"Please tell me this is not a rebellion."

  "Okay.  It's not a rebellion." 

  The mostly young people were standing around on the lawn but not close together.  More like eggs in a crate.  "What are they stoned or something?" 

  "I mean I can't speak for everyone, but on the whole, no." 

  "Are they watching for something?" 

  One woman cracked a shell and ate a peanut.  "Are we afraid?" 

  "They have ideas." The Indian Princess lifted her head from a feather pillow, unplucked her thumb from her mouth, and told. 

  "How was New York?" 

  "Lame.  How was here?" 

  A frump face.  "About the same.  It's like something's gotta give." 

  "Did those people ever unchain themselves from that big old tree?" 

  "We fed 'em for like a week." 

  "Then what happened?" 

  "Mad Max whistled like he was calling the dogs and a bunch of equipment came and they used lock cutters to move the people." 

  "Tree's gone." 

  "What are we gonna do?" 

  "About the tree?" 

  "Tree's gone." 

  "Naw man.  About getting in or out?" 

  "Didn't know you guys were a couple." 

  "Fuck you." 

  "Can we not ruin the nature walk please." 

  "Sorry." 

  "Now there's a word so seldom heard anymore." 

  The sound of pine beetles screw-milling the inside of logs never hauled off louder than the people then. 

  "I DON'T WANNA 

  A young woman with a foldable shovel poked it through the pine and asked, "What is she trying to make you do?" Then she came around the nine year old tree.  The Walkman was put on pause.  "Did you hear it?" 

  "Not sure." 

  "Sounded like jet engines or massive chain saws." 

  "Not sure.  Lemme listen again.  Mostly all I can hear is JUST BREATHE...." 

  "Where in the hell are we?" 

  "Angry motherfucker upon waking I see." 

  That roused the other passenger who'd dozed off.  "Why West Virginia by God?" 

  "Why not?" 

  "Friend of mine said needs help." Another fruit rollup wrapper thrown in the pile of three-days-either-side, expired.  Everybody has their quirks. 

  "Must've been one hell of a bonfire!" 

  "Yeah, and I got a maggot in my eye." 

  "What!?!" A throwdown of camera stalk and a rush over.  "In your actual eyeball?" A get outta my face mosquito swat of hands.  "Can't stand people coming at me like that." 

  "Can I kiss it?" 

  The cycadas vaulted their voice just then.  "My eyeball?  Freak."  Picking up equipment.  "Good thing I keep it in a tumble bag, this." 

  "Glad you chose to bring it." 

  "Eccentric.  Not freak." 

  "See where the cornfield is broken." 

  "Yeah." 

  Some of it was hacked with implements.  "They'd hidden their women there," a head point above crossed arms at a depression long like a trench in the not yet mudding soil.  "Only one 'guy,'" the arms made air quotes, "Was trying to save his woman's, you know, feeling down there." 

  Camera onto tripod.  "Can I come near you?" 

  "No kissing.  My heart's turned cold as ice." 

  "Just saying." 

  "I'm not sure what the fuck went on here and in this region, but it's adding up tah, 

  "Give me one." 

  "Whaddaya mean 'bout down there?" 

  The cigarette smoke was seen and smelled by others documenting aftermath and weren't long for others appeared from all directions.