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〃I'll show him the way to the road。〃
〃I'd appreciate that； Governor。〃
On the trek out； the two men came across a full…grown crocodile with a blue heron clamped in its jaws。 The beast lay in the reeds on the edge of a brackish pond； its massive corrugated tail blocking Skink's footpath。 He stopped to watch； motioning for the trooper to do the same。 The idea of using their guns would not have occurred to either man。 Respectfully they waited while the reptile； spraying feathers； gulped down the magnificent stilt…legged bird。
〃A sad sight；〃 whispered Skink； 〃but also a beautiful one。 Because you and I and the six billion other selfish members of our species didn't interfere。〃
〃Honestly； I wouldn't dream of it。〃
Jim Tile was relieved when the crocodile skidded off the muddy bank and into the lake。 Twenty minutes later the two men reached the johnboat。 Skink held it steady while the trooper climbed in。 The motor was cold and didn't crank until the fifth pull。 Skink eased the bow away from the mangroves and gave a light push。
〃See you tonight；〃 he said。
〃Wait； there's one more thing；〃 said Jim Tile。 The engine coughed and stopped。 The boat began to drift； slowly。
Skink said； 〃Tell me later； Jim。〃
〃No； I need to tell you now。 Artemus says somebody else is out hunting for this boy。 Somebody bad。〃
〃Imagine that。〃
〃Well； you need to know。〃 The trooper waved。 〃Ten o'clock sharp？〃
Skink nodded heavily。 〃With bells on。〃 He bent over and plucked the Schweppes can out of the roots。 He tossed it into the John…boat； where it clattered against the others。
The trooper chuckled。 〃Nice shot。〃 He jerked the starter cord and the outboard motor hiccuped to life。
Skink stood on the shore； twirling his twin buzzard beaks。 〃Jim； I'm sorry。 I truly am。〃
〃For what； Governor？〃
〃For whatever's ing；〃 he said。 〃I'm sorry in advance。〃 Then he turned and splashed into the trees。
15
As agreed； Governor Dick Artemus vetoed from the state budget all 27。7 million set aside for 〃the Toad Island…Shearwater bridge and highway…improvement project。〃 Other funds blocked by the governor included 17。5 million for the construction and promotion of a Southern Bowler's Hall of Fame in Zolfo Springs； 14。2 million for the 〃agronomic testing〃 of a technique to genetically remove the navel…like aperture from navel oranges； 2。6 million to rebuild Aqua Quake； a simulated tidal…wave attraction owned by the uncle of a state senator； and destroyed in a fire of dubious origin； and 375；000 to mence a captive breeding program for the endangered rose…bellied salamander； of which only seven specimens （all males） were known to survive。
In all； Dick Artemus used a line…item veto to eliminate more than 75 million in boondoggles。 Except for the Toad Island bridge； all had been proposed by Democrats。 Among the items not vetoed by the governor were numerous frivolities initiated by his fellow Republicans； including： 24。2 million to redesign a private golf course in Sarasota； ostensibly to attract a PGA tournament but in truth to spruce up the back nine for the chairman of the House Appropriations mittee； who owned three prime lots along the fourteenth fairway； 8。4 million for the purchase of an abandoned South Dade tomato farm liberally appraised at 561；000； purportedly to expand the crucial buffer around Everglades National Park； but actually to enrich the absentee owners of the property； who had contributed magnanimously to the state Republican mittee； 19。1 million to pave and widen to six lanes a gravel road leading to a 312…acre cow pasture in Collier County； said pasture being the as…yet…unannounced future site of a mammoth outlet mall； its silent developer partners including the wife； sister…in…law and niece of the Republican Speaker of the House。
None of the pet projects overlooked by Governor Dick Artemus made the newspapers； but the vetos did。 Desie found the list in the Fort Lauderdale Sun…Sentinel； beneath the following headline：
GOVERNOR AXES 75 MILLION FROM BUDGET
DECLARES WAR ON POLITICAL 〃PORK〃
Desie read the story aloud to Twilly Spree in the truck。
〃Be happy；〃 she told him。 〃You did it。 The bridge is history。〃
Twilly said； 〃We'll see。〃 He held one hand on the steering wheel and one hand out the window of the pickup； cupping air。 He nodded when Desie asked if he was still thinking about the dream。
She said； 〃You know what a psychologist would say？ A psychologist would say you had a breakthrough。〃
〃Anything's possible。〃 Twilly didn't seem unhappy or upset； only absorbed。
Desie said； 〃Do you remember asking me to stay？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Why did you？〃
〃Because I was scared。〃
〃Of what…more dreams？〃
Twilly smiled。 〃No； not dreams。〃 He adjusted the rearview to check on McGuinn； riding in the bed of the truck。 〃You think he's OK back there？〃
〃Oh； he's loving life；〃 Desie said。
〃I think he ought to be riding with us。〃
〃Twilly； he's in heaven。〃
〃But what if it starts to rain…〃
〃He's a Labrador！〃
〃But he's been sick。 He shouldn't be out in the weather。〃
Twilly parked on the shoulder and brought McGuinn into the cab； between him and Desie。 It proved to be a cramped arrangement； made worse by an onset of canine flatulence。
〃From the dog food；〃 Desie explained。 〃Liver…flavored is the worst。〃
Twilly grimaced。 He got off at the next exit and stopped at a Buick dealership； where he traded in the pickup truck on a 1992 Road…master station wagon。 The entire transaction took twenty…one minutes； Twilly making up the difference in cash that he peeled from a wad in his denim jacket。 Desie watched； intrigued。
〃This is the largest domestic passenger vehicle ever manufactured in the United States；〃 Twilly announced； loading McGuinn into the cavernous rear partment。 〃Now you can fart all you want。〃
And off they went again。
Desie almost asked where Twilly had gotten the money； but it didn't matter。 He could've robbed a church and still she wouldn't have wanted to go home。 She understood him no better than she understood herself； but she felt unaccountably fortable at his side。 Sometimes she caught him glancing sideways at her…it was a look no other man had ever given her； a bination of naked desire； penetrating curiosity and also sadness。 Finally she said： 〃What in the world is going through your head？〃
〃How beautiful you are。〃
〃Please。〃
〃OK。 How much I want to sleep with you？〃
〃No； Twilly。 There's more。〃
〃You're right。 I keep forgetting how plicated I am。〃 He took a slow breath and interlocked both hands at the top of the steering wheel。 〃What I'm thinking；〃 he said； 〃is how much I want to need you。〃
〃That's a better answer；〃 Desie said。 〃Not as flattering as the others； but a little more original。〃
〃What if it's the truth？〃
〃And what if I feel the same way？〃
Twilly let out a soft whistle。
〃Exactly；〃 she said。
〃So we're both off the rails。〃
〃A case could be made； yes。〃
He was silent for several miles。 Then he said： 〃Just for the record； I do want to sleep with you。〃
〃Oh； I know。〃 Desie tried not to look pleased。
〃What are your views on that？〃
〃We'll discuss it later；〃 she said； 〃when you…know…who is asleep。〃 She cut her ey