Beatrice kept going headfirst right through the middle of the earth to the intersection. Where the highway cut through the path. Cut it off. The cars rushing by differed in noisiness, stench, and number from the ones Beatrice had seen during her sleep. Dazed by them and by her sudden awakening, she waited. For the moment when a gap in the line of cars would allow her to cross the road. She waited and waited. After a while she spotted a man in the distance standing beside the road just like she was. He was making a rowing motions with his arms. At first Beatrice thought he was waving to her in solidarity because he found himself in the same unfortunate situation, and she returned the greeting. But when he didn't stop rowing. she interpreted the gesture as a traffic signal meant to convey a desire to cross the road. So beatice rowed too. And after a short time a car stopped. One car. On the path. A man in his middle years stuck his head out of the open window, looked her over, and asked where she was headed. ' Tarascon,' Beatrice answered in amazement. ' Well then,' said the man. And before Beatrice fully understood or could be surprised, she was seated in a car for the first time in her life. ...