...on " The Freakshow, and it's passing thru the Valley of the showdow of death....part 1," The first night in town..."

The gig had been booked for months. Death smiled a rare smile.
" Home..." thought Death.

...6 days in a 1960 Volkswagen camper.
Death shared her
with Jesus,
Dave,
Jon Kline,
Venus " Who Caused all this really, "
and Domingo, the voice of reason.

A minor prophet. A magic person

and dear friend of Jesus...
They traveled that rural route

many a time.
Death drove. He trusted nobody
with " My Baby ," he called her," My Baby ," lovingly.
Thus Death wrote the tune...
" First we going to "The Thing", way out there on hyway 10.
...Then to the Dinosaur on hyway 15 ta ol' San Diego....
Then WE ARE stopping at Stucky's for nut logs....."
The gang sighed collectively.
".... ahhhhh, the road to The Valley of the Shadow of Death
is gonna be a long one, my friends, I suggest we practice
the fine art of saying " thank you " instead of " no ,"

said Domingo,
always the calm
before the storm...

Paralyzed at a Stucky's, somewhere in Banning, Death returns.
..." Look !!!!!!! Shells with spring google eyes...!!!! Way out here in the desert...
Amazing to think this all.....", spreading his boney arms to take in "all "
"...Used to be an ocean....!" sceeeched Death, joyfully.

They were somewhere between Banning and Barstow,
Hell, in it's purest form...
"...Motherfuckin' hot..." said Venus "who caused all of this really ."
" Hey Dave, pass me that big green sweater, will ya ?.
It's a little chilly, no ? ..." said Death,
to nobody in particular....
...and it was the dog, Neng who became aware of the noise as the
miles passed, but said nothing. That THUNK Thunk THUNK sound,
he'd heard it before.
" ...Sucked a valve...so we did.
Hope I got my fone...." he thought.

"... Not my job to be more intelligent
than my owner.
Aint' sayin' nothin', so I'm not. " Said Neng.
Breaking the silence, they talked quietly...
Jesus agreed, but Dave an
Venus " who caused of all this really... "
and John Kline
were divided. As usual.

Nothing was said.
And all slept, except Domingo...
who read Cervantes,
between the the passing
hiway lites.
It would be a long night
driving thru the deserts of California and Arizona...

Domingo, comfortable anywhere there were
friends and dogs
pulled his hat down over
his eyes
looking thru the slit of failing southwest lite
reflecting off the long rectangular mirror
of the narrow closet door that banged open now
and then
until he closed his eyes
and dreamed.....
...and Death drove on...



Be well todo mundo
J.Level
©spl2007 " The Freakshow and it's passing thru the Valley of The Shadow of Death " Chapters 1-52
foto: Fresno city hall