The raucous argument brought Katie up out of her bed in a hurry. The sun had not yet broken over the mountains behind the house, but there was enough light for her to see by. She struggled up, dressed quickly in a faded blue blouse and a wraparound skirt, and scrambled into her chair. The kitchen was empty, but the coffee pot had percolated, and it’s little red eye glared at her. She snatched a mug of the warm liquid, picking up an apple from the table, and drove out the back door. The patio was a good place to stop for a sip at the coffee mug. She was in no condition to face the multitudes of her enemies, she decided. She pushed the throttle forward and drove off on to the soft wet grass, then around the side of the house, and down to the wire perimeter fence. Two sheep were busy mowing the grass beside her. She idled along with them, down the perimeter of the plateau, inspecting the quiet valley below. The air was heavy. It seemed to hang over the valley like an invisible cloud.
