Disclaimer: The Joes belong to Marvel Comics in this incarnation.  The
unnamed man, Ana, and Karen all belong to me.  The song was recorded by Lee
Ann Womack, yes it's a country song, but I * like* country, so there.  It's
also missing two lines in the middle, if you know them, please email me at
perihawk@subreality.com.

Interim Three
By Shai PeriHawk

Today I heard a song that reminded me of you.

"I hope you still feel small
When you stand beside the ocean
And one door closes
I hope another opens
And when you get to choice to sit it out or dance,
I hope you dance."

When I sang "Last Kiss" one night, that was your reply. The song wasn't out
then, but it was like the writer made it for you.  You were always looking
at the goods of life.  To you, the meaning of life was to live a good and
kind one, not die well.

The pilot who flew me over the Everglades time after time was like that too.
Her name was Karen.  She was something else.  Cool as a cucumber, even she
was shocked to see the devastation left in the swampland.

It was like some ancient god had scooped out a hole with his giant hand.
Neither of us could say a word.

We marked it on the map, and went to ground to find it.  When we got there,
Karen pointed out a squirrel tentatively stepping across the tree roots into
the affected area.  It stood still, tail twitching, then scampered back up
the tree.

When we were getting ready to leave, we met a group of people coming in.
They called themselves the Joes.  Apparently they know you.  And where you
went.

The red-head, Scarlet was her name, I think, told me about the match between
you two.  Then about the lead that sent you and the girl to St. Louis.  I
remember St. Louis, and I hope you're okay.

"Good luck finding your girl friend.  I'll tell the authorities to look in
the big hole in the swamp for the body.""  Those were Karen's parting words,
like I told you, she was something else.

I'm catching up to you.  Soon, I'll find you.

~ end interim~