"Leavin' New Mexico," Ada laughed. "We're gonna work our way straight across Texas in t' Louisiana, up in t' Mississippi, loop around Tennessee, an' head back into Arkansas to start west again."

Ada's world geography might still suck, but she knew the various routes the carnival took like the back of her hand.

"Texas got lots of bored Townies outside th' big cities lookin' for a good time, an' it's usually easy money."