Shining Star  John Johnston   The rain was cold and hard, and it
beat down upon Marlene Roulliard like a thousand fists. It
punished her again and again for every mistake she had made: all
the pain she had caused her sons, all the pain she had caused
her family, all the pain she had caused herself with booze and
dope and prison. It all came thundering down that June night in
the badlands of South Dakota. Just when she thought it had
ended, the rain slammed down again.  On the third night of what
would be five days without food or water, Marlene was so wet and
miserable that she decided she couldn't take it anymore. But as
she prepared to leave the hill, a cricket skittered across her
altar of dried meat, kidney fat and raisins. It stood,
glistening, in the circle of sage, tobacco tyes and flags.
Marlene had been told that she could ask anything on this vision
quest if she asked it in a good way, so she asked the little
cricket for help. "I don't think I'm going to make it."  And
then Marlene gathered her sta