Chapter 35Outside San Roque Gate, the bright beacon from the Point San Miguel lighthouse swept through the old Cadillac briefly illuminating the interior and revealing the Stranger slouched low in the car seat. He squinted into the light. He had been biding his time, thinking about Maasai warriors—the African tribe famous for their ability to rise from the deepest sleep to a state of total battle readiness in a matter of seconds. He had studied war-like tribes and had become fascinated in the various ritualistic preparations leading up to battle. The Maasai were without ritual. It is what he liked about them. There was no bullshit.
Battle ready always, he thought. The way a warrior should be.
And now, he knew, it was his moment of readiness.
He waited for the lighthouse beam to swing ar
