by Dirk Eshleman  The brightly glinting late-day light seared my
eyes to a tearless squint.  Away across the desert's hardpan
horizon the waves of heat rippled, taunting me with a mirage of
hope.  Phantom waters receded forever beyond reach, as our
dreams do upon waking, until a log slowly surfaced and floated
sideways to the shimmering edge of the mirage's false shore.
 The log--no, it was a body--remained still as I labored toward
it over the glittering hot earth.  A body?  Yes.  Despite the
distance, it was easily recognizable, once you've seen enough of
them.  I bowed my head.  The sun browbeat me relentlessly, like
a one-eyed judge with an unforgiving heart.  Even if I had
desired or deserved mercy, I couldn't have prayed for it, not
with a tongue as dry as stale bread.  With my ragged shadow
dragging at my heels, I longed for the cool comfort of darkness
and the anonymity it offers.  Oh.  My name is Caesar, by the
way.  Caesar Nix.  I urged one foot in front of the other.  Ever
since the summer of great