ROAD LAWS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED HAVE BEEN IGNORED IN MANY INSTANCES. PATROLS ARE ORDERED TO SHOOT WITHOUT WARNING AND PROVOST MARSHALS ABE DIRECTED TO USE DEATH PENALTY FOR UNAUTHORIZED POSSESSION OF GASOLINE. B.W. AND RADIATION QUARANTINE REGULATIONS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED WILL BE RIGIDLY ENFORCED. LONG LIVE THE UNITED STATES! HARLEY J. NEAL, LIEUTENANT GENERAL, ACTING CHIEF OF