FALSE IDOLS

We were driving north from Ojai, summer 2013, hot as fuck high noon, van leaking coolant, just enough to annoy you. Hwy 101 north of Santa Maria, no mans land, and in the distance a shimmer. No way that is a human being on this road, right now. Shock. It is. Cars screaming by. Oh shit. Slow down, we have to pick him up, don’t stop though, too hot for the van. Open the sliding door, just let him fall in. Instinct takes over. Where’s the water, its all we got. Drink it all, I say. He does and passes out on the floor of the van. Will he die? Do we need to find a hospital? He comes around in a bit. We take him to King City. Get him some more water. Says he’s OK and can take it from here. I think you just saved my life, he said. I nodded, yes I think so too. Said thank you and before parting ways wanted to show us his back, it was covered, tattooed with angel’s wings.