Summary

In "Rest Stop," John Dykstra, an English professor who used the pen name Rick Hardin, believed he conducted a literary version of Clark Kent changing into Superman when he traveled from the Pot o’ Gold, where his group of authors met, to his home. He pondered at what point during the drive he changed from Hardin back into himself. As Hardin, Dykstra created his signature character the Dog, an urban warrior, that had funded the Jaguar he was driving.

At a rest stop, Dykstra/Hardin was disturbed by the fliers for missing children. He wondered how many of them were already dead. As he glanced at the fliers, he heard a woman begging a man not to hit her. There was the sound of a slap and Dykstra/Hardin could visualize the mark on the woman’s face. He could tell the man...