Raised in a Catholic family in the Pacific Northwest, author Robert Willis learned to obey two judges: his father, a county superior court judge, and God.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

Barlow Jimson was mean before he went deaf. Afterward, he just turned meaner. He'd blow up and fight anybody on a dare or on a show of surly lips or even a one-sided laugh if he didn't see enough smile in it.