Tao of Mysti : Midwest Journal Press : 9781393934981 : 1393934986 : 29 Sep 2019 : I'd been left out here, alone. By an oil-burning lamp. In the cold, uncaring desert. It was my only comfort until dawn. Just as the first of dawn started bringing the earliest glimmer of what I could see with my human eyes, I woke to some snuffling sound near my head. Opening my eyes, not relishing the hot day coming, I saw the nose of an animal near my face. "Rise, little one." I sat up. And saw eye-to-eye with a female coyote. She was not young. Scars criss-crossed her front legs. Her eyes showed wrinkles of her experiences. Her udders dried and smaller now, but obvious she had born many litters. "We have miles to go. Leave your lantern. Carry that dolly if you want. They are hunting us - you and me." At that the old mother coyote walked off a pace. And looked back. She was the only life I could see in this parched desert. So I followed as she led me to my new home. Excerpt: Transcript of o