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"I'm Alan Rush," the man said as he approached James with an extended hand.
"I'm James Caine," James said, shaking the other man's hand.

"Is that your car back up the road, Mr. Caine?"

Unfortunately it is," James said. "How did you know?"
. "Well, I really didn't. I just kind of put two and two together. I drive past an abandoned car
WIth New York tags and about five miles later, I see a stranger walking along looking lost and con-
fused. "

"I was lost, but I really wasn't confused; I was just walking along and thinking."

"Oh, I see," Alan said in response to James' statement.
"Do you know how far it is 'til the next service station?" James asked in spite of his belief that
Alan was not a native of this land.
"I don't think there is anything I don't know about these parts. I've been here all my life. I'll
take you to the service station."
"Thanks a lot," James said. "That will be a big help."

They got into Alan's black Porsche, and drove off.
"You don't mind if I go home first and change clothes, do you?"

"No, not at all." Also, I
"Good. I've had this suit on all day, and it is really beginning to feel uncomfortable.
want to put on something else so that I can help you get your car going again."

They drove on, talking about different things. They talked mostly about each other's native

land.

It wasn't long before Alan turned off of the road onto a long driveway which led up to a large
black and white house. By looking at the size of the house, thinking about the expensive outfit that
Alan was wearing and observing the interior of the Porsche he was now riding in, James came to
the conclusion that Alan was a wealthy man. A man who did not look like he belonged in a small,

depressed-looking and rural town like Blackwater, South Carolina.

Alan stopped the car. He and James got out, walked up onto the porch of the house, and Alan

used his key to let both of them in.
The house was magnificent. A white carpet covered the entire first floor, or at least all that

could be seen from where James was standing.

"Have a seat," offered Alan. "Do 'you want anything to drink?"

Do you have a coke?" James asked.

"Yep. "

"Then I'll have a coke."
As Alan went to get the coke, James went back to admiring the interior of the house.

The furniture was red plush. There were many sculptures in the room including a copy of
Rodin's "The Thinker." The walls were covered with beautiful paintings. James was admiring an
antique vase when Alan came back with his coke.

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