Chapter 20: Off to the Provincial Capital

He knew all too well how treacherous the mountain roads could be. When he first arrived, dragging his suitcase behind him, he'd cursed under his breath and trudged the whole morning from the highway to the village. Maybe it was because he'd come alone, and because it had rained two days earlier, that the path was nothing but mud and ruts. This time, though, they rode out on an ox cart. It was slow, but it spared their legs, and by late morning they reached the highway. No buses ran that stretch....