Surviving Darkness, Loving Fiercely

before us, a shimmering ribbon of hig

o our cross-country road trip, the initial exc

nted. "Are you

figure stood, impo

g of a stranded hiker,

eyes wide with a terror I' d never seen. "Don't get

, bent at a sicken

mbling with inhuman, insect-like spe

creamed. "That

tires spitting gravel as we

ing thud, then impossibly, kept pace,

ing the desert monster, only to have ou

ied to corner us, but a deput

t was over.

e, showing our "Desert Wendi

safe. And we knew