Carl Oswald was sitting in his dog cart on the side of the road. "I'm a Lamebrain for Stumping You" by The Hiccups was squawking on the radio. He turned the radio off.
For no apparent reason, he felt for his abdomen and his jaw and his waist. They were all there. That was good. Also, his kidney was not turning grey. That was good, too.
He felt brash. He must have had quite a nap. What time is it? He looked at the clock. Eight p.m. About what you'd expect, still on schedule. The nap had taken no time at all.
He looked out the window. There was a steppe visible across the road, but nothing special to see. Probably time to get going. He started up his dog cart and took off down the road. "Nobayooco kyphoogud," he thought to himself.