CHAPTER 4
He was awakened by the sound of heavy panting alongside his ear. He knew who was making the sound even without opening his eyes. It was the old Irish setter that belonged to Phil Lizzuco, one of the boys at the commune. Before coming to the commune, Phil had called the dog Big Red, but that name had seemed terribly middle-class to the other residents and so, over Phil’s strained objections, they had had a rechristening party and given the dog an equivalent name that was more in keeping with the commune’s spirit—Chairman Mao. The dog didn’t mind; he’d answer to anything, as long as there was food to be called to.
Force of habit made Carl Polaski look at his left wrist. Then he gave himself a mental kick. Even after three months at the commune, he still could not get used to the
