The rental vehicle appeared, more mini-bus than van. They piled in. As they drove through the city, Katelina watched buildings move past. Almost everything had red tile roofs, even the fast food places. Palm trees grew like oaks. Cacti were peppered around, treated as shrubbery. Instead of grass, the yards they passed had rocks. It was like being on Mars.

The hotel they stopped at was seven stories and looked like something from the thirties. Katelina expected to see Superman ...