Chapter 12 Summary

In Chapter Twelve, the train stops in Longview, Texas. They pass through a barricade and Temple finds a community trying to survive inside the gates. There are people inhabiting nine blocks of the city and Wilson says this is the largest "stronghold east of Dallas." The passengers leave the train, the men who are frequent visitors to Longview or who live there moving away with girlfriends and family. The newcomers are welcomed and Wilson moves away with some leaders, deciding which of those will remain and which will be taken on to Dallas. Lee says he's going to find a cold drink but Temple declines his invitation to join him. Instead, a teenager named Dirk introduces himself to Temple and invites her on "a date." After ascertaining there is ice for sodas, she agrees and they go together to a diner. Dirk talks...