Summer of Love, a Time Travel by Lisa Mason

Author:Lisa Mason [Mason, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B003OIBGLC
Publisher: Bast Books
Published: 2010-05-28T04:00:00+00:00

The Image: A river flows through a deep ravine. The river does not shrink from passing through places of danger, through canyons or over waterfalls.

The Oracle: Confronting danger brings success, provided one views the situation with clarity and sincerity.

In the time of danger and difficulty, one must not tarry, but proceed forward with awareness and courage. Danger must be analyzed objectively, so that one does not become confused or act foolishly. Caution: the swimmer who attempts to rescue the drowning person may also drown.

Hexagram 29, The I Ching or Book of Changes

Ruby eases the Mercedes up to the barricade that says, “Park Here,” and slowly drives down the dusty gravel lot. She knows about other country communes: Drop City in Colorado, Strawberry Fields in L.A., the Illustrated Farm in Mendocino, Gorda in Big Sur. Morning Star Ranch is the closest country commune to the Haight-Ashbury. The Diggers have posted signs in Ruby’s shop, giving directions and a map.

Everyone knows how to get to Morning Star Ranch. Everyone knows anyone can go and stay there. It’s free.

Night closes over the countryside. A couple of street lamps smudge the parking lot with light. Moths whirl and dart in the dimness.

A squat black woman in a stained pantsuit staggers up to the Mercedes and peers in at Ruby. “Hey sister, hey sister.” Her breath reeks of fortified wine. “Got any spare change for Bad Annie, sister?”

“Here you go, sister,” Ruby says, handing her a quarter. “You take care of yourself, Bad Annie.”

People swarm around the Mercedes: a suburban runaway with a starving face, a bearded man in free-box clothing, a fellow with dirty blond bangs hanging over his eyes, two black men in tattered suit coats. They plead, palms held out. “Spare change? Got any spare change?”

“No,” Ruby says, waving them away. “No!”

“Beat it,” Gorgon says.

Bad Annie guffaws and lets loose a stream of obscenities. The starving runaway turns and vomits spittle on the gravel. The free-box man wanders away. The blond bangs hacks with a racking cough. The two black men weave across the lot to a bumper-stickered van pulling up.

Ruby parks in the shadows on the far side. In the city, darkness hides thieves. Here, out on the land, darkness may be her friend.

They all pile out of the car. Starbright slings the canvas bag with their bedding over her shoulder. She hands the picnic basket to Chi. Ruby locks the Mercedes. This is the second time tonight she’s turned a key with a sense of dread.

The four of them creep across the lot.

“I’m goin’ up to the big house,” Gorgon says and sprints away. “See if I can find Rainbow.”

Isn’t that just like Gorgon, Ruby thinks. Abandoning her. She seizes Starbright with her left hand, Chi with her right. The kid and the young dude cling to her as if she knows what the hell she’s doing. They climb a steep ridge and down to a small house. Pitched tents, lean-tos, and teepees surround the house. Pinwheels whirl in the breeze.

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