Geological Time, p. 9
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We had our room reservations in a motel in Austin, a hillside town tottering on the edge of ghostdom. Once the second largest city in Nevada due to the silver riches in its hills, now it’s reeling from the closing of the last remaining mine. Today there is a sad equilibrium, as the number of boarded-up homes and businesses just about equals the number still inhabited.

We took our meals in the International Hotel, where the friendly owner/bartender/waiter/cook told us of his hopes for an Austin revival.
One of his marketing efforts included a $1,500 top-prize sponsorship of the Coyote Derby to be held the following weekend. Coyotes have no animal-rights proponents in their corner around here. I was sorry we couldn’t come back to see the competitive canine carnage. But the wording of his poster, which instructed the hunters to check in the dogs by 6 p.m., made me and Mica feel ill at ease.

Text of Poster

Historic Austin Nevada
Coyote Derby
February 21-22
Sponsored by the Interntional Bar and Restaurant
59 Main St. 775-964-1225
Derby Rules
$55 per person entry fee pre-registration / $62 at the event
$10 per team big dog contest
Teams may consist of 1 to 3 members
Teams must hunt together
Check in 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday February 21
Attendence is mandatory for rule reading at 10:00 p.m.
Hunting occurs from dawn until 6:00 p.m. Saturday
All dogs must be checked in by 6:00 pm. Saturday
All entry fees will be awarded minus the BBQ dinner and fees
Prize money will be awarded @ the BBQ dinner at 7:00 p.m.
$1,500 Guaranteed in Prize Money
 
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