A City in the Desert
L. Han
The horizon stretched on forever as James rode slowly across the Arizona desert. It was 1885, and there were few people living out here, just cacti and an occasional tumbleweed. James wiped the sweat from his face and urged his horse, Sage, onward. The cruel sun was straight above him, and he longed to rest, but he didn’t have time. His water supply was running out.
What I would give for a soft bed and a good meal, he thought, pulling his hat down low.
An hour later, his throat dry and aching, James spotted some low buildings in the distance. He rubbed his eyes, thinking they were playing tricks on him. Then he stared again, and there they were, plain as day. Probably a silver mine, he thought.
Sage moved faster now, but the buildings seemed to get even further away! Finally, they disappeared completely, as if they had never been there.
Two hours later, ready to fall over from thirst, James reached the town of Tombstone. He headed straight for the water pump and had the longest, coolest drink of his life.
Where and when does this story take place?
A A grassy plain in the 19th centuryA grassy plain in the 19th century
B A silver mine at the turn of the 20th centuryA silver mine at the turn of the 20th century
C The Arizona desert in the late 1800sThe Arizona desert in the late 1800s
D The hills of Arizona in the 1920s