7 a.m. the first hour of the day

8 a.m. the second hour of the day

9 a.m. the third hour of the day

10 a.m. the fourth hour of the day

11 a.m. the fifth hour of the day

noon the sixth hour of the day

1 p.m. the seventh hour of the day

2 p.m. the eighth hour of the day

3 p.m. the ninth hour of the day

4 p.m. the tenth hour of the day

5 p.m. the eleventh hour of the day

6 p.m. the twelfth hour of the day

7 p.m. the first hour of the night

8 p.m. the second hour of the night

9 p.m. the third hour of the night

10 p.m. the fourth hour of the night

11 p.m. the fifth hour of the night

midnightthe sixth hour of the night

1 a.m. the seventh hour of the night

2 a.m. the eighth hour of the night

3 a.m. the ninth hour of the night

4 a.m. the tenth hour of the night

5 a.m. the eleventh hour of the night

6 a.m. the twelfth hour of the night

To those who taught me history, beginning with Iva Cockrell, and at the University of Texas at Austin, Professors Oliver Radkey, M. Gwyn Morgan, Richard Graham and R. David Armstrong

Part One

Riot

"Papa! Wake up!"

A hand gripped my shoulder and shook me gently. I pulled away and felt cold air on the back of my neck as the blanket slid away. I snatched it back and snuggled against it, burrowing for warmth. I reached for Bethesda, but found only a warm vacancy where she should have been.

"Really, Papa, you'd better wake up." Eco shook me again, not quite so gently.

"Yes, husband," said Bethesda. "Get up!"