“Asia Divine” is set is Utah’s West Desert, from the Great Salt Lake’s Stansbury Island to somewhere near the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Here are
the first few lines of “Asia Divine”:
Detective Mike Giles
gagged on the stink as the Maglite’s glare bobbed across the dim and ragged
interior of the bus. He leaned against the pock-marked pole next to the
torn-out driver’s seat, a hand cupped over his mouth and nose.
From the back of the bus
a disembodied voice said, “It gets worse.”
A bright white light
exploded and retreated, fireworks popped in Giles’ eyes.
The simulated whir and
click of a digital camera saturated the confined area, and the dull ache in his
head blossomed into a roar.
As his vision recovered,
another flash bounced. The camera clicked.
“Jesus, Danny.” Giles stroked his throbbing head. “Hold off on the photos until I have a look, huh?”
