ANTHEM is coming, chapter 34

ANTHEM, Book 3 of the Sixties Trilogy, publishes on October 1. Each of the book's 47 chapters begins with a song from the Sixties to set the tone, mood, and scene. Every day between now and October 1, come have a listen and read a snippet from each chapter. On October 1, these posts will be archived with a link at ANTHEM's webpage for #teachingAnthem1969
 
This is Chapter 34 (day 14):

THE WEIGHT
Written by Robbie Robertson
Performed by The Band
Recorded at A&R Recorder, New York, New York 1968
Drummer: Levon Helm

Norman looked at Sweet Caroline. Sweet Caroline looked at Norman. Molly clapped her hands together once and got Norman's attention.
"Give Victor the keys," she said.
Victor shrugged. "I drove a tank in Nam. I can drive this bus."
Norman scrambled off the bus and stalked past some onlookers who were staring at Multitudes' portable canvas. Molly followed him. When they were far enough away for comfort, Norman wheeled on his cousin.
"That guy's not even conscious!"
"Neither are you!"
"I've just driven halfway across the state of New Mexico, and halfway across Arizona! He slept the whole way!"
"So he's rested!"
"Why are you on my case? Yesterday at the hot spring, last night's disappearing act, and now this -- "
"Because you are being an idiot!"
"Because I go swimming with a bunch of kids? Because I win a bus race? Because I have a dog? Because I have a girlfriend?"
"She wants something Norman."
"She wants me." His voice caught on the word.
"She doesn't."


Everyone's feeling the weight of this trip. Norman's about to break, he's so exhausted. Victor is carrying his own war weight, and even Sweet Caroline has secrets she's keeping... something Molly can plainly see, even if Norman can't.

So our heroes stop at the Visitor's Center for the Petrified Forest. Where they are actually is what's called today the Painted Desert Community Complex near Interstate 40, designed by famed architect Richard Neutra. It was space-age cool and modern when it opened in 1963, and I want readers to feel it that way -- air conditioning in the desert! Glass walls and expansive views and everything modern. "No one had seen anything quite like it." There are pictures and more info at that link (National Park Service), and here are a couple more:

 And today, after a renovation in 2017, it still captures the imagination in the desert:

Families were vacationing like crazy -- you'll see them in Chapter 34 -- traveling by car, smashed together in station wagons in the late sixties, flocking to the national parks, and there was a concerted federal effort, called Mission 66, to expand park services in time for the 50th anniversary of the National Park Service.

Our dusty travelers are so hot, and the air conditioning is so inviting. It's not enough to cool hot tempers and exhaustion, but it does give them some temporary relief from the various weights they are carrying.
===
They watched parents taking Polaroid pictures of their kids standing in front of Multitudes. The kids were dissolving in laughter, posing and making funny faces, raising two fingers in peace. "Sock it to me!" said one kid. "Veeery interesting!" said another.
"Wimps," said Norman. He wiped at his eyes. "They should have gone hiking on the Appalachian Trail."
Molly sighed, relief in her voice. "Yeah. They're squares."
"She likes me," said Norman.
"Let Victor drive," replied Molly.
Norman handed her the keys. They climbed into their chariot and raced across the high desert.

Chapter 34.