SECRETS OF THE 26TH PARALLEL: "FLOWERS OF HEAVEN" [STARS] IN THE ARID INLAND. ARID = ARI/ARISTOCRACY; D/HAND. A BURNT OUT MUL-GA STUMP STANDS GUARD OVER A CARPET OF DAISIES/DAY'S EYES ON STONY RED EARTH/HEBREW ADAM, "GOD BLOOD" & RESTING PLACE OF ANTEDILUVIAN GODS; THE BLESSED DEAD IN THE SOU'EAST OF GOD'S OWN COUNTRY IN MULGA (STAR CHAMBER).

RICHARD & I STOPPED TO BOIL THE BILLY UNDER A STAND OF TALL MULGA FOR SMOKO ON THE ROAD FROM MT MAGNET TO PERTH. AS HE MADE THE FIRE, I RAMBLED ENCHANTED, KNEE-DEEP IN A SEA OF NODDING WHITE DAISIES, WHISPERING IN THE WIND ON LONG THIN BROWN STALKS. THEY SPRANG BACK UP AS I WALKED THROUGH THEM & MADE ME FEEL IT WAS A SIN TO TREAD ON THEM. THE SPELL WAS BROKEN BY A LOUD COOEE FROM RICHARD, WORRIED THAT I WAS LOST.

BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN ON THESE LONELY ROADS FAR FROM HELP. RICHARD'S MATE HAD HIS ELBOW JUTTING OUT OF THE DRIVER'S WINDOW WHEN AN OVERTAKING SEMI TOOK IT OFF AT THE SHOULDER. HE BLED OUT IN THE ARMS OF HIS DISTRAUGHT & IMPOTENT WIFE.