U.S.A_ - John Dos Passos [585]
and in the bumpy air over the desert ranges to-wards Las Vegas sickens and vomits into the carton container the
steak and mushrooms he ate in New York. No matter,
silver in the pocket, greenbacks in the wal et, drafts, certified checks, plenty restaurants in L. A.)
The young man waits on the side of the road; the
plane has gone; thumb moves in a smal arc when a
car tears hissing past. Eyes seek the driver's eyes. A hundred miles down the road. Head swims, bel y
tightens, wants crawl over his skin like ants:
went to school, books said opportunity, ads prom-ised speed, own your home, shine bigger than your neighbor, the radiocrooner whispered girls, ghosts of platinum girls coaxed from the screen, mil ions in win-nings were chalked up on the boards in the offices, pay-checks were for hands wil ing to work, the cleared desk of an executive with three telephones on it;
waits with swimming head, needs knot the bel y,
idle hands numb, beside the speeding traffic.
A hundred miles down the road.
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