METHLAND

BytheSameAuthor

TheLastCowboysat theEndof theWorld

METHLANDTHE DEATH AND LIFE OF ANAMERICAN SMALL TOWN

NICKREDING

Copyright©2009byNickReding

Allrightsreserved.Nopartof thisbookmaybeusedorreproducedinanymannerwhatsoeverwithoutwrittenpermissionfromthepublisherexcept inthecaseofbriefquotationsembodiedincriticalarticlesorreviews.ForinformationaddressBloomsburyUSA,175FifthAvenue,New

York,NY10010.

PublishedbyBloomsburyUSA,NewYork

Someof thenamesinthisbookhavebeenchanged.Allof theeventsportrayedarecompletelyfactual.

AllpapersusedbyBloomsburyUSAarenatural,recyclableproductsmadefromwoodgrowninwell-managedforests.Themanufacturingprocessesconformtotheenvironmentalregulationsof the

countryoforigin.

LIBRARYOFCONGRESSCATALOGING-IN-PUBLLICATIONDATA

Reding,Nick.Methland: thedeathandlifeofanAmericansmall town/NickReding.—1sted.

p.cm.Includesbibliographicalreferences.

eISBN:978-1-60819-156-71.Methamphetamineabuse—Iowa—Oelwein.2.Methamphetamine—Iowa—Oelwein.I.Title.

HV5831.I8R432009362.29'9—dc222008045398

FirstU.S.Edition2009

13579108642

TypesetbyWestchesterBookGroupPrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmericabyQuebecorWorldFairfield

Tomywifeandmyson

Formostof thosewhichweregreatoncearesmall today;andthosewhichusedtobesmallweregreat inmyowntime. . .Humanprosperityneverabideslonginthesameplace.

—Herodotus,TheHistories

CONTENTS

Prologue:HomePartOne:20051.Kant’sLament2.TheMostAmericanDrug3.TheInlandEmpire4.Family5.TheDoDropInn

PartTwo:20066.MirrorImaging7.TheCopShop8.Waterloo9.TheInlandEmpire,PartTwo10.LasFlores

PartThree:200711.Algona12.ElPaso13.DisconnectedStates14.Kant’sRedemption15.Independence

Epilogue:HomeAgainAcknowledgmentsANoteonSources

PROLOGUE

HOME

Asyoulookdownafter takeofffromO’HareInternationalAirport,headedwestforSanFrancisco,California, it’sonlyafewminutesbeforetheintricatecomplexityofChicago’ssuburbanstreets isovercomebytherollingswellof theprairie.Thechangeisvisceralas theplane’sshadowfloatspasthouseshiddenwithinprotectivemoatsofredcedarandevergreenshelterbelts.Thelandunfoldsageometricsweepofcornandswitchgrass.Grainelevatorsshineliketinypiecesinadiorama;nexttothem,venousbrown-watercreeksextendtheirfingerswarilyontothenegativespaceof theprairie.Andifyoulookcloselyas theplaneclimbspastMississippiLockandDamNumber10,ontheIowasideof theriver,you’llseea little towncalledOelwein,population6,772.You’llsee,forafewascendantmoments,everystreet,everybuilding,andeverypickuptruckinbrittle,detailedrelief.Briefly,youcanlookat thisphotographicimageofa town, imaginingthelivesof thepeopletherewithvoyeuris ticpleasure.AndthenOelwein(alongwithyourcuriosity,perhaps) isgone.Suchis therealityof thousandsofsmallcommunitiesdottingthetwenty-eight landlockedstatesof

theAmericanflyoverzone.Lyingbeneathsomeof themost traveledairroutesintheworld, theyarepartof,andyetseeminglyestrangedfrom,therestof thecountry.Inmanyways, it’seasier togetfromNewYorktoLosAngeles,orfromDallas toSeattle, thanit is togetfromanywhereinAmericatoOelwein,Iowa.Yetmuchofwhat thereis toknowabout theUnitedStatesat thebeginningof thenewmillenniumisondisplayright there,gossipingat theMorningPerkcafé,waitingforcallsatRe/MaxRealty,orseeingpatients inthelowbrickbuildingoccupiedbytheHallbergFamilyPractice.Intheiranonymity,andperhapsnowmorethanever, townslikeOelweingoalongwaytowardtellinguswhoweareandhowwefit intotheworld.Whowearemaywellsurpriseyou.Lookagain, then, this timefromthewindowofacommuterflightfromChicagoasitdescends

intoCedarRapids,Iowa,onaclearMaymorning.FollowthegentlearcofI-380north,over theCedarRiverandpast thered-and-white-checkedlogoof thePurinaplant,whichbatheseverythingformilesaroundinthesweetsmellofbreakfastcereal.Whatappearsfromtheplanewindowtobeonlyafewinchesisreallyanhour’sdrivetothejunctionofHighway150,ano-nonsensetwo-lanerthateschewsthecomplexityofcloverleafexitsandoverpasses.Everytwentymilesorso, thespeedlimitdropsfromfifty-fivetotwenty-fiveasHighway150bisectsanotherclusterof three-andfour-storybuildingsbookendedbyredbrickchurchesandbrightmetallicwater towers.Thenamesof thetownsareascompanionableandfamiliaras thecountryisharsh:Bryantsburg,Independence,andHazletonaccompanytheroadall thewaytowheretheAmishhomesteadssitkitty-cornerfromtheSportsmen’sLounge.There,justacrosstheFayetteCountyline, isOelwein,pronouncedOL-wine.Likemostsmall townsinIowa,Oelwein’sfoursquaremilesarearrangedonagridsystem

dividedintoquadrants.Atwhatwouldbetheintersectionof thexandyaxesis thecentralfeatureofOelwein’sarchitectureandeconomy:thecentury-oldChicagoGreatWesternroundhouse,wheretrainswereonceturnedbacknorthorsouthandwhereentire linesofrailroadcarscouldbe

workedonwithoutregardfor theoften-brutalweatheroutside.Anenormousbrickandsteelstructurethesizeof threefootballfields, theroundhouse, likethetownit longsupported, is thebiggest thingformanymiles.Amidtheisolation,Oelwein’sverypresencedefinesthenotionofsomewhere.Onthesurface,Oelweinwouldappear tobetypical ineveryway.Drivingintotownfromthe

south,youfirstnoticethesofteningprofileof themaplesandoaksthatfillout themiddledistanceofanotherwiseflat landscape.Onceyouareinsidethecitylimits,Oelwein’sskylineisdividedbetweenthefive-storywhitespireof theSacredHeartCatholicChurchand,sixblocksfarthernorth,thefour-storyredbell towerofGraceMethodist.Betweenthemisa jewelrystore,asportinggoodsshop, twobanks,aflorist,amoviehouse,andfourrestaurants,allhousedinturn-of-the-twentieth-centurybrickandstonebuildings.AcrossthestreetfromLasFloresMexicanRestaurant, there’saclothingboutique,aphotographystudio,andacraftsstore.Therearealmostasmanybars inOelwein(eleven)as therearechurches(thirteen).ThebiggestcongregationsareLutheranandCatholic,owingtothetwoseparatemovementsof immigrants intothecounty:ScandinaviansandBavariansat theendofthenineteenthcentury;IrishandItaliansat thebeginningof thetwentieth.VonTuck’sBierHausgenerallyseesthehigh-endclientele,whichis likelytostopinfollowingalasagnasupperatLeo’sItalianRestaurant, thenewest incarnationofabusinessthatFrankLeobeganasagrocerystorein1922,shortlyafterarrivingfromItaly.TheDoDropInn,ontheotherhand, isOelwein’sseediestandmosteclecticwateringhole.RunbyMildredBinstock, theDoDrop,as it’sknown,isdecoratedinwhatMildredterms“HighAmishKitsch,”asmorgasbordof lacedoilies,mismatchedwoodenchairs,andallmannerofantiquefarmequipmentwashedintheharshredsandsoftgreensofyear-roundChristmaslights.HeadingsouthonMainStreet,backtowardHazleton,you’llfindaDollarGeneral,aKmart,and

aKumandGogasstation.Forthemostpart, though, thingsinOelweinarestillownedbythesamefamilies thathaveownedthemforever.ThereisnoStarbucks,andtherearenoplansforone.Thisisnota townthat thrivesonfanfare.LuxuryisnotawordthatcomestomindinsideeitherofOelwein’sclothingstores,VG’sandSam’s,wherewooldominatesthefabricsof themen’ssuitsandtheladies’dressesalike.Practical,ontheotherhand, isawordthatappliesatnearlyeveryturn.Eventhephotographystudio,despite itslargepicturewindowfullofhighschoolvanityshots,hasadecidedlyutilitarianfeel,owinginpart to thelongshadowcastbythewidealuminumawning—anecessaryac-coutrement inanareaof theMidwest thatseesthreefeetofrainandfivefeetofsnowinanormalyear.Theclosest thingtoopulenceinOelweincomesinthepredictablyreservedformofacoffeeshop,

theMorningPerk.There,membersofOelwein’sprofessionalclassgathereachmorningaroundanantiqueoakdresserfeaturingbrushedaluminumcarafesofbothregularandflavoredcoffee.Next tothecarafes,awickerbasket isfilledwithcontainersof liquidcreamersinhazelnut,amaretto,andcinnamonflavors—this inastate(andaregion)wherepackagesofgranulatednondairycreamerarederigueur.Theirhusbandsoff towork, thewivesofOelwein’sbest-knownmen(themayor, thehighschoolprincipal, thepolicechief,andtheMethodistminister) lingeronbigcouchesandinstiff-backedchairs togossipandmakecollages.Later, it’soff totheKokomotohavetheirhairandnailsdone.Howandwhereyoudrinkyourcoffeespeaksvolumesaboutwhoyouareandwhatyoudoin

Oelwein.ThreedoorsawayfromtheMorningPerkis theHubCityBakery,a leaner,morehard-edgedsiblingof itssophisticatesister.Paintedadirty,agingwhite,andwitha long,family-stylefoldingtablecoveredinapaper tablecloth,HubCitylooksless likeacaféandmorelikethe

kitchenofaclapboardfarmhouse.Thereisnofocacciaor three-beansoup.Infact, there’snotevenamenu.Instead,there’saplasticcaseofdoughnutsandatwo-burnergasstovewherethecookandownerfrieseggsdestinedforcoldwhitetoastonapaperplate.Not that theoldmenmindastheylingerat thetable, layeredinvariousformsofCarhartt: theirdiscussionsofcornpricesandtherelativemeritsanddeficienciesofvariousherbicidesareongoing, ifnot interminable.Arefinedpalate isnotaprerequisiteforentryatwhat isreferredtobyregularsassimply“theBakery,”thoughithelpstobeshortonappointmentsandlongonopinions.Questioningthecook, liketakingyourcoffeewithcream,amounts tosomethinglikeabreachofetiquette.Together, theseparateconstituenciesofOelwein’s twocafésgiveasenseof thepillarsonwhich

societyinthat townisbuilt.Lifeinasmallmidwesterntownlingers inthebarsandpassesweeklythroughthechurchsanctuaries.But it’srootedinthestoresthat lineMainStreet,andonthegreenandyellowlatticeworksprawlof thefarmsthatbeginjustfeetfromwherethepavementends.Thefit issymbiotic, thoughnotalwaysseamless.Without therevenuesgeneratedbythelikesofthe480-acreLeinoperation—asheepandcornfarmtwelvemilesnorthof town—RepeatsConsignmentStoreandVanDenoverJewelryPluswouldbehard-pressedtostayinbusiness.Aslife inthefieldsandalongthesidewalksgoes,sogoesthelifeof thetown,andalongwithit, thelifeof thehospital, thehighschool,andthelocalChristmaspageant,forwhichOelweinisknownthroughoutat least twocounties.Andyet, thingsarenotentirelywhat theyseem.OnasultryMayevening,withtheCedarRapids

flight longgonebacktoChicago,andtemperaturesapproachingninetydegreesatdusk,passbythePerkandHubCityonthewayintoOelwein’s tinyNinthWard.Lookdownat thecollapsingsidewalk,oracrossthevacant lotataburned-outhome.AttheConocostation, justafewblockssouthofSacredHeart,ayoungmanina trenchcoatpicksthroughtheDumpster,shakingdespite theheat.Here,amidthedouble-widesof theNinthWard,amongthepacksof teenageboysriding,gang-like,ontheirHuffybicycles, theeconomyandcultureofOelweinaremoresecurelytiedtoadrugthantoeitherof thetwoindustries thathaveforeversustainedthetown:farmingandsmallbusiness.This is thepartofOelwein,andof thesmall-townUnitedStates,notvisiblefromtheplanewindowastheflatstretchof thecountryrollsby.AftersundownintheNinthWard, thewarm,nostalgiclight thathadbathedthenationbeneatha late-afternoontranscontinentalflight isgone.Against theoppressivehumidity, thenight’ssmellsbegintotakeshape.Mixedwiththemoist,

organicscentofcutgrassatdewpoint is theether-stinkofmethamphetaminecooksatworkintheirkitchens.MainStreet, just threeblocksdistant,feelsasfarawayasChicago.Forlife inOelweinisnot, infact,apicture-postcardamalgamationoffarmsandchurchesandpickuptrucks,FourthofJulyfireworksandNativityscenes,bakesalesandFriday-nightfootballgames.Noris lifesimplerorbetteror truerherethanit is inLosAngelesorNewYorkorTampaorHouston.Lifeinthesmall-townUnitedStateshas,though,changedconsiderablyinthelast threedecades.Itwasn’tuntil2005—whennewsof themethamphetamineepidemicbeganfloodingthenationalmedia—thatpeoplebegantakingnotice.Overnight, theAmericansmall townandmethamphetaminebecamesynonymous.MainStreetwasnolongerdividedbetweenLeo’sandtheDoDropInn,orbetweenthePerkandtheBakery: itwaspartitionedbetweenthefarmerandthetweaker.Howthiscametobe—andwhatit tellsusaboutwhoweare—isthestoryofthisbook.Andthisbookis thestoryofOelwein,Iowa.

BythetimeIwent toIowainMay2005,I’dalreadyspentsixyearswatchingmethandruralAmericacometogether.ThefirsttimeIranacrossthedruginawaythatsuggesteditssymbolic

placeintheheartlandwasnot inIowabut inIdaho, inalittle towncalledGooding.Iwent toGoodinginthefallof1999todoamagazinestoryonthat town’sprincipal industry,ranching.Atthetime,Ididn’tknowwhatmethwas; itwascompletelybyaccident thatIfoundmyself inaplaceoverrunwiththedrug, thoughtheobviousnessofmeth’seffectswasimmediate.Thatfirstnight inGooding,Iwent tohavedinnerat theLincolnInn,acombinationroadhouseandrestaurant.OnFridaynights, theroadcrewswho’dbusiedthemselvesallweekpavingandgradingthecounty’sfewbywaysdescendedontheLincolntodrinkbeer.Aninordinatenumberof them,itseemedtome,werealsohighonmeth.Whenthesheriffandadeputydrovebyinthealleyaroundmidnight,theystoppedtolookinthroughthebackdoor.Thentheygotbackintheircruiseranddroveaway.Whatcouldtheydo, thetwoof them,facedwitharoomfullofcrankusers?Twonights later,IwasinthebunkhouseofanearbyranchwhenthreeMexicansdroveupinawhiteFordF-150.Theyweremethdealers,andtheoldestamongthem,anineteen-year-oldwhogavehisnameasCocoandsaidhe’dbeendeportedthreetimesinthelastfouryears,explainedthecrankbusinesstomethisway:“Atfirstwegiveitaway.Thentheaddictswilldoanythingtogetmore.”Meth, itseemed,wasjustapartof lifefor the1,286inhabitantsofGooding,Idaho.Backin1999,verylittlewasbeingwrittenabout thedrug,withtheexceptionofafew

newspapersontheWestCoastandasmatteringofsmalleronesliketheIdahoMountainExpress.At thetime,IwaslivinginNewYorkCity.ToreadtheNewYorkTimes, theWashingtonPost,andeventheChicagoTribunewastobelargelyunawareofmethamphetamine’sspreadthroughout theUnitedStates.WhenI talkedtofriendsaboutwhatI’dseeninGooding,noonebelievedit.That,ortheydismissedcrankasonemoreunseen,unfathomableaspectof life inTheMiddle:asprevalentascorn,as inscrutableas thefarmbill,andastackyasevangelical theology.WhetherI traveledtoEnnis,Montana, toMerced,California,or toCanton,Georgia, localconsciousnessof thedrugwasinvariablyacute,evenasmethsomehowavoidedcoherent,nationalscrutiny.Forfouryears,whereverIwent, theremethwas,aseasytodiscountasitwastodiscover;onceIwasbackinanymajorAmericancity—beitNewYorkorChicago—whateverI’dseenorheardlostallcontext.Ievenbegantoget thefeelingthat thedrugwassomehowfollowingmearound.I triedandfailedonnumerousoccasionstoconvincemyagentandseveralmagazineandbookeditors thatmethinAmericansmall townswasamajor issue.Eventually,I triedtoforgetabout itandmoveon.ButIcouldn’t ignorewhatIsawinNovember2004,fiveyearsafterbeinginIdaho,whichis thatmethhadbecomeamajorfeatureinthelandscapeofmyhome.IgrewupnearSt.Louis,Missouri.Fifty-fivemilesaway,near thetownofGreenville,Illinois, is

awetlandcomplexthatisoneof themoreimportantstopoverpoints inNorthAmericaforwhat isannuallytheworld’smostconcentratedmigrationofwaterfowl.I’veduck-huntedthereformuchofmylife,andconsiderGreenville tobeapartof theplace, largelydefined,fromwhichIcome.LikeSt.Louis,Greenvillesits in themidstof thebluffprairiesandtimberedhollowsthatoncestretchedalongtheMississippiValleyfromeast-centralMissouridowntoKentucky.Together, thisareaisadiscretesubsetof thesouthernMidwest,unifiedbyageography,anaccent,aneconomy,andaculturalsensibility that isanelementalpartofwhoIam.HuntingduckseachautumnatCarlyleLakehasalwaysservedasanannualexplorationofmyfamily’shistory,for thebirdsthathatchontheprairiesofnorthwestIowaandtheDakotasmigratesouth, likemyfatherdidsixdecadesago,downtheMissouriRiver towardthepromiseofSt.Louis.There, theymeetwithgreatmassesthathavemovednorthalongtheMississippiRiver, justas thousandsofpeoplehavedone,mygrandmother included:sheleftanOzarkmountainsubsistencefarmalongEboCreek,Missouri,andcamelookingforabetter lifeonthefertilefloodplainthatsurroundsSt.Louis.Notfarfromwhere

thetwostrandsofmyfamilycametogether, there’sCarlyleLake,andthelittle townofGreenville,whereIhavealwaysfeltathome.Somehow,despitehavingrunacrossmethinsmall townsallover theMountainandMiddleWest,Ihadpersistedinthinkingthat theareawhereIgrewupwassomehowimmunetoitspresence.Thatallchangedonenight inGreenville.IwasinEthan’sPlace,abar towhichI’veretiredformanyyearsafterduckhunting.There,Imet

twomenwhomI’llcallSeanandJames.Seanwasaskinhead.He’djustafewdaysearlierbeenreleasedfromtheIllinoisstatepenitentiaryafterservingsixyearsforgrandtheftautoandmanufactureofmethamphetaminewiththeintent todistribute.Hewasathinandwirysixfeetone,170pounds,withashavedheadandapredictablemixtureofNazi tattoos.Hewastwenty-sixyearsold.Jameswasblack, twenty-eightyearsold,andaheavilymuscledsixfeet three.Hisframewaslesssturdy, itseemed, thanhisburden,forJamesmovedwithakindofexhaustedresignation, likesomeonewhosuffersfromchronicpain.Forthelastsixyears,JameshadbeenservingwiththeArmyAirborne,first inAfghanistan,whereheparticipatedintheinvasionof thatcountry; theninIraq,wherehewasalsoamemberof theinitialoffensive;andfinally,asapolicemanbackinAfghanistan,wherehe’dfoundhimself inthecuriouspositionofprotectingpeoplewhohadbeenshootingathimacoupleofyearsbefore.LikeSean,Jameshadbeeninasortofprison,andhewasfinallyhome.Sharedhistoryisstrongerthantheforcedaffiliationsmandatedbyjailor themilitary,andpretty

soonJamesandSean,theblackandtheneo-Nazi, talkedamiablyaboutall thepeopletheyknewincommon.Theydrankthelocalspecialty, theBucketofFuckit,amixtureofdraftbeer, ice,andwhatever liquorthebartenderseesfit tomixtogether inaplasticbucket.Astheyplayedpool,Jamesstalkedaroundthetable,shootingfirstandassessingthesituationlater,eachtimehittingtheballsmoreaggressively.Thecontoursofhisfaceformedthemselvesintoa lookofdesperateperplexitybeneaththeshadowofhisSt.LouisCardinalscap.Why,heseemedtobethinking,will theballsnotgoin?Sean, too,movedaroundthetablewithakindofpent-upaggression.WhereasJames’smuscular

shoulderssaggedindefeatbeneathhisknee-lengthSeanJohnrugbyshirt,Sean’smovementswerefluidanddecisiveinsidehisCarhartts.Hisconfidencewaspalpable.Theenormouspupilsofhisblueeyesbrimmingwithlucidpossibility,SeaneasilycrushedJamesinthegameofpool.Seanwasridingthelong,smoothshoulderofacrankbinge.AsIshotpoolandtalkedwithJamesandSeanoverseveralnights, ithitmewithgreatforcethat

methwasnot, infact,followingmearound.Norwasit justacoincidentalaspectof life intheplacesI’dhappenedtobeinthelasthalfdecade,inGoodingorLosAngelesorHelena.Methwasindeedeverywhere, includinginthemost importantplace: theareafromwhichIcome.There, itstoodtoderail thelivesof twopeoplewithwhom,underonlyslightlydifferentcircumstances,Icouldeasilyhavegrownup.

MeetingSeanandJamestookawaytheabstractionthatI’dfeltregardingmethsince1999.InthewakeofwhatI’dseeninGreenville,writingabookabout themethepidemicsuddenlytookontheweightofamoralobligation.Aroundthatsametime,afteradecadeinNewYorkCity,I’dbegunyearningtoreturntotheMidwest.Mydesire tounderstandthepuzzleofmethhadnowconspiredwithaninstinct toviewthefullnessof theplaceI’dleftwhenIwaseighteen.So, too,wastheneedtoconsiderbothpartsof thepuzzlegrowingmoreurgent.Bymid-2005,methwaswidelyconsidered,asNewsweekmagazineput it in itsAugust8coverstory,“America’sMostDangerousDrug.”

Intheend,methwouldhaveaprolongedmomentinthespotlightduring2005and2006,whichcaninsomewaysbetracedtoa late-2004seriescalled“UnnecessaryEpidemic,”writtenbySteveSuofor theOregonian,aninfluentialnewspaperinPortland.Inall, theOregonianranover twohundredandfiftyarticles inanunprecedentedexplorationof thedrug’sravages.FollowingthecoverstoryinNewsweek,aFrontlinespecialonPBS,andseveralcabletelevisiondocumentaries, theUnitedNationsdrugcontrolagencyinlate2005declaredmethamphetamine“themostabusedharddrugonearth,”accordingtoPBS,withtwenty-sixmillionaddictsworldwide.Evenasglobalawarenessof thedruggrew,meth’sassociationwithsmall-townAmericaremainedstrongest.Theideathatadrugcouldtakeroot inOelwein,however,wastreatedascounterintuitive,challengingnotionscentral to theAmericansenseof identity.Thissinglefactwouldcontinuetodefinemeth’sseemingdistinctivenessamongdrugepidemics.In2005,aftersixyearsof trying,Igotacontract towrite thisbookundertheassumptionthat

methwasalarge-scaletrue-crimestory.Inthatversionof themethstory, themoststupefyingaspectis thefact thatpeoplelikeSeancouldmakethedrugintheirhomes.OrthatCoco, theMexicanteenagerI’dmet in1999,wouldriskdeportationforafourthtimeinorder tocometoGooding,Idaho, tosell thedrug.By2005,manylawenforcementofficerswerebeingquotedinnewspaperspredictingthatthestateofIowawouldsoontakeoverfrommynativeMissourias theleadingproducerofso-calledmom-and-popmethamphetamineintheUnitedStates.Forthisreason,andbecauseSeanandJameshadmadeitclear that theydidnotwant tobewrittenabout,I’dbeenfocusingmyresearchonthestatefromwhichhalfmyfamilycomes,andwhichseemedpoisedtobecomethenewestmethcapitalofAmerica.Oneday,whileporingoverarchivednewspaperarticles intheDesMoinesRegister, Icameacrossaninterestingquotemadebyadoctor inthenortheastpartof thestate.Icalledthedoctoroneafternoonfrommyapartment inNewYorkCity.Wetalkedforanhourandahalf,duringwhichthedoctorbegantochangemythinkingaboutmethasacrimestorytoonethathasmuchmorepervasiveandfar-reachingimplications.Whatstruckmemostwashisdescriptionofmethas“asocioculturalcancer.”Later thatday,Ispokeat lengthtothedoctor’s twinbrother,whowastheformercountypublicdefender,andthentotheassistantcountyprosecutor.Thedoctor livedinOelwein.ImadethecallsonaSaturday.ThefollowingWednesday,IwasdrivingnorthonHighway150,followingflightsfromNewYorktoChicagotoCedarRapids.Thedoctor’snameisClayHallberg.DoctorClay,ashe’sknownaroundtown, isOelwein’s

generalpractitionerandonetimeprodigalson.Ashisfatherhaddonebeforehimforforty-fiveyears,Clayhasfor twodecadesdeliveredbabies,overseencancer treatments,performedsurgeries,andservedasproxypsychologist,psychiatrist,andconfidantetoOelwein’swealthyfarmersandpoormeatpackers, to itsMexicansandItaliansandGermans, itsCatholicsandLutheransandevangelicals.Oelwein,repletewithitshumdrumrealitiesandunseeneccentricities,passesdailythroughClay’s tiny,messyofficeacrossthestreetfromMercyHospital,oneblocknorthof theseniorhighschool.ClaygrewupintownandhadcomebackfollowingmedicalschoolandaresidencyinsouthernIllinois.Heraisedthreechildrentherewithhiswife,Tammy,all thewhilelivingdownthestreetfromhisparentsandhis twobrothers.Really,Iwent toOelweinfor thereasonthatClayandhishometownseemedinseparabletome, inthesamewaythathometownAmericawasbecominginseparablewithmeth.I thoughtClaycouldexplaintomehowthathadhappened.ByMay2005,Oelweinwasonthebrinkofdisaster.AsIstoodonFirstStreet infrontof the

postoffice, thesignsofentropywereeverywhere,andhardlylesssubtle thanthoseinEastNew

York,Brooklyn,or inComptonorWatts, inLosAngeles.Thesidewalkswerecracked,half thebuildingsonMainStreetstoodvacant,andfoot trafficwaspracticallynonexistent.SevenintenchildreninOelweinundertheageof twelvelivedbelowthepovertyline.Upat thefour-hundred-studenthighschool,onEighthAvenueSE,80percentof thestudentswereeligiblefor thefederalschool lunchprogram.Theprincipal,meantime,wasquietlyarrangingwiththelocalpolicetopatrolthehallswithadrug-sniffingdog—essentially, to treat thehighschoolasaperpetualcrimescene.Theburned-outhomesofformermethlabsdottedtheresidentialstreetsandavenueslikeopensores.At thesametime, theIowaDepartmentofHumanServices,whosein-hometherapistsserveasoneof theonlyrealisticoptionsfordealingwithamélangeofpsychiatricailments,drugaddiction,andallmannerofabuseinOelwein,wascutting90percentof itsfundingtothetown.Themeatpackingplantwasonthevergeofclosingitsdoors.Theindustrialparksatunoccupied.Unemploymentwaspeggedat twicethenational level.ForLarryMurphy,Oelwein’sembattledsecond-termmayor,thequestionwasthis:Howwouldhekeephis townfromliterallyvanishingintotheprairie?TheafternoonthatIarrivedinOelwein,ClayHallberg’sfriendNathanLeinmetmeat theSuper

8motel.Forfortyyears,Nathan’sparentshavefarmedandraisedlivestockon480acresnorthoftown.Followinglawschool inIndiana,NathanreturnedhometotakethejobofassistantFayetteCountyprosecutor.Onourwaytothepolicestation,Nathandrovebywhathedescribedasseveralworkingmethlabsonthepretty,oak-linedstreets thatfilloutOelwein’sresidentialneighborhoods,wherethehand-laidstonehousesdatebackinsomecases120years.WepassedAmishmencomingtotownintheirbuggies, theRent-a-Reelmovierentalstore,andthefarmco-op.Twoblocksfartheron,Nathanpointedouthisfavoriterestaurant,adrive-inburgerjointcalledEI-EI-O’s,whichhadrecentlyclosed.Ontheboarded-upwindows, theownerhadscrawledinredspraypaint,“MakeOffer—Please!”TheOelweinCopShop,as thepolicestationisknown,isanondescript1960s-erabrickbuilding

bytherailroadtracks,oneblocknorthof theChicagoGreatWesternroundhouse.Inside,past theblue-litdispatchstation,Nathanintroducedmetothenewchiefofpolice,JeremyLogan.LoganhadrecentlybeenpromotedfromsergeantbyMayorMurphywithmandatestocleanupaforcewithareputationfor improprietyandtospearheadadesperateeffort togetOelwein’ssmall-timemethmanufactureundercontrol.Sittinginhiswindowlessofficewearingabulletproofvest,LoganscrolledthroughmugshotsofOelwein’sbest-knowncrankdealersandmostnotoriousaddicts,oneofwhomhadrecentlybeentakenfromhishomealongwithfifteenassaultriflesandthousandsofroundsofammunition—allwhilehisfifteen-year-olddaughterwatched.ManyofOelwein’saddictsanddealers,saidLogan,hungoutat theDoDropInn.TheideawasthatIwouldgothereand,withtheblessingofLoganandNathanLein,havefreerangetomeetwhomeverIcould.ThefurtherhopewasthatIwouldget thestoriesofseveraladdictsanddealersand,withluck,beallowedtofollowtheir livesfor thenext twoyears.Itdidn’t takelong.Twodayslater,IwasinthedanklivingroomofRolandJarvis’ssmallhouse,

watchingTVwiththeshadesdrawnagainst thebrightMaysunlight.Jarvis,a thirty-seven-year-oldformermeatpackingworker,hadjustsmokedsomecrystallineshardsofcrankheatedonasmallpieceof tinfoil, thevaporofwhichhesuckedthroughaglasspipe.Aswesettledinforthedenouementof themobstermovieGoodfellas,Jarvis toldhisstory,principallyabout thenightheblewhismother’shouseupwhilecookingabatchofmeth.Thatnighthadearnedhimthreemonthsintheburnunitat theUniversityofIowaHospital inIowaCity,andhadmeltedmostofhishandsandfaceoff.

ClayHallbergisRolandJarvis’sdoctor.NathanLeinputJarvis injail.Onthefrigidwinternightin2001whenJarvisblewupthehouse,heranscreamingontothestreet,beggingthen-sergeantJeremyLogan—withwhomJarvishadgonetoOelweinHighSchool inthe1980s—toshoothim.Suchwasthepainofburningalive.Andso, too, is this justasmallpartof thedifficultycausedatinyruralcommunitybythespecterofadrugepidemic,whichdirects life thereina thousandunseenways.NathanLeinandhisgirlfriend,acaseworkerwiththeDepartmentofHumanServices,hardlyeverwentout todinneranymore,forfearofseeingpeoplethatNathanhadput injail,orwhosechildrenhisgirlfriendhadrecommendedbetakenawaybythestate.OfRolandJarvis’sfourchildren,one,at thirteen,alreadyneededakidneytransplant,adefect thatJarvisblamesonhisandhiswife’s intravenousmethusewhile thechildwasinutero.SummingupthedamagedonetoOelweinonemorningat thePerk,TimGilson, theformerprincipalof thenearlybankrupthighschool,wasalmostdriventotearsrememberingtheharshmetricsof thejobfromwhichhe’drecentlyresignedinorder tofinishhisPh.D.ineducation.“Wejustdidn’thavethemoneyandthestaff tohelpthekidsthatneededthemostof it,”Gilsonsaid,describingtheevents leadinguptoaskingthepolicetopatrol thehalls.“Ontheonehand,Ihadanobligationtomyteachers,whowerefrightenedof theirstudents.Ontheotherhand, is thereanythingworsethancallingthecopsonyourownchildren?”Hewenton,“We’reinIowa,forGod’ssake.Wedon’tdo that.”Andyet,hedid.

Thenotionthatbadthingsdon’t—orshouldn’t—happeninsmall townsisnotuncommon.WhatTimGilson’sdisbeliefsuggestsis thatnowhereis thatconceitmoreprevalent thaninthesmall townsthemselves.By2005,methwasnot justchallengingOelwein’ssenseof itself; ithaddestroyedit.Gilsonhadmuchfromwhichtodrawforhis incredulity.Thatsameyear,ananalysisbySlate.comshowedthatU.S.newspapershadusedthetitle“MethCapitalof theWorld”todescribenolessthanseventydifferentAmericantowns,cities,states,andcounties,fromCaliforniatoPennsylvania.Severalmeth-relatedmurdershadbecomenationalnews,mostnotablethemurderofanine-year-oldgirl inCruthersville,Indiana,who’dinadvertentlyfoundaneighbor’smethlabandwassubsequentlybeatentodeath.Throughout itshistory,Americahaspanickedovernarcoticsperhapsmoreoftenandmore

extravagantlythananynationintheworld.Measuredbyitshabitualrecurrence,drugaddictionisourdefiningmoralityplay.Thefirstactdates tothelate1700s,whenalcoholconsumptionwasblamedforeverythingfromslothtomoral incertitudeinthenewandlargelyruralnation.Eversincethen,mostdrugsanddrugepidemicshavebeenassociatedwithurbanlife,whetherexpressedbytheProhibitionraidsofChicagoandNewYorkspeakeasies,LSDinSanFranciscointhe1960s,orWallStreet’sandSouthBeach’scocaineexcessesof the1980s.Whatsetmethapartwasnotonlytheideathatonecouldmakeit in thebathtub,butalsothat thepeopledoingsowerepoororworking-classruralwhites.Inthatway, themethepidemicappearedtohaveneitheranalognorprecedent inanytimesincetheRevolution.Intruth,alldrugepidemicsareonlyinpartabout thedrugs.Methis indeeduniquelysuitedto

MiddleAmerica, thoughthisisonlytangentiallyrelatedtotheideathat itcanbemadeinthesink.Theriseof themethepidemicwasbuilt largelyoneconomicpolicies,politicaldecisions,andtherecentdevelopmentofAmericanculturalhistory.Meth’sbasiccomponentslieequallyintheactionofgovernmentlobbyists, long-termtrendsintheagriculturalandpharmaceutical industries,andtheeffectsofglobalizationandfreetrade.Alongtheway,methcharts thefears thatpeoplehaveandthevulnerabilitiestheyfeel,bothas individualsandascommunities.Thetrulysingularaspectofmeth’s

attractivenessis thatsinceitsfirstwide-scaleabuse—amongsoldiersduringWorldWarII—methhasbeenassociatedwithhardwork.Forseventyyears, thedrugmorecommonlyreferredtoascrankhasbeenthechoiceof theAmericanworkingclass.It’s inthiswaymorethananyother thatthestoryofmethis thestoryofOelwein,Iowa,alongwiththatofRolandJarvisandTimGilsonandJeremyLogan.It isalsothestoryof theremarkable,evenheroiclengthstowhichpeopleandcommunitieswillgoinorder tofixthemselves.Someof thedeepermeaningsof thisdrug’sholdonAmericahadbeenevidentbackin2004, in

Greenville,Illinois.Sincethefarmcrisisof the1980s,manyof thefarmerstherehadlongsinceforeclosedontheir land.Peopleleft in largenumbers.AccordingtoSeanandJames, innearbyHagarstown,Illinois, thereisbutoneresidentwhoremains.By2004,manyof theemploymentopportunities inGreenvilleandthesurroundingareawerehalf-time,withnobenefits.OutbyInterstate70, justacouplehundredyardsfromEthan’sPlace, therewerenofewerthansevenmajorchainmotels,noneofwhichcontributedmorethanafewminimumwagejobstothetown’seconomy.Greenville,onceaproud,vigorousfarmtown,nowdependedinpartonreluctantpassersbymovingbetweenSt.LouisandIndianapolis inorder tosurvive.Soonenoughonthenight thatSeanandJamesplayedpoolwitheachother, theyweretalking

about jobopportunities.Therewereconstructiongigscloser toSt.Louis, inBelleville,Illinois,orevenfartherstill, fortymilesbeyondtheMissouriline, inSt.Charles,sixtymilesfromGreenville,oneway.Therewasanight-watchjobacrossthestreetfromEthan’sattheSuper8,apositionheldat thetimebyaforty-year-olddivorcedmotherof twowhowasheadingtoChicagototryherluck.AndtherewassomeworkatWal-Mart.James,who’denteredtheArmyagruntandleft itsixyearslateraproudstaffsergeant,wasnotenthusedbytheseoptions.Seanjust laughed.Heknewwhathewasgoingtodo:makemeth.Themoneywasgood, thedrugs

weregood,anditgarneredhimaccesstoallkindsofwomenwho,oncetheysmokedafoilor two,woulddoanythingformore.Seanclearlydidn’tgiveashitabout theconsequences.Thewayhesawit, life inGreenvillewasaprisonanyway.Itwasbetter tolivewellfora timeandgobacktojail thantopretendtomakeendsmeetontwohundreddollarsaweekandnohealthinsurancethatSeansaida jobatWal-Martwouldgethim.Thatnight, itwasunclearwhetherJameswasbuyingit.But itwasimpossiblenot towonderat

whatpointhewouldstartseeingthingsthroughSean’seyes.Afterall, they’dimmediatelybeenabletooverlooktheir immensesurfacedifferences:blackskin,whiteskin;shavedhead,militarycrew.Onadeeperlevel, thereexistedastronger,andultimatelymoreenduring,foundation:theywereunitedbyhistory.LifeinGreenvillehad, inthecourseof their lives,changedfundamentally.Andyetheretheyweretogether,finallyhome.IfJamesplannedtostay,howlongcoulditbebeforecrank,andSean,seemedlikehisbestoption?That’snotaquestionIwilleverbeabletoanswerdirectly,for inall thetimesI’vebeenbackto

Greenville,Illinois,I’veneverseenJamesorSeanagain.ThenightsIspent talkingtothemin2004, though,drovemeinmyattempttounderstandmethinsmall-townAmerica.Alongtheway,Ibegantounderstandhowgreatlylife inthosetownshaschangedinthepast thirtyyears.OelweinisasimulacrumforGreenville,andbyextrapolation,for thegreatexpanseof theruralUnitedStates.BeginninginOelwein,onecanfollowmeth’scurrentsbackwardtothethousandsofdisparatesourcesfromwhichitflows.FromMay2005untilJune2008,IwentbackmanytimestoOelwein;Iwent toCalifornia,Idaho,Alabama,Georgia,Illinois,andMissouri,tobigcitiesandsmall townsalike, inanattempttoput theevents inthatsmallIowatownintosomekindof large-scaleperspective.Eventually, thestoryI’donceviewedthroughthelensofhomespuncrimebecameone

thatstretchedfromtheCzechRepublic toChinatoWashington,D.C.,andinvolvednot justaddictsandprosecutorsandpublicdefenders,butalsocongresspeopleandgovernorsandU.N.officials;neuropharmacologistsandmacroeconomists;ruralsociologistsandmicrobiologists;anddruglobbyistsandpharmaceuticalcompanyexecutives.What it tookthreeandahalfyears tofullyunderstand(nineifIcountbacktomytripto

Gooding,Idaho)is that therealstoryisasmuchabout thedeathofawayof lifeas it isabout thebirthofadrug.Ifever therewasachancetoseetheplaceof thesmallAmericantownintheeraof theglobaleconomy,themethepidemicis it.Putanotherway,asAmericanshavemovedincreasinglytothecoasts, theyhavecarriedwiththemanostalgicimageof theheartlandwhencetheirforebearscame,aswornandblurryasanoldphotograph.Butas theimageshaveremainedstatic, theplacesthemselveshavechangedenormouslyinthecontextof internationaleconomics, likeanacreageof timberseenintwophotos,oneinspring, theotherinwinter.Really,whatJamesandSeanwereconfrontedwiththatNovembernightbackin2004wasnothingshortoffindingaplacefor themselvesinanewlyunfamiliarworld.

PART1

2005

CHAPTER1

KANT’SLAMENT

NathanLein, theassistantFayetteCountyprosecutor, is twenty-eightyearsold.Hehasabachelor’sdegreeinphilosophyfromLutherCollegeinIowa,a lawdegreefromValparaisoStateUniversityinIndiana,andamaster’s inenvironmental lawfromtheVermontLawSchool.Thelatter twodegreeshecompletedinanastonishingthreeyearsbyattendingValpo,as it’scalled, in thefall,winter,andspringandthentransferringcredits toVermontinorder togethismaster’safteronlythreesummers’worthofstudy.Meantime,Nathan,awhitefarmkidfromruralIowa,financedallof itbyworkingasabouncerinanall-blackstripclubintheindustrialwastelandofGary,Indiana.Nathanissixfeetnineinchestallandweighs280pounds.Hemoveswithsurprisinggracearound

his tiny,four-roomhouseinOelwein’sNinthWard.Whatevidencethereisof thegreatburdensofNathan’slife is limitedtoahabitofslowlyraisinghishandtohisfaceandthenrubbingthetipofhisnoseinonequickmotion,as if toremoveastainthatonlyhecanperceive.Perhapsknowingthathissizewill lendextraweight towhateverhesays,Nathanfashionshissentencesfromtheleanestfibers.It’sahabit thatunderscoresthegravityof thecontradictionsbywhichhis life isdefined.Despitehissize,Nathan—acard-carryingRepublican—drivesthesamewhitedieselVolkswagen

Jetta thathehasbeendrivingfor177,000miles,or theroughequivalentofsevencircumnavigationsoftheglobe,mostof it loggedwithintheconfinesofasingleIowacounty.TocourtupinthetownofWestUnion,hewearsagraysuit,awhiteshirt,abluetie,andaringoneachthumb.Hishair isdarkblondandisshortonthesidesandlongerontop,whereNathan,aidedbythestiffeningpropertiesofhairgel,arrangesit inawaythat lookslikeneat,stubbledrowsofwinterwheat.ThenameLeinisNorwegian;beneathawideforehead,Nathan’seyesaresled-dogblue.OnonewindowofNathan’sJetta isastickerfor thehallucinogenic-hippiebandWidespreadPanic,whomNathangoestoseewhenevertheyarewithinareasonabledrivingdistance,whichforhimmeansabout400miles.Nathanhasbeentonineteenshowstodate.Inthetrunkof theJetta, thereisahuntingvest inMossyOakcamouflage, thepocketsofwhicharestuffedwithshotgunshellsandwoodenturkeycalls;acardboardcrateofpolicereportsanddepositions;andatwelve-gaugesemiautomaticWinchesterX2shotgun.It’smid-May2005,andinthewakeofafront thatblewoutofRegina,Saskatchewan,and

overshot theDakotas, theskyaboveOelweinisgrayandroiling.Asthereismorerainintheforecast,Nathan’sfatherwillbeplantingcorntill longpastdarkonthefarmwhereNathangrewup, twelvemilesoutsidetown,hopingtoget theyear’scropseededbeforethesoil is toowettoplow.Meantime, thereareplentyofchorestobedone,mostofwhichrevolvearoundthefiftyorsoLincolnlong-woolandCorriedalesheepthatNathan’sparentsraise:sweepingthepens,fresheningthewater,feedinghaytotheramsandewes.Changedfromhissuit, inruinedduck-clothbibsandsize15workboots,Nathanpilots thewhiteJettanorthalongHighway150.HepassesGraceMethodist,somberandmaroon-redinthelong,sunlessdusk, thenturnswestonRoute3.Thelate-daysmellsofcutgrassandwetpavementareunderlainwiththesultry, texturedscentofpigshit.

Twentymilesdistant, thewesternskyisbruisedblackandgreeninawaythathastheAmishurgingtheirClydesdalesonwardata trotalongtheshoulderof theroad, theplasticrain-doorsalreadyzippedtightontheirbuggies.ThehousewhereNathanwasbornandraisedisawhite-clapboardthree-bedroomthatsitsona

slightriseintheprairieattheendofagravelroad.Itwasbuilt in1910.Theyawintheplaceisvisible, twoor threedegreesmeasuredfoundationtorooftop,northwest tosoutheast,asmeaningfulatestamentas thereis totheprevailingferocityof theprairiewind.Theviewsarestunning,asmuchfortheausteregrandeurasfor thesuffocatingsenseofdesolation.Fromthedriveway,mileaftermileofnewlyplantedcornandsoybeansspreadineverydirection, interruptednowandagainintheshiftinglineofsightbyanevergreenshelterbeltorananemicfingerof timber.Themaplesandoaks, likethefarmhouses,havetakentheirchancesagainst theweatherforas longasanyonecanremember.Outhere, itseems,stubbornnessis justapartof thelandscape.Asisfrugality.Insidethefarmhouse,Nathan’smotherandfatherstandinthekitchen,next tothe

sink.Therestof theroomconsistsofa tinyfour-burnerstove,onebankofwhitewoodcabinets,anAmishtablewithtwochairs,andasmallrefrigerator.Stackedinpiles throughout theroomaredozens, ifnothundreds,ofagriculturalbulletins,almanacs,magazines,andfoldoutsthat theLeinsporeover inanattempttoanticipatesheepandcropprices—Wallace’sFarmer,Today’sFarmer,Sheepmagazine, theCornProducer, theIowaFarmBureauSpokesman.ThereisnoInternetandnocomputer,nofaxmachineorBlackBerry.Theonlynodtomoderntechnologyasidefromthewall-mountedphoneisasmallTVonthecounter,onwhichNathan’sfatherwatches(andtalksbackto)thetwohostsofMarket toMarketeveryFridaynightonPBSateightP.M.EverydecisionmadebytheLeins—howmuchseedtobuy,andfromwhom;whentoharvest;how

longtoholdthecrop—isarrivedatfromaprocessofsuperimpositionofdatedeconomicinformationontosubtle,veinouschangesofseasonalmatter.What todotomorrowdependsonthisweek’sweatherrelativetolastyear’syield,oronhowtoday’sfuturesmarketsat theChicagoBoardofTraderelate toanticipatedtrendsinAustralianorCanadianwoolproduction.Inthisway,theLeinsareless likefarmersandmorelikemysticsclingingtobelief inahazyvisionbornnotjustofweatherandorganicchemistry,butofahundredotherunseenanduncontrollableforces.Tolookat them,leaningagainst thecounter inthetinykitchen, is tounderstandtheconnectionbetweenfarming, itselfanactofblindfaith,andreligion.Ifyoucanbelieveinayear’sworthofcornorbeans, itseems,youcanbelieveinanything.Nathan’sfather,James, issixty-nineyearsold.Hishair isshortandblack,andhisglassesare

broken.Standingsomewhatoff-kilterfromabadback, inaredandblueworkshirt, jeans,andsneakers,helooksfifty.Hismother,Donna,whoisseventy,hasshoulder-lengthbrownhair that isgoinggray.Dressedinjeansandalightgraywoolsweater,she, too, looksyoungerthanheryears,thoughthearthritisfromwhichshesuffers isreadilyapparent inherhands,whicharebentandknobbedatthejoints likeabirdofprey’sclaws.Andthoughneitherparent isshort(Jamesstandssixfeet,Donnafiveseven), it’sunclearwhenceNathangothis tremendoussize.Duckingasheenteredthekitchen,withits lowceilingandpeelinglinoleumfloor,Nathanimmediatelyfills theroom,evenashisparentsseemedtoshrink.Theweightofhispresencemakesitodderstill that theLeinsbarelytakenoticeof theirson,whonowstandsnext totherefrigerator.It’sas thoughNathanhasjustbrieflycomeinfromthebarnforaglassofwater;noonesaysaword.Then,withanod,Nathangoesoutsidetoseeaboutthesheep.Withastormcomingandthetractorawaitinghisfather’sreturn, there’snotimefor talk.

Farmingisstill,as ithasalwaysbeen, thelifebloodofFayetteCounty—andbyextension,ofIowa.Nathangoestohisparents’placeat least threetimesaweek.Duringspringplanting,fromlateApril tillmid-May,he’s thereeverynight,asheisduringthehaycuttingandbalingseasonof latesummer, thecornharvest inthefall,andwhentheeweslamb-out inthewinter.Thanksinpart tothis, theLeinoperationisasuccessfulone.Thefecundityof thelandhelps, too.Withsoil thatboastsacornsustainabilityrating(CSR)of75to85outof100, thelandinFayetteCountyhasremainedexceptionallyrichforthe150years thatpeoplehavefarmedit.Annualrainfallhereaveragesthreefeet,andfarmershere,unlikethoseinmanyplacesintheUnitedStates,needn’tbotherwithirrigation, therebysavingthemselvesuntoldthousandsofdollarseachgrowingseason.Thoughtheyhavea50percentrotationofsoybeans, theLeinsmaketheirbottomlinemostyearsoffrowcropsalone,raisinghayjust tokeepthesheepfed.Sellingwool, lambs,andtheoccasionalramoreweispredominantlya laborof love—orwhatNathan’sasceticparentsconsideranindulgence,andoneforwhichtheLeinshavewonprizesasfarawayasMarylandandColorado.All together, it’saformulathatJamesandDonnaLeinhaveappliedwithgoodsuccessforalmostfortyyears.UnfortunatelyformanyfarmingfamiliesaroundOelwein, theLeinplaceisananomaly.Sincethe

early1980s, threeoutoffourfarmsinFayetteCountyhavegoneoutofbusiness, ina trendreflectedeverywhereintheruralUnitedStates.Intheirstead,manyfamilyfarmshavebecomeadd-onstotheever-increasingholdingsofprivatecorporationslikeCargillandArcherDanielsMidland(ADM).That,orfree-fallinglandandcornpriceshaveforcedsmallerplacesliketheLeins’ intobankruptcy,makingthemeasytargetsfor thefewfamilieswhocontrol thebulkof landinruralcounties likeFayette.Withtheir landsoldandnojobs, largenumbersofpeoplehaveleft thefarmbelt in thelast twoandhalfdecades.Oelweinis typical:between1960and1990, thepopulationfellfromeight thousandtojustoversixthousand,adeclineofnearly25percent.Alongwiththiscameadeclineineducationandemployment.OfthosewhoremaininruralAmerica,onlyoneintenmenovertheageoftwenty-fivehaveat least twoyearsofcollegeeducation.Unemploymentaveragesoneandahalf timesthatof theurbanUnitedStates.That is tosaythat thelifebloodofFayetteCounty,as inmostfarmingareas,nowsustainsfarfewerlivesthanitdidjust twentyyearsago.Outofrespectforhisparents,Nathandoesnotusethewordpovertywhendescribingthe

circumstancesof their lives, thoughanyqualitativeanalysiswouldhardlyfail to labelhisparentsaspoor.Onlyonesideof theLeins’century-oldfarmhousehassiding,despite theruthlessweathersystemsthatpoundnorthernIowa.Asachild,NathanworeclothesfromGoodwill.Christmaswasforpraying,notforgiftgiving, lessforreasonsofreligiousstricture,Nathansays, thanfor thefinancialconstraintsendemictoaseat-of-your-pantsfarmingexistence.Donna,whoseparentswerenewGermanimmigrantsfromoverbyWaverly,Iowa,haslivedheresincethe1960s.In1968,Donna’sfirsthusbandwaskilledinacaraccident.ShemarriedJames, thefirst-generationauto-mechanicsonofaNorwegiandaylaborer, in1972,afterhavingkept thefarmgoingbyherselfforfouryears.Backthen,withcroppricesgood, theaveragesizeofafarminFayetteCountywasstill250acres—that’sall it tooktomakealiving.Sincethen, the480-acreLeinplacehasbecomeanartifactofadifferent time.Manyneighborsfarmtentimesthatmuchland,andplantingisdonewithquarter-million-dollarmachinery,guidedbyGPS.Meanwhile,saysNathan, theequipmenthisfatheruseshasbeenlargelyrelegatedtomuseums.WhetherNathanwill takeoverhisparents’placeonedayisoneof thedefiningquestionsofhis

life,andonethat,fornow,remainssorelyunanswered.Nooneunderstandstheinsandoutsof the

LeinplacelikeNathan.Noris thereanyoneforwhomthatgroundhasmoremeaning.Landissomethingyoucraveoryoudon’t; ifyou’rebornwithadesirefor it,youintrinsicallyunderstandwhypeopleliketheLeinsbreaktheirbackseveryday,at theagesofsixty-nineandseventy, tokeepit.Doingsois lessaquestionofvocationoraesthetics thanaquestionofblood.ThefarmiswhyNathancamebacktoOelweinafter lawschool.Duringthethreeyearshewas

away,Nathangrewhishairandusedhiscollegetraininginphilosophytotrytoundothestrictboundsofhisreligioustraining.Onceloosedintothewiderworld,Nathan—inaneffort toburythediscomfortofhisnarrowandisolatedupbringing—did,byhisestimate,everydrugknowntoman,includingmethamphetamine.Evenashereadiedhimselffora lifebuiltaroundthebindingelementof law,heworkedhiswaystepbystepthroughthefoundationsofhis life,attemptingtodestroyeverythingashewent.Whathecouldn’tdestroywastheneedtoreturnhomeor theconnectiontohisfamily’s land.Incomingback,Nathanfigures,hemissedthelastbestopportunityhewouldeverhavetogetoutofIowa.Nathansawhishomeinawhollynewlightonhisreturnin2001.He’dleftasasheltered,

ultraconservativeLutheranandcomebackwithawell-honedpassionforenvironmentalactivism.Locally, thatpassionwasaimedprimarilyatwhathedeemedirresponsiblewater-uselawsthatbothunfairlyfavoredfarmersandranchersandpollutedrivers likehisbelovedVolga,atributaryof theUpperIowa.Fiscally,Nathanremainedconservative, thoughhissocialagendawasthatofaclassicgrassrootsliberal.Inlieuofbuildingmorejails—oneofIowa’sleadingeconomiesinthelast tenyears—Nathanadvocatedinvestmentinstate-mandatedrehabilitation.Hestoppedattendingchurchhimself,but joinedchurch-sponsoredsocialchangeorganizations.HereadAquinasandKant,boughtaVWbus,andorganizedtrashcleanupsonpublic lands.ForawhilehelivedinWaterloo,anhoursouthofOelwein,withthegirlfriendhe’dmet inlawschool,andofwhomhisparentsdisapprovedfor,accordingtoNathan,heramplebreasts,smallstature,andshorthair;herJewishfaith;andherroots inacity(Indianapolis),amongother thingsonalonglist.Therewasafalling-out,andNathan,convincedhe’dgothewayofhisestrangedbrother,whowaslivinginSanFrancisco,gaveuphopeofever takingover thefarm.Heconsoledhimselfwiththefact thathispassionforenvironmentalchangewasdeeplyoutofwhackwiththeprevailingsentimentsof theold-guardfarmersuparoundOelwein,uponwhosecredoshe’donlyafewyearsbeforestakedhisclaimtothefamilybusiness.Still,hewaslostandconfusedbyhis life,drawntoaplace—home—inwhichhefelt intellectuallyandspirituallyconfined.Nothingfeltfamiliar.Movedtodosomething,Nathandidnothing.That’swhenLarryMurphycalled.Murph,ashe’sknownaroundtown, isaonetimemeatpacking

workerfromawell-knownCatholicDemocraticfamilyinDubuque,Iowa.OfLarry’seightsurvivingsiblings—therewereinitiallyten—fourare,orhavebeen, involvedinstatepolitics.Duringhissenioryear inhighschool,NathanhadworkedforMurphasapageduringoneofMurph’sthreetermsasastatesenator.InJanuary2002,oneyearafterNathanmovedbacktoIowa,Murphtookofficeas themayorofOelwein,whichwasindirestraitsfinancially.Inadditiontoproblemswiththefarms,ChicagoGreatWesternhadclosedtheroundhouse,andwagesat theTysonmeatpackingplant intownwerebarelya thirdofwhat they’dbeenasrecentlyas1992.Withashrinkingstudentbodyandfallingtaxsupport,OelweinHighSchoolwasindangerofbeingclosed,whichwouldhavehadthedisastrouseffectof leavingsomefourhundredstudents tobebussed,atgreatexpense,toschoolsasmanyasfiftymilesaway.Intothisvacuumhadmovedtheproductionanddistributionofmethamphetamine.Notonlyin

Oelwein,butallacrossIowa,methhadbecomeoneof theleadinggrowthsectorsof theeconomy.

Nolegal industrycould, likemeth,claim1,000percent increasesinproductionandsales inthefouryearsbetween1998and2002,aperiodinwhichcornpricesremainedflatandbeefpricesactuallyfell.Farmers,desperatetoavoidforeclosureontheir land,soldanhydrousammonia(acommonfertilizer) tomethcookstomakethedrug.Otherssimplyquitfarmingandwent intothesmall-scalemeth-manufacturingbusiness.Meatpackingworkershopingtostayawakelongenoughtotakeondoubleshiftsbought thedruginincreasingquantities.Asallmannerofsmall legitimatebusinesseswentbankrupt,methlabsopenedintheirstead.AccordingtoNathan,farmingandagriculturebeganvyingwithadrugtobeOelwein’s lifeblood.“Talkaboutanightmare,”saidNathan,reflectingback.“We’dlostall thebasesofcivilized

culturearoundhere.Itwasthird-world.PeoplebeganreferringtoOelweinas‘Methlehem.’”InMarch2002,earlyinhisfirst termasmayor,LarryMurphycalledNathanandofferedhimthe

jobofassistantcountyattorney,alongwithamandatetocleanupmethinOelwein.ThenewmayorappealedtoNathan’sidealisticsideandenlistedhimtohelpmakeanexampleofhowatoughtowncouldsucceedindifficult times.HealsoplayedonNathan’sinnatedesire tobeclosertohome.Asheandhisparentsbecamemoreestranged, theproblemsbetweenNathanandhisgirlfriendincreased;for thefirsttimesincereturningtoIowa,hewantedtoleaveWaterlooandcomebacktoOelwein.Murphtoldhimthatastate jobwouldgivehimplentyof timeatnightandonweekendstoworkathisparents’farmandtohealwhateverwoundswerefesteringbetweenthem.Nathancouldbepartof twosolutions,Murphsaid—onepersonal,onecivic.Nathanjumpedat thechance.“He’saverypersuasiveguy,”saidNathanin2005.“Iwentfromtotallyapathetic tototallygung-

hoinaboutaweek.Weweregoingtofixthisplace.Ireallybelievedthat.Insomeways,Ialmoststilldo.”

CrankinOelweinbackin2005waslargelyconsideredasmall-labproblem,as itwasinmostofthecountry.Theyearbefore(2004statisticshadjustbeenreleasedwhenIwent toOelwein), therewere1,370methamphetaminelabsseizedinIowa.InIllinois, thenumberwas1,098.Tennesseehad889,Nebraskahad65,andGeorgialawenforcementofficersseized175.InArizona,thenumberwas71,andinOregonitwas322.Missouribeat themallwith2,087.Between1998—Nathan’ssenioryear inhighschool,whentherewereonly321labsbustedinIowa—and2004, therehadbeenanincreaseofnearly500percent.Andthat’sreallyonlythetipof theiceberg.OelweinchiefofpoliceJeremyLogan,reflectingarealitynationwide,readilyadmitsthat lawenforcementdismantles,atmost,oneintenof thetotalnumberof labsinexistence.ExtrapolatethatontothenumberofchildrentakenoutofIowamethlabsalonein2003and2004(700)andthatmeansthatat least7,000kidswerelivingeverydayinhomesthatproducefivepoundsof toxicwaste,whichisoftenjust throwninthekitchentrash,foreachpoundofusablemethamphetamine.BythetimeImetNathan,heestimatedthat95percentofallhiscaseswererelatedtothedrugin

onemanneroranother:manufactureanddistribution,possession,possessionwithintent todistribute,illegalsaleofnarcotics toaminor,drivingundertheinfluenceofanillegalsubstance,etc. Ofthose,hehadtoofferapleainaboutninety-eightoutofahundred,hesaid.Whatbotheredhimmostwerethecrimes,andthesewerenumerous, inwhichchildrenhadbeeninvolved.Manyof thoseincludedchildrape.Others involvedneglect toanorderofmagnitude—three-year-oldsleftaloneforaweektotakecareoftheiryoungersibling;childrendrinkingtheirownurinetoavoiddehydration—thathadoncebeenunheardof inOelwein.ThepopulationofOelweinfellsteadilythroughthe1980sand1990sandcontinuestofall today,

albeitataslowerpace.Theresulthasbeenalong-termsteadylossof taxrevenue.Inthis

environment,certainbasiccivicfunctionsbecomeindulgences.Keepingthestreetlightsonatnight isnolongeragiven.Trials,whichareexpensive,arenolongereconomicallyfeasible.Norarelengthyincarcerations.Astheseproblemsextendedthroughout thecountyandstate, therewassimplynoplacetoputmethaddicts.TheFayetteCountyjailwasfull.Thelocal jailwasfull.TheIowastatepenitentiaryinFortMadisonwasfull.Therewerenorehabfacilities tospeakof inFayette.TheDepartmentofHumanServices(DHS)waslayingoffworkerseachweek;byOctoberof2005,Nathan’sgirlfriend,Jamie,wouldbeoutofa job.SittingwithMurphonedaythatMaywatchingtheOelweinHuskyvarsitybaseball teamlosea

double-headertotheDecorahVikings,IaskedMurph,whowasnowhalfwaythroughhissecondtermasmayor,whenhe’dfirstnoticedmethasarealfactor inthelifeofOelwein.LikeNathan,hesaidin2003,andcomparedthenumberof labstoaplague.Iaskedhimwhatheplannedtodoaboutmeth,sinceithadbeenaproblemforacoupleofyears.Murph,awarmandvibrantmanoffiftywhoappeared,behindpilot’ssunglassesandbeneathanavy-issuebaseballcap, tobeinspectacularlygoodhealth,wasuncharacteristicallysilent.“Ihonestlydon’tknow,”hesaidfinally.“Myfear is that thereisnosolution.That’showunclear thepathhasbecomeatthispoint.”Murphunderstood,perhapsmorethananyone, themannerinwhichOelwein’sfinancialdifficulties

of thelast twodecadesreinforceditsmethproblem.Hisjobwasincreasinglydirectedbythebeliefthat insolvingthetown’seconomicdilemma,thedrugproblem,too,wouldabate.Thatwasthehope,anyway.Onanother level,methseemedtooperatecompletelyoutsidetheboundsofanyrational,calculatedvariables.Ifcrankwassupposedtoappealonlytopeoplewithnothingtolose,whythen,saidMurph,didthe“goodfamilies”suffer itsconsequences, too?Recently, thehusbandofthewomanwhoownedalocalbeautysalonhadbeenhallucinatingsobadlyonenight thatheaccusedhiswifeofhavingsexwithastrangerinthebednext tohim(shewashidingwithherdaughter inanadjoiningroomat thetime),andthenhetriedtokillher.Itwasas though,saidMurph,asenseofnihilismhadbecomeendemictoOelwein.Oneexampleof theconnectionbetweenfinancial lossandtheincreaseinmethusewasafeeling

amongthesmall-timecooksthat they, likethemoonshinersof theearlytwentiethcentury,werethelastofabreed,not justofrebelliouscriminals,butofsmall-businesspeople.Inthewakeofsomanyclosedstorefronts, itwastheBeavisandButt-Headcooks,as thepolicecalledthem,whotoutedtheirplaceasentrepeneursintheincreasinglyweakeconomyofOelwein.Itwasanaddedbenefitofthevitalityof theirbusinessesthatpeople,whentheysnortedorsmokedlocalcrank,feltgoodfordays.Viewingthemselvesasmodern-dayPiedPipers, thecooksbytheirverypresenceintownposedaquestiontowhichtheanswerwasnotobvious:Whatelsewastheretofeelgoodabout?Itwasa logicthathadbecomepervasive.AcrossthestreetfromNathanLein’shouse,ninetyfeetfromhisfrontdoor,amarriedcouplewhowerebatchersworkeddayandnightuntilNathantriedandconvictedthemin2003.

Small-timecooksinOelweinmakeakindofmethamphetaminecalled“Nazicold,”whichreliesonanhydrousammonia,achemicalfertilizerrichinnitrate thatfarmerssprayontheirfields,andpseudoephedrinerenderedfromSudafedandContac.ThenameNazicoldrefers inpart to thedependenceoncoldmedicineandinpart to themethamphetaminesynthesisprocessusedbytheGermansinWorldWarII,whichdependedonnitrate.Ofthelatter ingredient, theGermanshadenormoussupplies,fornitrateisalsoakeycomponent ingunpowder.(Withenoughgunpowderandenoughmeth,onemightconclude,anythingseemspossible.)Germanmethamphetamineduringthewar,manufacturedbythepharmaceuticalcompaniesTemmlerandKnollandsoldunderthename

Pervitin,wasinfactmadeinlaboratories,andinhugequantities:millionsofpillseachmonth.Nazicoldmeth,ontheotherhand,canbemanufacturedwherever,andinquantities thatrarely

exceedapoundpercook,butwhicharemorelikelytoproduceonlyafewgramsofwhat islocallycalledswag,shit,batch,andcrank.LablocationsinIowainthepastdecadehaveincludedbaitandtackleshops,riverbarges,networksof tunnelsdugwithbackhoes, thecabofacombine,thousandsofkitchensinks,bathtubs,andmotelrooms,ahighschool lockerroom,andaretirementhome, inwhichtheelderlyresidentsweregivenexcessivedosesofopiatessothat theywouldnotwakeupwhile thebatchersworked.InoneIowacounty, theschooldistrictbannedbakesalesafterseveralchildrenunwittinglybrought toschoolmeth-taintedchocolatechipcookiesandRiceKrispiestreats thatsickenedclassmates.Likedioxin,methresiduepossessesauniqueabilitytobindtofood,countertops,microwave

walls,sinkbasins,andhumanlungtissuefordaysafterbeingsynthesized.Makingthedrugisadangerousundertaking.Theextreme“heat”ofanhydrousammonia,whichisstoredatnegativetwohundreddegreesFahrenheit, issuchthat itcanburnthroughhumantissuetothebone.By2005,meth-makinginOelweinwasaprocessmoreoftencompletedina twenty-ouncesodabottle thaninanactual laboratory.At leastonestepintheprocess—addinglithiumtoanhydrous—canresult inexplosiveboilingifnotproperlydone.Inanothermethodofproduction,addingblueiodinetoredphosphorusoftenproducesphosphinegas,whichis toxicenoughtocauterizelungandthroat tissue.Thesideeffectsofmeth—bleedingskin-soresasyourporesstruggletoopenandexpel thedrug,whichoftenbecomeinfected; internalorgansshrunkenfromdehydration;vastareasof thebrainthataccordingtoCATscansarecompletelydepletedofneurotransmitters:asensethatapersonisliterallyfallingapartfromtheinsideout—seemalmostunnatural,somethingvisiteduponourwakinglivesfromtheunconscious.Thecruel ironyis that it isahorrorcompletelyofourownmaking.“Lab,”then, is largelyamisnomer.All that is trulynecessarytomakeNazidope, inadditionto

theanhydrousammoniaandthecoldpills, isa lithiumstripfrominsideabattery(accessiblebyunrollingthelayersofzincandaluminumthat liebeneaththeprotectivesheath),someColemanlanternfluid,andaninth-gradeknowledgeofchemistry.Usingasodabottleinsteadofapairofbucketsriggedwithsurgical tubingiscalledthesingle-batchsystem,anditbecamepopular inOelweinoncethepolicehadbegunraidingsomanyhomesinsearchofmethlabs.Single-batchingwasdevisedasawaytocookwhileridingmountainbikes.If theystrappedasodabottleontoarackover therearwheel,single-batchersbelievedthat theconstantmovement—unlikeinahomelab—woulddiffusethesmellof theprocess.Theyfurtherbelievedthat thepolicewouldn’tsuspectpeopleonbikesofcookingmeth.(Itdidn’t takelongtocatchon.Inonestory,aFayetteCountysheriff’sdeputypullsuptoakidsittingbythesideof theroadamidawildernessofmidsummercorn.Hisbikeinpiecesallaroundhim,hehasasodabottleathisside, insideofwhichthereisasmall infernoofactivity:hehasdecided,whilehewaitsforhismethtocook, totakehisbikecompletelyapartandput itbacktogetheragain.Theboyasksthedeputywhyhestopped.“Igotacall,”saysthedeputy, in thebone-drywitendemictotheMidwest,“thatyouneededtoborrowascrewdriver.”)ThefirstorderofbusinessforanyNazicoldcookis toamassquantitiesofcoldpills.Todothis,

cooksgenerallyhirepeoplewhowillworkinexchangeforaportionof theproduct.Thesepeoplestereotypicallyridetogether invansfromonetowntothenext,pilingintogasstations,Wal-Marts,grocerystores,andpharmaciesinorder tostealorbuyasmuchcoldmedicineas theycan.Theymightdoonecountytoday,andanother tomorrow.If they’vebeenparticularlyactivelatelyaroundOelwein, theymightrunuptoCaledonia,Minnesota,hitDecorahandKendallville,Iowa,onthe

way,thenrobtheirwayhomeviaPrairieduChien,Wisconsin.Copsacrossthecountry,playingonthevanelementandthefact that thepeopleridinginthemareapt tobeactingfunny,call theprocessofamassingpillsSmurfing.Dependingonhowsuccessful thecookis,hemighthavehisownsupplyofanhydrousammonia,

whichisgenerallytosaythathegets itfromafarmerwhotakesacutof theprofit.Forsmall-timers, though,stealingis theorderof theday.It’sdangerouswork,andacommonsourceof injury.Foruseasafertilizer,anhydrousishighlydiluted;foruseinmakingcrank, itmustbegotteninitsconcentratedform,whichis largelydoneatnightandsurreptitiously.Onecommonandincrediblyhazardouswayofgettinganhydrousfromtheheavy, thick-walledsteel tanksinwhichit isstoredistopropthetanklegsonbricksandthentodrillholesjustabovethesettlinglineof theanhydrous,easilyidentified, likestudsindrywall,byrappingone’sknucklesalongthetankandlisteningtothepitch.Then, thethievesremovebricksoneata timefromtwoof thelegsof thetank, tiltingthetankmoreandmore.Whentheanhydrouspoursoutof thedrilledholes, theyattempttocatchit inbucketsorsmall,reinforcedkerosenecontainers.Dr.ClayHallberg, thechiefofstaffatMercyHospital, tellsonestoryamongmanyofaboywhowaitednearlytwodaystocometotheemergencyroomfollowinganaccidentwhilestealinganhydrousinwhichasmallamountof theliquidhadspilledonhis jeans.He’dhavecomesooner,buthewasstillhigh,andhedidn’twant togotojail.Bythetimehegot totheER,saysClay,oneof theboy’stesticleshadmeltedoff.It’sstories likethis, toldandretoldeverydayamongthefarmersatHubCityBakeryorwhile

shoppingatVG’s, thathadbeguntofraythesenseofcivility inOelweinbysummer2005.Twoyearsafteraconsolidatedeffort toridthetownofmethwasbegun,patiencewaswaning.Thepolicechiefmandated—withNathan’sandMurph’sfullsupport—thathismenpullovercarsforalmostanyreasoninhopesoffindingmeth.Hehadrecentlylobbiedthecitycouncil topassanordinanceoutlawingbikesintown.Thehopewasthat thecookswhobrazenlycycledaroundmakingmethintheirsodabottleswouldat leastdososomewhereout inthecountryinsteadofrightonMainStreet.Inreaction, therewastalkinOelweinthatMurphandNathanandthechiefwereinfringingonpeople’scivil libertieswhentheyought tobedoingsomethingabout themethlabs,whichregularlycaughtfire inresidentialneighborhoods,sendingtoxicplumesofsmokeinwhateverdirectionthewindhappenedtobeblowing.Meantime,anOelweinofficernamedDavidBloemwasbeinginvestigatedforassaultingamethaddictnamedJasonAnnis.AccordingtotheWestBranch(IA)Times, theaccidentbeganwhenBloemarrestedAnniswithameth-filledsyringe“stickingoutofhisarm.”Later,avideocamerainthepolicestationappearedtoshowBloemshovingAnnis tothefloor,wherehesufferedabrokenorbitalboneatoneeyeandacompoundfractureathis leftcheek.Theeffectwaspartlydesperation,evenpanic,andpartlyareversiontotheoverlysimplistic

versionofevents,whichisthatmeth,andmethalone,wasresponsibleforall thatwasbadinOelwein.Theaddendumtothepostulate is thatwhoeverbecomeshookedisweak.There’ssomethingwrongwiththem,andbecauseof them,there’snowsomethingwrongwithus.EvenNathan,whoseowncontradictionsmadehimadeptat lookingat thingsevenhandedly,wasquicktotalkabout the“shitbags”andthe“scum”:thosewhoseaddictionmadeeveryoneelsepaytheprice.After threeyearsasassistantcountyattorney,duringwhichthingshadgonefrombadtoworse(inOelwein),hefounditharderandharder toseethenuancesof lifeaftermeth.

Nathan’sofficeis inasquat three-storybrickbuildingat thecornerofHighway150andRoute3,acrossthestreetfromtheOelweinPublicLibrary.Onthefirstfloorof thebuildingthereisasmall

bank.Thesecondandthirdfloors, likesomanycommercialspacesinOelwein,areempty.Thebasementisoccupiedbyatwo-manlawfirm,SauerandSauerLLC.TheyoungerSauer,Wayne, is,inadditiontobeingapartner inthefirmwithhisfather, thecountyattorney.Nathan,everydaythathe’snot incourt,goestohisofficethere,whichisample, ifnotextravagant.Thereisa largedeskandthreechairs, twoof themstackedwithboxesofdepositionsandpolicereports.Onthewallhangsthebeardofa turkeythatNathankilledlastspring, tenincheslongandblackandcoarse, likethetailofa tinyhorse.Next tothat isaframedcertificateof thankstoNathanforoneof themanycleanupshehasorganizedonthenearbyVolgaRiver.It’s lunchtime,duringwhichNathan,whoisproudofhisfrugality,wouldnormallygohomeand

eat lastnight’s leftoverswhilewatchingTV.AsecondreasonNathanhardlygoesout toeat is thatheisconstantlyrunningintopeoplehe’sprosecuted.Today, though, isFriday, theendof theworkweek,andtheMaysunisfinallyoutfollowingfivesoliddaysofrain.Leo’sItalianRestaurant,just threeblocksaway,hasaspecialeveryFridayonthefriedporktenderloinsandwichwithmayoandtomatoandasideofbroastedpotatoes.It’sstillanexpensivesandwich, ifyouaskNathan:$5.95.But todayitsoundstoogoodtopassup.SoNathanreachesforhissuit jacket,walksupthestairs,andheadsout theglassdoorof thebuildingintothewarmsun.Leo’sispacked.Frontedbylargewindowsthat lookontoMainStreetandacrossat themovie

house,Leo’sfeelsasoldasthebuilding,built in1907, that ithasoccupiedforfortyyears.Thetinceilingisoriginal,asarethewoodwalls.Businessisgoodeverylunchanddinner, twelvemonthsoftheyear.At thetablessitfarmersintheircleanjeans,andtechniciansfromtheTysonplant,alongwithsomemenintowntodiscusstheopeningofanethanolplantdowntheroad.TakinghisplaceinaredNaugahydeboothagainst thewall,Nathanisfeelingalittle

philosophical,perhapsbecausethewaitress,BrigitteHendershot,representsforhimthedifficultiesfacedbyhis town.Brigitteworksfivedaysaweek.Sheisfifty-four,andwhatNathancalls thesaltof theearth.Herson-in-lawisasheriff’sdeputy;herdaughterworksfor thestate’sDepartmentofHumanServices.It ispeoplelikeBrigitte,saysNathan,whomthemethepidemichurts themost.Theyworkhardall their livesonlytoseetheir townsgotohellandtoworrythat theirgrandchildrenwillfallpreytoadrug.Inasinkingeconomy,hesays, it’sas thoughtheharder theywork, thefartherbehindtheyfall. ItmakesNathancrazy.“I thinkabout thecredosthatIadmire:Kant’scall toactionfor thebettermentofman;Aquinas’s

belief thateveryman’sjobis tohelpeveryothermanachievehisends.WhenIgrewup,”saysNathan,“everythinginmyparents’househadtobeblackandwhite.Nointerracialmarriage,nobooze,nosex,novotingforDemocrats.Iwent tolawschool,andI thought:Howdoesthisnarrow-mindedhorseshitaidinthecallingsofKantandAquinas?Itcan’t,becauseit’s toomarginalizing.“ButnowlookwhereIam,”hecontinues.“I’vecomefullcircle,becauseIseethepeoplethatI

prosecuteascasefiles,blackinkonawhitepage.There’ssofuckingmanymeth-heads,Ican’tdifferentiate.Idon’tgetachancetoseethemintheirhomes.Idon’treallyhavetimetoseethemevenaspeople,becausethat’snothowI’mtrained.SohowhaveIevolved?”heasks,rubbingquicklyathisnosebeforeansweringhisownquestion.“Ihaven’t.Idevolved.”Brigittecomesover totakeNathan’sorder.Herhair isdyedblacktohidethegray,andshe

wearsdarkglassesthat turndarker inthesunwhenshegoesoutside.Whensheleaves,Nathanleansforwardontothetableandclaspshishands.“Let’s trytolookatmethscientificallyandeconomically,”hebegins.“First, there’s thepartof

yourbrainthat’sevolvedover thousandsofyears torewardyoufordoingthethingsthatwill

regeneratethespecies.Havesex,feelgood, inanutshell.Thenthere’smeth,whichis twentytimesbetter thansex.So,basically,methbecomesmorepowerful thanbiology.“Soyoucanputa tweakerinprison,andthewholetimehe’s inthere,he’s thinkingofonlyone

thing:howhe’sgoingtogethighthedayhe’sout.He’snoteventhinkingabout it,actually.He’slike,rewiredtoknow thateverythinginlife isabout thedrug.Soyousay,‘Whatgooddoesprisondo?’“Meanwhile,whetherhe’s inprisonoroutonthestreet tweaking,he’sdisengagedfromthe

economy.There’sawholesectorof theblue-collarworkforcethat’s justgonearoundhere.Sowhatwehaveasanalternativeis thesestate-mandatedhalfway-housethings,wherefor twomonthsyouhavetocheckinandcheckouteachday;youhavetoholda job;youhavetotakepiss tests.Fine.But twomonths,”saysNathan,“isn’tshit.Twomonthscleanonmethisnothing.Whynotmakeitfiveyears?Putmoneyintobuildingandstaffingthoseplacesandtryandkeeppeoplestraightforyearsata timewhilegivingthemsomethingtolose—ajob,asenseofsecurity.”Nathanleansback.Theporktenderloinishere.Brigittesayswarmly,“Enjoy,honey.”Nathanhas

knownbothherandherchildrenallhis life.“Thanks,”Nathansays.Asshewalksaway,Nathanlooksather.Hesays,“Theproblemis,no

onewhoworksanhonest jobwantstogivethetweakersanymorechancestofuckup.”Hesitsbackandlooksathissandwich.Suddenlyhe’snothungry.“Dealingwithmethlogicallyisadifficultsell to thepeopleof this town.Iunderstandwhy.It’s

hard,knowingthat thesamedirt-bagisgoingtobeincourt tomorrowfor thethirdtimethisyear.Imean,I’msorry,butI leaveworkandgotothefarmtoworkmore.AndsometimesI lookat theguywhocan’tstopdoingcrank,andI just think,‘Fuck.It’dbeeasiertoshoot thesonofabitch.’”Thethoughtmakeshimlaugh.Helaughssohardthatpeopleturntolook.Atthetablenext tous,

anoldfarmerinbluejeans,hisgreenJohnDeerewindbreakerhungoverthebackofhischair,staresangrilyatNathan.Nathancoldlyreturnsthefavor.Fora longmoment,oneof themmightdosomething, ifonlyheknewwhat.

CHAPTER2

THEMOSTAMERICANDRUG

Onacoldwinternight in2001,RolandJarvis lookedout thewindowofhismother’shouseandsawthat theOelweinpolicehadhunglivehumanheadsinthetreesof theyard.Jarvisknewthepolicedidthiswhentheymeant tospyonpeoplesuspectedofbeingmethcooks.Theheadswereinformants,placedlikedemonicornaments tolookinthewindowsandthroughthewalls.AsJarvisstudiedthem,theymumbledandsquintedhardtoseewhatwasinsidethehouse.Thentheheads,satisfiedthatJarviswasinfactcookingmethinthebasement,conveyedthemessagetoablackhelicopterhoveringover thehouse.Thewhooshofthebladeswashushedandallbut inaudible,soJarvisdidn’tnoticethehelicopter tillhesawtheheadstiltbackontheirlimbsandstareat thecoldnightsky.Bythen,Jarvisknewhehadtohurry:OncethehelicoptersentcoordinatestotheCopShop, itwouldbeonlymomentsbeforetheyraidedthehouse.Jarvisrandownstairs tothebasement.HewaswearingaMinnesotaVikingstanktop,apairof

boxershorts,andwhite tubesocks.Adivorcedthirty-five-year-oldfatheroffourwho’dbeenmakingmethsincethemid-1990sandusingthedrugsincehewassixteen,Jarvishadbeeninjailallbut threeof thelast tenyears.Hedidnotwant togoback.Sobottlebybottleandcontainerbycontainer,hepoureddowntheflooddraininthefloorofhismother’sbasementthechemicalshehadstoredthere:anhydrousammonia,Colemanlanternfluid,denaturedalcohol,andkerosene.Finallyhepouredtwogallonsofhydrochloricaciddownthedrain.Thenhelitacigarette.PeoplearoundtownliketosaythatRolandJarvisblewhimselfup.ThesoundJarvisheard

immediatelyfollowingtheclickofhis lighter, though,wasnotanythinglikeanexplosion.Itwasaverydistinctandveryquietsuckingsound.It tookaboutaquarterofasecondfor theionizedhydrogeninthehydrochloricacidtopropagatefromthelighter’sflameandintothedrain.Thismadetheentirebasementintoavacuum.JarvisheardasoftWhoomp!Thencametheblast, theforceofwhichblewout thewindowsandsingedJarvis’sbodywherever itwasn’tcoveredbyclothing.Inthespaceofseveralmoretenthsofasecond,allhisexposedbodyhairburnedoff.Whenhelookeddown,hesawthathistubesocksweresomehownolongeronhisfeet.Whenhelookedup,hesawthat thewoodenceilingwasconsumedbyanimate,expandingrivuletsofblueflame.Hismother,whowassomethingofapackrat,hadstoredherdeceasedhusband’sbooks,clothes,andfishingequipmentinboxesinthebasement,alongsideoldfurnitureshecouldn’tbear tosell, for ithadbeeninherfamilysincethedaysbeforehergrandmother leftSicily.Nowallof itwasonfire.Oxygenpouredintothebasementthroughtheblown-outwindows,feedingtheflames.Jarvis’s tanktopwasburning,sohetookitoffandwentrunningupthestairsandoutontotheporch.Hestoodthereawhile, thinking.Thenhedecidedtogobackintothehouse.Forforty-fiveminutes,Jarvismadeonetripafteranother intohismother’shome,evenasthefire

spreadfromroomtoroomandfloor tofloor.Hefilledaplasticmopbucketoverandover,andfought thefirerelentlessly,stoppingeverynowandagaintobringacouchora tableoutsideintothebrutalIowanight.Atonepoint,dissatisfiedwiththewateroutputofthekitchensink,Jarvisclaimsthatheharnessedthesuperhumanstrengthaffordedhimbythedualeffectsofhismethhigh

andhispanickedadrenalinerushtopull thesinkfromitshousinginthecounterandthrowitagainstawall inablindrage.Jarvissayshewantedtosavethehouse.It’sconsideredaforegoneconclusionbythepolicethat

hewastryingtoretrievetheremnantsofhismethlab,alongwiththeformidableamountofdopethathehadbeenmaking,forJarvis, ina townfullofmethcooks,wasconsideredoneof thefinestandmostprolificof theirnumber.That,orhewasattemptingtospreadthefirehimself inorder toburnasmuchevidenceaspossible.It’sconceivable, too, thathewasinsuchastateofpsychoticdisarray,emotionalbankruptcy,andphysicaldisembodiment thathewasdoingall threeof thosethings.Whatstoppedhim,inanyevent, is thathebegantomelt.Followingoneofhis tripsoutside,Jarvis lookeddownandsawwhathethoughtwaseggwhite

onhisbarearms.Itwasnoteggwhite; itwastheviscousstateofhisskinnowthat thewaterhadboiledoutof it.Jarvisflungitoffhimself,andthenhesawthatwheretheeggwhitehadbeenhecouldnowseeroastingmuscle.Helookedathis legsandhisabdomen.Hisskinwasdrippingoffhisbodyinsheets.Panicked,standingthereinthefrigidnightoutsidetheinfernoofhismother’shome,nakedbutforhisboxershorts,whichhe’dinadvertentlysoakedinwaterwhilefightingthefire,RolandJarvisbeganpushingsheetsofskinfromhimself,usinghishandslikeblunt tools,wipingandshovingthehidefromasmuchofhisbodyashecouldreach.He’dhavepulledthemeltingskeinsofskinfromhimself inbigger,moreefficientsections,butfor thefact thathisfingershadburnedoffofhishands.Hisnosewasallbutgonenow,too,andheranbackandforthamongthegatheredneighbors,unabletoscream,forhisesophagusandhisvoiceboxhadcookedinsidehisthroat.Thepolice,saysJarvis, justwatched.JeremyLoganwasstillasergeant,andamanwithwhom

Jarvishadgonetohighschool.WhenJarvisapproachedhim,Loganmovedawaylikeamatadoravoidingabull,notbecausehetooksadisticpleasureinJarvis’splight,butbecause,asLoganlatertoldme,nooneknewwhat todo.Jarvisbeggedinvainforsomeonetoshoothim.Hewasburningalive,andthepainwasunbearable.Noteventheparamedicsknewhowtorespond,saysJarvis.Hesayseveryonewatching—thegatheredneighbors, thepolice, theentireOelweinFireDepartment—wantedhimtodie.“AndIdon’tblamethem,”hesays.“Whatelsecouldyoudowithamanlikeme?”

MethamphetamineissynonymouswiththekindofderangedbehaviorexemplifiedbyRolandJarvisboththatnightandinthenineteenyears leadinguptoit.Thestories thatJarvis tellswouldhardlybebelievable,wereitnotforcorroborationamonghisfriendsandwithinthepagesofpolicereports thatexistsolelytocatalogtheknownexploitsofasingleOelwein,Iowa,methcook.Jarvisis justoneofmanylocal legendsaroundFayetteCountyfamousfor,amongsomanythings,stayinghighoncrankfor twenty-eightdaysstraight,anentire lunarcycle.Methisalsoresponsiblefor thephysicaldestructionthatJarvis’sbodyexhibits.BythetimeImethim,he’dhadfourheartattacks.Hecouldn’tsleepandrarelyhadanappetite.Almostallhis teethweregone,andthosethatremainedwereblackanddecaying.Hewasinalmostconstantpain;hismusclesached,andhisjointswerestiff.Meth’sdestructivenessextended,saidJarvis, tohischildren,oneofwhom,bornatthepeakofhisparents’ intravenousmethuse,waswearingacolostomybagbytheageof ten.Unabletoshootupwiththefingernubslefthimbythelabexplosion,Jarvishadtaughthimself toholdapipeandlightersothathecouldresumehismethhabitonceagain.So, too,hadtherebeenby2005thousandsofstoriesacrossthecountryblamingmethfor

delusionalviolence,morbiddepravity,extremesexualperversion,andanalmostotherworldly,

hallucinogenicdimensionofevil.In2004,anOjibwaIndiannamedTravisHolappainEmbarrass,Minnesota,hadbeentiedtoachair inaruralswamp,tortured,shoteleventimes,andthendecapitatedafterrunningafoulofmethdealers.InasuburbnorthofAtlanta, in thespaceofoneweekthatsameyear, thirteenbodieswerefound,boundandmurderedexecution-styleinasinglehomeusedasamethstashhouse.InOttumwa,Iowa,a ten-year-oldgirl’sstepfatherwasjailedforhishabitofgettinghighoncrankandthenrepeatedlyforcingthegirl,atgunpoint, toperformoralsexonhim,anact thathejustified, inhishallucinogenic,psychoticstate,bysayingtopolicethatthegirlwasthedevilandthatshehadbeggedhimtodoit. InOelwein, inJuneof2005,amanhighonmethbeatanotherwithaglassvase,andthinkinghewasdead,rolledhiminablanket, thenshovedhisbodybehindthecouch,wherehis teenagedaughterfoundhimthenextafternoon.Andyet,methamphetaminewasonceheraldedasthedrugthatwouldendtheneedforallothers.NagayoshiNagai,aJapanesechemist,firstsynthesizeddesomethamphetaminein1898.Almost

fromthebeginning, thedrugwascelebratedfor thesimplefact that itmadepeoplefeelgood.Itwasnot,however,untilAkiraOgata,anotherJapanesechemist,firstmademethin1919fromredphosphorusandephedrine,anaturallyoccurringplant thatgrowslargelyinChina, thatmassproductionof thedrugbecameviable.Redphosphorus, theactiveingredientonthestrikerplateofamatchbook,canbemined.Ephedrine, likecocaorpoppies,canbefarmed.By1933,methwasheraldedintheUnitedStatesasadrugonparwithpenicillin.In1939, thepharmaceuticalgiantSmith,Kline,andFrenchbeganmarketingthedrugunderthenameBenzedrine.InJapan,methwassoldasHiropon; inGermany, itwasmarketedunderthenamePervitin.Inadditiontonarcolepsyandweightgain,methamphetaminein1939wasprescribedasa treatmentfor thirty-threeillnesses,includingschizophrenia,depression,anxiety, thecommoncold,hyperactivity, impotence,fatigue,andalcoholism.Inaworldinwhichthewinnersweredefinedbythespeedwithwhichtheycouldindustrialize,methsuppressedtheneedforsleep,food,andhydration,all thewhilekeepingworkers“peppy,”as theadsread.Themiraclecurecouldevenaidinthenightmareofwar,oncetheindustrializingnationsofGermany,Britain,Japan,andtheUnitedStatesbeganfightingforworlddominance.AccordingtoapresentationgivenbyformerHarvardsociologistPatriciaCase,reportsauthorized

bytheU.S.governmentin1939suggestedthatmethhad“psychotic”and“antisocial”sideeffects,includingincreasedlibido,sexualaggression,violence,hallucinations,dementia,bodilyshaking,hyperthermia,sadomasochism,inabilitytoorgasm,Satanicthoughts,general immorality,andchronicinsomnia.Nonetheless,Japanese,American,British,andGermansoldierswereallgivenmethamphetaminepills tostayawake, tostayfocused,andtoperformundertheextremeduressofwar.Methedrine,accordingtoCase,wasapartofeveryAmericanairman’spreflightkit.Threeenormousplants inJapanproducedanestimatedonebillionHiroponpillsbetween1938and1945.Accordingtoa2005article intheGermanonlinenewssourceSpiegel, theGermanpharmaceuticalcompaniesTemmlerandKnoll inonlyfourmonths,betweenAprilandJuly1940,manufacturedthirty-fivemillionmethamphetaminetablets,allofwhichwereshippedtotheNaziarmyandaircorps.AJanuary1942doctor’sreportfromGermany’sEasternFront is illuminating.FivehundredGermansoldierssurroundedbytheRedArmybegantryingtoescapethroughwaist-highsnow,intemperaturesofsixtydegreesbelowzero.Soon, thedoctorwrote, themenbeganlyingonthesnow,exhausted.Thecommandingofficers thenorderedtheirmentotaketheirmethpills,atwhichpoint“themenbeganspontaneouslyreportingthat theyfeltbetter.Theybeganmarchinginanorderlyfashionagain, theirspirits improved,andtheybecamemorealert.”InaninterviewwiththeChicagoTribune in1985,oneofHitler’sdoctors,Ernst-GüntherSchenck,revealedthat theFührer

“demandedinterjectionsof invigoratingandtranquilizingdrugs,” includingmethamphetamine.It’swidelybelievedbymanythatHitler’ssubsequentandprogressiveParkinson’s-likesymptoms, ifnothis increasinglyderelictmentalstate,wereadirectresultofhismethaddiction.Evenintothe1980s,methamphetaminewaswidelyprescribedintheUnitedStates.Adsfor

“Methedrine-brandMethamphetamine—ForThoseWhoEatTooMuchandThoseWhoAreDepressed”appearedallduringthe1960s, largelyinwomen’smagazines.ObedrinLong-Acting,accordingtoanotherad,wastheretohelpawoman“calmlysetherappestat,”aparticularlyaptpungiventhatmethiswellknowntoraiseone’sbodytemperaturetodangerouslyhyperthermiclevels.In1967alone,accordingtoDr.Case, thirty-onemillionlegalmethprescriptionswerewrittenintheUnitedStates.InDexamyladsinLifemagazinethroughout the1970s,awomanwearinganaproncouldbeseenecstaticallyvacuumingher livingroomcarpet.Howmuchlegalpharmaceuticalmethamphetaminewasbeingsoldillegally,orwithoutaprescription,duringtheperiodfrom1945to1975ishardtoimagine.HeadlinesfromtheNewYorkTimescirca1959givesomeindication,however,citingmulticityFBIstingsinLosAngeles,SanFrancisco,Portland,Phoenix,Denver,Indianapolis,Chicago,Philadelphia,Brooklyn,andManhattan.Curiously, thefateof townslikeOelwein,whichforonehundredyearshadbeenplacesofgreat

prosperity,begantochangeat justabout thetimethatmeth’sreputationbegantodisintegrate.Evenasthosetownsstartedfeelingtheearlyeffectsofchangestothefood-productionindustry,whichwouldallbutbankrupt themthirtyyears later,methduringthelate1970sandearly’80swasbeingillegallyproducedbybikegangsliketheHellsAngels inCaliforniaandtheSonsofSilenceintheMidwest.Thechange,whichcanbecharacterizedbytheshiftfrompharmacyto“lab,”iswhatwouldprecipitate themodernAmericanmethepidemic, itselfonlya largepieceof theglobalmethpandemic.AsMethedrineandBenzedrinebecamecrankandspeed,productionmovedfromthecontrolledenvironmentofcorporatecampusestotheundergroundproductionsitesofbikersandoutlawchemists.Thenewformofmeth,adrugthathasalwaysbeenpopularamongmenandwomendoinghardlabor,becamebothpurerandvastlymoreavailable.Itwasnoaccident that justasruraleconomieswereat thepeakof theirsufferinginthemid-1980s,meth’splaceintheUnitedStateswasbecomingmoreentrenchedthanever.Partofmeth’sdrawinU.S.small townsbeginninginthe1980sis that it’sbothcheapandeasyto

makefromitemsavailable,inbulk,at thefarmers’co-opandthedrugstore.Therealbasisofmeth’sattractiveness, though, ismuchsimpler:methmakespeoplefeelgood.Evenasithelpspeopleworkhard,whether thatmeansdrivingatruckorvacuumingthefloor,methcontributestoafeelingthatallwillbeokay, ifnotexuberantlyso.Bythe1980s, thankstoincreasinglycheapandpowerfulmeth,nolongerwasthetheorybehindtheAmericanworkethicstrictlytheoretical: therewasabasis inone’sverybiochemistry,apromiserealized.Andaccordingtothemagazineandnewspaperads,allof itcamewithoutanyof thesideeffectswhichhardworkingAmericansloathe:sloth,fatigue, laziness.Inbiochemical terms,methamphetamineiswhat iscalledanindirectcatecholamineagonist,

meaningthat itblocksthereuptakeofneurotransmitters.Whenyoufeelgood, it’sbecausedopamineorepinephrinehasbeenreleasedintothesynapticgapsbetweentheneuronsinyourbrain.Metaphorically, thismicroscopicemissionisasimulacrumat thetiniest,mostethereal levelforthereleaseandsubsequentsatiationonefeelsforhavingperformedsomekindofbiologicallyessentialtask,suchashavingsex.Later, theneurotransmitter issoakedupoutof thesynapses, likewater intoasponge,bytheinverseneuronalprocess,onedesignedtobeasefficientas it isperpetual.Indeed,runningoutofneurotransmitters, thefeel-goodchemicals thatrewardyouforremainingbiologically

viable,wouldbetantamounttothenihilisticmeaninglessnessthatOelweinmayorLarryMurphyfearedhadengulfedhis townby2005.Methamphetamine, likecrack(andtherefore, likecocaine,ofwhichcrackismerelyasmokable

form),encouragesthefirstpartof thisbiochemical transactionandblocksthesecond.That’s tosaythatbecausethereuptakeof theneurotransmitterbackintothe“sponge”takeslonger,youfeelgoodfor longer.Meth, though,appears tobeuniqueamongpsychostimulants inoneway,saysTomFreese,adoctorofclinicalpsychologyatUCLAandamemberofwhat iswidelyregardedastheforemostresearchteamintheworldstudyingthedrug’shumaneffects.Freesesaysthatbothmethandcrack“lurk”inthespacebetweenthebrain’sneurons,wheretheystopthereuptakeofdopamine, thereby“flooding”youwithgoodfeelings.Butmethalone,saysFreese,“goesinsidethepresynapticcells topushdopamineout.”That,hesays,“makesformoreofaflood, ifyouwill.”Thisultimatelymightbegintoaccountforwhysomeneurologicalresearchersseetotaldepletionofneurotransmitters insectorsof thebrainsofchronicmethusers.It’sperhapsnowonder, then, thatthe1950s-eraMethedrineandBenzedrineaddictsdepictedintheDavidLynchmovieBlueVelvetareassociatedwithanarchy.Movingthroughtheworld,andthemovie,unabletofeelanythingbutrage, theyaretheembodienentof late-stagemethaddiction, thepoliticalexpressionof theexistentialscourgeandthebaneof thework-basedAmericandream.Methworksonthelimbicsystemofthebrain,whichis thebrain’srewardcenter,aswellason

theprefrontalcortex,wheredecisionmakingtakesplace.Amethuser’sfeelingsarereflectedinwhatarecalledhisexecutiveactions,orwhatFreesecalls“hisabilitytochoosebetweenwhatweallknowtobegoodandbad.”Freesesaysthatwhatfeelsgoodis tieddirectlytosurvival.Theabilitytomakedecisions, therefore, is insomewayscontrollednotbywhatpeoplewant,butbywhat theyneed.Meth,saysFreese,“hijackstherelationship”betweenwhat isnecessaryandwhat isdesired.“Theresult is thatwhenyoutakeawaymeth,nothingnatural—sex,aglassofwater,agoodmeal,anythingforwhichwearesupposed toberewarded—feelsgood.Theonlythingthatdoesfeelgoodismoremeth.”Moreover,hecontinues,“there’sabasicandlastingchangeinthebrain’schemistry,whichisadirectresultof thedrug’sintroduction.”Theultimateeffectsarepsychopathologysuchasintolerabledepression,profoundsleepandmemoryloss,debilitatinganxiety,severehallucinations,andacute,schizophrenicboutsofparanoia: theverythingsthatmeth,justeightyyearsago,wassupposedtocure.Sleeplossalone,Freeseposits,cancauseenoughemotionalandbiochemicalstress toresult in

long-termfunctionaldeficits.Oncetheeffectsofdaysofsleeplessnessarecompoundedbythepanicofmemorylossandoneof themorecommonhallucinationsfromwhichmethaddictssuffer(forinstance, that insectsarecrawlingoutof theirskin), it’snowonderthataddictsdothingsnon-addictswouldn’tdreamof.AsDr.ClayHallberg, theOelweingeneralpractitioner,says,“I’dmuchratherbeintheemergencyroomwithaparanoidschizophrenic—andI’vebeenintheERwithplenty—thanameth-head.They’reliterallyoutof theirminds.”

RolandJarvisusedtohaveagoodjobatIowaHaminOelwein.Itwasahardjob,“throwing”hundred-poundpansfullofhoghocksintoascaldingroasterandpullingthemoutagain,aprocesshelikenstoplayinghotpotatowithbagsofsand.Buthemadeeighteendollarsanhour,withfullunionmembershipandbenefits.Thatwouldbea lotofmoneytodayinFayetteCounty.In1990, itwasthekindofmoneyaboutwhichahighschooldropout likeJarviscouldonlydream.Jarvishadagirlfriendhewantedtomarry,sohetookdoubleeight-hourshiftsatIowaHam,tryingtoputawayasmuchmoneyaspossible.Ondaysthatheworkedback-to-backshifts,Jarvishadatrickuphis

sleeve:highoncrank,withhiscentralnervoussystemonoverdriveandmajorsystemslikehisdigestivetractallbutshutdown,Jarviscouldeasilygoforsixteenhourswithouthavingtoeat,drink,usethebathroom,orsleep.AccordingtoJarvisandClayHallberg, itwascommoninthe1970sand1980stogetmethfrom

DocMaynard,ageneralpractitionerinnearbyWinthrop,Iowa.Intohisseventies,JarvisandClaysay,Maynardwrotethousandsof illegalprescriptionsforMethedrine,mostlyforyounggirlswhowantedtoloseweight,butalsoforfarmworkersandindustrial laborers.AmorepowerfulkindofdopeoccasionallycametonorthernIowafromCaliforniainthosedays, too.AlocalfromOelwein,JeffreyWilliamHayes,whoinsistsonbeingcalledbyhisfullname,hadgonetoLongBeachtolookforworkamongthesmallcommunityofnortheastIowanslivingthere.HayeshadcomebacktoOelweinwiththedope,whichwascalledP2P,for theingredientphenyl-2-propanone.Everynowandagain,JeffreyWilliamHayeswouldloadhiswifeandhisyoungdaughter,Hanna, intoaneighteen-wheelercab,drivetoLongBeach,packthewheelwellswithP2Pcrank,anddrivehometosell it.Forthemostpart, though, themethamphetaminemarket inOelweinwashitandmiss.Whenthere

wasalot, therewasa lot,andwhentherewasnone, itwasbone-dry.AndthoughJarviswasheterosexual,andgossipspreadsfast inOelwein,hesayshedidn’tmindtradingsexwithmenformeth.Infact,bythetimehewasworkingdoublesatIowaHam,he’ddowhateverhecouldtogetthedrug.Jarvisconsideredmethtobehis jobsecurity.ItmadeJarvis intotheidealemployee.Hewaslikeagorilla throwingthehamtraysaround.Thenhe’dcomehomeandhecouldhavesexwithhisgirlfriendforhoursonend,drinkwithoutgettingdrunk,andbeawakeforworkthenextdaywithouteverhavingslept.Bytheearly1990s,moreandmoreP2PdopewasenteringOelweinviaCalifornia, thanksinpart

totheconnectionsthathadbeenforgedbyJeffreyWilliamHayesandhisbusinesspartner,SteveJelinek,whoseparentsownedOelwein’sflowershop.In1992,IowaHam,asmall,oldcanningandpackagingcompany,wasboughtbyGillette.Overnight, theunionwasdismantled,andthewages,accordingtoJarvisandClayHallberg,fellfrom$18anhourto$6.20.ForJarvis,whonowhadthefirstofhisfourchildren, itbecamemoreimportant thanever toworkharderandlongerinordertomakeendsmeet.Hismethhabit increasedalongwiththepurityof thedope.Andthenonedayhedidthemath.Ontheonehand,hewasmaking$50everyeighthourstodoajobinwhichtherewasa36percentrateof injury, therebymakingmeatpackingthemostdangerousvocationinthecountry.Forthis,Jarvis,nowthatheworkedforGillette,gotnomedicalcoverageforhimselforhischildren,nopromiseofworkers’compensationshouldhebehurt,andnohopeofadvancement.(WithIowaHam,everyemployeehadnotonlygottenbenefits; they’downedstockinthecompany.)Ontheotherhand,Jarviswaspayingahundreddollarsata timeinorder tobuyenoughmethtobeabletoworkdoubleshiftsforfivedaysstraight.ForJarvis, thesolutionwasclear:Hewouldgointobusinessforhimself.ThehighJarvishasbuilthis life(andatonepointhis livelihood)aroundhasfiveparts: therush,

thehigh, theshoulder,thetweak,andthewithdrawal.Snortingjustacoupleof linesofreasonablypuremethkepthiminvolvedinthiscontinuumforat least twelvehours.Twelvehoursisroughlythelengthofmeth’shalf-life,andameasureofhowlongit takesone’sbodytocompletelymetabolizethedrug,aswellasanindicatorofhowpowerful thedrugis.(Thehalf-lifeofcrackisonlytwentyminutes,orabout thirty-sixtimesless thanmeth.)Therushis justwhat thetermsuggests:aninitialfeelingoftremendouseuphoria.Dr.ClayHallbergdescribesitas“takingallofyourneurotransmitters,puttingtheminashotglass,andslammingthem.”Thehighis thehours-long

periodofanexceptionallyvividconfidenceandsenseofwell-beingthatJarvisexperienceswhiledopamineandepinephrineliterallypoolaroundhisbrain’sneuronalsynapses:abiochemicalbacchanal.Thephysicaleffects includealitanyof thebody’smostecstaticandpowerfulreactions.Coretemperaturespikesandbloodflowtotheheart increasesdramatically.Formen,so, too,doesbloodflowincreaseenormouslytothepenis,andformenandwomenboth, thereisanincreasedneedanddesire tohavesex,afact thathelpsexplainwhymethabuseingaycommunities is linkedtohugeincreasesinAIDSandhepatitisC.Andnoneof it—notthe“fullbodyorgasm”socommonlyreferredto,or theabilitytodrinkwithoutgettingdrunk,or theabilitytohavesexforhoursata timewithout losinganerection—comesatanobvious,outwardcost:noslurring,nofallingdown,nopassingout.Therestof themethhigh, though, isnothighatall.TheshoulderperiodiswhenJarvis’s

euphoriafirstplateausandthendecreasesdramatically,onitswaytofallingcompletelytothefloor.Thefall itself iswhat’scalledthetweak,sonamedfor thephysicalmanifestationsofwhatamountstothebrain’srunningonempty.Thestoresofneurotransmittersnowdepleted,andtheirsynapticeffectnolongerconsistentwithasenseofwell-being,Jarvisbecomesincreasinglyagitated.Testsonmiceat theScrippsResearchInstitutebyDr.KimJandasuggestanattributeuniquetomeththatwouldprovecausefor increasedagitation, tobesure:Thebodyactuallyformsantibodies,effectivelyvaccinatingitselfagainst thedrugandtherebymakingthe“high”increasinglydifficult toachieve.This,Dr.Janda’sresearchindicates,results inakindofself-perpetuatingbiochemical loop:themoremethJarvisdoes, themoredifficult it is togethigh, leavinghimnochoicebut todomoremeth.Unawareofhowhardhisbodyhasbeenworking,andthedeficitatwhichheisoperating,Jarvis

beginstoshowphysicaldepletion.Shakinghands,severesweats,musclecramps,andshortnessofbreathareallsymptomsof theimpendingwithdrawal.So, too,doestheparanoidconvictionset inthathe’sbeingfollowed—likethebelief thatablackhelicopterwashoveringabovehishouse.(Thishallucinationiscommon;Iheardtheexactsamestoryfromdozensofaddicts inAlabama,Illinois,Kentucky,Georgia,andCalifornia.)Thedesperationtomakemoremeth,atwhatevercost,andthehallucinationshavebeenthedefiningfeaturesofJarvis’s lifefornearlyadecade.Everytimehecamehomefromjail,hewascash-strickenandeager tofeelgood,andheredoubledhislab’soutput.Dr.ClayHallbergwasthecompanydoctoratIowaHamwhenitwasboughtbyGillette in1992.

Withinayear,he’dcalledtheplantmanager,anoldfriendwho’dworkedwithClay’scousinyearsbeforeataHy-VeegrocerystoreinCedarRapids.Claytoldthemanagerthathe’dnoticedanunsettlingdeclineinthemoraleof theworkerscomingtoseehimsincethey’dlosttheirbenefits.Claywasworriedabout theincreaseindruguseaswell;moreandmoreworkers,sufferingfromdepressionnowthat they’dlost twothirdsof their incomeovernight,wereturningtometh.Theplantmanagersaidhe’dlookintoit.Aweeklater,Claywasfired.That thesurgeinmethuseinOelweinwasadirectresultofwagecutsat theGilletteplantwould

behardtoargueconvincingly.Afterall,RolandJarvishadalreadybeenusingthedrugforseveralyearsat thatpoint.But itwouldbenaivenot toseethosewagecutsasyetanotherdifficult turninthefinancialfortunesofOelwein, justas itwouldbefoolishnot tonoticethe400percent increaseinlocalmethproductionthathappenedat thesametime,asreflectedinthenumberof labsbustedinOelwein.Or,moreover,not toseethelinkbetweenasteadylong-termriseintheabuseofadrugassociatedwithhardworkandasteadylong-termdeclineintheamountofworkavailableinruralAmerica’sdefiningindustries.Not longafterbuyingIowaHam,Gillettesoldtheplant toIowa

BeefProducts(IBP); in2001,Tysonbought theplant.Witheachsale, thenumberofworkerswasfurthercutandwagesremainedstationarydespiterisinginflation.InJanuary2006,Tysonclosedtheplantforgood.Bythen, theinitialworkforcehadbeenreducedfromovereighthundredpeopletoninety-nine,aremarkable,devastatinglossofrevenueina townofonlysixthousand.TheassociationbetweenmethandworkispartofwhyDr.StanleyKoob,aneuropharmacologist

at theScrippsResearchInstitute,andwidelyconsideredtobetheworld’s leadingexpertondrugaddiction,considersmethamphetaminetobe“wayuptherewiththeworstdrugsontheplanet.”Hardworkandmethconspire,saysKoob, informulatingthedrug’s“social identity,”whichisessentiallyanattempttoanalyzehowacceptableadrugis.Foreightdecades,fromthetimeNagayoshiNagaifirstsynthesizedmethin1898until theearly1980s,methwasahighlyacceptabledruginAmerica,oneof thereasonsbeingthat ithelpedwhatNathanLeincalls“thesaltof theearth”—soldiers, truckdrivers,slaughterhouseemployees,farmers,autoandconstructionworkers,anddaylaborers—workharder, longer,andmoreefficiently.It’sonethingforadrugtobeassociatedwithsloth,likeheroin.But it’swhollyanotherwhenaformerlylegalandacceptednarcoticexists inaone-to-oneratiowiththedefiningidealofAmericanculture.Meth’smostdisastrousphysicalandpsychologicaleffectsdevelopmoreslowlythanitsrateofaddiction;one’slucidityandabilitytoconcentrateactuallyincreasesshort-term.Addthis tothefact thatours isacultureinwhichthevagariesofhardworkarecelebratedas indicatorsofsocialworth,andthereasonstodocrankareinfactquiteoften—initially,at least—morenumerousandcompellingthanthereasonsnot todoit.SomuchsothatPatriciaCasecallsmeth“themostAmericandrug.”Inthemetric that tookholdofOelweinat thebeginningof the1980swiththefarmcrisis—andextendedthroughthenextdecadewiththecomplicateddemiseofIowaHam—theabilitytomakesomethinginyourbasementthatpromisedwork,success,wealth, thinness,andhappinesswasnotnecessarilytoogoodtobetrue.

OnedayinMay2005,RolandJarvissat in thelivingroomofhismother’s tinynewtwo-bedroomhouseinawobblythree-leggedLa-Z-Boycoveredinwhat lookedlikeorangeandbrowncarpeting.Outside, theworldwasfairlyecstaticwiththefirst temperate,blue-skieddayofspringfollowingsomuchraininnorthernIowa.Nonetheless,JarviswaswatchingTVwithhisbacktothewindows, theheavycurtainsdrawntightagainst thewarmsun.Hisfacewasthinbeneaththebaseballcapthatheworeoverhisshortblondhair.Visibleinthesemidarknesswerefinebonesandbright,shiningblueeyesaroundwhichJarvis’sskinhadliquifiedandreset inswirls.Herubbedatwherehisnosehadbeenandcoughedviolently.Jarvishadjustsmokedahitofmethbyholdingtheglasspipewithhisrottedteeth.Usingwhatwasleftofhisrighthand,hejostledthelighteruntilitwedgedbetweenthefeaturelessnubofhis thumbandthetinyprotrusionofwhatwasoncehispinkie,managingsomehowtoroll thestrikerof theredBicagainst theflint.Suddenly,hiseyeswereaswildlydilatedasapatientwaitinginthelowlightofanophthalmologist’soffice.Atthirty-eight,JarvishadbecomeasortofposterboyaroundOelweinfor thehorrific

consequencesof long-termmethaddiction.LikeBooRadley,hehardlyeverventuredout, thoughhiswasnonethelessaheavypresenceintown.Intwomonths,Jarviswasgoingbacktojail, this timeforpossessionofdrugparaphernalia.(Hissixty-year-oldmotherwouldbejoininghiminthelockupforthesameoffense.)Heworewarm-uppantsandwoolsocks.Hewasalwayscold,hesaid,andhadn’tsleptmorethanthreehoursata timeinyears.Hisskinwasstillcoveredinopen,pussingsores.Hehadnojobandnohopeofgettingone.Thelast timehe“wentuptown,”ashecallsgoingtoaMainStreetbar,waseighteenmonthsearlier.Thatnighthewasinhisoldhangout, theDo

DropInn,whenanothercustomerhitJarvis inthefacebecausehewantedtoknowwhat itwasliketoslugamanwithnonose.“That,”saysJarvis,“kindofputadamperonmySaturdaynightfever.”Nowadays, theonethingthatcouldgethimupandmovingweretheweeklyvisitshewas

allowedwithhischildren, twogirlsandtwoboys,agessixteentonine.Forthemostpart,hewouldaccompanythemtothetownlake,outpast theCountryCornerCafé,onthewaysouthtoHazleton.There,weatherpermitting,Jarvisandhiskidswouldfishforafewunsupervisedhours,hopingtocatchsomebullheadsandbluegills tofryforsupper.Sometimeshewouldaccompanythekidsbacktotheirmother’shomefor thatpurpose.Heandhisex-wifewere,hesays,stillonprettygoodterms,givenwhathe’ddonetotheir lives.Jarvisspeaksinametaphorical languageofaddiction,honedoverdecadesofrepeatingthesame

scenesinhismindliketapesoninterminableloops.Tweakersarerats,crankischeese,copsarecats.At theendofeachstory,all threeendupinthesamehouse, thesamemotel,or thesamebarn,whereinvariablysomethingeitherverybadorveryfunny,orboth,hasjustoccurred.Thevenuesforthesestoriesaresmall townsandmiddlingcities,fromOelweintoSiouxFalls,SouthDakota.Oftenthestoriesarecompendiumsofruralkitschthat, thoughtheyunfoldover thecourseofmanyyears,appear tostretchtheyear1987intoseveraldecades.Inthem,everyonedrivesaCorvetteoraTransAmandwearsPorschedrivingglasses.ForJarvis,it’s thememoryof thecars,morethanthatof thedaysata timespenthavingsexwithteenagegirls,orof thehousesheboughtandsold,orofthethrillofoutwittingthecats, thatremainstheenduringemblemofhowonce—alongtimeago,andhoweverbriefly—he’dfinallyarrived.Jarvis’smotherhasbeenlisteningfromthekitchenashespeaks.Seenthroughapallofcigarette

smoke,backlitbytheraysofsunpouringthroughthekitchenwindow,withhergreasyblackhairwornbackoffhersteep, leather-brownface,shelookslikeanineteenth-centuryApacheinasepia-toneportrait.Forthepastfewhours(ifnot thepastfewyears),sheandaneighborhavebeenplayingginrummyanddrinkingcansofHamm’sbeer.Lookingathersonnow,shecallsout,“Tellthemanthetruth,Roland.”Summinguphisyearsasabatcher,Jarvissaysdutifully,andloudenoughthathismothercanhear,

“Itwasallabigmess.I losteverythingofanyvalue.”Hisface,however, tellsanotherstory.For,asheremembers, it’s thefirst timeinhoursthathehassmiled.

CHAPTER3

THEINLANDEMPIRE

As theweeksthatI traveledaroundtheMidwest, theSoutheast,andCaliforniaturnedtomonthsinthesummerandfallof2005,IwasbeginningtoseemethinAmericaasafunctionnot justoffarmingandfoodindustrytrendsinthe1980sand’90sbutalsoofchangesinthenarcoticsandpharmaceuticals industries inthesameperiod.ItwouldtakeafewmoreyearsofwatchingwhathappenedinOelwein,andintheUnitedStatesat large,beforeIcompletelyunderstoodwhatIwasseeing.That,for instance,aseconomieshaddwindledthroughout theGreatPlainsandtheMidwest,theyhadalignedacertainwayinSouthernCalifornia,andthat theelectricalcurrentsweepingbetweenthesetwoincreasinglyunrelatedAmericanplaces, thecoastandthemiddle,wouldpresagewhatcametobecalledthe“methepidemic”thirtyyears later.So, too,wouldit takeawhile toseethat thechangesthat linkedLongBeachandLosAngeleswithOelweinwereinfactchangestiedtotheemergenceof theglobaleconomy.Andthatmeth, if it isametaphorforanything, isametaphorfor thecataclysmicfault linesformedbyglobalization.Backin2005, thesethingswerejustcomingintofocusasIwent toOttumwa,a towninsoutheast

Iowa.ItwasinOttumwathattheMidwest’sprincipalmethwiringhadbeeninstalled,andtowhichthedrug’searlyadvancementintoOelweincouldbetraced.IfOelweinwasshapinguptobethefaceofmethinmodernAmerica,andanindicatorof life inmodern,ruralAmericaingeneral,theninOttumwatherewasapictureofOelwein’sskeletalforebears.AndeventuallyapictureofOelwein’sfuture, thoughthatpartof thestorywasyet toevolve.LikeOelwein,Ottumwahadformostof itshistorybeenaveryprosperousplace.Alsolike

Oelwein,Ottumwawasakindofeconomicoutpost,awealthywaypointonthetraderoutesrunningbetweenSt.Louis,Chicago,andOmaha.ThankstotheDesMoinesRiver,whichrunsright throughthemiddleofOttumwa,industryandtransportationcamequicklytotheareaonceitwassettledbyalandrushin1843.In1850,JohnMorrellandCo.openedaflag-ship,state-of-the-artmeat-processingplant inthecenterof town.By1888, therewere10,500milesofrailroadtrackinWapelloCounty.Fifty-sevenpassengertrainsonsevenlines,theBurlingtonRailroadbeingthemostfamous,crossedthecountyeveryday.Bytheturnof thetwentiethcentury,factoriesinOttumwamadeeverythingfromboxcarloaders tocigars,andcornhuskers toviolins.By1950,OttumwawashomenotonlytooverfiftythousandpeoplebutalsotothelargestairforcebaseintheMidwest.Almosthalf theworking-agemenintownwereintheemployofHormel(themodernincarnationofJohnMorrell’spackingplant)orJohnDeere, thefarm-equipmentmanufacturer,whereworkerscouldhope,ataminimum,tomaintaina lower-middle-classexistence.By1980, though,Ottumwa’sfortuneshad, likeOelwein’s,beguntodecline.Thestorywasmuch

thesame.Therailroad’sdemisewasfollowedbytheclosingof theairforcebaseandthen, in1987,bythesaleofHormeltoExcelMeatSolutions,asubsidiaryofCargill.Alongwithlayoffs,wages,as theydidafewyears lateratOelwein’sIowaHamplant,fellbytwothirds.Liketheshrinkingworkforce, thepopulationofOttumwaitselfdrieduplikeaprairiepotholeinadrought,fallingbyanastounding50percent injust twenty-fiveyears.Soonthetown,starvedof taxrevenue

anddisposableincome,wasvergingonbankruptcy.And,ashadhappenedinOelwein,methamphetaminemovedintotheneweconomicgap.ThedifferencewasthatOttumwa,morethananyotherplace,definedthedevelopmentof themodernAmericanmethbusinessintheMidwest.MethfromOttumwafirsthelpedtocreate,andthentosustain, themarketnot just inOelweinbutalsointownsalloverIowa,Missouri,Nebraska,Kansas,andtheDakotas.Howthishappeneddependedinseveral trendsandevents thatmergedseamlesslyintoone

another:emigrationroutesfromtheMidwest toCaliforniaasworking-classmenandwomenheadedtothecoast insearchofemployment; immigrationroutesintotheheartlandasincreasingnumbersofMexicansworkedagainst thehumantideinorder totakelow-wagejobsatmeatpackingplants; theriseof industrialmethproduction; theincreasedlobbyingpowerofpharmaceuticalcompanies;andfinally,governmentapathy, ifnotdisregard,for theverydrugwarthatat thetimehadbeennewlydeclaredbyFirstLadyNancyReagan.Atthecenterof itall,backinOttumwa,stoodawomannamedLoriArnold.Itwasshewhowas

abletoweavetogether thesevariouspolitical,sociological,andchemical threadsintotheMidwest’sfirstandlastbonafidecrankempire, theofficialmonikerforwhichwastheStockdallOrganization,sonamedforLori’ssecondhusband,FloydStockdall.Lori’scontributiontowhatat thetimewasnotyetreferredtoasa“drugepidemic”wasthatsheessentiallywrotemeth’sgeneticcodeintheMidwest.Withher, theveryconceptof industrializedmethinplaceslikeIowawasborn,anditflourishedinrelativeanonymityfor thenext tenyears.Theironyis that,whileLoriworked, theDrugEnforcementAdministrationfruitlesslylobbiedforlawsthat,hadtheypassed,wouldhavepreventedLorifromevergoingintobusiness.

LoriKayeArnoldisOttumwa,Iowa’smostfamousdaughter.Ottumwa’smostfamoussonisLori’sbrother, thecomedianTomArnold,whoisperhapsbetterknownastheex-husbandofRoseanneBarr.Lori isforty-fiveyearsold,withshoulder-lengthlight-brownhairandalongish,bluntnose,likeaskinningknife.WithTom,shesharesa toothy,crocodiliansmileandthelowcenterofgravityandpowerful legsofamiddleweightwrestler.Since2005,IhavecorrespondedwithLori,who’sinfederalprison—coincidentally,at themedium-securitywomen’sworkcampinGreenville,Illinois,justafewhundredyardsfromwhereImetSeanandJamesduringNovember2004.Oneofsevenstep-andhalf-siblings,LoriwasbornandraisedinOttumwainafamilythatshe

describesasstudiouslynormalandbenign.Despite this,LoridroppedoutofhighschoolasafreshmanandbeganlivinginanOttumwaroominghousewhere,in theevenings, therewasarunningpokergame.Thelandladywasalsoamadame.Inexchangeforroomandboard,Loriandheryoungcohortscouldeitheragreetosleepwiththemenwhoplayedcardsordeliver illegallyprescribedmethedrinepills,anearlyformofpharmaceuticalmeth, to thelandlady’sclients.Lorichosethelatter; thushercareer(alongwithher legend)wasborn.Lorikeptherselfhousedbydeliveringandselling“brownandclears,”aspharmaceuticalmeth

wascalledduringthe1970s,whenitwasprescribedbythemillionsasaweight-lossaidandantidepressiondrug.ThelandladygotmostofLori’sprofits,though,andtomakeendsmeet,Loristillhadtoworksixdaysaweekata localbar.(InIowaminorscanservealcoholdespitebeinglegallyunabletobuyit.)Byfifteen,Loriwasmarried.Bysixteen,shewasdivorcedandwasattendinghighschoolonceagain.Byseventeen,shehaddroppedoutforgood;herpeers,shesays,seemedtoher likechildren.Byeighteen,shewasmarriedtoFloydStockdall,whohadcometoOttumwafromDesMoinesinorder toretire,at theripeoldageof thirty-seven,as thepresidentoftheGrimReapersmotorcyclegang.

LoriandFloydmovedintoacabinalongtheDesMoinesRiveroutsideOttumwa,wheretheironlychild,Josh,wasborn.LeftalonetoraiseasonwhileFloydpursuedhisretirementhobbiesofdrinking,playingpool,andsellingcocaine,nineteen-year-oldLoribecamesuicidallydepressed.Thebar,shenowrealized,hadbeenher lifeline.Inadditiontothemoneyshemade, thepeopletherewereherpeople, theonlyfamilyofwhichLorieverfelta truepart.Without thebikersandthefactoryworkerswithwhomshehadallbutgrownup,Lorifelthorriblylostandalone;her lifehadbecomeaninterminableslog.Worseyet,Floydwasanalcoholic,andbeatherwheneverhedrank.ThenonedayFloyd’sbrotherstoppedbythecabin.He, too,wasaGrimReaper,andhehadwith

himsomemethamphetamine,a.k.a.bikerdope,whichhadbeenillegallysynthesizedata labinSouthernCalifornia.Thiswas1984,andtheReaperswerejustbeginningtosellmethwhenevertheycouldget itfromLongBeach.There,accordingtoDEA,formerHellsAngelshadgoneintobusinesswithmaverickpharmaceuticalcompanychemists inorder toproducesaleablequantitiesofhighlypure,powderedmethamphetamine.Lori’sbrother-in-lawcuther twolinesonthekitchentableinsideherrun-downshackontheDesMoinesRiveronasunny,clearSaturdayafternoon.Oftheexperience,Lori,whowasnostrangertonarcotics,sayssimplythatshehadneverfeltsogoodinallher life.Thesingularityof thatfeelingiswhatwouldsoonconnectOttumwatoanascentCaliforniadrugempire.Indoingso,amajorpieceof themeth-epidemicpuzzlewouldfall intoplace.ThefirstdayLorigothigh,shewent tothebar.Shesaysshe’dbeengivenalittlemethtosell

becauseFloyd’sbrotherwantedtoseewhatkindofamarketOttumwamightprovetobe.Lorigaveawayhalf themeth,knowingintuitivelythat thiswouldhelphookhercustomers.Theotherhalfquicklysoldout.Intheprocess,shemadefiftydollars.Whatshefound, though,wasworthmillions,forLoriArnoldknewalmost immediatelythatdealingmethwaswhatshe’dbeenborntodo.Itwastheanswernot just toherprayers,but toOttumwa’s,whichfor threelongyearshadbeenpummeledbythefarmcrisis intoabarelyrecognizableversionof itsformerproudself.Thankstometh,saysLori, theworkersworkedandplayedharder,andshebecamerich.Withinamonth,LoriwassellingsomuchLongBeachcrankinOttumwathatshewentaroundherbrother-in-lawanddealtdirectlywiththemiddlemaninDesMoines.Amonthafter that,shewasbuyingquarterpoundsofmethfor$2,500andsellingthemfor$10,000.Unsatisfiedwiththeprofitmargin,shebegandealingdirectlywiththesupplier inLongBeach,dispatchingFloydtoCaliforniaonceeverytendayswithinstructionstoreturnfromthe3,700-mileround-tripwithasmuchmethashecouldfit in thetrunkoftheCorvetteLorihadboughthim.Lori,meantime,stashedmoneyinthewallofhercabin.OnlysixmonthsaftershehadmetFloyd’sbrother, thewallheld$50,000—nearlytwicethemedianyearlyincomeinOttumwatoday.Bythelate1980s,peoplelikeJeffreyWilliamHayesandSteveJelinekofOelweinwerebuying

massiveamountsofdopefromLoriandestablishingtheirownmethfranchisesinIowa,Illinois,Missouri,andKansasbysellingtothelikesofRolandJarvis,who,yet tostartmakinghisownmeth,wouldtakewhateverhecouldget inorder toworkextrashiftsatIowaHam.Lori, in turn,wasdealingdirectlywithwhatshecalls theMexicanMafia,asomewhat loosegroupof traffickerswhomanufacturedlargeamountsof thatera’smostpowerfuldope:P2P.MadepredominantlyinLongBeachandOrangeCounty,California, in large,clandestinelaboratories, thisstrongerformofmethwasmoreaddictive,cheaper,andeasier toproducethananyotherformofthedrugavailableat thetime.Assuch, it increasedLori’salreadyburgeoningsalesmanifold.Theso-calledMexicanMafiawithwhomLoridealtwasbuiltonthevisionof twobrothers,Jesús

andLuísAmezcua,who’dbeenborninMexicoandlivedinSanDiego.Foryears,accordingto

DEA,theAmezcuashadbeennothingmorethanmiddlingcocainedealers.Until, that is, theyperceivedtheconvergenceof twoseeminglyunrelatedevents.Onewasthat,aidedbyformerpharmaceuticalengineers, theAmezcuascouldaccessanenormous,completelylegal,andunmonitoredsupplyof thenecessaryingredients tomakeP2P:ephedrineandphenyl-2-propanone.TheAmezcuas’secondinsightwasthat theycouldmovelargequantitiesof thedrugthroughoutCaliforniaandtheWest, thankstotheincreasingnumbersofMexicanimmigrantswhopickedfruit intheCentralValley,cleanedhomesinTucson,Arizona,orbuiltroadsinIdaho.Furthermore, thebrotherscouldaccesstheMidwestviatheballooningpopulationofMidwesternerswhohadbeenchasedoff theirfarms,all thewaytoSouthernCalifornia.Duringthe1980s, largenumbersofpeoplefromthecornbelt left inwhatsociologistscallout-

migration.Withinthespaceof justafewyears,manyIowatowns,OttumwaandOelweinincluded,lostfrom10to25percentof theirresidents,manyofwhomheadedfor theboominglabormarketsofLosAngelesandSanDiego.FamilyandsocialconnectionsbecamebusinessconnectionsasIowan,Kansan,Dakotan,andNebraskanlaborers inOrangeCounty,eager togetrich,sent loadsoftheAmezcuas’methbackhome.Or, likeJeffreyWilliamHayesinOelweinandLoriArnoldinOttumwa,eitherdroveout toget it themselvesorsentsomeoneintheirstead.Throughout itshundred-yearhistory,methhasbeenperhapstheonlyexampleofawidely

consumedillegalnarcotic thatmightbecalledvocational,asopposedtorecreational.ThemarketformethinAmericaisnearlyasoldas industrialization.Poorandworking-classAmericanshadbeenconsumingthedrugsincethe1930s,whether itwasmarketedasBenzedrine,Methedrine,orObedrin,for thesimplereasonthatmethmakesyoufeelgoodandpermitsyoutoworkhard.ThankstotheAmezcuasandLoriArnold, thesesamepeoplenolongerneededtorelyonexpensiveprescriptionsandwereabletogetastrongerformofmethatamuchbetterprice—thisata timewhenthedrug’seffectswerearguablymoreuseful thanever.That’s tosaythatasmeth’spurityrose, itspricedropped.Sotoodidmethbecomemuchmorewidelyavailableatexactlythemomentthatruraleconomiescollapsedandpeopleleft.Underthosecircumstances,saysClayHallberg, thosewhoremainedfelt theyneededthedrugmost.By1987, ifyouwantedmethandyoulivedinsouthernIowa,ornorthernMissouri,youwent to

thebar thatLoriArnoldnowowned, theWildSide.There, theincreasinglybeleagueredOttumwapolice,whosenumberswereshrinkingalongsidecountyandcitytaxrevenues,hadlittlechanceofinterruptingLori’sexorbitantlyprofitablecrankbusiness.At thatpoint,saysLori,inadditiontoFloyd,shehadadozenrunnersgoingbackandforthtoLongBeachtobuymethfrommultipleso-calledsuperlabs,whichcouldproduceuptotwentypoundsofmetheverythirty-sixhours—anastoundingamountofcrankinthosedays.Becausethecars thatLori’srunnersusedwereadrainonherprofits(imaginethemileageaccruedbydrivingnearlyfourthousandmileseverytendays,monthaftermonth),Loriboughtacardealership.Thatway,shecouldhaveaccesstoasmanyvehiclesassheneeded;shecouldalsohaveherrunners tradethecarsandtheir tagswithcardealers inanystatealongtheway,therebymakingthemselvesharder tofollow.Then, tohouseheremployeesandfurther launderthemoneyshewasmaking,LoriboughtfourteenhousesinOttumwa.Thiswasjust thebeginningof themeansbywhichLori,whohadnotmadeitpast tenthgrade,

launderedherdrugmoneyatthesametimethatshemovedtofillnewmarketsaroundtheregion.In1989,sheboughtfifty-tworacehorses—andhiredthedozenorsogrooms, trainers,veterinarians,andjockeysit tooktomaintainthem—alongwitha144-acrehorsefarmfromwhichtorunherever-multiplying,synergisticempires.PeoplefromKentuckytotheDakotasandfromIndianatoColoradorace,breed,buy, trade,andsellhorses,makingit theperfectcoverforanarcotics

distributionbusiness.Lori’srunners, toolingalongintheirduallies,acoupleofgeldingsmunchinghayinthehorsetrailer, thewheelwellspackedtightwithcrank,becamethedown-homeDukesofHazzardversionofcoke-ladenspeedboatsmakingtherunfromEleutheratoKeyBiscayne.Lori’s truestrokeofgenius, though,wastobuildunderaseriesofmilitarytentshiddeninthe

woodedhillsofherhorsefarmwhatforalmost twodecadeswouldbetheonlymethsuperlabeverknowntobeinproductionoutsidethestateofCalifornia.Bythen,shewasinsuchgoodgraceswiththeAmezcuabrothers, theCalifornia“KingsofCrank,”that theyletherborrowachemist,whomLoriflewtoIowatoteachherassociateshowtomakemethinten-poundbatcheseveryforty-eighthours:astate-of-the-art,up-to-the-minuteoperation.Theeffectwasremarkable,forupuntilnow,LorihadcontrolledsalesofmethinIowaandotherpartsof theMidwestwhilestillhavingtorelyontheAmezcuasforherproduct.OnceLoriopenedherownsuperlab,shewasincontrolof theentirevaluechain:manufacture,distribution,andretail.AndwhileshestillboughtmethfromtheAmezcuas,principallytomaintaingoodrelations,Lorihadnorealcompetitiontospeakof.Injust thetwoyearsbetween1987and1989,anunassuminghighschooldropoutfromlittleOttumwa,Iowa,hadsucceededincorneringpartofwhatwasbecomingoneof theworld’smost lucrativenarcoticsmarkets.What’smoreamazingishowcloseshecametonevergettingstarted.

Accordingtoseveralformeragents,backin1987, therewasdeepinstitutionalambivalencewithintheDrugEnforcementAdministration(DEA)towardmethamphetamine.Methwasseenasabikerdrug,strictlyfallingunderthepurviewof loserswhodidn’thaveenoughfinancialsensetoputtogethera large-scaleoperation.TheseweretheReaganeighties,andastastesranforbig,deregulatedcorporatesuccesses,soranAmerica’s tastefordrugs.Cocainewasking.Assuch,DEA,whosejobis tocurbtheexcessesof theperiodas theyareembodiedbyAmerica’schoiceinnarcotics,wasn’t interestedinanythingasidefromtheCaliandMedellíncartels,drug-traffickingorganizationsrunlikemultinationalcorporationscapableofexceedingtheirhostnation’sGDP.Whocouldhaveimaginedthebusinessbeingbuiltbytwolowlycoke-dealerbrothers inthepartofL.A.calledtheInlandEmpire,or that thisbusinesswouldbeconnectedwithakindofnarcoticprincipateinOttumwa,Iowa?Onlyoneperson, it turnsout:GeneHaislip, thedeputyassistantadministrator inDEA’sOfficeof

ComplianceandRegulatoryAffairs.Haislipknewthat largeamountsofephedrine,whichwasimportedinbulktomakenasaldecongestants,werebeingredirectedtotheAmezcuaorganizationwithnooversight.Ephedrineprocessingtookplaceinonlyninefactoriesaroundtheworld,alloftheminIndia,China,Germany,andCzechRepublic.ToHaislip, thenarrowprocessingwindowposedaperfectopportunitytosiphonoff themethtrade;all thatwasrequiredwasthecooperationofthoseninefactories,alongwiththepharmaceuticalcompaniesthatdependedontheephedrinemadeinthem.WhatHaislipproposedin1985, twoyearsbeforeLoriArnoldwent intolarge-scalemethproduction,wasafederal lawallowingDEAtomonitorallephedrineimports intotheUnitedStates.Accordingtoa2004investigativearticlewrittenbySteveSuoinPortland’sOregonian

newspaper,Haislipgot theideabasedonhisearlierworkontheillicitU.S. tradeinQuaaludes,alegalsleepingpillwidelyavailableontheblackmarket.ThemanufactureofQuaaludesdependedonthesynthesisofanother legaldrug,methaqualone,whichwaspredominatelyproducedinGermany,Austria,andChina.WhatHaislipnoticedwasthatanenormousproportionof themethaqualonefromthesenationswasbeingshippedtoColombia.There, theCaliandMedellíncartelsweremakingit

intoanillegalformofQuaalude,whichtheysoldintandemwithcocaineinthesamemarket—oneasanupper,oneasadowner—inthesamewaythatmethmarkets todayareoftensaturatedwithOxycontin,aprescriptionpainkiller thatsmoothsout theimpending“tweak”ofamethhigh.In1982,Haislipvisitedthenationswhosefactoriesmademethaqualoneandaskedfor theirhelpinmonitoringitssale.CongressthenbannedtheuseofprescriptionQuaaludes,whichweremanufacturedbyonlyoneAmericancompany.By1984,accordingtoDEA’sannualnarcotics threatassessment,QuaaludesnolongerconstitutedasignificantdangertotheillicitU.S.drugmarket.Withmeth,HaislipsimplyhopedtokeeporganizationsliketheAmezcuas’(andtoa lesserextent,peoplelikeLoriArnold)fromlegallyprocuringephedrinewithouthurtingtheproductionandsaleofcoldmedicineof licitcompanieslikeWarner-Lambert, themakersofSudafed.Haislip’s ideatooktheformoflanguageinsertedintotheControlledSubstancesAct,whichwouldbedebatedbyCongressinthefallof1986.What’s important tounderstandis that,despite thefact thatHaislip’s jobwastowrite legislation,

DEAisnotapoliticalentity.Accordingtothecliché,oneofwhichmostDEAagentsseemproud,theadministrationoccupiesaplacethat isallbutoutsidethelaw.WhileFBIagentsstereotypicallytailpotentialbadguysintheirsedans,andCIAagents listentophoneconversations,DEAagentsaresupposedlyassassinatingmajornarco-figuresintheworld’smoreinhospitableenvironments.Whetherornot this isafantasyisunclear.What itsuggests isaninstitutionalfrustrationregardingthegovernmentalprocess:it’seasier toshootpeopleinotherplacesthantowrite legislationhere,whichmust thenbetailoredtotheconcernsofmembersofCongressandthelobbyistswhoinfluencethem.DEA’sproposalsaresubject tolong,witheringdebatesandyearsofcompromise.Andthat is

wheretheadministration, ifnotactuallyapoliticalentity, isahighlypoliticizedone.Backin1986,evenasNancyReagangaveherfamous“justsayno”speech,HaisliphadtobowtopressurefromDemocratsandRepublicansalikenot toraisetheireofpharmaceutical lobbyists,whosejob, inpart, is tocombthroughlegislativebills lookingforanythingthatcouldpotentiallyupset theirclients’sales.That’showHaislip’sbill,accordingtotheOregonianarticle,cametotheattentionofAllanRexinger,whowasintheemployofa tradegroupcalledtheProprietaryAssociationonbehalfofWarner-Lambert.Rexingerdidn’t likewhathesaw.Forseveralweeksduring1986,accordingtoRexinger,heworkedtochangethelanguageof

Haislip’sbill inawaythatwouldexemptWarner-Lambertfromthepotentialbaneoffederalimportationoversight.WhenDEAandHaislipcontinuedtoresisthispleas,saidRexinger,hehadnochoicebut toget theWhiteHouseinvolvedbymakingaphonecall to,asheproudlytoldSuoin2004,“thehighest levelsof theUnitedStatesgovernment.”BythetimeAttorneyGeneralEdwinMeeseIIIpresentedHaislip’sbill toCongressinApril1987,

fiveyearshadpassedsinceHaisliphadinitiallyimaginednippingmethproductioninthebud.Meantime, theAmezcuacartelhadspreadthroughoutCaliforniaandtheDesertWest,andhadlinkedupwithLoriArnold’sStockdallOrganizationinIowa,whichbynowwaswellonitswaytoproducingitsownindustriallymanufacturedP2Pmeth.ThelanguageinHaislip’sbillproposingoversightofephedrinehadbeendrasticallyalteredaswell,allowingfor thedrugtobeimportedinpillformwithnofederalregulationswhatsoever.All thatmethmanufacturershadtodoinorder tocontinuemakingthedrugwouldbelegallytobuypill-formephedrineinbulkandcrushit intopowder—asmall,addedinconvenience.WhatHaisliphadimaginedasanearlyanswertoastill-embryonicdrugthreat insteadbecamebothamandateandaroadmapformeth’sexpansion.

In1987, theyear thatCargillcutwagesat itsOttumwameatpackingplantfrom$18anhourto$5.60withnobenefits,LoriArnoldsoldapoundofpure,uncutcrankfor$32,000.Thismeant thatwiththeveryfirst tenpoundsproducedathersuperlab,shehadpaidoff the$100,000initialinvestment inequipmentandchemicalsandhadclearedaprofitofnearlyaquarterofamilliondollars,oroveracentury’sworthofmedianwagesforanOttumwaadult thatyear.Meanwhile,shewasstillbuyingtenpurepoundsata timeofMexicanMafiadopefromCalifornia,at$10,000apound,whichshethensoldfor threetimestheprice,againmakingnearlyaquarterofamilliondollarseverytimeoneofherrunnersreturnedfromtheWestCoast.Wherecrank’spersonalityconvergeswithitsmathematics is this:NoonewithwhomIspoke,and

this includesvarsity-leveladdicts likeRolandJarvis,canphysicallyhandlesnorting,smoking,orshooting98percentpuremethamphetamine.SowhileLorionlysoldherproductuncut,eachpound,onceitwasdistributed,equatedtothreeorfourpoundsof ingestiblecrank,andprobablymore,giventhateachdealeralongthelinewaslikelytocontinuecuttingit—withbleach, laundrydetergent,orbakingsoda.Seenthatway,Lori’s labwasn’tproducingtenpoundseveryforty-eighthours; itwasproducingtheeventualequivalentof thirtytofortypounds.(Bythatstretch, thebiggestlabsintheCentralValleyofCaliforniatodaywouldbeproducingtheso-calledstreetequivalentofuptofivehundredpoundsaday,whileanIndonesianmegalabwouldmakefivethousandpoundsofsaleablemetheachweek.)InonemonthaloneduringLori’sprime, that’ssomewhereontheorderofaquartertonofmethbeingdistributedintherelativelyunderpopulatedenvironsof thecentralMidwest.Addtothat thedozenorsobigloadsshewasgettingfromCaliforniaeachmonth,andit’seasytoseehowLoriwas,byherownadmission, involvedinonemanneroranotherwith“thousandsofpeople”andmaking“hundredsof thousandsofdollarsmonthly.”Whenpushedforananswer,Loriadmits thatshehasnoideahowmuchshemade, inpoundsordollars.WhenLorifirstgot intometh,agramwouldlastheranentireweekend.By1991,Loriwas

snortinguptothreegramsaday.Sheremembersnotsleepingforweeksata time.Shewore,shesays,a lotofhats.Multiple-businessowner,mother,drugbaron:Without themeth,shecouldneverhavedoneitall.Shewas,shesays,oneof themainemployers inOttumwa,andabenevolentone,at that.Shedonatedplentyofmoneytothelocalpoliceandtothecountysheriff.Sheplannedtoopenadaycarecenterandvideogamearcadenext totheWildSide,solocalkidswouldhavesomewheretogowhile theirparentswereinthebar.Together,Loriandmethwereanantidotetothesmall-townsenseof isolation, thecollectivesenseofdepressionandlowmoralethathadsettledonOttumwasincemostfarmswentbelly-up, therailroadclosed,andtheboysat themeatpackingplantlost their jobs.Ifyouaskher,LoriArnoldwillsayshedidmorefor thestateofIowathanall thepoliticiansput

together,wholet theplacegotohellovernight.Peoplewereproudofher,shesays,andtheyshouldhavebeen:shegavethembackthelife thatthegovernmentandthecorporationstookaway.If therewaseveraproblemwithmeth,saysLori, itwasn’twiththecleandopeshesold.Herdopewouldn’tdoanythingfreakytoyou.Itwastherot-gut thebatcherscookedupthatmadepeoplecrazy.AnditwasalwaysLori’spleasuretoput thosepeopleoutofbusiness—itwashercivicdutytokeepthelikesofRolandJarvisfromsellingtoomuchcrap-batch,gettingpeopleparanoidandblatheringonaboutblackhelicoptersandheadsintrees.InLori’sreality,shewasabusinesswoman,notadrugdealer inwhatshecalls“theclassicsense.”She’sright, insofarasshehadanunprecedentedverticalmonopoly,whichsheclaimstohaverunat least inpart toassuagethedetrimentaleffectsof theverymonopolies likeCargillandIowaBeefPackers thatwereborninthatsameeraofderegulation.Addtothis thatLori’sriserequiredputtinghomecooks—theIowa

Hamsof themethworld, ifyouwill—outofbusiness,andtheself-styledRobinHoodofcrankbeginstolookawfullycorporate.Atadeeperstrataof irony,consider thatLorialmostsingle-handedlyusheredintotheMidwest thenextgenerationof themethepidemic,whichwouldbecontrolledbyfiveMexicandrug-traffickingorganizationsthat todayenjoythesamekindofmarketcontrolofmeththatCargillenjoyswithrespect tothefoodindustry.Perhapsinevitably, likeRolandJarvis, thekindofsmall-timetweakerforwhomshehadthe

utmostdisdain,Lorididseeahelicopter, thoughinhercaseitwasreal.Ithoveredoverherhouseonedayin1990whileagentsfromtheBureauofAlcohol,Tobacco,andFirearms(ATF)tookphotosofhermethlabinthewoods.Later thatday,LoriwaszoomingaroundtowninhergreenJaguarSovereigndoingerrandswhenshegot thecallfromastableboythat thingsweregettingalittleweirdoutatthefarm.Therewerecarsparkedalongthecountryroads,saidtheboy,andmenwithbinoculars trainedontheplace.Thatnight,Lorisays, thefedssent inanarmy:ATF,FBI,DEA—younameit.Bymorning,shewasinthelocal jail, tellingjokestotheagentswhostoodguard.Afterall,saysLori, ifyoudon’thaveasenseofhumor,whatdoyouhaveleft?Sixmonthslater,LoriArnold’scrankempirefellapartwhenshewasconvictedinfederalcourt

intheSouthernDistrictofIowaofonecountofcontinuingacriminalenterprise; twocountsofmoneylaundering;onecountofcarryingandusingafirearminconjunctionwithdrugtrafficking;andmultiplecountsofpossession,distribution,andmanufactureofmethamphetamine.FloydStockdallwastriedseparatelyandsentencedtofifteenyears inLeavenworthprison,wherehediedofaheartattacktwomonthsbeforehewouldhavebeenparoled.Lorigot tenyears inthefederalpenitentiaryinAlder-son,WestVirginia,andwasreleasedafterservingeight,onJuly2,1999.Hersonandonlychild,Josh,wasfifteenyearsold;Lorihadbeengoneforhalfhis life.Bythen, themethbusinessintheMidwesthadmutatedintosomethingLoricouldn’tbelieve, thoughshewasquicktocomprehendthat itwasanew,muchmorefullydevelopedphenomenonthanthatwhichshe’dcreatedalongwiththeAmezcuas.AndonceLori identifiedaspotforherself in theneworder,shedidthethingshe’dbeendoingallher life:Shewentrightbackintobusiness.

CHAPTER4

FAMILY

In2005,whenIcalledDr.ClayHallberg, theOelweingeneralpractitioner,andaskedhimtocharacterizethemethepidemicinhishometown,Clayhadtoldmethatmethwas“asocioculturalcancer.”Whathemeant,hesaid,wasthat,aswiththedisease,meth’sparticulardangerlayinitsabilitytometastasizethroughout thebody, inthiscasethebodypolitic,andtoweakenthesocialfabricofaplace,beitaregion,a town,aneighborhood,orahome.Justasbraincanceroftenspreadstothelungs,saidClay,methoftenspreadsbetweenclasses,families,andfriends.Meth’sassociatedrigorsaffect theschool, thepolice, themayor, thehospital,andthetownbusinesses.Asaresult,saidClay, thereisakindofcollectivelowself-esteemthatsets inonceatown’sculturemustreactsolelytoasingular—andsingularlynegative—stimulus.ItwasclearfromtheminuteIgot toOelweinthatClay’spositionasasmall-towndoctorputhim

inthebestpossibleplacefromwhichtoobservethemethphenomenon.Whatwouldbecomecleartomeoverthenext threeyears, though, is that theverythinghehopedtotreat inothers, the“collectivelowself-esteem,”alsotookabrutal,witheringtollonClayhimself.Thefirst timewetalked,he’dlikenedeachdayatworktorunningintoaburningmotelandhavingfifteenminutestogeteveryoneout.ThemotelwasOelwein,andClayneverhadenoughtimebeforehehadtoretreat,fearfulhetoowouldburnalive.Indeed,threeyears later,Claywouldneedsaving.It’spartlyinthiswaythathisstoryparallels thatofhishometown.

Clayandhis twinbrother,Charlie,wereadoptedwhentheywereoneyearoldfromtheorphanageinWaterloo,Iowa,byDocHallberg,Oelwein’sgeneralpractitionersince1953.ClayandCharlieareidentical twins.Theyhaveoppositedominanteyesandhands,andpart theirhaironopposingsides—Clayontheright,Charlieontheleft.ClayplaysthebassandCharlie thedrums.Clayearneddegreesinbiologyandchemistry;Charlie,meanwhile,majoredinphilosophyandtheology,withaminorinEgyptology.Fromanearlyage, theboyshadpromiscuousinterests, includingchemistry; theyusedtheir

chemicalknow-howtomakepipebombsandonceblewupaneighborchild’ssandbox.Theyhadasharedactivesenseofhumoraswell,anddelightedingivingguestsglassesofwater,onlytoannounceminuteslater they’dgottenthewaterfromthetoilet.Forthefirstfewyearsoftheir lives,theirmotherwouldturntheirsharedcribupsidedownandstackbooksontopof it tokeepthemfromgettinglooseinthehouseandwreakinghavoc.Asteenagers inthe1970s,neither twinwas, toput itpolitely,unfamiliarwithnarcotics.AftergraduatingtogetherfromtheUniversityofNorthernIowa, inCedarRapids,Claywent tomedicalschoolatSouthernIllinoisUniversityatCarbondale,andCharlie tolawschoolatCreightonUniversity.In1987,Clay,recentlymarriedandfinishedwithhisresidency,camebackhometojoinhisfather’spractice.Shortlythereafter,CharliemovedintoahousedownthestreetfromClay’sandbeganworkastheFayetteCountypublicdefender.Clayisfivefeeteightandweighs160pounds.Hehasawelder’sforearmsandthehandsnotofa

musicianorasurgeon,butofafarmer: thickinthemeat,withlargefingersanddeepcreasesinthe

palms.Clay’sbrownhair isgoinggray(“salt-and-turd,”hecalls it),andhewearsitcombedback.Hehasashort,manicuredgoateeandintensegrayish-blueeyesbehindfashionableframelessglasses.Incontrast tohiswife’sdeepnorthernMissouridrawl,Clay’saccent ismoreMinnesotan,extendingeachopeningsyllabletowardtheinnardsofaword.His lexiconisunmistakableandspecialized;heoftensays“how’bout”and“okay,”aswhenrespondinginthenegativetoarequest:“How’boutnoway,okay?”Youngmenandwomenwithmultiplepiercings“havegoneface-firstintoa tacklebox.”Barsare“unsupervisedoutpatientstress-reductionclinics thatservecheapover-the-countermedicationswithlotsofsideeffects.”ClaygoestoworkeverydayinasmallbrickbuildingacrossthestreetfromMercyHospital.

Mercy,as it’scalled, isanimposingmonolithicstructurebuiltsixtyyearsagobytheCatholicchurch.Nextdooris thehighschoolandasmallresidentialneighborhood.Beyondthat, theprairiestarts inearnest, lonelyandflatandconstant.FromthewindowinthewaitingroomoftheHallbergFamilyPractice,youcanseea lotofsky,whichmakestheclutterofClay’s tinyofficeat thebackofthebuildingfeel thatmuchmoreprofound.There’sadeskandtwochairs,oneofwhichisinaccessiblegiventheboxesofpatientfiles that linethefloor instacks.Ononewallareshelvescoveredwithantiquedoctor’s implements;manyof themoncebelongedtoClay’sfather,whofinallyretiredwhenhiswifewaskilledinacaraccident in2003.Next totheseareahundredorsobooksattestingtotheextentofClay’sduties:ClinicalNeuroanatomy,PathophysiologyofRenalDisease,GeneralOphthalmology,Patten’sFoundationsofEmbryology.Truetohisroots,Claynotonlyseespatients intheexamroomacrossthehall;hedrivestotheir

housesandfarms,andalsoworkstwonightsaweekintheemergencyroom.Hehasdeliveredbabiesinthebacksofcars,andonce, inabarn.Afewyearsago,heservedasassistantcountycoroner,whichis tosay,assistant tohisfather.He’salsochiefofstaffatMercy.Intermsofwhatthereis toseearoundOelwein,Clayhasseenit.Contrarytowhatmanypeoplemight think, theruralUnitedStateshasfordecadeshadhigherrates

ofdrugandalcoholabusethanthenation’surbanareas.Ifaddictionhasaface,saysClay, it is thefaceofdepression.Badgenesdon’thelp,either,saysClay,butallgenes,badorgood,aresusceptibletoapoorenvironment.Heknowsofwhathespeaks.Backinthemid-1970s,aftergettinghisB.S.,ClaywasbackinOelwein,castingaboutforsomethingtodowithhis life.Hisfather,DocHallberg,wasabusive—adisciplinarianwholimpedaroundtherural townsofFayetteCountyforfortyyearsperformingminormedicalmiracles,all thewhilesufferingfromdebilitatingarthritis inhisright leg,which, thankstopolio, iseighteeninchesshorter thanhis leftandcompensatedbyasubstantialshoelift.Claywasgoodatgivinghisfatherreasonstobestern.Heplayedinaband,hadlonghair,anddida lotofcocaine.His loveofhomemadeexplosiveshadnotabated.Onetime,whenthehighschoolwasclosedbecauseofasnowday,Claysetoffapipebombonthecampuslawn, just toseewhatwouldhappen.Thenextmorning, theOelweinnewspapercalledita terroristattackanddemandedthat theculpritbehunteddownandprosecutedfederally.(Claywasnevercaught.)ThemoreClaybouncedaroundintellectuallybeneathhisfather’sbrutal,witheringglarewithoutbeingabletolandonsomethingeitherof themfoundmeaningful, themoreClaydiddrugs.Finally,hesays,herealizedhewaseithergoingtomedicalschoolorgoingtojail.ThingsinOelweinat thatpointwerejuststartingtodeteriorateeconomically.Itwouldbeafew

moreyearsbeforetheskyfell,oncetheChicagoGreatWesternandIllinoisCentralclosedoperationsintownandthefarmcrisisstruck,butClayattributesmuchofhisangerandmalaisetoasimplesocioeconomicpostulate:“Ifyougotnomoney,youcan’tgoseetheband.Andifyoucan’t

seetheband,you’refucked.”Whathemeansis that,withoutgoodjobs, littledisposableincomeremainsinthecommunitytobespentatallmannerof locallyownedbusinesses, includingat thebars.Andduringthelastgooddaysof the1970s,OelweinbarswereknownfromWaterlootoWenatchieforhavingthebest localbandsintheUpperMississippiRiverwatershed.OnceknownasLittleChicago,saysClay,OelweinboastedthebestItalianfoodintheMidwest,

everybarfieldedapool leagueinthewinterandasoftball teaminthesummer,andtheSportsmen’sLoungeservedthebestprimeribinIowa, thankstothefact thatOelweinwasthefirstovernightstopwestfromtheChicagostockyards.Inthe1930sand1940s,CountBasieandGlennMillerregularlyplayedTuesdaynightsat theOelweinColiseumontheirwayfromMinneapolis toSt.Louis.AccordingtoClay,theColiseum’sownerstipulatedinthebands’contracts that theycouldn’tplayanyothervenuewithinfivehundredmilesforat leastoneweekfollowingashowinOelwein.Suchwasthecloutofa townthatemployedtwothousandpeople,oralmost60percentoftheworking-agemalepopulation, inthelucrativerailbusinessandcouldthereforebereliedonforsold-outshows.Inthe1950s,BuddyHollyplayedtheOelweinArmoryfourtimes.Onceitwasallgone,saysClay, thedeepsenseofdisappointment thatpervadedOelweinonlymagnifiedtheHallbergtwins’senseof loss.Eversincethen, thetwinshavefought tomaintainasenseofbalancethroughmusic,andindoing

so, tosharethatfeelingofwholenesswiththeircommunity.ClaylikestosaythathehasbeenstrummingandCharliehasbeen“bangingonshit”sincebirth.Whentheboyswerefiveorsix,Clay, theaspiringbassist,wouldstringfishinglinesinthedoorwaytothekitchen;Charliewouldhammeronpotsandpanstobringthebabysitterrunning,onlytohowlwithdelightwhenshetrippedandfellover thestrings.Clay,whostillrelishesagoodbarfight,oncereputedlypushedanotherbandmemberoutofamovingVWbus, thencasuallynotedhowthethudthatresultedwasinBminor.Tothisday, thebrothersplayvenuesallovernortheasternIowainavarietyofensemblesandmaketheirownrecordingsinastudiothatClaybought, twoblocksawayfromtheIGAgrocerystore.ForClay,performingisanactofcommunalsymbiosis;nowheredoeshefeelmoreathomeandmorecompletethanonstagewithhis twin, tryinghardtomakepeopledanceandsingalongtoanagelessrepertoireofgoodold-fashionedrockandroll.MusicvisiblycalmsClay,whosmokedapackandahalfadayanddrankheavilywhenImet

himin2005.Conversationscouldbemeasurednotbyminutesandhours,but inpotsofcoffeeorcansofBudLight.Thebreadthofhisknowledgeisstaggering;keepingpacewiththeabrupt,multidimensionalmovementsofhis thoughts is liketryingtokeeptrackofahummingbird.Heisapt,say,whileriffingonthehistoryofSiouxmedicinemen, toberemindedofhisfavoritephilosopherandtoaskifyouwouldlikehimto“distillKant intothreesentences,sothatyou’rewithmehere”—all thisasanaddendumtoaChomskyancritiqueof thecritical-careprogramatMercyHospital.Clay’s isbothanall-consumingandaconsumptiveenergy;withoutmusic,hewouldbeconsumedforsure.Eighty-fivepercentofwhatClaydoesasadoctor is tominister tooneformoranotherof the

mental illnessthathesaysravagesOelwein.Mostly,hesays, it’sdepressionoranxiety, thoughthereareplentyofbipolarpeoplewalkingaroundtown.Inthisway,saysClay,Oelweinisnoexception;oneinthreeAmericans,byhisestimate,sufferfromsomesortofpsychologicalmalady.It’s justthat, inplaceslikethis,wherethereisnomoneyforproperhelp, theeffectsaremagnified.Everyyear,Oelwein’spopulationdwindles.Theseniorclassat thehighschoolshrinks,onaverage,byfivestudentseachfall. In2004alone,Oelweinlost$147,000intaxrevenues.ItcannotabsorbthesocialandfinancialcostofmaladyinthewaythatWaterloo(whichlost$2millioninrevenuesin

2004)can.Noris theproblemaided,Claysaysunapologetically,bytheinbreedingandlackofeducationendemictoaplacethat is literallyshrivelingup:“How’bout thefirstpeopletoleaveareofcoursethesmartones,andthepeoplewithenoughmoneytogetout.Whatyou’releftwith—andI’msorry,okay?—doesn’tqualifyOelweinHighasafeederschoolforHarvard,okay?”WhatClaylamentsmorethananythingis that thereissolittlerecognitionof thecomplexities

Oelweinfaces.Noonewantstotalkaboutwhat’sright infrontof theireyes,adirectresult,hesays,of thetight-lipped,stolidstockthathelpedsettle thisarea.Ahundredyearsago, itwassociallyadvantageousforpeoplenot tospeakofhardship, toact insteadoftothink.Now,saysClay, there’s toolittlemoneytoact.Talking,ataminimum,hesays,wouldhelpalleviate thesenseofhelplessness.Lookingforwaystocope,manypeopleheadtothechurch,wherethebestintentionsofawonderfulmanlikeDarwinMoore, theministeratGraceMethodist,cannotbemistakenforreal jobtraininginsocialandpsychologicalprograms.Or,unabletoaffordavisit toClay,nevermindtheantidepressantshemightprescribe,peopleself-medicateinoneofOelwein’selevenbars.That,hesays, iswherethemethdealershaveeasypickings.Themethamphetamineproblem,alongwiththesenseofdesperationthathaddevelopedin

Oelwein, iswhatfinallydroveClay’sbrother,Charlie,away.Hegot tired,hesays,aftersevenyearsaspublicdefender,ofaddictsshowingupathishouseattwoo’clockinthemorning,wonderingwhyCharliehadn’tgottentheirfriendsoutof jail.Hedidn’tfeel thatOelweinwasasafeplaceforhis twomiddle-school-agedchildrentogrowup.Charlie’swife,saysClay,wasreadytoleavehim.SoCharliemovedanhourandtwentyminutessouth, to thecityofCedarRapids,wherehewent intoprivatepractice.AsClaytells thestory,his jawmusclesflex,as thoughhecouldchewhiswaythroughthedetails inorder tocometoanunderstandingofhowthishadhappened.They’dcomehometogether,afterall, tobepartofasolutioninOelwein.NowCharliewasgone.Thetown’smethproblemwasthefirst thingthathadseparatedthetwinssincemedicalandlawschool.Charlie left in2003, thesameyear that theirmotherwaskilledinacaraccident.Claywas

bereft.Withhisownchildrennowoutof thehouseandCharlieandhismothergone,hefelt totallyalone.Hepouredhimself intohiswork,redoublinghisefforts tohelphis increasinglybeleagueredpatients.Butwithhis insuranceratesrisingeachyear,hehasn’tfounditeasy.“Evenifwegetaholdofmethnextmonth,”Claytoldmeinourinitialphoneconversation,“we’vealreadygot threehumanstagesofhistorytocleanup.Butseeingthatwewon’thaveitundercontrolnextmonth,we’regoingtohavefour,five,maybesixgenerationstodealwith: themedicalproblems, thepsychologicalramifications—wedon’tevenknowwhatelse.We’veonlysettledintoa long-termsiege.”Thetoll ithadtakenonhimwasnowheremoreevident thaninthegarageofhishousewhenI

went tovisithimthefirstday;inonecorner, therewerethreeenormoustrashbagsfullofbeercans.Mostnights thathewasn’toncall,Claydrankatwelve-packbyhimself,pacinginthegarageandsmokingcigarettes, just to trytocalmdown.Thenhetriedtogetsomerest.

WhenyoudriveintoIndependence,Iowa,fourteenmilessouthofOelwein,withthewindowsdownonawarmlate-Juneday,youfeel thefullnessofsmall-townAmerica’spastoralcharm.Despite itsproximitytoOelweinanditscomparablesize,Independencefeelsbothbiggerandcleaner thanitsneighbortothenorth.OnMainStreet, theantiquebuildingshousenoclosedstorefronts.Peopleareeverywhere,walkinginthesun.Thereisafeelingofpurposefulness,eveninwinter,whenthewarmlightsof therestaurantsshineinvitinglyinthedusk,andthesnowplowspatrolwell in

advanceof impendingstorms,givingtheimpressionthatall isnotonlywell,butalsothat thingsareaccountedforandundercontrolevenbeforetheyhappen.Iwent toIndependenceinorder tomeetarecoveringmethaddict,hisson,andhisparents.I

wantedtoseethekindofgenerationaleffectsaboutwhichClayhadspoken—the“multidimensionalexpansionofpathology,”asheput it, thatadrugepidemicengenders.Intryingtounderstandthedifficultiescausedbymethaddictioninjustonefamily,Ifelt itappropriate togotoIndependence,whichissomuchlessrougharoundtheedgesthanOelwein.ThelackofobviouscorruptioninIndependencemadethat townfeeldecadesbehinditsneighbortothenorthintermsofeconomicordrug-relatedcomplications,as thoughonemightgetapeekatwhatOelweinhadbeenlikewhenClayandCharlieHallbergfirststartedplayingthebarsbackinthe1970s.Thata large-scalesocial ill infects individual livesandrelationshipsiscertainlynotnews.

Indeed,Ihadalreadybeguntoappreciate theeffectsofOelwein’sfateonClay.Overmoretime,I’dseehowthetown’sdifficultiesseemedtoaccordwithClay’sgrowingabuseofalcohol.Andwhileit’snotfair tosaythatsocialdivisionsdirectlysplit individuals, testingmarriagesandrelationships,itseemsreasonabletoconsider theaddedstressofa largerdifficultywhenlookingat thevarioushumanpieces.WhatcameintoviewinIndependencewastheinverseof this:onceacommunityhasshattered,notonlywillfamiliessplinter, too,butmemberswillfeelcompelledtolookforsuccorinsurprisingplaces.Methdoesn’t justdrivepeopleapart;itdrivesthemtogether.TherecoveringaddictI’dcometospeakwithisknownasMajor toothermembersof theSonsof

Silencemotorcyclegang,orwhatherefers toas“theFamily,”ofwhichheisaformermember.Thenameseemedappropriate,giventhecomparativelyastoundingeffectMajorhadhadwithinhisfairlylimitedrealm.Thentwenty-fiveyearsold,Major livedwithhisparents,BonnieandJoseph,inaprettyredbrickhomeonaquiet tree-linedstreetfiveblocksoffMain.Atsixfeet two,180pounds,Majorhadwideshoulders,sinewyarms,strongcalves,andaslimwaist.Hisnaturalblondhairandblueeyesmusthaveservedhimwellin theFamily,for theSonsofSilenceareanAryanNationorganization,andMajorhasSS tattooedontohis leftdeltoid.Fourteenmonthsago,at thepeakofhismethaddiction,heweighed130pounds.ThedayIwent tomeetMajor,wesatontheporchofhisparents’house.Majorhadbeenclean

forninemonthsbythen, thoughhewasstillgiventoanaddict’shyperbolicmonologuespunctuatedwithfirecrackerexplosionsof laughter.Ifoundhimtobepersonable,self-deprecating,andfunny,akiss-assandanintimidator,someonewhowouldsaywhatever it tooktogetoutof trouble.Hewasobviouslyhighlyintelligentandlowonself-esteem,whichmadeforakindofcartoonishcharm.Everythingabouthimseemedtobeinastateofcontagiousturmoil, theresult,Iguessed,ofhisyearsofbrainwashingbytheSonsofSilence.Towitnessthefights thatragedinhim—betweenmethandstayingclean;betweenremainingwithhisblood-parentsorreturningtotheFamily;betweenself-loathingandself-aggrandizement—madeitalmost impossiblenot tosympathizewithMajor.InnorthernIowa, theSonsofSilence,oncetheforemostbikeanddruggang,aretodayessentially

amom-and-popmeth-productionoutfit,makingafewpoundsofNazidopehereandthere,withaccesstoabuilt-inretailforceintheformoftheirfewremainingriders.Their leader,amannamedBob, is thefatherofMajor’sex-girlfriend,Sarah.Sarahis theloveofMajor’s lifeandthemotherofMajor’sson,Buck.Bob,alongwithhiswifeandSarah, livedonafarminnearbyJesup,Iowa,wherehecontinuedtomakemeth.Bob’spresencejust twelvemilesaway,alongwiththememoryof thelife thatMajor livedwithhim,wasaweightthatMajorcouldn’tseemtoliftfromtheday-to-daydrudgeryofhissoberexistence.

Atthetimeofmyvisit,Buckwastwo.Hehadwhite-blondhair,expressivedarkblueeyes,andredlips thatstoodoutagainsthisrich,alabasterskin.Hisruddycheeksandalreadydefinedmusculatureseemedthemarksofanolderchild.Allaround,infact,Buckseemeddevelopmentallyaheadof thegameforhisage.Hewaspersonableandcuriousandtalkedabluestreak.Hewasanythingbutquiet,moody,anddistant,oftenthemarksofaso-calledmethbaby.AndBuckisnotjustamethbaby,heis themethbabyofIowa.WhentheDepartmentofHumanServicesandlocalprosecutors,undertheauspicesof theChildinNeedofAssistance(CHINA)statute, tookhimawayfromMajorandSarah,Buck’shairhadthehighestcell-follicle tracesofmethamphetamineeverrecordedinstatehistory.NumbertwoonthelistwasBuck’shalfsister,Caroline,whowassixatthetimeshewastaken.FromwhereMajorandIsatata tableontheporch,Major lookedathismother,whowasinside

thescreendoor, listeningtoourconversation.Buckwasinthemiddleofyetanothercircumnavigationof thetableviathefourbenchessurroundingit.Majorwasclearlynotgoingtosayanythingelsewhilehismotherwaslistening,andweallwaitedforseveraluncomfortablemoments.IpassedBuckovermylapsothathecouldgotothenextbench,where, ifhisformulaheldtrue,he’dstopbrieflytobangoutaquicktuneontheTunnelTuner—aplastic locomotivethatwhistlesas itfollowsyellowtracksinacircle,onewhistleperonepushofabigbluebutton.Thenhe’dcontinueasbeforealonghiscircularpath.“Mom,”saidMajor,“canyoujustnotstandthere,please?”MajorwatchedBonnieleavethedoorwayandretreat intothekitchen.Thenhesaidthat in2003

heandBobdevelopedawaytoincreasetheiryieldfrombatchingmethbymicrowavingthecoffeefilters throughwhichtheystrainedthedope’s impurities.Heatingthefiltersyieldedagooddealofpowderedcrankthathadbeenabsorbedbythepaper.Theproblemwasthat thepowderedcrankalsospreadover theinsideof themicrowave,whereBobandMajorcookedBuckandCaroline’sfood, therebypermittingthechildrentoingestuntoldamountsof thedrug.Thelong-termeffectsof infantmethamphetamineingestionwereunclear in2005whenImetMajor

andBuck,andremainhazytoday.Onlyoneresearcher,Dr.RizwanShah,of theBlankChildren’sHospital inDesMoines,hasstudiedtheproblemforasignificantperiodof time, twelveyears,whichis longenoughtoseetrendsbut tooshort to tracktheircontinuedeffects.Buckdid,saidMajor,exhibitsomeof thesymptomsthatDr.Shahassociateswithchildrenexposedtomethintheearlyyearsof their lives.Buckshookviolentlyinthemorningwhenhewokeup,hadtroublesleeping,andsufferedfromacuteasthma.Hewasalsoquicktorevert toviolentangerasaformofcommunicationandwasmaddeninglypickyabouthisfood,oftenrefusingtoeat.Whether theselatterattributeswereanindicationthatBuckwassimplyenteringtheterrible twosandbeginningtoexerthiswillorwererelatedtohismonumentalexposuretomethwasanyone’sguess.SofarBuckdidn’tseemaffectedbyanothercommonproblemwithmethexposure,whichisaninabilitytointeractwithotherhumanbeings,aresult, it issupposed,of longperiodsoffrenetic,haphazardattentionfollowedbydaysof lyinghelpless inacribwhileparentssleepoff theirbinges.It’smeth’s long-termeffects, though, thatarepotentiallythemostdisturbing, inpartbecausethose

effectsaretheoreticalandbasedonobservationsmadeonlyamongadults,manyofwhomsufferfromliverandkidneyfailure,weakenedheartsandlungs,highbloodpressure,andsevereanxiety.Theworryis thatwhateverphysicaldisabilitiesanadultsuffers,achild,bydefinitionweakerandsmaller,willhavethesesamedeficienciesvisiteduponhimmanifold.Meth’spower,saidMajor,hadneverbeenmoreclear tohimthanthelast timehewasinjail.

Majorwaspanic-strickenwithoutthedrug.Byturnshecouldn’tsleeporcouldn’twakeup.He

couldn’teat.Hehadhallucinations.Hisbodyhurtas thoughhe’dbeeninacaraccident.Andhe,byalongstretch,haditprettyeasy.Accordingtoanundercovernarcoticsagent inOttumwa,Iowa,oneaddictbecameconvincedinhis jailcell that theimpurities inthemethhe’dbeencookingandinjecting—particularlythelithiumbatterystripusedasasolvent inthedrug’smanufacture—wereactuallyinsidehisbody.Thinkingthatoneoftheveinsinhisarmwasastripof lithium,hesatonhisbedandspenthoursusinghis longfingernails todigtheveinout.TalkingtoMajormadeitclear thatmeth’sphysicalwithdrawalswereonlythebeginningofhisproblemswithquitting,forwhatwasmoststrikingabouthimwasthatheseemedtohavenoideawhohewasnowthathenolongerusedmeth.Buckwasreadytocrossmylapagaininorder tocompleteanother turnaroundthetable.“Hi!”

hesaid.Hepickedupalighteronthetableandhelditout tome.“Foryou,”hesaid.Hewaswearinglittleredshorts thatbulgedwithafreshdiaper.ForMajor,waitingtoseewhatpricehissonwouldpayforhis transgressionswasadailyreminderofwhyhehadtostaystraight.Buthisanxietyandguiltwerealsoanhourlymotivationtogethigh.Major,whenheallowedhimself tothinkofwhathemighthavedonetohisboy,wantednothingmorethantokillhimselfwithafinal,euphoricoverdoseofcrank.“Notforyou,”saidMajor,grabbingthelighterfromBuck’shand.Buckbegancrying.AtfirstMajorspokesoothinglytohim.WhenMajorpickedhimup,Buckhit

Major intheface.Bonniecametothedoorwayagain,watching.Major lookedather,hisfacefirstregisteringtheneedforhelp,andthenanger.Major lookedbackatBuck,whotriedtobitehisfather’snose.MajorshookhimfuriouslyasBuckhowled.That’swhenBonnieswoopedinandtookBuckaway.Bonnieandhersonstaredateachother,Buckbetweenthemlikeashield.Orlikeathreat,forBonniecouldatanytimebanishMajorfromherhome,andBuckwouldhavetostaywithher.“He’shungry,”saidBonniefinally.“That’sall.”

Afewdayslater,ImetJosephandBonnieinthebarofarestaurant inIndependencethat lookedlikeaT.G.I.Friday’sdoneupwithtelltalesmall-townsignsofcolor.Kitty-cornerfromaprintofJohnBelushiandDanAckroydinTheBluesBrotherswasawalleyemountedonanoakplaquebearingagoldplateengravedwiththeangler’sname, thelakewherethefishwascaught,andtheweight:sevenpounds, threeounces.ItwasJuly5,andJosephandBonniehadcometotalktotheownerabout theiryoungestson’s

weddingrehearsaldinner,whichtheywantedtohaveinOctoberintherestaurant’ssmallreceptionroom.Butbeforereservationsweremadeandthemenudecided,theyhadalongtalkabout theowner’srecent triptoa lakeinCanada,wheretheownerhadenjoyedthebestwalleyeandnorthernpikefishinghe’dever imagined.JosephandBonniehadbeentothesamelakemanytimes—theyarebothavidfishermen—andwereclearlysorrythey’dmissedtheaction.Theyhadn’tbeenfishinginovertwoyears,whichisaboutas longasthey’dbeentakingcareofBuck,whoforallpracticalpurposeshadbecomeBonnieandJoseph’sfifthchild.Technically,Bonnie,asocialworker,andJoseph,acountymagistrate,havecustodyofBuck.That

theyallowMajortoliveintheirhomeisacircumstancethatexistsoutsidetheboundsofcustodylitigation.Itcanbe, tosaytheleast,anawkwardarrangement.BonnieandJosephwerefifty-threeyearsoldwhenImet themin2005.Theyhadnotplannedtoraisea two-year-oldat thisstageoftheir lives.Justayearearlier,MajorandSarah,still livingatBob’sfarm,wouldbreakintoBonnieandJoseph’shousetostealwhatever theycould, thensell it tobuymorecoldmedicinefrom

whichtomakemeth.OnenightMajorstolehismother’spantiesandbrasandhockedthematabar.Duringanotherbreak-in,MajorandSarahdecidedtostashalargeamountofmethintheairventsofBonnieandJoseph’shome.WhenBonnieandJosephturnedtheheaton, themeth-taintedair thatblewthroughtheventsmadethemill,andtheyhadtospendtenthousanddollars,oraquarterofJoseph’syearlyincome, tohavethewholesystemreplaced.That therewassomeresentmentbeneaththesurfaceof theireveryinteractionwithMajorwasnotsurprising.Moresurprisingwashowlittleresentment therewas.Joseph,aheavysmokerwithanashen

complexion, isanintenselyquietmangiventowearingkhakis,short-sleeveoxfordshirts,andsimpletieswithnojacket.Whenhespeaks,hiswordscomeoutwiththebluntforceofbodyblows.Bonnieissoothingandkind,a tall, thin,prettywomanofSwedishdescentwithsharpfeaturesandastatelybearing.Thatdayat therestaurant,Bonnie’sarticulatenesswasmagnifiedasshesatnext toherbroodinghusband.SinceadoptingBuck,JosephandBonniehaveput their livesonhold.Retirement isnolongeranoption,nevermindagoal.Theycannot leaveMajorathomealoneformorethanafewhoursata time,soafraidaretheythathewillrelapse,or thatBobwillmakegoodonthethreathehasleveledindozensof late-nightphonecalls: thathewillkidnapBuck,murderMajor,andburndownBonnieandJoseph’shome.BonnielitoneofJoseph’scigarettes, tookadrag,andhandedit tohim.ReferringtothedayI’d

spokenwithMajorontheporch,shesaidshedidn’tbelievealotof thethingsshe’dheardhimtellmeabouthis timelivingwithBobandSarah.Bonniecalledhersonbyhisgivenname,Thomas.ThomashadtoldmeseveralstoriesabouthisandBob’smurderingrivalsandmakingmillionsofdollars.“I thinkalotof it isexaggerated,”Bonniesaid.“ThethingsabouthowpowerfulandsmartBobis.Thomaslikestoimaginehewassoimportantandsomarvelous.Intruth,Bobisaputz.”“JesusChrist,”saidJoseph,shakinghishead.“BythetimeThomasmovedbackinwithus,he

literallydidn’tknowhisname.He’dgottensousedtolyingthathe’dstumbleoveranysimplefact.”“I thinkbetweenthedrugsandthegamestheyplayedwithhim,theyreallygot intohismind,”

saidBonnie.“Thatso-calledfamilywillstayatafarmforawhile,neverpayingtherent,andthenjust leaveandgotoanewplace.They’vedonethattheirwholelives.AndifyoutalktoBob,there’snothingatallscaryabouthim.He’sthis littleguy,andhe’sa totalbrownnose.He’slikeaweasel.NothingThomassaysaddsup.”Itwasthequestionsthatwerekillingthem,saidBonnie.Not justwhathadreallyhappenedwhile

MajorwaswiththeFamilybutalsohowtohelphimrecover.Evenasasocialworker,Bonnieknewcomparativelylittleabouthowtoaidinthisprocessorwhatkindofoutcomecouldreasonablybeexpected.Inlieuofablurryfuture,BonnieandJosephconstantlyreplayedthepast,lookingforclues.Bonniesaid,“Imean,Ikeepthinking,‘Whatdidwedowrong?’Ibreast-fedThomas.Ididn’t

smokeordrinkwhenIwaspregnant.Afterhegotoutof jail thesecondtime,werentedhimanapartment.Hewasbackonmethovernight.SowemovedhimandSarahintoourhouse.Inresponse,herfatherbeatherup.Bobbeat theabsolutehelloutofhisowndaughterformovinginwithusandtryingtoquitmeth.OncewegotcustodyofBuck,SarahtriedtogetDHStotakehimawayfromusbecausewesmoke.Shesaidwewereendangeringherchild.Shetoldthepolicethatwekidnappedhim.Shestillcalls thirtytimesanight,sometimes,andhangsup.”BonniepausedtolightanotheroneofJoseph’scigarettes.This timeshedidn’tgiveitbackto

him.Thewholetimeshe’dspoken,Josephhadsilentlyrubbedhisforearmwithhisbluntfingers,thewayyoumightrubafavoriteblanketorapieceofcloth.Bonniesaid,“Sothat’swhatwegetfor tryingtohelp.”

Stayingbusyamidthesecircumstances,saidBonnie,wasablessing.Whatbusiedthemmorethananythingelsewasoverseeingakindof in-houserehabforMajorwhile theywaitedtoseewhat, ifany,problemsBuckmightdevelop.ThiswasnotLosAngeles,orTampa,orevenPoughkeepsie.Therewerenoresidentialchemicalabusefacilitiesaroundthere.NonethatBonnieandJosephcouldaffordanyway,despitemakingtwicethemedianincomefor thearea.Bylaw,MajorhadtoattendNarcoticsAnonymousmeetingseachweek;meetwithhisparole

officer twiceamonth;andholddownajob,whichmeantworkingconstruction.HadBuckstillbeeninhiscustody,aDHSworkerwouldhavevisitedeveryweektoassessthesituationandtoofferhelp,foranhourata time,withthedizzyingarrayofadjustments,howeverprosaicormonumental,thatMajorfacedinhisattempttoliveasober life.“That’sasmuchascanbedoneformethaddictsandtheirchildren,”saidBonnieinregardtocomparativelywell-offIndependence,Iowa.WhenJosephfinallybrokehissilencetoofferhisopiniononwhatshouldbedonewithmeth

addicts, it reflectedthis lackofavailableoptions.Brutally,dispassionately,quietly,hesaidthatalladdictsought tobesterilized.Whileinjail,theyought tobeput toworkonbehalfof thecommunitytheyhavesullied,milkingcowsandbuildingroads.Then,echoinghiswife,hesaid,“That’sasgoodascanbedoneinIndependence,Iowa.”Bonnielethimcooldown.ThensheremindedJosephthatwhileMajorwaslast in jail,his third

time,Josephwent tovisithimeverynight.Furthermore,Josephleveragedhispositionasacountymagistrate inorder togetMajoroutearly.HadMajorbeensterilizedduringoneofhisincarcerations,Bonniewenton, theywouldneverhavehadtheprofoundpleasureofseeingBucklearntowalk.Whenshewasdonetalking,sheputherhandonhis.Josephshookhishead.Thenhenoddedinagreement.“Whateverhappens,”hesaid,“we’vegot

theboy.”Foramoment, itwasunclearwhichgenerationofhisprogenyhemeant:hissonorhisgrandson.

Thenhesaid,“Nomatterhowbadlyhescrewsupfromhere,Thomascan’tchangethat.”

CHAPTER5

THEDODROPINN

Beforemysecondtwo-weekstayinOelweinduringthesummerof2005,I’dspent tendaysdrivingfromtowntotowninsouthernIllinois,westernKentucky,andnorthernMissouri.InBenton,Illinois,apoorblack-earthfarmtownintheswelteringhollowsofFranklinCounty,I’driddenaroundforafewdayswithJ.R.Moore,whowasnotonlytheBentonpolicedepartment’ssolenarcoticsofficer,hewasalsoBenton’sinterimmayorandtheownerofoneof thetown’sthreerestaurants.Allday,J.R.droveablackMustangGTwithtintedwindowsandanarsenalofshotgunsinthebucketbackseats,smokingMarlboroLightsandrollingdownhiswindowatstopsignstosayheytopeoplehe’dknownallhis life.InChillicothe,Missouri, in thecattle-andprairie-richheartof thestate’snorthernriverbreaks,I’dspent thenight inamotelandlistenedwhile, in theroomaboveme,amanbeat thewomanhe’dmarriedthatveryevening,at thatverymotel.LikethehillcountryaroundBenton, theareaaroundChillicothe,350milesaway,hadamonumentalmethproblem,andthebrideyelledloudlythathernewhusbandwouldnothavebeendoingthis toherhadhenotbeenhighoncrank.WhenIcalledthepolice,afemaleofficer talkedtothegroomoutsidethewindowofmyground-floorroom.Afterheconvincedtheofficer thatnothingwaswrong,shewoundupherinvestigationbywonderingwhatkindofout-of-townerhadmistakenagoodtimefordomesticabuse.Bythen, itwasnolongeraquestioninmymindwhethermethwasabiggerprobleminsmall-

townAmericathaninlargercities.SanFranciscoundoubtedlyhasmany,manymoremethaddictsthantheCentralValleytownofMerced.Therearethousandsofmethaddicts inDesMoines,whileinOelweintherearebarelymorethansixthousandpeopletotal.LosAngelesismeth’sancestralhomeintheUnitedStates.LikeNewYork,SanFrancisco,andMiami,LosAngeleshasa largepopulationofgaymethaddicts.Inthepastfiveyears,HIVandhepatitisCrateshaveincreasedamongthegaypopulation,andmethiswidelyblamed.Themethprobleminthosecities issignificant, ifnotmonumental.Thedifferenceis thatLosAngelescanabsorbtheassociatedcostsofthoseproblemsmoreeasilythanOelweinorMercedorBenton.Andtherecourseofsmall townsinconfrontingmethseemedonlytobegrowingbleaker.ThequestionwashowtoportraythemethproblemintheruralUnitedStateswithoutstereotyping

—andultimatelytrivializing—theplacestowhichmethhadcalledsuchattentionbythesummerof2005.BeavisandButt-Head,Smurfers,momandpop—methusershadenteredthelexiconascaricatures,whichultimatelystemmedlessfromthedrugandmorefromtheenvironswithwhichthatdrugwasassociated.Oddly,nowhereweretheprejudicesagainst—andparodiesof—small-townmethaddictsmoreexplicitthaninOelweinitself, thetownthat,accordingtoClayHallberg,JayLenooncereferredtoinaTonightShowmonologueas“possiblytheworstplaceintheworld.”EvenNathanLeinstruggledwiththetemptationtoseethepeopleheprosecutedas“shitbags.”Insomewaysitseemedthat themethepidemiconlyaddedtoasenseof isolationinOelwein,asthoughtheworldwashappeningeverywherebut there.Viewingmethasacrimestoryvastlyoversimplifies theproblem.Similarly,ClayHallberghad

madeitclear tomeinourveryfirstconversationthat therewasa lotmoretothisstorythanadrug

anditseffects.Thatdrugstoodforsomething.NowIwasbeginningtoseewhatClayhadmeant.Methrepresented, inthewordsofCraigReinarman,asociologistatUCSantaCruzandanexpertondrugepidemics,“sociologicalfault lines.”Back-to-backnights—oneat theDoDropInnandthenextatapartyatClayHallberg’s—paintedthesefault linesinstarkdistinction.Whatbecameparticularlyclearwasthat,despiteone’sbest intentions, thedivisionsfosteredbyadrugepidemicseemtorunalongthelinesofclass—orat leastalongtheperceptionsofclass.Major isnotwhat’sconsideredtobea“typical”methaddict,sincehe’sfromasuccessfulfamily.Andyet,becausehewasdrug-addicted,he’sconsideredtobelessbyhisownfatherandbyNathanLein,whogrewupfarpoorerthanMajor.DouglasConstanceisaruralsociologistatSamHoustonStateUniversityinHuntsville,Texas.

ConstanceputsReinarman’spoint inadifferentcontextwhenhesaysthat theUnitedStates is“psychological,notasociologicalnation.”Whathemeansis thatwewillalwaysholdtheindividualresponsibleover thegroup,blamingthedrugaddict insteadof investigatingtheenvironmentinwhichhegrewup,and(conversely)celebratingthequarterbackabovetheteamfollowingawin.Inasmall town,thedistancebetweenthewinnerandtheloser isnegligible,thoughtheinstinct toinsulate is justasstrongasit is inNewYorkCity.WhatconnectspeopleinNewYorkandinBenton,Illinois, infact, is thatbothresistbelievingthat theyhaveanythingincommon.Major’sfatherseemedtoassociatehimselfautomaticallywithhisgrandchildoverhisson.Inasimilarmanner,whatNathanLeinmusteverydayremindhimself is thathedoes, infact,sharemanythingswithRolandJarvis.TheextensionofConstance’sanalysis is thatduringadrugepidemic, instinctdemandsthatwe

findsomethingwrongwiththosewhoareaddicted; theepidemicineffect tricksusintothinkingthattherelativelysmallnumberofaddictsareanomalies,evenasweacknowledgethedrug’slarge-scalepresence.InAugust2005,Newsweekprintedanow-famousseriesofphotosofmethaddicts,whosefacesfirstseemedtoageandthenpracticallytodisintegrateover time.IrememberthinkingthepictureslookedlikepropagandapaintingsfromWorldWarIIofGermansoldiers,or“Huns,”whohadbeendeliberatelydehumanized.Similarly, theaddictsshowninNewsweekweresogauntandlifeless that theyseemedutterlydisengagedfromhumanity.Thosephotosservedinsomewaytodistancenotonlytheaddicts themselvesbutalsotheruralUnitedStates,fromwhichtheaddictsinvariablycame,fromthenationat large.Forme,a truechronicleof theheightof themethyearsfrom2005to2008mustbeginwitha townandall itspeople.IfmethaloneweretodefineOelwein—andthroughit, theentiresmall-townUnitedStates—thetruthwouldbehopelesslyobscured.Andthetruthis,ClayandMajor,NathanandRoland,MurphyandLoriandthepeopleintheDoDropInn—thesepeopleareus.

Amongtheregularsat theDoDropInnareJoshandBen, twoobese,bike-ridingnineteen-year-oldswhomoreor lesscontrolthetwoseventy-five-centpool tables.ThereisalsoLisa,anunemployed,nearsightedepilepticknownontheOelweinkaraokecircuitasFlipper;andSophie,whobytwenty-fourwasinacomafollowingacaraccident,fromwhichsheemergedayear laterhavingtoonceagainlearntotalk,walk,andeat,andwhosesocialoutletsarecomposedofwalkinghercatonaleasheverynight toMcDonald’sandthenheadingover todrinkDietPepsiat theDoDropInn.Addtothisarotatinggalleryofwhitesupremacistskinheads, tweakers,whiggers(thelocalmonikerforwhitekidswhowearthelong,baggyclothingassociatedwithurbanblacks),bikers,andfarmkids,andtheDoDrop, inClayHallberg’sformulation,canfeelat timesverymuchlikeanunsupervisedoutpatientclinic.

Thereismethodtothemayhem,however.TheDoDrop’sowner,MildredBinstock, ismoredenmother thanboss,andknowsprettymucheverythingabouteveryonewhocomesin.Mildredhasprettyoliveskinanddarkbrowneyes.Shewearsblousesinwild,colorfulprints,hasappliquédeyebrows,andisnotsomeonewhoshiesawayfromlipstick.Atfive-feet-elevenMildrediswhatmightbedescribedaswellfed:notfat,exactly,butnotwithoutapredilectionforchickentenderseither.Sheissixtyyearsoldandhasnevermarried.Shedoesnotdrink,andshe’sneversmokedacigarette,despitehavingworkedfromfiveP.M.totwoA.M.nightlyat theDoDropInnsinceshebought theplacein1984.That,saysMildred,wastwoyearsbeforewhatshedescribesas the“schnappsrevolution,”whichaccountsfor theprodigiousamountofflavoredDeKuyper’sbehindthebar inpeach,blackberry,andbutterscotch,whichshemaintainsnearlydoubledher liquorsales.Backin2005,someoneat theDoDropInnwasgettingbusted—forassault,sellingmeth,fighting,

orcontributingtothedelinquencyofaminor—aboutonceeverytwoweeksonaverage.Mostrecently, thepolicewentupstairs tooneof thethreefloorswhereMildredrentsroomsweeklyandmonthlyandkickeddownthedoortofindaseventeen-year-oldgirl inflagrantedelictowithaforty-year-oldman.Onthetablenext tothemwastheeight-ballofcrankshe’djustsoldhim.WhenNathanLeintookmetotheCopShoponmyfirstdayinOelwein,I toldhimmyplantohangoutattheDoDrop, inhopesofmeetinganyof theaddictsanddealersas theyappearedinmugshotsonChiefLogan’scomputerscreen,Nathansaid,“Goodluck.Evencopswon’tgointherealone.”MildredwatchestheFoxNewsChannelwheneversheisnotasleep.Shecantellyouwhatshows

areonatwhat timesonatwenty-four-hourschedule.Sherefers toherdecoratingstyleaseitherHighAmishKitschorLateVictorianClutter.Infrontofanenormoustelevisionflankedbyredlacecurtains,Mildred’scustomerssitatformaldinner tablescompletewithhigh-backeddiningroomchairsdecoratedwithChristmaslights.Behindthebar isasmoke-glassmirror inwhich, ifyou’reobservant,youcanseetheever-frugalMildredstealthilyreusethestrawfromonecustomer’sfinishedwhiskeyandCokeinthefreshvodkatonicofanother.Thewallsrepresentfivedecadesofyard-salefinds:mountedfish,vintagepiecesofbankchina,calendarsdatingbacktotheJohnsonadministration.Asignstapledabovethedoortothekitchenreads“Myoffice!NooneallowedbutME!”Abovethedoorisanother television,whichisoftentunedtothemanMildredrefers toas“mynumber-onehoney”:GeraldoRivera.InMildred’sestimation,MayorMurphyandChiefLoganwerecrooks.Theywerewhatwas

wrongwithOelwein,pureandsimple.Themoreordinancestheypassedtryingtoridthetownofmeth, themoreMildredconsideredthemtobeinfringingonhercivilrights.Shewasnotalone.Fromananecdotalperspective,Oelweinbackin2005wasdeeplyfactionedregardingthepolice,themayor,andNathanLeinandhisboss,countyattorneyWayneSauer.Theupshotwasthat, inapoortownwherehalfofallcommercialspacesatunoccupied,MildredBinstockwasnotgoingtotakekindlytopoliceactioninherbar.Shewasbarelymakingitas itwas,workingsevendaysaweekinanunendingseriesofshifts that lasteddeepintothenight.ClayHallberg,NathanLein,andRolandJarvisall toldmethatmoremethgotsoldat theDoDropInnthanatanyotherbar inOelwein.WhenIpressedMildredabout this,sheinsistedshewasbeingsetup.Thensheaddedcrypticallythat, inheropinion,“Thepolicearecanoodlingwiththebadelementsof thisburg.”Oneearlyeveninginparticularbroughthomethecomplexityof thedivisionsinOelwein,as

expressedinitsmostnotoriousbar.ItwasaSunday,andMildredandIweretheonlytwointheplace.Wewerewatchingthenews,whichat thetimewasconcentratedonthecaseofayoungMormongirlwho’dbeenkidnappedfromherSaltLakeCitybedroomwhilehersistersleptnext toher;policesuspectedthehandyman.IntotheDoDropInnwalkedamanandagirl.Thegirl looked

sixteenorseventeen,andthemanoverthirty.HewaswearingdenimCarharttsandamatchingworkjacket,eachdirtyenoughtohavebeenthroughalongdayofbuildingroadinaduststorm.Hehadlong,dirty,sharpfingernails,andhesmelledlikesourmilk.Thegirl’shairwasbobbedandgreasy,andherbodywaslost insideanenormousgraysweatshirt thatread“DuluthIsaCoolCity”acrossthefront, inhomagetothebrutalityofMinnesotawinters.Itwasimmediatelyobvioustomefromtheirdilatedpupilsandtheman’sauraofviolentlyaggressiveconfidencethat theywerehighonmeth.“Youcan’tbetwenty-one,honey,”Mildredsaidtothegirlasshestudiedherdriver’s license.

Mildredthenlookedat thegirlsternlywithoneappliquédeyebrowraised,waitingforher toadmither trueage.Whenthegirldidn’trespond,Mildredsaidbrightly,“But if thestatesaysyouare, thenyouare.”Shelookedat theman.“Iknowyou’reover,”shesaidtohimcoldly.Shegavethemthedrinksthey’dordered.Then,eventhoughnooneorderedanyfood,Mildredhurriedintothekitchen,leavingthethreeofusaloneintheemptybar.ThemanwasnamedChadandthegirlElla.TherewasacomputerizedKenomachineatoneend

ofthebar,andEllawentwithherdrink,satdown,andstartedtappingat thescreen.Shewasfourstoolsawayfromme,andsevenawayfromChad;Iwasbetweenthem.ChadandI talkedaboutonethingandanother, lookingforsomecommonground.Forinstance,whenIsaidIwasborninMissouri,heallowedhowhe’dbeeninjail thereonce.Hispupilscompletelyobscuredtheblueofhis irises.Chadsaid,“Where’sElla?”Ellawasstill fourseatsaway,playingKeno.Withherbackarrow-straightandherfeetdangling

belowher,shelookedlikeshemightactuallybetakingacomputerizedgrammartest inavirtualhighschool.Sheworenoearrings,nojewelryatall,andshedidn’tblinkas thelightfromthemachinebrightenedanddimmedinthedarkbar.Chadwaslookingrightather.“Where’sElla?”hesaidagain.IstartedtosaythatEllawassittingright therewhenIrememberedwhatawomaninCedar

Rapidshadtoldmeaboutherex-husband—thatafterhe’dbeenusingmethforacoupleofyears,he’dlienext toher inbedandaskwhereshewas.Other times,hewouldmistakepillowsandcouchesanddressersforhiswife.Ifshewouldcountermandhisclaims,shesaid,hewouldfirstpanicandcry,sinkingtothefloor,beggingher toreappear.Whenshedid,hewouldaccuseherofinfidelityandbeathersavagelywithanythinghecouldfind:a lamp,anashtray,andonetimewithabrokentableleg.ChadaskedifEllawaswithme.Thenhescratchedthewoodenbarwithhis longfingernails,as

thoughthebarhadanitchthatChadcouldfeel.Heaskedme, inallseriousness, ifIwashavingsexwithElla.Isaid,“Righthere?”Whenhepickeduphisemptybeerbottlebytheneck,Isaid,“She’splaying

Keno.”Chadsaid,“Ican’tbelieveElla’dfuckyou.Ican’tbelieveyou’ddothisright infrontofme,

Ella.”Ella,hearinghernameandlookingupfromtheKenomachine,said,“Coming.”Itwaslikea

child’sresponsewhenbeingcalledfordinner.“He’sa totalfuckingstranger!”saidChad.“Howcanyoujustfuckhimlikethis?”Atthatpoint,IgotupandbroughtElla tohim.Iaskedher toholdhishand.“See?”Isaid.“Here’sElla.This isElla’shand.”Chadlookedatherforseveralmomentsbeforeheactuallysawhisgirlfriend.Whensheletgoof

hishandandwalkedoffafewsecondslater,Chadlookedatmeandsaid,“Whatthefuckareyoudoinghere?”I toldhimIwasjustpassingthrough.“You’rea liar,”hesaid.Hestooduptohisfullheight,agoodsixfeet two.Heappearedto

weightwohundredpounds.Ilookeddownthebarat thekitchen, intowhichMildredhaddisappearedtenminutesbefore.Therewasnosignofher.WhenChadaskedmeifIworkedforDEA,thewindowofdiplomacyseemedtobeclosingonce

again.Hesaidhe’dbehonestwithme:hehatedDEA.Nor,hesaid,woulditbeanyskinoffhisteethtomakesureInevercamebacktotownagain.Iwasdrinkingwhiskey;Iwrappedmyfingersaroundthetumblersothat ifneedbeIcoulduseit tobreakoneofChad’seyesockets.That’swhenhesatbackdown.“Comeon,”hesaid.“Areyouanarcornot?”Heseemed

genuinelyinterested.Itwassuddenlyposedasacordialquestion.Hewantedtoknow,verysincerely, ifIworkedforDEA,for thereasonthathehadneveractuallymetanagent,andhadalwayskindofwantedto.I toldhimIwassorry,but thathewasoutof luck.Ingeneral,methdealersandthepeopletrying

tocatchthemoftenseemtodressinthesamemanner.Bothconstituenciesaregiventohaircutclosetothescalpandafewdays’growthofbeard.I’dfollowedsuit.“Boy,”saidChadconfidentially,“yousurelooklikeafed.”“Somuchforfittingin,”I toldhim.Chadlaughed,andsodidI.Heslappedmeontheback.Weshookhands.Theagonyhewasin

justafewminutesbeforewasgonewithouta trace,replacedbyasenseofeuphoriathatseemedtolift theheavyairof thebar.Bothofus,I think,feltnotjustrelieved,butelated.Chadwasbackupontheshoulderofhis tweak,andhegatheredEllaandrodethesmoothwaveoutthebackdooroftheDoDropInnintothealleyacrossfromtheabandonedroundhouse.Right then,as thoughbymagic,Mildredreappeared.Shebeenwatchingallalongthroughthespaceof thedoorjamb.Shesaid,“Isn’t that terrible, thewaypeopleact?”

Insomeways, it’s truethat,aspeoplesayaroundOelwein,methisconfinedtoafewplaces.Butit’s justas important toseetheplaceswheremethisnot inevidence,at least in itsphysicalform.Forevenasthedifficultiescausedbythedrugareaneverydaypartof life inOelwein,so, too,aretherhythmsof life thereextantwithorwithoutmeth.Inthiscapacity,ClayandTammyHallbergexcel.MuchofOelweincomesthroughClay’sofficeonaweeklybasis,orpasthimintheemergencyroom.Or,ashappensonseveralholidaysayear, intotheHallberghometocelebrate.ClayandTammy’shousesits justacrossanarrowwoodedgullyfromtheirneighbor’shome,offa

longgraveldrivewayhalfamilewestof town.BecauseClayisnotafarmerdoesnotmeanhedoesn’tgrowcornonacoupleofacresofhisproperty,orraiseafewchickensinthebarnalongsidehishouse.Infrontof thebarnis thestablewhereTammykeepsherhorses,withwhichshehaswonridingcompetitionsasfarawayasKentucky.Theycanseemostof theirfifty-acrespreadfromtheeat-inkitchenof thesplit-levelranch,withitsbignorth-andsouth-facingwindows.It’sJuly4,2005,andClayandTammyarehavingtheirannualhogroast.It’sanoccasiontobe

happyandtorememberthatlife is indeedgood, ifonlypeoplewouldtakethetimetoeatwellanddrinkalittlebitandenjoyoneanother’scompany.Gatheredinsmallgroupsinthebackyardbeneathaloomingeighty-year-oldliveoak,cityemployeesfromthewatercompanyminglewithbartendersandhighschool teachers,waitingforTammytogivethewordthata250-poundpigprovidedbythelocalUPSdriver is,aftersixhours,finallydoneroasting.Clay’s twinbrother,Charlie, ishere,

alongwithhiswife.They’vebroughtwiththemanotherfriend,aChileanexpatriatewhoworksasatranslatoratawindowpaneplantdowninCedarRapids.WhiletheUPSmanstandsbesidehiscustom-madehogoven,asubmarine-shapedbarbecueso

largeithadtobetowedbehindapickup, theHallbergtwinsholdforthontheir latestgig,whichtookplacelastnight inabar inWadena,Iowa,wherethehundredorsolisteners twiceaskedthemtorepriseLynyrdSkynyrd’s“FreeBird,”acrowdfavoriteforaquartercentury.Meanwhile,Tammyadvisesagroupofwomenonthefinerpointsofherfamedbeer-canchickenrecipe, thegistofwhichis toinsertanopen,fullBudLight intotheguttedcavityofahomegrownbroiler, thentostandthechicken, legsdown,onthegrateofacharcoalgrill.For thebestresults,saysTammy,useamedium-hotfire.AndifyourM.D.husbandisn’t looking,brushthatsuckereveryfifteenminuteswithawarmbathofsalt,meltedbutter,and—asever—morebeer.Afteranhourof that,sheconcludesinher thickdrawl,you’llnevereatsogood.Whatunites thepartygoersbeyondtheobviousbondofcommunityis thatClay,all thewhilewith

Tammyworkingashisreceptionist,deliveredmostof theguests’children.Asthechildrengrew(manyof themwerenowadults themselves),hewastheirpediatrician,evenashetreatedtheirparentsforproblemsrangingfromskincancer togout.Duringhis tenureasassistantcountymedicalexaminer,Dr.Claymadeofficial thepronouncementsof theirparents’deaths.Oelweinitself isacrossroadsinnortheastIowa,andClay’sandTammy’slivestogetherserveasapointof intersectionofOelwein’ssocioeconomicandculturalaxes,thecoordinatesofwhichremainunchanged,evenasOelwein’sdemographicshaveshiftedfurtherandfurther towardabaselineofpoverty.Oelwein,withitsfamiliarandoftencomplexsocialcircuitry, ismuchlikeafamily,andClayandTammyareinmanywaysat thecenterof it.Regardlessof thetrendsincommunityhealthinthelast thirtyyears,andinthecorrespondingchangesinthechiefmedicalcomplaint(ithadoncebeensoremusclesandbrokenbones;nowit isdepressionandmeth), ifyouhaveaproblemorareasontocelebrate,yougotoseetheHallbergs.TheChileantranslator,whosenameisJorgeandwhogoesbyGeorge, isatoncetheparty’smost

curiousguestanditsmostaffablecuriosity.HeleftSantiagodeChilewhenGeneralAugustoPinochet tookover thecountryfromDr.SalvadorAllende,thesocialistpediatricianwho’dbeenelectedpresident in1970;hadgivenover thevastholdingsofChile’selite totheunderclasses;andhadbeenkilledthreeyears later(whilebarricadedinhisofficeat theChileanWhiteHouse)at thehandofPinochet’scoup.InaseaofLevi’s,Dockers,andshort-sleevedpoloshirts,Georgestandsout inhisWranglers,denimshirt,andshinyblackcowboyboots.Hiswire-rimglassesandinstinctivecommandofMarxisteconomicsbrandhimaleft-wing,idealist intellectualofacertainerainLatinAmericanhistory,oneheretoforeunknowninFayetteCounty.ThenephewofSalvadorAllende’ssecretaryofeducation,George(byfar)definesthefurthestedgeof thegathering’s largelycentristpoliticalagenda,whichhingesonkeepingtaxesmoderateandcroppriceshigh;puttingmoremoneyinthepubliceducationsystem;andkeepingGodinyourlife,butoutof thegovernment.Byhismerepresence,Georgealsoembodiestheparty’s,andthetown’s,intuitivelyinclusionistsensibility.Nonetheless,mostpeoplethinkGeorgeisMexican.Inaplacewhereeveryonehasagrandfather

whosenativelanguagewasNorwegianorGermanorItalian,Georgerepresents thelatest in thehistoryofAmericanimmigration,completewithitsunexpectedquirksandhard-to-understandaccents.George,oncehe’dbeenexiledbyPinochetunderthethreatofdeath,hadsomehowendedupin

Minneapolis,Minnesota.Fromthere,amarriagetookhimtoCedarRapids,Iowa,bywayof

Memphis,Tennessee.Divorcednow,hespendshisweekendsplayingmusicinlocal jazzensembles.Byday,heregistersworkers’ injuries tomanagementat thewindowpanefactoryonbehalfofthemostlyMexicanandmostlyillegal laborforce,a jobhelikenstosellingBiblesinKabul.TammyHallbergallowshowallof that is“prettydarnedinteresting.”Whatshewants toknow,though, iswhymoreMexicanscan’t learnEnglish.EventheAmish,shesays,candothat.Clay,seeinganopening,offershisexplanationintermsofHegeliandialecticandWhorfian

hypothesis.Basicallyitamountstothis:Ifyou’renotallowedtointegrateintosociety(i.e., ifyoumovefromabusivejobtoabusivejob,withnostandardizedmannerof trackingyourmovements),thenyourchoiceof languagewillreflect this.It isaresponsewithwhichGeorgeagreessovehementlythatonlyhisnativelanguagecanprovidetherightwordtoexpresshisenthusiasm.“Claro,”saysGeorge,nodding.“Claro.”Tammy,too,reliesonhernativeskillsofcommunication,whicharehammer-blunt.“Clay,”she

says,“stoptalking—rightnow.”AndDr.Claydoes.Thefood,excludingthehog, ispotluck.WhentheUPSmanisdonecarvingtheporkandheaping

itonplatters,hetakestheplatters tothekitchen.Tammygoestothedeckabovetheyardandringsabrassdinnerbell.Surroundingtheplattersofporkareeverymannerofdishandcontainer—TupperwareandZiplocandmicrowaveableglass.What thecontainers lackincontinuity,thefoodsmakeupfor intheirconsistentuseofcornasaningredientandanequallyconsistentuseof theloosestdefinitionregardingtheword“salad.”Thereiscornonthecobandcornthathasbeenboiledandthenshavedfromthecobandmixedwithbutterandsalt;cornbreadwithjalapeños;androastedcorntossedwithonionsandchives.ThereisIdahoRedpotatosalad,andnext tothat,anenormousbowlof thesamedish, thisonemadewithbabyYukonGolds.There’sJell-Osalad,andbeansalad,andapotofboiledcollardgreens.Fordessert, thereismoreJell-O, this timemoldedlikeawheelandrestingonaseashell-shapeddish,andslicesofwarm,thick-crustedrhubarbpiewithhomemadevanilla icecream.Whenit’sallgone,exceptfor theunendingmoundsofpork, thewomenstayinside,smokinginthe

kitchenorhelpingwithdisheswhileTammydivviesuptwentyorsopoundsof leftoverhogmeatintolargebags, tobehandedout totheguestswhentheyleave, likedoorprizes.Meanwhile, themenretire totheyard.There, thedrinking, inthefinestLutherantradition,becomessteadyandworkmanlikeas theysit in theirchairsandsmokecigarettesandtell jokes, theirvoiceshushedinthestillnight.GeorgetheChileansitsnext toCharlieandlistenswhileClaytells theoneaboutEarland

Maynarddownat theVFW.“Maynard,”beginsClayinhissmoke-scarredvoice,“isdrunkasusual,sittingonhisstoolat the

barwithEarl.Andthenext thingyouknow,Maynardpukesonhimself.”“I lovethisone,”saysCharlie, leaningbackinhiscampchair.“This isagoodone.”“SoMaynardsaystoEarl,‘Mywifejustboughtmethisshirt.She’llkillme.’“Earlsays,‘Don’tworry.Just tellherIdidit.’“Earlreachesinhiswallet, takesouta twenty,andputs it inMaynard’schestpocket.‘Tellher,’

hesays,‘thatIgaveyoutwentydollarsforanewshirt.’”Clayreachesouthishandandactsout theexchangebypretendingtoputsomethinginthebreast

pocketofGeorge’scowboyshirt.“So,”Claycontinues,“Maynardgoeshome,andhiswifegiveshimhell.‘But,honey,Earldidit!’

saysMaynard.‘Andhegavemetwentydollarsforanewshirt.’“Maynardreachesinthepocket,pullsout themoney,andhandsit tohiswife.

“Shesays,‘There’sfortydollarshere.’“‘Right,’saysMaynard.‘That’sbecauseEarlpoopedinmypants, too.’”

PART2

2006

CHAPTER6

MIRRORIMAGING

During2006,meth,combinedwithAmerica’scomplicatedreactiontoit,begantoaccomplishwhatsociologistCraigReinarmanhadsaidis thecentralfunctionofdrugepidemic: to“traceaculture’ssociologicalfault lines.”Thishappenedinseveralways.First, theAmericanmediamademethacausecélèbre.Second,state legislatures, tiredofbeingignored,beganpassingtheirownmethlaws.This, in turn,drovethefederalgovernmenttoreact toadrugithadignoredsinceGeneHaislip’sfirstfailedcampaignagainstmethatDEA,backwhentheAmezcuabrotherswereturningthedrugintoablockbuster industry.Betweenthenewspapers—mostlytheOregonian, inPortland—andtheangerdirectedagainstCongressbystate legislatures,ahistoryof thefederalgovernment’scomplicityinthemethtradewasunearthed.Whatcameintoviewis thatpharmaceutical industrylobbyistshadblockedeverysingleanti-methbill in thelast thirtyyearswiththehelpofkeysenatorsandmembersofCongress.Movedbysomuchbadpresstodosomethingimmediately,Congresspasseditsfirsteverblockbustermethlaw,theCombatMethamphetamineAct, inSeptember2006.Insomewaysitwasas thoughtheUnitedStateswaslookinginamirror,seeingitself in therural

townstowhichmethamphetaminehaddrawnthenation’sandthegovernment’sgaze.Ironically,methmadeOlwein’sconnectionwiththerestof thecountrystrongerandmorevisiblethanithadbeenfora longtime.Nowherewasthismoreapparent thaninWashington,D.C.,wherethedrug’seffectonsmall-townAmericawasnowasalientpolitical issue.Theeffect,as itregisteredinthepublicpagesofnationalnewspapers,wasthekindofbroad-scaleunitythathadneverbeforeexisted,giventhat thedrughadfor tenyearsbeenregardedasaregional,notanational,phenomenon.SuddenlypeopleinNewYorkCityknewwhat—ifnotexactlywhere—IwastalkingaboutwhenImentionedmethinOelwein,Iowa.TheNewYorkTimes, theBostonGlobe, theWashingtonPost,andtheAtlantaJournal-Constitution joinedtheSt.LouisPost-Dispatch, theDesMoinesRegister, theFortWorthStar-Telegram,andtheLosAngelesTimes inrunningstoriesaboutcrankalmostdaily.Thenationseemedtofeelasharedandequalsenseofoutrage,whetherovermeth-inducedincreasesinHIVamongSanFrancisco’sandNewYork’sgaypopulations,or theapocalypticviolencethatresultedfromshiftsinthemethmarketalongtheTexas-Mexicanborder.Themessagewasthatcivilizedsocietywasfallingapart, thatpeopleweregoingcrazy,andthat theproofwasnolongerjust in thehinterlands; itwaseverywhere.WhenCongressbegandebatingtheCombatMethAct, itwaswithouta traceofbipartisanrancor.

IndianaRepublicancongressmenMarkSouderstoodnext toCaliforniaDemocraticsenatorDianneFeinsteinas theydeclaredtheirmoralobligationtotakeonmethandwin.ThisseemedtobeamacrocosmofwhatwashappeninginOelwein,whereMayorLarryMurphyandtheheretoforedividedtownspeoplebegantoputasidetheirdifferencesandrebuild.Themessagewasthatwhatwasbadfor thetownswasbadforWashington,D.C., too;whenitcametometh,everyonewasworkingfor thesamething.Onaclearday,flyingfromNewYorktoLosAngeles,orfromChicagotoSanFrancisco,youmighthavelookedat thesmallcommunitiesbeneaththeairplaneinadifferent

way,understandingbetterwhat theywereupagainst,andinthatway,youmighthaveunderstoodsomethingoftheirvanishingplaceinthenation.Andthen, justassuddenlyas itstarted, themethepidemic—alongwiththechancetounderstand

what thatepidemicreallymeant—wasover.PresidentGeorgeW.Bush’sNationalDrugControlPolicydirector,orso-calleddrugczar,JohnWalters,announcedinAugust2006that“thewaronmeth,”forall intentsandpurposes,hadbeenwon.Shortlythereafter, thesamenewspapersthathadbrieflymadethedrugacausecélèbrebeganquestioningwhethermethhadeverbeenanepidemicorjust thecreationofanoverzealousmediahungryforagoodstory.Thepopularmedia’sbriefbutintenseexplorationofmethinruralAmerica,highlightedbyseveraldocumentariesonbothcableandnetworktelevision,alsoended.Asthedrugwentbacktobeingaregionalbogeyman, theruralUnitedStateswentwithit, takingitsplaceonceagaininanonymity.Whatremained,however,wasa town(andanation)withadrugproblem.Theneedtokeep

lookingremainedaswell.Inmeth’smeteoricriseintothenationalconsciousnessanditssubsequentfall, thereweremanycluestoitsdeepermeaninginAmericanculture.Thefault lines,whetherornot theymadeheadlines,stilloverlaidthenational topographyjustascompletelyasbefore.Andmaybemoreso.Whatcontinuedtotakeshapeformewastheportraitofa townthatstoodasametaphorforallofruralAmericaanditsproblems.That’s tosaythat theevolutionof themethepidemichadoccurredinlockstepwiththethreeseparateeconomictrendsthathadcontributedtothedissolutionofsmall-townUnitedStates.Bylookingcloselyattheeventsof2006,onecanseetheparallel trajectoriesofmethandsmall-towneconomics—theonerising, theotherfalling—datingbacktothedaysof theAmezcuas.Andthethingsthatspurredthissimultaneousriseandfall: thedevelopmentofBigPharmaceuticals,BigAgriculture,andthemodernMexicandrug-traffickingbusiness.Tolookcloselyat thehistoryofmethfrom1990to2006is toseemoreclearlythaneverwhatNathan,Clay,Murphy,Jarvis,andLoriArnoldhavealwaysbeen,andcontinuetobe,confrontedby.

It’s important tounderstandhowagovernmentthathadforupwardofadecadecompletelyignoredmeth’sspreadfromtheWestCoast intotheMidwestandtheGulfStatessuddenlybecamealarmed.Andhow,justassuddenly,newspaperswithonlysporadicinterest inreportingonthedrugbecameobsessedwithit. Insomeways, thedrivingforcebehindeachwasthesame:SteveSuo’sworkattheOregonian.Suohadwrittenhisfirstcrankstorybackin2003when, inresearchingOregon’sfostercaresystem,hecameuponastatisticthatstartledhim:Eight intenchildrenunderthestate’scareadmittedthat theirparentsusedmeth.It’s inthatwaythatSuo’sinterest in thestorychanged.Atfirsthisquestionwas,“Whyis theresomuchmethinOregon?”EventuallySuoturnedhisattentiontohowthedrughadgottentoOregon.AnsweringthatquestionledhimtoWashington,D.C.,whereheuncoveredthecausalconnectionbetweenmeth, thepharmaceutical industry,andtheU.S.government.BythetimeSuoleft themethbeatat theendof2006,he’dwritten,alongwithotherreporters,acombined261articlesfor theOregonian in less thantwoyears.WhatSuo’sreportingrevealedwasatimelineoffailure,mostof itat thecrushingandunfair

expenseofGeneHaislip,DEA’sdeputyassistantadministrator intheOfficeofComplianceandRegulatoryAffairsfrom1982to1996.Upuntil1987,Haisliphadworkedagainst thelobbyistAllanRexinger,whorepresentedthepharmaceuticalcompanyWarner-Lambert, topassabillthatwouldmonitorshipmentsofephedrinepowderenteringtheUnitedStates.CompanieslikeWarner-Lambert,whichusedtheephedrinetomakenasaldecongestants,resistedtheidea,fearingthat itwouldleadtomorestringentoversight.Rexinger,byappealingdirectlytotheReaganWhiteHouse,hadwonthe

battlewithDEA,forcingHaislipintoacompromisethatallowedbulkloadsofephedrinetoentertheU.S.unmonitored,solongastheephedrinewasinpill—notpowder—form.Theproductionofmethamphetamineat thetimewasjust industrializing, largelyat thehandsof the

Amezcuabrothers,who’dunderstoodthelucrative, illegalapplicationof thelaxlawsgoverningephedrineimports.OnceHaislip’swatered-downlawpassed, theAmezcuassimplyboughtephedrinepillsfromlegitimatesources,crushedthemintopowder,andusedthepowdertomakemeth.Inaddition, theybeganimportingephedrinepowderintotheportatMazatlán,onMexico’sPacificcoast, thendrivingthepowdernorthacrosstheborder.AstradeincreasedbetweenMexicoandtheUnitedStates,culminatingin1993withtheratificationof theNorthAmericanFreeTradeAgreement(NAFTA), trucktrafficatportsofentrylikeSanYsidro,California,increased278percent,accordingtoastudybyUC-SanDiegoeconomicsprofessorJoanAnderson.Asaresult,bordersecuritybecamemoredifficult toenforce,makingiteasier thanever todriveloadsofephedrineright intoLosAngelesandtheInlandEmpire.MonthsafterHaislip’sweakenedbillpassed,accordingtoSuo,methpuritywasatanall-timehighthroughout theWest, indicatingaglut inproduct.Thespreadof largeamountsof theAmezcuas’methintoIowaandseveralotherMidwesternstates—thanksingreatpart toLoriArnoldofOttumwaandtolesserextent toJeffreyWilliamHayesofOelwein—isoneofwhatissuretobemanyunreportedsideeffectsof thisfirst,definingbreakdown.Haislip, though,wasnotdonetrying.By1993,hewasmovingtoclosetheloopholethathis

earlierbillhadcreated,writingnewlegislationtolimit importsnotonlyofephedrinepowderbutofpills, too.Thelawpassedandseemedtoproduceimmediatedividends:DEA,accordingtoSuo,intercepted170metric tonsof illegalephedrinepills ineighteenmonths,reducingbyalargechunktheavailablemethamphetamineintheUnitedStates.Inaddition,HaisliptooktheunprecedentedstepofapproachingtheInternationalNarcoticsControlBoardinVienna,askingit tohelpDEAbrokeradealwiththeninefactories inGermany,India,China,andtheCzechRepublic thatproducedtheephedrine.All thecompaniesagreed.Usingbillsof ladingtotracebulkloadsofbothrawephedrinepowderandfinishedpills thathadbeensentfromtheirplants throughthird-partynationstoMexico,DEAwasabletolimit thenumberofcountries throughwhichephedrinewouldtravel toonlythosenationswillingtokeepseriousrecords—allwithoutsignificantlycuttingintotheprofitmarginsofpharmaceuticalcompanies.Injust twelvemonths,accordingtoHaislip,DEAblockedorseized200tonsofephedrine,oronesixthof theworld’sannualproductionatthatpoint,allof itearmarkedformethlabs.Haislip’ssixteen-year-oldplanofcripplingthedrug’sproductionbyimplementingmultinationalprecursorcontrolsseemedtobebearingfruit:acrossCalifornia,methpuritywasdowntoanaverageofonly40percent,anindicationthatproductionwasslowingtoacrawl.TheproblemwasthatHaisliprepeatedhisearliermistakeandlefta loopholeintheephedrine

legislationthatallowedpillscontainingpseudoephedrinetoremainunregulated, thisdespite thefactthatDEAchemistshadwarnedhimthatmethcouldbemadefrompseudoephedrinejustaseasilyasfromephedrine.Theloophole,accordingtoSuo,wasthedirectresultof intenselobbying,eightyearsafterhe’dderailedHaislip’soriginalanti-precursorbill,byAllanRexinger,whoproudlycharacterizedhis involvementtoSuobysayingthathesimply“pulledtheplugs”onDEA.Infact,pointingtraffickers topseudoephedrinewasthebiggestfavorthatanyonecouldhavedonefor themakersofmeth; itset thestageforfifteenyears(andcounting)ofarguablytheworstperiodinAmericannarcotichistory.Fromadrugchemist’sstandpoint,ephedrineandpseudoephedrine,orpseudo,areidentical;good

crankcanbemadefromboth.Butfromadrugtrafficker’sstandpoint,pseudoisfarsuperior.Ephedrine,asa licitpharmaceutical,hasastrictlylimitednumberofuses:first,asastimulantusedtobringsurgerypatientsoutfromunderanesthesia,andsecond,asanasaldecongestant.Pseudo,ontheotherhand,hasfor threedecadesbeenthedominant ingredient incoldmedicine,80percentofwhichwas(andremains)controlledbyAmericancompanies.Assuch, theavailabilityofpseudointheworld,alongwithits importanceasarevenuesource, ismanyordersofmagnitudegreater thanthatofephedrine.AndbecausepseudoisdeemedthemostreliableprecursorformegadrugslikeSudafed,Actifed,andNyQuil, thedruglobbyprotectingpseudoismanytimesmorepowerful thanthatprotectingephedrine,whichhadalreadyshownaprovenabilitytocrippleDEA.By1996, theAmezcuaswereinjail. Intheirabsence,otherMexicandrug-trafficking

organizations,onlytooawareof thelucrativepotentialofmeth,hadbeguntofill theAmezcuas’shoes.Slowly, thoselooselydefinedorganizationsweremeldingintowhatDEAwouldcometocallthefivemajorDTOs,eachofwhichwasdestinedtoquicklybecomemanytimesmorepowerfulthantheAmezcuashadeverbeen.TheDTOswereaidedbythewideropeningof theborderandtheexpandingimmigrantpresenceintheUnitedStatesengenderedbyNAFTA.Withinthepopulationofillegalsstreamingacrosstheborder toworkinmeatpackingplants throughout theGreatPlains, inthefieldsofCalifornia’sCentralValley,andintheorchardsandorangegrovesoftheSoutheast,therewasunlimitedpotentialforanarcoticretailanddistributionforce.Onethat,becauseitwasnationwide,mobile,undocumented,andprotean,wasalmost impossibletotrackbylawenforcement.Inaddition, theDTOscontrolledthemanufactureofmethbyfollowingAmezcua’spracticeofimportingprecursors intoMexico, therebyachievingbusiness’sholytrinity:dominanceof theentirevaluechain.Inonefellswoop, theMexicandrugtraffickersdirectedeveryaspectofwhatwasnowamajor internationalnarcoticsphenomenon—inthesamewaythatCargill,Tyson,andADMweretakingcontrolof thefoodbusiness“fromplowtoplate,”as themarketingsloganwent.WithinmonthsofHaislip’snewest legislation, thenascentDTOsmadetheswitchto

pseudoephedrinecombinedwithredphosphorus.ThisnewRed-P,orMexicandope,wasconsideredtobemorepowerfulstill thantheoldP2PmethofLoriArnold’sday,especiallywhenthetraffickerssoakedthepowderedRed-Pinrefrigeratedtraysofdenaturedalcohol,aprocessthatturnsthedrugintothepretty, icelikeshardsthatwouldcometobeknownthroughout theworldascrystalmeth.ThismorepowerfulformofthedrugagainincreasedtheDTOs’rangeandeffectiveness,for thesimplereasonthat itwasmoreaddictive,allowingthemtosaturateoldmarketsevenastheyopenednewones.Themovetopseudowasreallytheblockbustermomentinthemodernhistoryof themeth

epidemic.That’sbecausetheDTOswereablefirmlytotie thefateof their illicitproduct toperhapstheworld’smost lucrativelegaldrug.This,really, is thegeniusof themethbusiness.Cocaineandheroinarelinkedtoillegalcrops—cocaandpoppies,respectively.Methontheotherhandis linkedinaone-to-oneratiowithfightingthecommoncold.Notonlywasthepharmaceuticalindustrylikelytofightharderagainstpseudoephedrinemonitoringthanithadregardingephedrine,but theshearbulkofpseudoephedrinebeingproducedalsomadeitdifficult to trackcomparedwiththerelativelysmallamountofephedrinebeingmanufactured.Addtothat that50percentof theworld’spseudoephedrinewas(andis)manufacturedinChina—anationthathasbeenincreasinglyunwillingtonegotiatewiththeUnitedStates—andHaislip’sdreamofinternationalcooperationinmonitoringmeth’sprecursorshad,afterashortandunprecedentedvictory,fallencompletelyapart.Still,Haislipwasn’tdone.In1995,heproposedabillstipulatingthatanycompanywishingto

sellmorethanfourhundredtabletsofpseudoephedrineata timewouldhavetogeta licensefrom

DEAandwouldhavetokeeprecordsof itssales—hardly,notesSuo,arigorouslaw.But itwouldhaveat leastgiventheDEA’sOfficeofDiversionControlaplacetostart in theinevitabletaskofidentifyingcompaniesthatdivertedlargeamountsofpseudoephedrinetothemethtrade.This time, itwasnotAllanRexingerwhocametotheaidof thebigdrugcompanies; itwasSenatorOrrinHatch,RepublicanofUtah, thenchairmanof theSenateJudiciaryCommittee.SenatorHatchhadahistoryofaidingthepharmaceutical industry,andhad,amongother things,

supportedlegislationcurbingfederalregulationofdietarysupplements,namelyMethedrine,aformofmethamphetamineillegallyprescribedbythebillionsofpillsduringthe1970sand’80s.What theHatchcampwantedin1995wasproofthatpseudoephedrinewasbeingusedtomakemeth.DEAhadwhat it thought tobeincontrovertibleverification:nearlyaquarterofall themethsuperlabsithaddismantledinthelastyearhadalreadymadetheswitchfromephedrinetopseudoephedrine.Eveninlabsthatwerestillusingtheoldmethod,agentshadfoundsbillsof ladingforbulkordersofpseudo,afurther indicationthat themarketwasinthemidstofadynamicshift.Hatch, though,didn’tconsider thiscompellingenough,andhetabledtheproposalbycallingformoreinvestigation.Haislipwasdistraught.DespitehelpfromSenatorDianneFeinsteinofCalifornia, thebill

languishedwithHatch’scommitteeforoverayear—whiletheDTOs’productionofcrystalmethwentunhampered.Itwasn’tuntil thespringof1996thatHatchandHaislipfinallyagreedonlanguagethatwasacceptabletoboththegovernmentandthepharmaceuticalcompanies:vendorsofpill-formpseudoephedrinewouldbesubject toDEAlicensingandbookkeepingunless thosepillsweresoldinthenow-ubiquitousclear-plasticcontainerswithaluminumbacking.Hatch’s logic, itseems,wasthat thenarco-empirebuiltaroundmethamphetaminewouldcrumbleinthefaceof thetamper-proofblisterpack.

TheconnectionthatSteveSuodoesn’tmakeexplicit in theOregonian is that theaggregationof theMexicandrugtraffickersduringthe1990sintofiveenormousDTOsmirrors theconsolidationof thepharmaceutical industryinthatsameperiod.Asbothtypesoforganizationsgrew,theyincreasedtheirmarketshare,theirwealth,andtheirpower.Warner-LambertwassubsumedbyBurroughsWellcome,whichwasultimatelyadded,alongwithPharmacia, to thepharma-titanPfizer.That’s tosay,overashortperiodinthe1990s,fewercompaniessharedincreasingprofits.In2003,Fortune500ratedtheU.S.pharmaceuticalbusinessthethirdmostprofitableinthenationandvaluedtheindustryat$593billion.(Thatwasthefirstyearsince1995that theindustryhadnotbeenratedthenumber-onemostprofitableAmericanindustry.)Asimilarconsolidationwasoccurringintheillegaldrugbusinessduringthelate1990s.

Throughout the1970sand’80s, theAmericannarcoticsmarketwassplitbetweenthecompetinginterestsof theColombians, theMexicans, theNigerians, theVietnamese,andtheFilipinos,amongothers.By2003,85percentofall theillegaldrugssoldintheUnitedStates—whethermeth,cocaine,heroin,ormarijuana—werecontrolledbythefiveDTOs,eachofwhichcontrolsat leastonemajorportofentrywiththeUnitedStates.Thesimultaneousgrowthof thesetwobusinesseshadremarkableandtragicconsequencesfor the

modernmethtradebetween1987and2003.HadDEAforcedmoreoversightof therapidlyderegulatingpharmaceutical industry—onethat ishallmarkedbyitsproductionofcoldmedicine—theDTOswouldneverhavehadaccesstothedrugtheyneededinorder tomakemeth.HadtheDTOsnotbeenabletomakemeth, it’s less likelythat theywouldhavesothoroughlymonopolizedtheU.S.drugmarket.Onemightaskif thedrugcompaniesshouldreallyhavebeenmadetomonitor their imports

simplybecausecoldmedicinehappenstobemadefromthesamedrugasmethamphetamine.It’saquestionthat lobbyists likeAllanRexingermadeacareerofasking.It’salsoonethatneedn’teverhavebeenposed.For,beginningoveradecadeago,Americanpharmaceuticalcompaniescouldhavechosentomakecoldmedicinefromsomethingother thanpseudoephedrine.AccordingtoSuo, in1997aresearchteamat theUniversityofNorthTexasbegantestinganew

nasaldecongestant indogsandrats.TheteamwasintheemployofWarner-Lambert,whichtheyearbeforehadtakenover themanufactureofSudafedandActifedfromBurroughsWellcomeandaddedthoselinestoWarner-Lambert’shighlyprofitableantihistamine,Benadryl.Bythen,Sudafed’sbrandrecognitionwassowidespreadthat theproduct, likeXeroxtobothphotocopiesandthemachinesthatproducethem,hadbecomesynonymouswiththeindustryofcoldremedies.All threenonprescriptionmedicines—Sudafed,Actifed,andBenadryl—reliedonpseudoephedrinefor theirmanufacture.Fearful thatpseudoephedrinewouldcomeunderfederalcontrol,orworse, that itwouldbeoutlawedcompletelybylegislationbeingpushedbyGeneHaislipandDEA,Warner-Lamberthaddevelopedanewproductbasedonabiochemical technologycalledmirror imaging.ByChristmasof1997,accordingtointerviewspublishedintheOregonian, trialsondogsandratsat theUniversityofNorthTexasshowedgreatpromisefor thedrug.Mirror imagingisaprocesswherebyachemical’smolecularstructureisreversed,moving,for

example,electronsfromthebottomofacertainringtothetop,andviceversa.Pseudoephedrine,ephedrine,andmethamphetaminearealreadynearmirrorimagesofoneanother.Tomakemethfromephedrine, it isnecessarytoremoveasingleoxygenatomfromtheouterelectronring.Thusephedrineandmethamphetaminenotonlylookthesameunderamassspectrometer,butbothdilatethealveoli inthelungsandshrinkbloodvessels inthenose—henceephedrine’suseasadecongestant—whileraisingbloodpressureandreleasingadrenaline.Thekeydifferenceis thatmeth,unlikeephedrine,promptswide-scalereleasesof theneurotransmittersdopamineandepinephrine.What the1997testsat theUniversityofNorthTexasshowedwasthat,at least in labanimals,

mirror-imagepseudoephedrinewasequallyaseffectiveasregularpseudoephedrineasadecongestant.Unlikeregularpseudo,however, themirror-imageversiondidn’tcauseanysideeffectstothecentralnervoussystem,suchashighbloodpressureandaracingheart: thecommon“buzz”thatoneassociateswithcoldmedicine.BetteryetforWarner-Lambert,mirror-imagepseudoephedrinecouldonlybesynthesizedintomirror-imagemethamphetamine,which,accordingtotheOregonian,hadnostimulanteffectsandcouldnot thenbemadeintoregularmeth.HadWarner-Lambertbeenunableintheendtodevelopmirror-imagepseudo—ortobringit to the

market—ithadyetanotheroptionthatwouldhavesignificantlyhelpedHaislipandDEA.Alsoin1997,chemistsatWarner-LamberthadbegunexperimentingwithadditivesthatwouldmakeitimpossibletoextractpseudoephedrinefromSudafed.ThiscombinationwouldunderminethebasicbuildingblockofNazicoldmethproduction,whichis topouranhydrousammoniaontocrushed-upcoldpills inorder toextractthepills’pseudo.Onthisproject,researchersatWarner-Lamberthad,accordingtotheOregonian,beenworkingcloselywithDEA.Moreover, theadditiveswerealreadyFDA-approved.Therefore,anydrugcontainingthemwouldnotbeconsiderednewandwouldavoidthecostlytestingperiodmandatedbytheFDA.Attheveryleast,manufacturingcoldpillswiththeseadditivesmighthavereducedtheever-increasinglegionsofsmall-timecookslikeRolandJarvis instateslikeIowa,whichat thetimewasseeingsmall-meth-labincreasesof300percentayear.If thecoldpillswithadditivesor,particularly, themirror-imagepseudoephedrinehadcometo

market, theeffectmaywellhavebeenenormous.WeretheU.S.coldmedicinemarket, thelargest intheworld,suddenlydependentonanynewformofpseudoephedrine,itstandstoreasonthat theninefactories thatprovideall theplanet’spseudowouldhavebegunproducinglargeamountsof thenewmeth-resistantdrug.This inturnwouldhavedrasticallyreducedtheamountofmeth-readychemicalsavailabletotheDTOs.EitherdrugcouldhaveeffectivelyaccomplishedwhatGeneHaislipandDEAhadfivetimesbeenunabletoachievebetween1984and1996.Instead,bythetimePfizerboughtWarner-Lambert in2000,allresearchintoacold-medicine

alternativeceased.WhyshouldPfizerworryaboutDEAwhenitspredecessorhadhadsuchaneasytimelobbyingCongress?In2002,methlabnumbersinIowatoppedonethousandfor thefirst time,andwerenearingtwothousandinMissouri.

CHAPTER7

THECOPSHOP

Oelwein’sdifficultandunsurerebirthin2006beganinthesameplaceinwhichthetownhadbeenborn134yearsearlier:inacornfield.In1872,OelweinwasfoundedonlandbelongingtoGustavOelwein,apoorBavarianfarmer,asaplaceforwhatwasthencalledtheRockIslandRailroadtotakeonwaterandcoalbetweenChicagoandMinneapolis.Thecenterpointof townwasplottedattheintersectionofCharlesandFrederickstreets,sonamedforGustav’s twosons.(Oelwein’sprincipal thoroughfarehasthreenames—Charles,Frederick,andOld150.Aroundtown,all threeareoftenreferredtointheaggregateas“Main.”)By1905, thepopulationhadsoaredto5,134people,andCharlesandFrederickwereamongthewealthiestmenintheMidwest.DrivingsouthonFrederickStreet today,youcanstillseethecabinwheretheOelweinbrotherswereborn.Headingfarthersouthafteradoglegat theCountryCottageCafé,what isnowSouthFrederickdead-endsatHighway150.Totheleft isanopenparcelof land; totheright isacampground.AcrossHighway150iswhatmightbethemost importantofallOelwein’sundevelopedproperties—the250-acreIndustrialPark.Bythespringof2006, theIP,asMayorLarryMurphycalls it,wasreadytobeshoppedtoprospectivecustomersandhadunceremoniouslybeendenudedof thecornthathadgrownthere.MurphyforesawtheIPas thebright,shiningfutureofhisbeleagueredtown.UnlikeGustavOelwein, though,who’dalreadycontractedwiththethreeseparatearmsof the

RockIslandRailroad(theBurlington,theIllinoisCentral,andtheMinnesota),LarryMurphydidnotknowforwhomhewaspreparingtheIP’s land,whichisbookendedononesidebythetwobaseballdiamondsof thegrandioselynamedOelweinSportsComplex,andontheotherbytheonce-famedSportsmen’sLounge.Theideawasthat, toreferenceoneofMurphy’sfavoritemovies,FieldofDreams, ifOelweinclearedtheland,somebodywouldcome.ThefactwasthatOelweinhadnothingtolose.Andnowherewasthissentimentmoreclear thaninthedecrepitpresenceof theSportsmen’s,whosemixedhistoryunderscoresboththehopeandthedangerofadown-and-outplaceliterallydyingtogrowbiggerandstronger.It’ssaidaroundtownthat theMobfrontedthePirillobrothers themoneytoopentheSportsmen’s, therebyaddingtoanalreadylongandstoriedconnectionbetweentheCosaNostraandthetownthat, in the1950s,becameknownasLittleChicago.MafiahistoryinOelweinis takentodayasaforegoneconclusion.It’sapieceof thetown’s

cultural tapestrythat’satonceasobviousas thecornfieldsandtherailroadtracksandasillusoryasthefadingmemoriesof therailworkerswhooncerubbedelbowswithsuchAmericanluminariesasBugsyMaloneandJimmyHoffa.WhetherLittleChicagowasreallyeveracooling-outplaceformobsterswhoneededafewdaysawayfromtheheat intheWindyCityisarguable, thoughthestoriesseemtoowellknown,toooft-repeated,andtoofinelydetailedtobefalse.Theseincludehow,for instance, thehomesof threeparticularItalianfamilieswerenotonlyimmediatelyrebuiltbutwererebuilt ingranderstyleshortlyafter thetornadoof1968nearlywipedOelweinfromthemap.AccordingtoClayandNathan, thosefamilies—theLeos, thePirillos,andtheVanattas—ownedthebarsandtheclubsonMainStreetbeneathwhichthegamingdenswerelocated,repletewith

revolvingdoorsandhiddenroomsdatingbacktoProhibition.TheSportsmen’sLoungewasfoundedbyDominicandPetePirilloshortlyafter theyreturnedfromWorldWarII; they’dservedonlyafteranOelweinjudgegavethemachoicebetweenthearmyandjail.TheSportsmen’swasfamedasmuchfor thePirillos’ twenty-four-hourslow-cookedprimeribasfor thepokergamethatreportedlywentonforfivedecadesinthebackroom,whichregularlyhadanaudienceofwhatwerepolitelyreferredtoas“dancinggirls.”Mafiosi,peoplesweararoundOelwein,wouldcirculatebetweenthePirillos’bar, theLeos’Highway150SouthClub,andtheVanattas’PinkPussycat,all thewhileunafraidthatanyofOelwein’s threecops(oneofwhomwaspart-time)wouldgivethemuptofederalagentssentfromChicago.Theonlyundeniabletruthinall thestories is that themoresinistersideof the“goodolddays”

haseitherbeenforgottencompletelyorhascometobeshroudedinthegoldenglowoflonging.Today, theSportsmen’sLoungeis littlemorethanahulkingafterthought.Inplaceof theprimerib—whichLarryMurphyremembersasbeingsotenderyoucouldcut itwithafork—thereissomethingcalledaBloomingOnion,whichinvolvesaVidalia that’sbeencrosscut,battered,anddeep-fried.Andthat’sonlywhentheSportsmen’sisopen,whichdoesn’tseemtobethatoften.Themeaningoftheplaceispalpable, ifnotquitetangible,andis lessabout thatparticularstructurethantheerainOelwein’shistoryitevokes.ClayHallberglaments thelossof theraucousSaturdaynightsofyoreat thePinkPussycatstripclub,afterwhichheclaimsMrs.Vanattawouldmakehergirlssit in thefrontpewdownthestreetatSacredHeartCatholicChurch.NathanLeinwishesthat therewasastripclubsomewhere—anywhere—closer thanWaterloo.Seventy-five-year-oldHerman“Gus”Gaddow,aformerrail-manturnedfarrier,thinksbackfondlyonthe1950sand1960s.Backthen,saysGus,peoplehadgoodmanners,andthreecopswereenoughtokeepcrimenonexistent.Theimplicationis thatnoonesteppedoutof lineforfearofhavingtoanswertotheboysfromChicago.It’s inthiswaythat themeldingofOelwein’shistoryandpresentcircumstanceprovidesacasestudyof thecomplexityoftryingtoregaina thronethatwasperhapsepicallytarnishedinitsheyday.Andsoitseemedonlyfittingthat thekeytoMurphy’seconomicstimulusplanwastheIndustrial

Park,kitty-cornerfromtheSportsmen’s,whereinMarch2006agriddedroadsystemalreadycut theacreageintoblocks.Amongtheweedssproutingupnowthat thefarmerwhoonceleasedthose250acreswasnolongersprayingherbicide,asignread“OelweinIndustrialPark—ComeGrowwithUs!”Murphysaidthecityhadbeencourtingacallcenter toleasethespace,but ithadtwocompetitors:asimilar-sizedtowninNebraskaandatownnearMumbai,India.If thecallcenterprospectfell through, therewereboundtobeotheroptions,saidMurphy.It justwasn’tentirelyclearwhat theymightbe,orwhenthey’dmakethemselvesavailable.Meanwhile, thingsinOelweinweregrowingmoredesperateeverymonth.OnMarch17,2006,Tysonhadclosedthedoorsofwhathad,a longtimeago,beentheoldIowaHamplant,costingthetownanotherhundredjobs.Upongettingthenews,Murphychosetolookat thingswithhischaracteristicoptimism.Rockbottom,heobserved,providesafirmfoundation.Fromthere,Oelweincoulddonothingbutpushitselfup.

LarryMurphyisfifty-fiveyearsold.Acompactlybuiltfivefeeteight,hehasthesun-bleachedblondhairofaroadworker;dry,ruddycheeks;andanopen,friendlyfacedominatedbyawidenoseandalert,mischievousblueeyes.Hekeepshishairshortandwearsaviator-styleRay-Bansunglasses.Murphyputhimself throughschool—firstat tinyLorasCollege, inDubuque,Iowa,andthenatDrakeUniversity,fromwhichhegraduatedin1975withadegreeinjournalism—byworking

thegraveyardshiftonthekill-floorofaslaughterhouseinDavenport,Iowa.Beforethenight’sworkbegan,hesays,he’dheadacrossthestreettothebarwiththeaxmenandthesledge-headswho’dworkedat theplantfordecades.Theydrankboilermakers—shotsofwhiskeydroppedintopintsofbeer—tohelpdealwitha jobthatwasbyturnsbrutallyboringandjustplainbrutal.Murphyisa lifelongDemocratwhomakeshispoliticalhomeonatightropestretchedbetweena

staunchsupportofunionsandasolidrejectionofabortion.Heworksathome, inthedenofhishouse, inorder tosaveOelweinthemoneyitwouldcostforhimtohaveaproperoffice.PoliticalactivismpredicatedonliberalfiscalbeliefsseemslessacallingforMurphyandmoreapartofhisgeneticcoding.Hewasinhis twenty-fourthstraightyearofelectiveofficeinIowa, includingstintsascountysupervisor,statesenator,andnow,mayor.Oneofhissevensurvivingsiblings,Pat,hadjustbecomeSpeakeroftheIowaHouseofRepresentativesafterseventeenyears inoffice.Murphy’sfatherworkedat thetelephonecompanyinDubuquefor thirtyyearsandwasalifelongmemberoftheCommunicationsWorkersofAmerica.Murphy’ssisterMargaret leftaconventinorder toorganizemigrant laborers inCaliforniaandArizonaonbehalfofCésarChavez.HisbrotherDavidisaformerwelderturnednurse,andhisbrotherBobisanegotiatorfor theUnitedFoodandCommercialWorkers.Murphyhimselforganizedhisfirst laborunion,atagrocerystoreinDubuque,in1959,whenhewasfourteenyearsold.Murphysaidhehadlittle troubleunderstandingwhypeoplewithdifficult, low-incomejobswould

domethamphetamine,andwhy,oncethey’dlost thosejobsorhadtheirwagesslashed, they’dturntomakingthedrugthemselves.Murphyknewwell theutilityofa littlepick-me-upbeforebeginningthegraveyardshiftataslaughterhouse,evenbackinthedaywhenyoucouldmakeadecentwage,gethealthinsurance,buyacar,andputyourself throughcollegedoingthatkindofwork.ItangeredMurphythat trendsintheindustries thathadoncebuoyedtownslikeOelweinnowcontributedtothenumbersofpeopledigginginthetrashbehindtheConocostation.Tosceneslikethis,Murphystillreactedwithdisbelief.Everytimehesawadestitutepersoninhis town, itgothisdanderup.Aproud,action-orientedMidwesterner,Murphyjustcouldn’tsquarewhathesawnowwiththelittletownhe’dmovedtoin1977.Therundownhomesandthetrashpilinguponthelawnsbrokehisheart.Whatbotheredhimmostwerethekidswho,abandonedbytheirparentsandsetadrift in thefostercaresystem,flunkedoutofOelweinHigh.Atthatpoint, thosesamekidsweresummarilycondemnedtotheAlternativeSchool,which,foranastonishinglybleak60percentof thestudents,wasnothingmorethanastepping-stonetojail. ItkilledMurphy,hesaid, that therewasnomoneytohelpthekidsofaddictsor theirparents,beyondvisitsbyunderpaidandoverworkedDHSin-homecaseworkers.That,or theNortheastIowaBehavioralHealthClinic,whichhadbutoneaddictionspecialist tominister totheneedsofa townofoversixthousandpeople.IfOelweincouldjustkick-start itself,saidMurphy—ifitcouldjustgetsomedecentbusinessinto

theIP—there’dbetimetoconsidermoresidesof theequation.MaybeMurphy,givenhisextensiveconnectionsinstategovernment,couldcreatesomemomentumforNathanLein’s ideathatmethaddictsservefive-yearprobationaryperiods,duringwhichtheyhavetoholdjobsandattendmandatorymeetingswithacounselor.Maybe,oncetherewasmorerevenueintown, theycouldbringinanactualtreatmentfacility,asClayHallberghadbeggedhimtodo.Somereal treatmentalternativesmighthelpOelweinnipdrugabuseinthebud,rather thansimplytreatingitssymptoms—evenasthosesymptomsgainedineluctablemomentum.Fornow,though, thatwasallapipedream.Therewasnoexcessrevenueforanything,never

mindtreatment.Murphy’staskwastoraisethetownfromtheashes.Hehadtobuildafoundationofdecenteconomicgrowth,andhehadtodoitASAP.Businesseslikethecallcentercouldafford

tobechoosy—everyhard-lucktownintheUnitedStateswascourtingthem.Infact,Murphybelievedthatmostcompanieswerelookingforacertainmodicumofpovertyasafail-safeagainstunionorganizing.Ifpeopleweredesperate, they’dconcedethisessentialgroundtothecompany.Murphyunderstoodthegame.Asheonceput it tomeinane-mail,hewas“enoughofastudentofeconomictrendsinthelast twodecadestounderstand[hehadto]playontheedgesforwageandbenefitrates.”Thetrickwastolooklikesomethinginbetweenauniontownandatownthatwasdownrightcriminallydangerous.Oelweinhadtoappearcomplacentlyimpoverishedbutnonethelesslikeaniceplacetoraiseafamily.Thatmeant thatsocialorderneededtotakeprecedence,evenif it involvedtakingafewun-civil

liberties,andMurphy’ssympathyregardingmethaddictswastrumpedbyacertainmercilessness.Nobusinesswasgoingtoinvest ina townwithabunchof tweakersridingaroundcookingdopeontheirbicycles,blowinguptheirownhomes,andshakinginsidetheirovercoatsastheypickedthroughtheDumpsterbehindthegasstation.Thetrick, ifMurphycouldsucceedingettingahandleonOelwein’smethproblem,wouldbetolurebusinessesthatwouldn’tautomaticallyreinvigoratethemethindustrybyofferingsubstandardjobs.Oelweinneededwork,but itdidn’tneedthekindofworkthathadinundatedGreenville,Illinois:half-timejobswithnobenefitsatWal-MartorSuper8,whichinjectedlittlerevenueintothelocaleconomy.Oelweindidn’tneedanymoremeatpackingplants,either,whichofferedhighworker-injuryratesandminimalcompensation.Badjobs,Murphyknew,hadgottenOelweinintroubleinthefirstplace.Beingtreatedpoorlybyemployers,hesaid,hadsuckedthehopeoutofpeople’s lives.Itmademethseemliketheonlyalternative.Nowadays,badjobscamewiththeaddedburdenof immigrantworkerswhocouldn’taffordtheirhospitalbillsandwhosechildrenhadtobetaughtEnglishbythealreadyoverextendedschools.Andyet townsacrossthenationwereclamoringforwhatever jobstheycouldget.Itwasanalmost impossiblesituationinwhichMurphyfoundhimself.Comparedwiththis,hispastbattlesasa liberalproliferhadbeenacakewalk.During2004and2005,Murphyhaddoneeverythingpossibletorunthesmall-labmethbusiness

outof townasameansofpreparingOelweintorebuild.Thiswasnot just tocompetewiththetownsinIndiaorNebraskathatmight lurethelikesof thecallcenter.ItwastocompetewithOelwein’smoreimmediateneighbors.Nathanhadtoldme,alongwithseveralotherpeople, thatDHSworkers innearbyBuchananCounty—homeofpretty,prosperouslittleIndependence—hadforyearsbeenrecommendingthattheirworstcasesmovetoFayetteCounty,andparticularlytoOelwein,wheretaxeswerelowandtherentalmarketwasburgeoning.Akindofeconomiccannibalismhadset infollowingthefarmcrisis, theravagesofpopulationloss,andtheonsetof themethepidemic.Towns,unsureof theirownfutures,hedgedtheirbets,oftentothedetrimentof theirneighbors.Accordingtoa localrealestatebroker,IndependencehadeffectivelymadeOelweinitsghetto.“Lowrent,” thebrokerwenton,wassynonymouswith“methlab.”It’s inthiswaythatriddingOelweinof itssmall labsbecameakindofshovingmatchbetweentwocity-states,withthedefactogoalofrunningthepeoplefromBuchananCountyoutofFayette.Tothisend,MurphyhadgivenwideauthoritytopolicechiefJeremyLogan.Loganinturnhad

instilledacultureofaggressivenessinhismen.He’dbuiltanewcanineunitaroundatwelve-thousand-dollardrug-sniffingGermanshepherd.Andhe’dputhimselfinchargeofenforcingnewordinances,passedbythecitycouncil,orderingthecleanupordestructionofrundownproperties—justthekindofgrimy,falling-apartrentals,saidtherealestateagent, that thecastoffsfromBuchananCountyfavored.

Everymorning,JeremyLoganleaveshishouseanddrivesfiveblockstoworkinablueFordExpeditionemblazonedwiththewordsOelweinPolice in thetown’sgreenandyellowcolors.Loganisofmiddleheightandweight.Hisshortbrownhair is inacrewcut,which,alongwiththesharpfeaturesofhisfaceandtheacnescarsalonghischeeksandjawbones,giveshimadecidedlymilitaryair.It takesonlyminutes, though,forLogantorevealadeeplyingrainedstreakoffriendlysarcasmandasharpappreciationfor theironythatsurroundshim.AccordingtoClayHallberg,fordecades, ifnotsincethepolicedepartment’sfounding,themensaddledwithprotectingthecitizensofOelweinhavebeenaviolentbunch,anddisdainfulof therightsof thecitizensinthisnotoriouslytoughrailroadtown.(Whenaskedtoconfirmthis,NathanLeinsmiledandsaid,“Iwouldn’twant tobearrested,put it thatway.”)Oftheten-manforce,Loganis theonlyonewithacollegedegree.Manyofhisofficersarebuiltmorelikeoffensivelinemen;almostallof themshavetheirheads.KnowingthisandtakingintoaccountonceagainLogan’sphysicalcharacteristics—thearmycrew;thesoftmiddlesignalingadistastefor thegym—istounderstandthatLoganisareflectionofhisjob,whichexists inthedelicatemiddlegroundbetweenthebrutestrengthof thedepartmentandtheslick,eruditebonhomieofLarryMurphy.Sarcasm,saysLogan, ismorethanacopingmechanism.It’s likeasecondlanguage.Beingthechiefofpoliceisperhapstheonlyjobintownmorevisiblethanbeingmayor.Murphy,

whenhe’snotrunningOelwein,hasapoliticalconsultingbusinessthatsendshimregularlytoDesMoines,a three-hourdrivesouth.Murphy’skidsaregrown,andheworksfromhome,meaningthathecanchoosetoholeupforacoupleofdaysshouldthingsget tough—astheydidwhenhelobbiedtomakeridingabikeonMainStreet illegal.Logancannot.Heisconstantlyondisplay,whetherpickinguphisthreeyoungchildrenfromschoolorheadingtothesceneofanaccident inhis truck.Whenhedoesthingsthatpeopledon’tlike—agreeingtoarreststudentsatOelweinHigh,forinstance—it’snot justhewhohearsabout it. It’shiswife, too,whohastosmileandnodwhileshewaitsforher latteat theMorningPerk.Still,saysLogan, this isawalkintheparkcomparedwiththeyearbeforeMurphymadehimchiefofpolice.ThatyearnearlydroveLoganoutof thetownwherehe’dlivedhiswholelife.Detailsvary,but theconsensusaroundtownis that theformerpolicechief,underwhomLogan

hadachievedtherankofsergeant,rana looseship.AllLoganwillsayontherecordis that therewasacertain“laxnessaroundthedepartment,”andthathethought itappropriate toonedayapproachthechiefandtellhimhowunhappyhewaswiththesituation.Thechief,accordingtoLogan, thankedhimforhis inputandsaidhe’dthinkaboutwhat todo.Twodayslater,accordingtoLogan,hiswifecalledhimatworktosayhewasbeingaccusedofpeepinginthebedroomofalocal teenagegirl.Further,saidLogan’swife, therumoraroundtownwasthat thechiefwassuspendingLoganindefinitelywithoutpay.Criminalchargeswereexpectedshortly,followedbythehighlikelihoodofacivilsuit.ThiswasthefirstLogan,whowasondutywhenhiswifecalled,hadheardof thecharges.AccordingtothestorythatLogantells, thechargesfiledagainsthimaccusedLoganofroutinely

settingupsurveillancenear thegirl’shouse,onlytousebinoculars toogleher inherbedroom.Several times, itwasalleged,hesneakeduptothegirl’swindowatnightassheundressedandmasturbatedinthebushes.Logandeniesthechargesvehemently,andmaintainsthat theywerepaybackforquestioningtheformerchief’sauthority.Itwasn’t longbeforeLogan’shomelifewasashambles.Hiswifethreatenedtoleavehim.Unabletofindanother job,Loganwasgoingbroke.Thelegalbillsalonewereruininghim,hesays.Soheviolatedtheunwrittencodethat isoftenreferredtoas theBlueWall,bywhichpoliceofficersrefusetopubliclydiscussdepartmental

conflict.LogantoldLarryMurphyeverythingheknewabout thedepartmentanditsofficers,andhowhewasbeingsetup.ThusbeganthefirstfewmonthsofLarryMurphy’sfirst termasmayor, in2002.Bytheendofthatyear,Logan—sorecentlyfearfulof jail time—hadbeenmadechiefofpolice.

TheLogancasestill lingersaroundtownthesedays,muchlikethespecterof theMob.Alotofpeople,MildredBinstockincluded,thinkLogandidit.Andalotofotherpeoplethinkhedidn’t,andthat thewholecasewasanotherexampleina longlineofshadyinsiderdealingsintown.AccordingtoNathanLein,formermayorGeneVine,whosatonthecitycounciluntilhisdeathin2008fromcancer, toldLarryMurphytogetridofLogan.Whetherguiltyor innocent,Loganwastoomuchofa liability,saidVine.Thecountyattorney,WayneSauer,saidthesamething.Theonlythingthateveryonecanagreeon,asNathanputit, is that“makingJeremyLogantheOelweinchiefofpolicetookmajornuts.”That,andLoganhasbeenhellonmethcooks.AccordingtoLogan, theOelweinPoliceDepartment,whichhasjurisdictiononlywithinthefour-

square-mileincorporatedareaof town,wasdismantlingtwomethlabspermonthbackin2002,hisfirstyearaschief.Labscouldbeanythingfromahousewithafairlycomplexsetupinthebasementtoaguyandhiswifesingle-batchinginaJohnnyontheSpotbehindthedugoutat theSportsComplex.Nomatterwherethelabswere, though, theOelweinpolicewereexposedtothetoxicwasteandtheharmfulfumeswhilewearingnothingmorethantheirregularuniforms.Asrecentlyasthelate1990s,Logantoldme, thepolice,unsureofwhat todo, let labsburn.Other times,knowinghowmuchitwouldcost tocleanthemup, thepoliceburnedthelabsthemselves.Anecdotallyacrossthenation,cancerratesamongfirst-responderstomethdisastershavebeen

climbingsincethe1980s.BillRuzzamenti,aformerDEAagentandthecurrentdirectorof theCentralValleyHighIntensityDrugTraffickingArea(HIDTA)inCalifornia, likestotell thestoryofhowhesmelledsobadafterdismantlingsuperlabsinSanDiegoduringthe1990sthathiswifewouldhavetohosehimdowninthegarageandburnhisclothes.Still,saidRuzzamenti, thestenchofetherandwhatsmelledlikecaturinewouldbesothoroughlysoakedintohishandsthat they’dhavetothrowtheirphoneawayeachmonth: thereceiverandkeypadstunktoobadtokeepusing.Asaresult,DEA,inconjunctionwiththeEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,passedalawin2003

providingastandardizedprotocolforanyonegiventhetaskofdismantlingamethlab.Thetrainingnecessaryisavailableonlyat theFederalBureauofInvestigationheadquarters inQuantico,Virginia.Findingmoneytosendsomeonefor trainingisnoteasy,saysLogan,althoughthealternativeseemedtohimfarworse:yearsof lawsuitswhenoneofhismengotcancer.Uponbecomingchief,LoganimmediatelydemandedthatanOelweinofficerbesentfor training.Bythetimethatofficerhadcompletedthecourse, in2003, thetown’sso-calledBeavisandButt-Headmethproblemhadincreasedtoanalmost incomprehensibleorderofmagnitude:Loganandhisofficerswerebeingcalled,onaverage, toonemethlabeveryfourdays.Andeverylabthatgotcleanedupcost thetownanaverageofsixthousanddollars.Loganhasa longlistofdisasterandnear-disasterstorieswhenitcomestometh.Healsohas

enoughcynicismtoseethehumorinplaceswhere,formanypeople, thejokewouldbeobscured.Onestoryisofanex-Marinesharpshooterwhowasalsoaprolificmethcookandlivedalonewithhis teenagedaughter,whomLogandescribesasanacademicstaratOelweinHighSchool.In2003,increasinglyparanoidthathewouldgetcaughtmakingmeth, theex-Marineknockedoutall thewindowsfromhishomeandreplacedthemwithblackplasticgarbagebagstapedtotheframes,therebykeepingpeoplefromlookingin.Theyalsoprovidedagoodwaytodefendthehouse,for

he’dcutholesinthecenterof thebagsfromwhichheplannedtoshootwhoevercametoshutdownhislab.Nearthewindows,hehadplacednineteenfirearmsofvariouskinds,alongwithseventhousandroundsofammunition.WhatLoganthinksisfunniestabout thestoryisnot that theex-Marinearousedhisneighbors’suspicionsbygoingoutsideinhisunderweartodanceinthestreet inthemiddleof theday;or thathisdaughterwashomeat thetime,studying;or that theman,whenthepolicecame, triedtohidebylyingstill in theconcretegutterof thestreet, thinkinghewascamouflaged.WhatgivesLoganalaughis that themanhadthemostfirepowerstackedaroundthehouse’shighestwindows, thoseinhisdaughter’sroom,whichprovidedthebestvantagepointsforshooting.TherehehadtwoAR-15fullyautomaticassaultrifles,aRemington12–gaugeshotgun,andsevenhundredroundsofammunition.“Hadhenotdecidedtolaydownandhideinthegutter,”saidLogan, laughing,“there’snoquestionhewouldhavekilledeverysingleoneofus.”Startingin2004,Logan,withtheblessingofNathanLein,demandedthathismenpullovercars

forwhatNathandescribesas“everylittle ticky-tackviolationthatgetsustothevehicle”:acrackedtaillight;goingfivemilesperhourover thespeedlimit;adirtylicenseplate;orabrokenheadlight.Inaddition,Loganschooledhismentousetheirfamiliaritywithpeopletheyquestionedtotheiradvantage,andtousehistoryandcommonknowledgetogarner informationandtocatchpeopleinlies.Nomorenicetiesandlettingpeopleoffforhavinghadalittle toomuchtodrink.Searcheveryvehicle.Assumeeveryoneisguiltyandput thescrewstothem.Makethemnervous.Loganinstigatedthepracticeof leveragingjail timeinorder todevelopconfidential informants, inhopesofgettingthoseinformants togiveuptheirfriendswhowerebatchingwiththem.Nevermindifyouwent tohighschoolwithaguyorgrewuponthefarmnext tohim.Thiswaslikeawar.Forsomepeople, thesetactics,while legal,defiedtheveryfoundationsof life inasmall town,

wherepeople’sfamiliaritywithoneanothermeanseverything.Logan’sattitudesmackedof thesleightofhandandoutright trickeryassociatedwithanurbanexistence.MildredBinstockcalledLoganaNazi.ItwasLoganwhowasthecriminal,shesaid.Mildredwasnot theonlyonewhofeltthisway.Onemorningat theHubCityBakery,Ioverheardanoctogenarianfarmerdeclaretohiscoffeematesthat, inanearlier time,amanlikeLogancouldhaveeasilybeenmadetodisappear.Tootherpeople, though,Loganwasagodsend.Theyfelt thetweakersdeservednobetter.Evenas

thedebateragedandpeopledividedover theirfeelings,Logan’stacticsworked.Labbustsfellsteadilyuntil,duringthelastfourmonthsof2005, theOelweinpolicedidn’tdismantleasinglemethlabintown.Bythen, thecitycouncilhadpassedtheordinancecallingforthedemolitionofderelicthouses,whichinmanycaseshadbeenturnedintomethlabs.Thetownofferedsales taxincentivestoallowneighborstopurchaserundownhomesthatdidn’t—orcouldn’tbemadeto—complywiththenewcodes.That,or thecouncilsoldtheconceptofbulldozingunderthemorepoliticauspicesof“addinggreenspace.”SomepeoplesaidMurphyandLoganwererunningpeopleoutof townandpickingonthosewhocouldleastaffordtofightback.RolandJarvisaccusedMurphyoftryingtosalveOelwein’seconomicwoesbysacrificingthepoorat thetimewhentheyweremostvulnerable.I toldNathanofJarvis’sopinion.Hewassilentbeforesayingthat,everyday,hesawthepain

that theturnaroundcausedsomeof thepeopleinhis town.Hisgirlfriend,Jamie, laboredasasocialworker inorder“tocleanupthepieces.”Intheend, though,peoplehadtounderstandthat,asNathanput it,“youhavetoplowsomedirt inorder toraiseacrop.”

Bylatespringof2006,OelweinwasenteringPhaseIIofLarryMurphy’stownrevitalizationplan.Murphylikedtosaythatmostmen,whentheyturnfiftysomething,buildanewhouse,buyanewcar,orchaseafteranewwoman.He,ontheotherhand,preferredtospendhis timerebuildinga

town.AndPhaseII involvedliterallytearingdownpartsofOelweininorder tostartover.Thiswouldnotbeeasy.EvenOelwein’sdemographicswereagainst it.Themedianagewasforty-

one,makingitoneof theoldestcommunities inIowa,andonewithapooremploymentbase.Therewerelotsofother thingstospendmoneyoninOelwein,where20percentof thechildrenlivedinpoverty,and80percentof thekindergartnerswereeligibleforfreeorreduced-priceschool lunches.Thetown’smedianincome,accordingtoa2005EPAreport,washalf thestateaverage.AsMurphysawit,Oelweinhadanemptydancecard.If itdidn’tdoll itselfupquickandfindapartner,hesaid, thedancewasgoingtobeover.PhaseIIwouldbeginbyimprovingaseven-blockareaofdowntown.Theplanwastopullupthe

streetsandbuildnewsewers,watermains,andgutters toaidwiththewitheringanddestructiveeffects thatanaveragewinterhadonOelwein’scentury-oldstreets.Inaddition,Murphywantedallnewstreetlamps.Hewantedshrubberiesandtrees,whichhehopedwouldboostmoralearoundtown.Hewantednewsidewalks, too; theoldoneswerebucklingandbreakinginplaces.All this,Murphyreckoned,wouldcostashadebelowfourmilliondollars.Second,MurphywantedtoencouragebusinessestorelocatetoOelweinbybuildinganewseptic

system.Theoldone, installedahundredyearsagoandaugmentedinthe1950s,wasalreadyinviolationofsanitationcodes.Itcouldn’tevenkeepupwiththeuseofashrinkingpopulation,not tomentionthehoped-for industrialandpopulationgrowththatsomethinglikeacallcenterwouldengender.What thecitycouncilwantedwasanoverflowsepticsystemoftwelvemilliongallons.Itwouldbebothenvironmentallysoundandhighlycost-efficient,withsewagebedsofcommonreedsthatcouldnaturallycompostwasteinitiallytreatedbytheoldsystem.Thatcompostcouldthenbeusedasfertilizeronfarmers’fields.Buildingthenewsystemwouldcostninemilliondollars.Foranentire two-yearmayoral term,Murphyandthecitycouncil laboredtocomeupwiththe

money.AsMurphysaidtothecouncilonenight,either theypushfullsteamaheadorelsetheyslideinextricablybackward.ThosewerethetwochoicesfacedbyOelweininaglobaleconomy.Murphyessentiallyleveragedthenextelectiononhowmuchhecouldraise,sellingpeopleonthetheoreticalhopethatbusinesswouldeventuallycometoOelwein, ifonlytheimprovementsweremade.HeappliedforVisionIowagrants,whichnettedOelwein$3.4million.Heandthecouncilmembers,includingformermayorGeneVine,whomMurphyhadunseated, lobbiedforrealestate taxassessmentsfor thesixty-fivecommercialbusinessownersinOelwein.Murphyspent threeweekstalkingtoeachownerindividually,goingagainandagaintotheirhomesandtotheirstores,askingthemtoagreetothepassageofanordinancethatwouldessentiallyincreasetaxeswithnoguaranteeofincreasedprofits.Hebeggedthetownspeopletopassareferendumcallingforahighersales tax,whichpassedinlate2005,andaschoolbondreferendumworth$2.5million.Murphyandthefivecouncilmemberssecuredanother$3.4millioninprivatedonationsfromsomeofOelwein’swealthyoldfamilies.What’sremarkableis thatMurphyandthecitycouncilgot themoneytheyneededfor theplanned

improvementsandmore—enoughtobuildanewlibrarywithInternetaccess.Raisingthemoneywasinsomewaystheeasypart.Thehardpartwouldcomenext,whenOelweinwouldeitherbebuoyedbyaneconomicresurgenceorsinkfurther.Oncegroundwasbrokenfor thestreetrevivalproject inMay2006, itwasanyone’sguesswhatwouldhappen.Maybeintwelvemonthstheshopswouldfillup, thecallcenterdealwouldgothrough,andthelong-emptyDonaldsonplant,with160,000squarefeetofprimeindustrialspacebehindtheroundhouse,wouldfindanewtenant.MaybeLoganwouldcontinuetokeepthemethusersundercontrolandwouldpreventanewcropofbatchersfrommovingin.MaybeIndependencewouldn’tuseOelweinas itsghetto.EchoingtheKantian

philosophical traditionthatpervadesthatpartof theMidwest,andthroughwhichMurphy, likeClayHallbergandNathanLein,understandstheworld,Murphysaidthathisonlywishwastoprovidethegenesis thatOelweinsosorelyneeded.Oelweininthespringof2006wasinthemidst,asKantdescribesit,ofactingtothelimitsof itsknowledgeanditsenvironment.Fromthere,onlya leapoffaithwouldcarrythetownforward,nomatterwhatactualadvancesitmade.IfOelweinfailed, thenasubsequentgenerationwouldhavetoaddressthesameissues.At theveryleast,saidMurphy,Oelwein, justfor trying,wouldregaintheverythingthathadbeenmissingthesemanyyears: itsdignity.

CHAPTER8

WATERLOO

EversinceNathanhadmovedbacktoIowain2001,he’dwrestledwithwhathereferredtoas theGirlProblem.TheGirlProblemwasformedwhenhe’dfalleninlovewithJenny, thewomanfromIndianapoliswhomhe’dmet inlawschoolandwhomovedwithhimtoWaterloo,Iowa,whereheworkedasa judge’sclerk,sheasapublicdefender.There, theylivedtogetherwhileNathan’sparentssmolderedwithindignation,for tothem,cohabitationbeforemarriageisasin.BecauseNathan’sparentswouldnotbedamnedbyGod, theywouldbedamnedif theyspoketotheirson.Inaroundaboutway, itwastheGirlProblemthatbroughtNathanbacktoOelwein,puttinghiminapositiontohelphishometownrebuilditself.Inanotherway, theGirlProblemrepresentedaonce-intractabledilemma,likemethinOelwein, thatseemedsuddenlytobesolvable.Nathanmighthavebeenmadashellabouthisparents’ treatmentofJenny,buthisangerdidn’t

changethefact thathehadbeenraisedtorespect their judgment.Addtothat theideathatanyhopeofeverbeinginvolvedinthecentralfeatureoftheircollectedlives—thefarm—wouldvanishifhisrelationshipwithhisparentsdisintegrated,andNathanwascaughtbetweentwoverypowerfulgravitationalforces:angerandhonor.Heassaultedtheproblemwithall theintellectual toolsofhistraininginphilosophy, tonoavail; itwaslikeafortresswhosewallswouldnotbebreached.Heappealedtoinstinct,andthisprovedmurkierstill, forhedidnotseehimselfas themarryingtype.Andyet theideathatheandJennymightnever legalizetheirlovedidnotminimizetheobligationhefelt towardthewomanwhohadmovedtoIowatobewithhim.Astheproblemchurnedinhisgut,hegrewmoreandmorewithdrawn,moreinward.Forayear, itwentonlikethis,withnoanswer.Thewarbetweenhis instinctandhisdesiresettledintothetrenches,whereit threatenedtodestroyhis life,notviaentropy,butbyattrition.Then, in2002,LarryMurphyhadcalledandofferedNathanthejobofassistantFayetteCounty

prosecutor.HemovedtoOelwein,andJennystayedbehindinWaterloo.Hestill lovedJenny,hesaid,andshehim.But theone-hourdrivebetweenthetwotownsfelt longerall thetime.Slowly,wordlessly,Nathanbeganspendingmoretimeat thefarm.Hisparentsnever talkedtohimabout thefight they’dhad,andthefamiliarityof thesilentunderstandingthey’dreachedreinforcedthepullofhisfamily.Theveryfact thatnothingneededtobesaidmadehimfeel theweightofhisplacebackinthefold.WithJenny,hesaid,everythinghadbeenaboutdiscussion,aboutargument.WhenheandJennytalked, itwasliketwolawyersdebating.Thoughheunderstoodtheemotional liabilitiesofsilence,Nathanfoundhepreferrednot talkingtoarguing.Nathansawotherwomen,includingaDHScaseworker, thoughhecouldn’tcommit toanyone.Heboughta tiny, two-bedroomhouseoninOelwein’sNinthWard.Andthen, inJuneof2005,Nathan’shalfbrother,David,diedofheartfailureinSanFranciscoat theageof thirty-eight.DavidwasNathan’sclosestconfidant;beingraisedtogether inthathouseontheprairiegavethem

asharedunderstanding.ItwasthankstoDavid,who’dhadthecouragetogetoutofIowaforgood,thatNathancouldseethat leavingwasn’tanidealsolution.AnditwasthankstoNathanforhavingthecouragetoreturnhomethatDavidstillhadanadvocateforhimwithhisdifficultmotherandhis

stepfather,not tomentionaconnectiontotheplacewherehe’dgrownup.WhenDaviddied,Nathanwascrushed.Nathan’sparentshadnomoneytogotoCaliforniaforafuneral.Soitwashewhowent toget

David’scrematedremainsandbringthembacktoIowa.Buryinghisbrotherwasthehardest thingNathanLeineverdid.Hesaidafewdaysafterwardthatitwouldbea longtimebeforehewas“rightagain.”Threeyears later,hestill,hesaid,wasn’tright.ButDavid’sdeathhadalsoofferedNathanasolutiontotheGirlProblem.Hedidn’taskJennyto

accompanyhimtothefuneral—heaskedtheDHScaseworker,whosenameisJamiePorter.Whyhedidsowasunclear.Perhaps,hesaid,David’sdeathputhisownlife inperspective.After thefuneral,Nathanunburdenedhimself toJamieofall thesecretshe’dkeptpentupfor twenty-eightyears.Andso,as thetownofOelweinbeganrebuildingitselffromtheashesof themethepidemic,sobegananewerainNathan’slife,bornoutof theashesofhisbrother’sdeath.

JamiePorter isayearyoungerthanNathan.Standingnext tohim,shelookssmall,evenatfivefeetseven.Shehasblond,shoulder-lengthhairandblueeyesborderedbylong,delicatelashes.Withherredcheeksandporcelainskin,shehastheflushed,healthylookofsomeonejustcominginfromthecold.SheattendedWartburgCollegeinhernearbyhometownofWaverly,Iowa,whereshewasanAll-Americansoftballplayerasasecondbaseman.Sheisstillbuilt inawaythatsuggestsahome-runthreat:strong,powerful legsandwideshoulders.Sheknowsherwayaroundapheasantstewandisperfectlyathomeina tentpitchedsomewhereontheVolgaRiver.IntheeveningsduringDecember’s latebow-and-arrowdeer-huntingseason,JamieisknowntoclimbintothetinyhayloftaboveNathan’swoodstove-heatedgarageandsitnext totheswing-door.Thereshecanlookdownonasmallfieldborderedononesidebyanunincorporatedspitof timberandontheotherbytheneighboringhouses;Nathan’sstreetdefinesthepointatwhichOelweinendsandthecountrybegins.Dressedinheavilyinsulatedcamocoveralls,withabookinonehandandacupof teaintheother,Jamiewaits intheambientheatof thewoodstovefor thewhitetails topassthroughthefield.Nexttoher is thebowNathanboughtherfor theirfirstChristmastogether.Todate,shehaskilledthreedeerfromthegaragewindow—twobucksandadoe.Jamiehasanundergraduatedegreeinpsychology.Shehasworkedsincemid-2006asacontractor

for theIowaDepartmentofHumanServices.DHScontractorsareassignedcasesbythecourts;muchof theirworkis in-homevisits.Onatypicalday,Jamiemighthavethreeappointments:onewithachildwhohascomplainedofphysicalabuse;onewithachildwhosemotherorfather is injailformanufacturingmeth;andathirdwitharecentparoleeinthehalfwayhouseinWestUnion.AsidefromtheNortheastIowaBehavioralHealthClinic,whichhasonlysixemployees, thereisn’tmuchinthewayofother jobopportunitiesforsocialworkers inOelwein.WorkingwithDHS,whereshe’sessentiallyafreelancer,givesJamiethefeelingthatsheisdoing

allshecaninorder tohelppeoplewhowouldotherwisenotbegivenanyhelp.Thejob’sfrustrations,shesays,steminpartfromthefact thatJamieseesa lotof thesamepeopleoverandoveragain.Troubleoftenseemstowrapitselfaroundcertainfamilies—theJarvisclanisone—whosemembersshowupconstantlyinjail, inhalfwayhouses,andonJamie’s listofappointments.TherestofherfrustrationsJamiecharacterizesinstarkeconomicterms.RuralIowagrowsolderandsmallereachyear,while thenumberofcasesJamieisassignedseemstostaystable.Theregion’spovertymeanstherearemoreproblembehaviors,andalsolessmoneytoministertothosebehaviors—especiallyunderthekindof long-termtreatment thatJamiesayswouldbeneededinorder toturnafamilyliketheJarvisesaround.

WhatLarryMurphysaysis that thereisalwaysgreaterpressureamidafiscalcrisis tocutspendingaltogetheronnon-revenue-generatingprogramslikehumanservices.FayetteCountyandthetownofOelweinarebusinesseslikeanyother,andpresentlybothofthemarelosingmoney.SociologistDouglasConstance’sobservationthatours isapsychologicalrather thanasociologicalcultureisonceagainapt.MuchofwhatJamiehastodealwitharetheravagesofmeth;whenoneisforcedtochoosebetweenblamingtheaddictandblamingthesystemthatcreatedtheaddict, itcanbedifficult toblametheformer.Duringthelatesummerof2005, threeof thefivemembersoftheJarvisfamily—Roland,hismother,andhisbrother—wereinjailondrug-relatedcharges.Thebrotherwasinfederalprisonandwouldnotbeparoledforanotherhalfdecade.InstanceslikethismakeJamiewonderifsomepeoplecaneverbehelped.Theinstinct toassumethat theJarviseswillnotchangenomatterhowmuchthestate intervenes

mightbegintoexplainhowJamiewasoutofworkforoverayear,betweenmid-2005andmid-2006.ThetheoryofoneofJamie’sco-workerswasthat,withmoneytightalloverIowaandpublicsympathyatebbtideregardingdrugaddicts, ithadbecomemoreconvenient thaneverforstategovernmenttolookatamanlikeRolandJarvisandthrowinthetowel.Inthatsameyear,saystheco-worker,nineoutof tensocialworkers innortheasternIowalost their jobs.Asaresult,Jamiehadtakentheonlyjobshecouldfind,asabartenderina little towncalledStrawberryPoint,twentymilesnortheastofOelwein.Duringthisdifficult time,JamiemovedinwithNathan.Shecouldgetonlyafewshiftsaweek,mostlyduringthedaytime; thewomanwhoworkednightshadnointentionofhandingJamietheonlylucrativeshifts inasmall-townbar.Moneywasshort,givenNathan’smodeststatesalary,andJamiespenta lotof timearoundthetinyhouse, tryingtokeepbusy.TheargumentsshehadwithNathanwereacasestudyinrelationshipsbeingtestedbyhardfinancial times.Forhispart,Nathancouldn’tunderstandwhyJamiedidn’tgetupandgodomore—thoughexactlywhatmoresheshouldbedoingwasn’tclear.Fromherperspective,she’dgoneandgottentheworkthatwasavailable,evenif itembarrassedher:shewastoowelleducatedtoworkinabar,nevermindabar thatwasfortymilesaway,round-trip, ina timeofrisinggasprices.Whatdidhewanther todobeyondswallowherprideandworkasbestshecould?ShesaidtoNathanoverandover thatshewastheonlyonewhohatedall thetimeshehadonherhandsmorethanhedid.Meantime,Nathankeptuphisusualscheduleofworkingat theofficeduringthedayandgoingto

thefarmatnight.HisparentslovedJamie; they’dmetheratDavid’sfuneralandtakenanimmediatelikingtoher.Unawarethat theywerelivingtogether,Nathan’sfatheraskedhimall thetimeifhe’dheardfromJamieorseenher.HewantedtoknowwhyNathandidn’tbringhertothefarmatnighttohelp,orwhyNathandidn’tbringherbyforThanksgivingsupperoronChristmaseve.It’saninterestingquestion,andonethatJamieherselfwasanxioustoknowtheanswerto.Afterall,sheandNathanwerelivingtogether inasmall, tight-knit,gossipycommunityjust twelvemilesawayfromNathan’sparents.Itcouldn’t longremainasecret thattheywereinloveandwerelivinginsin.Nathan’sparentsmightbeLuddites,but theyweren’t livingonMars.AndifNathanwassoadamantthatJamiedomorethanworkinabarwhileshewaitedforanothersocialworkerposition, thenwhydidn’thebringher tohelpat thefarm?Thatwasthegood,honestkindofworkthatNathancouldrespect,anditwouldhelphisfamily, toboot.Whatwaswithall thesecretiveness?Nathan’sresponsewasthat,nomatterhowinterestedandnicehisparentsseemednow,they

wouldeventuallyturnonJamie.That’swhat they’ddonehiswholelife,hesaid: luredwomenin,onlytothenbecomesocritical that itendedupruiningNathan’srelationship.Becausehecared

abouthisrelationshipwithJamiemorethananyother,hewouldn’t let thathappenthis time.He’dfinallylearnedhis lesson,hesaid,andhadnointerest insubjectingJamietohisparents’scrutiny.Andsountilsomethinghappened—whatthatsomethingwouldbeNathancouldn’tsay—heandJamiewouldhavetokeeptheir livingarrangementsasecretfromhisparents,andJamiewouldnotaccompanyhimtothefarm.AsfarasNathanwasconcerned, thisrepresentedagenuinecoupinhis lovelife.Hewas in love,

evenifhecouldn’tsayit toJamie.Hewaslivingwithherandhappywithherandhisparentswerenotangrilyshunninghim.Eventually, thesituationbegantofeelprettynatural toJamie.HertraininginpsychologymadehermoresympatheticthanmostpeoplemighthavebeentoNathan’splight,andshewasgenuinelyabletohelphim.That inturnmadeJamiefeelneededina timewhenshehadtoworkinabar inStrawberryPoint.HerfamilylovedNathan,andtheyweren’tanythewiserwhen,onholidays,Nathanwentalonetohisparents’, thencamehomeintheafternoonor theeveningtohaveasecondThanksgivingorChristmasmealwithJamieandherparents.ForNathan,itwasasgoodasitwaslikelytoget,for thingswiththegirlweresplendid.Problemsolved.

AroundthetimethatNathan’sbrotherdied,ClayHallbergenteredarockyperiodinhis life.Onenight,ClayplayedagigatabarcalledtheEagle’sRoost, inHazleton,Iowa, justfivemilessouthofOelwein.Asusual,muchofClay’scompensationhadcomeintheformofbeer.Afteracoupleofrowdyencores,Clayhadsataroundwiththebar’sowner,anoldfriendfromthebetter timesof the1970s,anddrankuntilclosingtime,beforeloadinghisequipmentintohisToyotaHighlanderandheadinghome.Knowinghewasdrunk,Clayskirtedtown, insteadtakingSouthFredericknorth,pasttheCountryCottageCaféandLakeOelwein,beforehangingaleftonTenthStreetSW.Whenhegottohisstreet,QAvenue,heknewhewassafe,forQAvenueisnothingmorethanafarmroadthatwasgradedbackwhentheprairiewasdivviedupintoquartersections.Butafterdrivingafewhundredyards,Clayfellasleep.Hemissedtheright-handturnintohis longgraveldriveway, jumpedtheirrigationditch,andT-bonedthefence.His truck,withsignificantdamage,cametoaclatteringstopinhiscornfield.Therealwake-upcallforClay, though,cameat theendof2005, justaweekbeforethetwo-year

anniversaryofhismother’sdeath.Again,he’dbeendowninHazleton,playingagig.Andagainhehadstayedtoolateanddrivenhomedrunk.Onlythistime,anOelweincoppulledhimoverjustnorthof theFayetteCountyline.Clayhadbeensmolderingfor twoyearsaboutwhathesawasthecomplicityof theOelweinpoliceinthedeathofhiselderlymother.She’dbeencomplainingtotheCopShopformonthsaboutanAmishmanwhoseClydesdalewasalwayswanderingontoHighway150intheevenings, thankstoaholeintheAmishman’sfence.But thepolicehadignoredherpleas.Thatwastheveryhorsethat,startledbyherheadlightsasshedrovehomelateonecoldwinternight,boltedontotheroad.Thecollisionkilledher, totalinghercarandthrowingit intotheditchoutofwhichthehorsedarted.Claywasalsoboilingmadoverpolicetreatmentofayoungmethaddict in town,AlanCoffman.

ClayandTammyhadallbutadoptedAlan,whowasbestfriendswiththeirsonbackwhenhewasakidbecauseAlan’sparentswereneveraround.Nowtwenty,Alanhadlandedagoodjobasawelder intown.He’dstarteddoingmeth,andafteranarresthadbeencompelledtobecomeaconfidentialinformantbytheOelweinpolice.Alanhadtowearawireeachnightandmaketheroundsof theOelweinbars, tryingtomakedealswithpeopleonthepolicelistofmostwantedmethmanufacturerswhile thecopslistened.Manyof thesedealersandbatcherswereAlan’sfriends,andwouldkillhim,hesaid,shouldtheyfindoutabout thewire.IfAlancouldhelpthecopsget

convictions, thechargesagainsthimwouldbedropped.Ifnot,he’dgotojail. ItwasallpartofOelwein’snewhard-linestanceonmeth.Claythought thiswasagrossinfringementofcivilrights,thoughhereservedhisdisdainfor thepolicerather thanaimitathisfriendsMurphyandNathan.SowhenClaywaspulledoverwhiledrivingdrunkonhiswayhomefromHazleton,heunleashed

ayear’sworthoffrustrationatonceintheformofanexpletive-lacedtirade.Theincidentdidn’tendwellforClay,whoclaimsthat theofficerassaultedhimverballyandthreatenedhimphysically.Inretrospect,Claysays,gettingpulledoveramountedtoakindofbreakdownforhim,unleashingaggressionandanimositythathadbeenbuildingforseveralyears.ThingsinOelweinweren’tgood.Thingsat thehospitalweren’tgood.His twinbrotherhadmovedtoCedarRapids,hismotherwasdead,andhiskidsweregrownandoutof thehouse.Insuranceratesweremakingitharder topracticemedicine,andthebudgetcuts thehospitalwasfacingmadeitharder toget themostbasicsuppliesClayneededtodohis job.Inorder tomakemoney,hecouldn’tbetheold-fashioneddoctor thathe’doncebeen,andthathisfatherhadbeenforfiftyyears.That’s tosay,Claycouldn’ttakehis timewithpeople;hehadaboutfifteenminutestolistentoanddiagnoseeachpatient.Dr.Claycouldn’tsolveeveryone’sproblemsinfifteenminutes.Anditwaskillinghim.Asaresultof thedrunk-drivingincident,Claywaschargedandpleadednocontest tooperatinga

vehiclewhile intoxicated.ThecountyinstalledanIntoxilockonhis truck,whichconsistsofa longtubeattachedtoabreath-analysismachineonthesteeringcolumn.ClayhadtobreathintotheIntoxilock,registeringless thananillegalamountofalcoholonhisbreath,inorder tostarthistruck.Healsohadtoattendsubstance-abusemeetings.Forthese,hechoseanAlcoholicsAnonymousgroupinIowaCity,a two-hourdrivesouthwestofOelwein.Itwasthesemeetings,whichhewent toonceaweekintherelativeanonymityaffordedbyIowa’slargestcity,whichhadbeguntomoldClayintoanewmanbyMayof2006.

Iwent toOelweinfor twoweeksinthespringof2006tospendtimewithClay,Nathan,Jarvis,andMurphy,andalsotoIndependencetovisitMajorandhissonBuck.PhaseIIofOelwein’srefurbishmentwasunderway.Thestreetshadbeentornup,andthenewsewerlineshadbeenmarkedinthedirtwithwoodenstakestoppedwithbrightpiecesoforangeribbon.Themoodaroundtownwasexpectant, thoughtherewasagooddealofcrankinessanddoubt, ifnotoutrightcynicism,concerningthenotionthatsomuchmoneyhadbeenspent inorder, itwashoped,forOelweintolurebusinesses.Afterall,whenwasthenexttimeOelweinwouldbeabletocomeupwithmoneyforanything,nevermindthetenmilliondollarsMurphyandthecitycouncilhadraisedinorder tocompletetherefurbishments?Slowedbyexcessivespringrains, theseimprovementswerenowherevisible.Indeed,muchofMainStreetappearedtohavebeenrazedbyaninvadingarmy.Thequestionswereobvious:What ifMurphywaswrong?Whatifhe’dgottenpeopleonboard,via taxhikesandreferendumsandbondissuances,onlytoinvest thatmoneypoorly?WhatthehellwasOelweingoingtodothen?Onenight, justasI’ddonetheyearbefore,I joinedClayataparty.Onlythis time, itwasn’ta

FourthofJulyshindigatClay’shouse; itwasaSaturday-nighthoedownataneighbor’sfarm.Afewdozenpeoplehaddecidedtoget together inabarnandeatfromanenormoustablecoveredintheusualpotluckdelicacies,which,forall theirvaryingapplications, tracedtheiroriginstotwosources:pigandpotato.Soonpeoplewouldstartdancinginthedustandthedirtandthehaychaff,oncetheyfinishedtheirsmokesandbeers.Claywasset togoonstage—this timewithoutCharlie.That initselfwasadevelopment,asignofprogress,as thoughClayweregrowingmoreindependent,not justofhis twinbutalsoofhisoldself.Fornow,hesatatapicnictabledrinking

DietCoke.Notsurprisingly,hewastalkingabout thereformulationofhis life intermsof theWhorfianhypothesis,oneofhisfavorite theories,whichhesketchedbydrawinganumberofconcentriccirclesonthebackofapaperplate.Theupshotof theexercisewasessentiallythatClay,unanesthetizedbybooze,wasfreer tohear

thedisparaterhythmsofhis life’sburdens,andthat thisclaritywashelpinghimtominister tohisneeds.Claywasfindingoutwhohewas.Asasidebenefit,hewasturningintoonehellofamusician;he’dstoppedstandingonstageinhisownselfish,alcohol-fumedcloudandhadstartedtolearnhowtobeapartofsomethingbigger thanhimself.“I’vebeenreducedtoaprecognitivestatenowthatmybooze-holenolongerneedsconstant

filling,”Claysaid.“I’mlearningalloverhowtocommunicate.ThisWhorfianshitreallyworks,okay?”AsClayandIsat theretalkinginthebarn,Iwasremindedofsomethingthathadhappenedalmost

exactlyayearbefore,whenNathanhadseenJennyfor thelast time.It, too,wasamomentofclarity—aclear linebetweenthebeginningofonethingandtheendofanother.NathanandIhadgonetoWaterlootoseetheexhumationofamurdervictim.Afterward,NathanhadgonebrieflytoJenny’splaceina three-storyapartmentcomplexnext toaparkontheEastSide.Themurderinvolvedtwoidentical twinbrothers intheir late twentiesnamedTonieandZonieBarrett, fromWaterloo.Zoniehadjustgottenoutofjailforattemptedmurder;accordingtotheconfessionthatToniehadgiventheOelweinpolicethepreviousevening,ZoniehadinstructedTonieonhowtokillhisgirlfriend,MarieFerrell.Mariewasarecentarrival inOelweinandhadliveddowntownonthesecondfloorofanoldbuildingjustacrossthestreetfromthemoviehouse,kitty-cornerfromLeo’sItalianRestaurant.NathansaidthatMariehadbeenencouragedbyaDHScaseworkerinWaterlootomovetoOelwein,for thereasonthatsomanypeople—NathanandJamieandMurphyamongthem—resent: lowertaxesandalowercostof living.Apparently,MariehadbeencheatingonTonie.Toniehadlethimself intoMarie’ssmallapartmentonMainStreet inOelweinandbludgeonedher

todeath.Then,ashis twinZoniehadinstructed,TonierolledMarie’sbodyinablanketanddrovehertoWaterloo.Therehestashedherbeneathoneofa longlineofdisassembledtractor trailersthathadbeensittingindisuseforadecadeormoreoutsidetheabandonedRathmeatpackingplant.He’ddugashallowgrave,put theblanket-wrappedbodyinit,andcoveredthewholethingwithanoldwoodenshippingpallet.Thatwasfourdaysbeforetherainsstarted.BythetimeNathanandIgot toWaterlootoseeMarie’sbodyexhumed, ithadbeenlyingtherein

the105-degreeheatfor thebetterpartofaweek.Ithadalsorainedfiveinchesthenightbefore.AccordingtoTonie’svideotapedconfession,he’d“missed”hisgirlfriend,asheput it,andwantedto“checkonher,”whichhedidtwice,apparentlyjustcrawlingbeneaththeeighteen-wheelerandsquattingthereforanhouror twoata time.Ononeof thosevisits,hetookadvantageof theprivacyofferedbythelineofflatbedsinthedeadofasultryJunenightandmovedhisbowelsnexttothegrave.Thesmellofhumanfeces—compoundedbytherainandtheheatandtheraw,visceralstenchof thewoman’sdecomposingcorpse—wasindeedremarkable.Somuchsothatninevultureshadgatheredontheledgeof thepackingplant’sroofasBuchananCountydetectivesreadiedthemselvestoremovethebodybyrubbingVicksvaporrubbeneaththeirnoses.MaybebeingthatclosetoabodyhadsolidifiedsomethingforNathan.Afterall, itwasonlya

weeksincehe’dburiedhisbrotherandunburdenedhisheart toJamiePorter.It’shardtosayexactlywhyNathangot inhiswhiteDieselJettaanddrovefromthedisinterringofMarieFerrell—whosecasehewouldeventuallytryandwin—straight toJenny’sapartment.But that’swhathedid,

andwhenwearrived,Nathanwalkedfamiliarlythroughtheglasssecuritydoorat thesideof thebuildingandupthestuffybackstairs tothesecondfloor.Jenny’sdoorat theendof thehallwasopen.Asithappened,shewasmovingtoanotherapartment intownnowthatherroommatehaddecidedtomoveinwithherboyfriend.Jenny’splacesmelledlikefabricsoftener,forshe’dbeenwashingherclothes.Jennysatonthe

floorwithher legstuckedunderherandherbackagainst thefootof thecouch,surroundedbyboxesofvaryingsizes.WhenNathanwalkedin,sheroseandtheystoodamoment,facingeachother.Thepausewasawkward.ThenJenny,whoisfivethree,huggedNathan—or,rather,disappearedagainsthisnearlyseven-footframe.Neitherof themsaidanythingforawhile.ThenJennysaid,“I’malmostdone.”Nathanlookedaroundandnodded.Thereweresmallnails inthewallsatevenintervalswhere

Jennyhadhungherphotographs;next tothemweretheroommate’spictures,whichhadyet toberemoved.Inthelittleeat-inkitchen,anopencabinetrevealedfourshelves, twoof themclearedofplatesandglasses,andtwoof themstillfullystocked.Itwasas thoughthewholeplacehadbeencleavedintwo,andthehalfemptinessfilledtheplacewithaheavysadness.ThenJennylookedhighonthewalladjacent tothekitchenentryway,whereaseriesof three

plateshadbeenhungdecorativelydownthemiddleof thewall.Twoof themwerepacked;but thethird, thehighest,wasstillhanging.Jennywouldhaveneededastepladdertoget itoff thewall,thougheventhenshemightnothavereachedit. Inaflash,Nathanhadnoticedhergazerestingthere,andwithoutaword,hehadunfurledhisfullheight,stretchingouthishandandgentlyliftingtheplatefromthetwosmallwall-hooks.Nathanhandedtheplate toher.Hesaid,“Well then,IguessI’ll justgetoutofyourhairwhile

youget therestof thisdone.”Hebentdownandkissedheronthecheek.Thenheduckedashewentbackout thedoor.Withoutsayingmuch,he’dsaidall therewastosay.ThenheheadedhometoOelwein.

CHAPTER9

THEINLANDEMPIRE,PARTTWO

WhileLoriArnoldwasinprisoninAlderson,WestVirginia,from1991to1999,Cargillconsolidatedmoreandmoreof themeatpackingindustry—andthefoodindustryingeneral,alongwithTyson,ArcherDanielsMidland(ADM),Swift,andConAgra.Likethebigpharmaceuticalcompanies, thefoodindustrygrewbothits lobbyingpoweranditspolitical leveragealongsideitsprofits.MeatpackingcompaniesbeganopenlycourtingimmigrantworkersfromMexico—manyofwhomwereillegal,hadnoidentification,andwhosemovementswerenearlyimpossibletomonitor.(AccordingtoaNewYorkTimesarticlefrom2001,agovernmentstudyfoundthat40percentofagriculturalworkers intheUnitedStatesarehereillegally,whileImmigrationandNaturalizationServicesestimatedthatoneinfourmeatpackingworkers intheMidwest is illegal.)Asmeatpackingplantsemployedillegalsatabysmallylowwages, theeconomiesofplaceslikeOttumwasufferedstillmore.Meantime,DEAhadacontinuedlackofsuccessfightingthemethindustry, thankstothepowerfulpharmaceutical lobby.WitheachMexicandrug-traffickingorganizationcontrollingonesegmentof theU.S.andMexico

border,essentiallysplittingthe2,500miles into500-mileincrements, theseorganizationscouldtapintotheexpandingimmigrationroutesthroughout theUnitedStates—routesblazedbytheveryillegalswhowerecomingtoworkinthepackingplants.Inthoseillegals, thefivemajorDTOshadabuilt-inretailanddistributionsystemthat,becauseit issohardtotrack, isallbut impenetrablebylawenforcement.In2001aCBSnewsreporton60MinutesWednesdaymadethepointclearwhenitfoundthat80percentof theworkersataCargillplant inSchuyler,Nebraska,wereHispanicand40percentwerethereillegally.Forthirteenhundreddollars, twoCBScorrespondentswereabletopurchasestolensocialsecuritycardsandbirthcertificates.ThiswastheenvironmentinwhichLoriArnoldsaysshefoundherselfwhenshegotoutofprison

in1999.Herhusband,Floyd,wasinLeavenworth,wherehewouldsoondieofaheartattack.Herson,Josh,waseighteen,hadgraduatedfromhighschool,andwasworkingataFootLockershoestore.Ineightyears,Ottumwa’sMexicanpopulationhadgrownfromzerotothehighestpercapitaintheUnitedStates, thanksmostlytotheCargill-Excelplant,where,accordingtoLori,wageswerepeggedatfivedollarsanhour.Shewaslivingwithherparents,andshetookajobat theplanttrimminghams.Wearingfiftypoundsofprotectivesteelmesh,Lorihadtensecondstosever thecone,orbottom,ofa twenty-five-poundhoghind;removethefat;heavethehamontoaconveyorbeltaboveherhead;andresharpentheknifebeforethenextonereachedher.Theroomtemperaturewasmaintainedat justabovefreezing,andherfeetwouldfreezeinsidesteelboots.Loriwascontinuallydumpinghotwateroverherboots totrytoregainfeelinginher toes.Eacheight-hourshift,shegot twobreaks:fifteenminutesinthemorning,thirtyminutesat lunch.Theunionhadlongbeendissolvedasaconditionforkeepingtheplantopen,andshehadnoinsurance,andnoaccesstoworker’scompensationshouldshebehurt.ToLori,who’dbeenjustspentsevenyears inprison,andhadoncehiddeninhercarwithhernewbornsonwhileFloydshotat themwitha .44Magnum,lifehadneverfeltsohard.

Itwasn’t longafterLori tookthejobatCargill-Excel thatshealsobegantakingstockof theschisminthelocalcrankmarket.AfterLorihadgonetojail, thegoodcrankstoppedcomingtoOttumwafromCalifornia—andfromhersuperlab.InLori’sabsence,manyof theblue-collarwhiteaddictshadcometorelyonthelocalbatcherswhomadetheirownNazidope,ofwhichtherewasneverenoughtogoaround,as thecookscouldonlymakeafewgramsorouncesata time.Meantime,MexicandealersoutofDesMoines,Iowa,andSiouxFalls,SouthDakota—inanattempttotakeoverrelativelylawlessOttumwaasa lucrativedistributionpoint—hadbegunfloodingthemarketwithRed-Pmethamphetamine.Red-Pdope,orcrystalmeth,wasmadeatMexican-runlabsinCalifornia’sCentralValleyandinthestateofMichoacán, inwestcentralMexico,andthendriventhroughportsofentrylikeNogales,Arizona,beforebeingdistributedthroughout theWest, theGreatPlains,andincreasingly, theSoutheast.BackinLori’sdrug-empireheyday, inthelate1980s,Mexican-runsuperlabshadproduced

anywherefromtentotwenty-fivepoundsofmetheverytwodays.By1999, thankstothefailedDEAlegislationmonitoringredphosphorusandpseudoephedrine,superlabswerecapableofproducinguptoahundredpoundsadayofcrystalmeth,whichisupto95percentpureandthereforeoffersamuchcleaner,morepowerfulhighthantheP2PcrankofLori’searlydays.Givenitspurity, the“tweak”associatedwithcomingdownoffacrystalbinge—theparanoia, theParkinson’s-likeshaking,andtheschizophrenichallucinations—waspopularlyconsideredtobefareasier tohandlethanithadbeenwithP2P.So, too,didcrystal’s translucentquartz-likeappearancehelpdiminishmeth’sreputationasa“dirty”drugand,asmanypeopleatDEAsuppose,makemethattractivetoabroaderrangeofpeople.(Eventually“chrissy”wouldbecomethedrugofchoiceamongurbangaysinNewYorkandLosAngeles.)AsLorisaid,“Crystalwasbothacrankaddict’sandacrankdealer’sdream.”Still, itwasdifficultfor theMexicantraffickers totakecontrolof theretailmethmarket.Many

whites inOttumwa,methhabitornomethhabit,resentedMexicansforworkingat thepackingplantforsolittlemoney; itwastheirfault, itwassaid, that thewagesatExcel—andalongwiththem,thehopesofOttumwa—hadplummeted.Mexicanswereframedasinterlopers,andmistrustorevenoutrightracismwascommon.Thentherewasthelanguagebarrier.Mexicandealershadahardtimefindingcustomers,despite thefact theyemployedastrategyofgivingawaysmallamountsofhighlypuremethinorder tocreateabaseofaddicts: thesamestrategyLorihadusedonherfirstnightsellingcrankbackin1984.By1999,accordingtobothLoriandaformerMexicanemployee,Ottumwa’sExcelplanthad

becomeaclearinghousefor illegalimmigrants.Thatsameyear,Cargill-Excelplacednewspaperadvertisements inthepoor, industrialborder townsofJuárezandTijuanaofferingtwofreemonths’rent toworkerswhocouldmakeit toOttumwafromMexico.ForCargillandtherestof thepackingconglomerates,employingillegalswouldappear tohavebeenthebestofallpossiblesituations,forthesimplereasonthat theseemployees, lackinglegal identification,didn’t technicallyexist,andthereforehadnorights.NorweretheyapttoarguewiththeharshconditionsofanindustrythatcontinuestodaytohavethehighestrateofemployeeinjuryintheUnitedStates.Afailed2001federalcriminalcasebroughtagainstaTysonplant inShelbyville,Tennessee,madeclear thatcorporationswouldessentiallynotbeheldliableforemployingorrecruitingillegal immigrants toworkintheplants.Despitethefact that twoShelbyvillemanagerswerecaughtontapebyfederalinvestigatorsaskinghumantraffickersforfivehundredundocumentedworkersoverfourmonths,Tyson’sdefenseteamsuccessfullymaintainedthat it’s toodifficultforTysonemployeestodeterminewho’swhoamonglegalandillegalemployees.Therulinginstitutionalizedthenotionthatemployers

ofimmigrantsarenotbeholdentoofferingthesamerights toworkers thatothercompaniesmust,forthesimplereasonthat theydon’tknow—anddon’tneedtoknow—whoworksfor them.Alternatively,howcantherebeanyhopeofenforcinglawsonpeoplewhoarenotwhotheysaytheyare?Accordingtotwoformeremployeesof theCargill-Excelplant inOttumwawithwhomIspoke(bothofwhomwereintheUnitedStates illegally), thegoingrateonstolensocialsecuritycardsat theplant in2005wasonethousanddollars, thoughthemostprolificvendorofferedtheequivalentofapackagedeal ifyouwantedmorethanone.Ontheonehand,whatLorisawbackin1999madeherangry.WhodidtheseMexicansthinkthey

were,shethought, takingjobsfromAmericansandthensellingthemdope?Ontheotherhand,Loricouldplainlyseethat themiddleof thevaluechain, themostdynamicpartofanyeconomy,wastotallyundefined: itwaswideopenbecausethewhiteaddictssimplydidn’t liketheMexicandealers.All thatwasneededwassomeonewiththegutsandtheconnectionstoapproachtheMexicanMafia,asLoricalls them,andstarthelpingthemmoveall theirgood,cheapdope.Thatsomeone, though,wouldn’tbeLoriKayeArnold.Loriwasonprobationforwhatseemedto

her therestofher life.Shehadtourinateinacupeverycoupleofweekssoherparoleofficercouldsendthesampletothestate labinIowaCityfordrugtests.Shehadasontoget toknowafterservingeightyears inprison.Lorihadamendstomake,andNarcoticsAnonymousmeetingstoattend,andalotofsober timetogetunderherbeltbeforeanyonewouldstart trustingheragain.Shehadnewfriendstofind, too—thepeoplesheusedtohangaroundwithwereeither injailorstillusingmeth,andsheknewdamnwellshecouldn’tbenear them.Shewouldneedtoworkhardifevershewantedtopayoffherbacktaxesormoveoutofherparents’home.Ifshecouldjustgetherownapartment,Lori thought,shemightfinallystartmakingupfor lost time—maybehersoncouldevenmoveinwithher.Andsoforayearandahalf,Lori leftCargill-ExcelmosteveningsandworkedthenightshiftatWendy’s, tryingnot tothinkabout thebusinessthathadmadeher themostfamouswomaninOttumwatenyearsbefore.Andthenonenight,Loriwent toabar.ItwasaFriday,andLori,freshoffhershift trimming

hams,wasdamnsquaresureshedeservedacoldone.Infact,shedeservedabouteightcoldones,whichwouldbeoneforeveryyearsinceshe’dhadthelastbeer.ThenanoldfriendofferedLoriabitofcrystalmethnicelyarrangedinthemiddleofapieceofaluminumfoil.Lori litamatch,helditbeneaththefoil to liquefyandthenvaporizethedope,andsmokedit throughaglass tube.ForawomanlikeLori,whoeightyearsbeforeusedtosnortaneighthofanounceofmethaday,smokingonemeaslyfoilsomehowdidn’tseemlikethatbigofadeal.Nordidshethinkitwasanythingtoworryaboutwhen,afewdayslater,shedecidedtomakea

quickfiftybuckssellingasmallamountofcrystal thatafriendneededtogetridof intheworstway.Lorihadjust thatweekstartedrentingherownapartment;nowshewanted,asameansofmakingthingsuptoherson, tohelphimpayoffsomeolddebts.SoLoriquit thenight-shift jobatWendy’sandbegansellingsmallamountsofmeth.Then,becauseshejustcouldn’tpassupsuchapeachofanopportunity,sheapproachedaMexicantrafficker inDesMoinesandmadeadealwithhim.By2001, twoyearsaftershegotoutofprison,LoriwasmovingsomuchMexican-madecrystalfromsomanydifferent traffickers thatsheboughtanightclub—justasshe’ddonebackin1989—tohelplaunderthemoney.Atthetime,Loriwashittingthemethprettyhardherself.Shedoesnot,shesays,remember

sleepingmorethanonenightaweek,atmost.Becauseshewasstillonparoleandhadtosubmit tourinaryanalyseseverycoupleofweeks,shepaidthefour-year-olddaughterofoneofheremployeesfivedollarsapieceforcupsofurinetosneakintoher tests.Sheboughtahouseandpaid

herson’sdebts.SheboughtanotherJaguar.Shegotreacquaintedwithanoldboyfriendandplannedtomarryhimsoon.Then,onOctober25,2001,shesoldaquarterpoundofmethtoanundercovernarcoticsofficer intheOttumwaPoliceDepartment.Shortlythereafter,Loriwasarrested, tried,convicted,andonceagainsentenced, this timetosevenandahalfyears inthemedium-securityfederalworkcampforwomeninGreenville,Illinois.ThewomanwhofoundedtheMidwestmethtradefifteenyearsbeforehadnowhelpedusher inthe

drug’snewerabyteamingupwiththeDTOs,whichhadgrowninpartoutofLori’soriginal linktotheAmezcuabrothers.Onceagain, thetenth-gradedropoutfromOttumwawasat theheadofa trendsweepingacrossthenation.By2001,all thepieceswereinplace.Thenewesteraof themethepidemicwasinfullswing.

TheUnitedStates isbrokenintosevenregionsbytheDrugEnforcementAdministration.Operationsineachregion,allofwhicharesecret,arecoordinatedbyaspecialagent incharge(SAC),whoseDEAexperiencesrunthegamutfromU.S.streetassignmentstooperational toursofdutyinforeigncountries.SACsareinvaluableinunderstandingtherecenthistoryofnarcotics intheUnitedStatesandintheworld—forinstance, thebroadcontext inwhichLoriArnold’sStockdallOrganizationfitinwiththeDTOs.In2006, thepieceof thepuzzlethatwasstillmissingformewasexactlyhowtheDTOshadbecomesopowerfulsoquickly.Whilethediscoveryof theindustrialmethmarkethadbeenaninstrumentalpartof theprocess, thatalonedidn’taccountforhowfivemega-organizationshadevolvedfromthebusinessput intoplacebytheAmezcuabrothersbeforetheircapturein1996.Ironically,IwastoldbytwoformerDEASACsthat itwasablowtotheColombiancocainecartels inCaliandMedellínthatprovidedthefinal, triumphantpiecefor theformationof thefiveMexicanDTOs.OperationSnowcapwasthecodenameforDEA’s1987multinationalcocaine-controleffort in

CentralandSouthAmerica.Theapproachwastwofold: toseizelargeamountsofcocaineandtocrippleColombiandistributionroutesthatpassedthroughGuatemala.Byalmostanymeasure,Snowcap—coupledwithoperationstolimitdistributionviatheso-calledCaribbeanCorridorfeedingtheMiamiportofentry—wasahugesuccess,resultinginadramaticdecreaseintheamountofColombiancocaineenteringtheUnitedStates.ButSnowcapalsohadanunforeseenconsequence:itredirectedthedistributionofcocainefromtheColombiancartels towhatwerethensmall-timeMexicannarco-operations.Backinthe1980s,Guatemalawaswhatwascalleda“trampoline”state.Planescomingfrom

Colombialadenwithcocainewouldstoptheretorefuelbefore“bouncing”tolocationsinTexas,Arizona,andCalifornia.Inthatway,GuatemalaplayedthesameroletheDominicanRepublic,Jamaica,andtheBahamasdidwithmarinedeliveryofcocaineviatheCaribbean.AssoonasOperationSnowcaplimitedtheCaliandMedellíncartels’ twoprincipaloptionsfordeliveryintotheUnitedStates, theColombiansapproachedtheMexicanorganizationsthatcontrolledaccesstothetwenty-fivehundredmilesofessentiallyunprotectedU.S.border.TheColombiancocaineandheroinempire,whichhadforyearsdependedoncooperationwithGuatemalaandtheBahamas,wasnowdependentonMexico.AccordingtoTonyLoya, theex-SACwhoranOperationSnowcapfromGuatemalaCity,“Whathappenedwasnot thelesserof twoevils; itwasthegreater.OursuccesswithMedellínandCaliessentiallyset theMexicansupinbusiness,ata timewhentheywerealreadycash-richthankstothebuddingmethtradeinSouthernCalifornia.”Inessence, theMexicanorganizationsbasedalongtheborder—inTijuana,Juárez,Nogales,Nuevo

Laredo,andMatamoros,eachofwhichwouldbecomethebaseofoperationsfor thefiveDTOs—

wereabletoheavilyinfluencethepriceofcocainebycontrollingitsentryintotheUnitedStates.DEA’ssuccesswithSnowcapessentiallyawardedtheMexicanorganizationsgate-keepingrightsinthemostvaluablenarcoticmarketonearth,at thesametimeasthoseorganizationswerebuildingaseparatebutrelatedbusinessinthemethtrade.What theMexicanorganizationsdidsubsequently,however,wasfarmoresignificant.ForthefavorofallowingtheColombianstoshiptheircocaineintotheU.S.marketplace, theDTOsdemandedpaymentnot incash,but inproduct.ForeverykiloofcocainetheMexicansletcrosstheirborder, theykeptakilofor themselves.AseniorAmericanofficialassignedtotheU.S.embassyinMexicoCitywhoalsoworkedon

OperationSnowcapexplainedtheresult thisway:“Bycontrollingtheentrypointforallof thecocaineintotheU.S., theMexicanscontrolledtheprice.HowelsewillColombiaget itsproduct toitscustomers?ItdependsontheDTOs.Bytakingpaymentincocaineanddistributingit themselves,theDTOscreatedfiftypercentmarketshareovernight.Ifyoucontrol theprice,alongwithhalf theretailanddistribution,youbasicallyownthebusiness.”

Theshift inpowerfromtheColombiancartels totheMexicantraffickershadtwomajorconsequences.First, theDTOsgrewrichenoughtobuylargeramountsofprecursors tomakemeth.Second,DEAwasunabletoadjust to thenewparadigm.TheMedellínandCalicartelshadreliedonBahamians,Dominicans,andAmericanstodistributeandsell theircocaine.Thosebusinesseswere,accordingtotheembassyofficial inMexicoCity,highlycentralized.Theirmovementswerepredictable,anddecisionscamefromthetop—mostfamouslyfromPabloEscobar.Incontrast, theDTOs,saidtheofficial,aredecentralizedandprotean.TheyrelyonlyonMexicannationals todistributeandsell theirproducts,makingitharderforDEAtoinfiltrate theorganizations.Becauseindividualdistributorshavemoredecision-makingpower, themovementsof theorganizationasawholearemuchlesspredictable.Seeninonerespect, theDTOsareanexpressionof theimmigrant laborforceas itwas

successfullyportrayedbydefenselawyersinthe2001Tysoncase—virtuallyinvisibleandnearlyimpossibletofollow.LoriArnold’sdescriptionof therealityofmanyillegal immigrantsat theExcelplant—usingfakeidentification,movingfromtowntotownandpackingplant topackingplant—soundedalot likemeth’s trajectoryaroundthecountryasI triedtotraceitbackin1999: there,butneverquitevisible.AccordingtoaPewHispanicCenterreport in2005, therearetwelvemillionillegal immigrants

intheUnitedStates.Eighthundredandfiftythousandmorearriveeveryyear, thereportfound,alongwiththefact that25percentofallagriculturaljobsintheUnitedStatesaredonebyillegalimmigrants.Thelinkbetweentheagriculturalbusiness,meatpacking,andillegalimmigrationwouldappear tobeself-evident.AsUniversityofMissourisociologistWilliamHeffernansays,“Crackingdownonillegal immigrationwouldcripplethe[foodproduction]system.”Whatalsoappears tobetrueis that theDTOsemployaminisculepercentageof theillegal immigrants inthiscountry.Ironically, thatfractionalnumberisharderstill topolicewithinanever-expandingmultitudeofpeoplethat isoverwhelminglylaw-abiding.But there’salsoamoresubtleconnectionbetweenmeth, immigration,andthefoodindustry.That

relationshipisdrivenbytheconceit thatdrugs, likeviruses,attackweakhosts.Or, toput itanotherway,narcoticsandpoverty—alongwiththelossofhopeandplacethatClayHallberghasdescribed—mutuallyreinforceoneanother.ConsiderwhatusedtohappeninOelwein,Iowa,beforethelarge-scaleconsolidationinthe1980s

and’90sofalmosteverynicheof thefood-productionchain.Cornfarmers,suchasJamesand

DonnaLein,wouldhaveboughtseedfromthelocalseedcompany.Onceharvested, thatcornwouldgotoagrainelevator,alsolocallyowned.Itwouldbeshippedtoasmallfeedlotinorder tofattencattleraisedinNebraska,Wyoming,Florida,orArizona;orperhapsitwouldgotoadairyinnorthernMissouri,achickenfarminIndiana,oraporkoutfit inKansas.Thevariableswereinfinite,andthemarketwasdynamic.Thebarge, truck,orrailroadcar thatcarriedthegrainwaslikelyindependentlyowned, too,aswouldhavebeenthepigs,cows,andchickensitfed.Ateachstage, thepricewouldhavetobe“discovered”asmultiplepotentialcustomersviedtohandletheproduct,withcompetitionkeepingtheprice“true,”orfair, in thecontextof themarketplace.Eventually, theOelweincornusedtofeedsowsinTopekamightreturntoOelweinintheformof

hockstobedisassembled,packaged,andshippedat theIowaHamplantbypeoplelikeRolandJarvis.Fromthere,awholenewmarket, justascomplexandmultifaceted,wouldtakeover inordertodistributethefoodandsell itataretail level,perhapsat thegroceryonceownedbytheLeofamily(whichtodayisanIGA).JamesandDonnaLeinwouldhavebeentheessentialbuildingblocksinavibrantsysteminwhichthevariablescontributedatallstagestowhat’scalledthe“socialcapital”ofruralcommunities.Incirculatoryterms, therewasbloodfloweveninthecapillaries.Beginningwiththeprecedentset in1987withtheIBPtakeoverofHormelinOttumwa—andthe

subsequent takeoverofIowaHambyGillette—afewcompanieswouldcometocontrolmostof theU.S.foodbusiness.Today,accordingtosociologists likeHeffernan,thedynamismessential to themarketplacehasbeenlostbecausethereisnolongeramultifacetedcontext.Pricediscoverynolongerhappens; thevaluechainiscontrolledbyalimitednumberofentities.Seedisnotsold; it’sbiogeneticallyengineeredbycompanieslikeMonsanto,whichenteredajointventurewithCargill in1998.Cargill—notthefarmer—ownsthecornthatisgrown,too,becauseit’smorethanlikelythatthefarmer,whowouldoncehavechosenabuyerforhiscrop,hasbeencontractedtosellonlytoCargill. IntheIllinoisandOhiorivervalleys,Cargillowns50percentof thegrainelevatorsandotherstoragefacilities.AlongwithTyson,SwiftandCo.,andtheNationalBeefPackingCompany,Cargillowns83.5percentof thebeefpackingindustry.Cargill,Hormel,ConAgra,andCarolinaTurkeyown51percentof turkeyproductionandpacking.Cargillisnumberoneinflourmilling;numbertwoinethanolproductionandinanimalfeedplants,producingninemilliontonsayear;andnumberthreeinsoybeancrushing.IfyouareacornfarmeralmostanywherefromPennsylvaniatoIowa,youarelikelytoworkforCargill inat leastoneofseveralways.EveninplaceslikeFayetteCounty,Iowa,whereCargill’spresenceisimplicitrather thanexplicit, familyfarmsmustgrowtoanenormoussizeinorder tocompete.Thissqueezesoutallbut theheartiestsouls, liketheLeins,whocareenoughabout theirwayof life toessentiallytakeavowofpoverty.DouglasConstancecharacterizesthechangesinruralAmericaintermsofKarlMarx’scritiqueof

thetheoryofpoliticaleconomypositedbyAdamSmith.Withmanybuyersandmanysellers,saysConstance, thereisperfectcompetitionandnoneedforgovernmentintervention.Smith’s“invisiblehandofcapitalism”works, in theory, toeffect thehighestamountofeconomicbloodflowatalllevels.Inreality,saysConstance,Marx’scountertheoryhasunfortunatelyprovedmoreinsightful.Strappedwiththemandateto“growordie,”businessesareencouragedtocannibalizecompetitionuntil therearenolongermanybuyersandmanysellers,butrather,manybuyersandanincreasinglylimitednumberofsellers.Theflowofcapital isdammedup.Oncecompetitionhasbeenannihilated,Constancesays, thesurvivingcompanies, likeCargill,begintoeffectpoliticaldecisionsthroughtheirenormouslobbyingcapabilities.Thegovernmentnolongergovernsunimpeded: itdoessointandemwiththemajorcompanies,justasMarxpredicted.Itwasless thanacenturyagothat

TeddyRooseveltmadehisreputationby“bustingupthetrusts”thathadbecometoopowerful.Those“trusts,”notcoincidentally,wereinlargepart theindustrialmeat-packersof theearlytwentiethcentury.Theabilitytoinfluencethegovernmentaldecision-makingprocessissomethingtheU.S.foodand

pharmaceutical industriessharewiththefiveMexicanDTOs.ThetwocatchphrasesrepeatedbyJohnMcCainandBarackObamainthelead-uptothe2008presidentialelectionwere“earmarks”and“porkbarrelspending.”Bothexpressionsare, likethe“trusts”ofRoosevelt’s time,meant toimplythedepthandunhealthinessof therelationshipbetweenthefederalgovernmentandmajorcorporations,betheyinthefood, theoil,or thedefenseindustry.OneformerDEAofficialwhospenteightyears inMexicotoldmethat theDTOs—becauseof

theirwealth, theirpropensityforviolence,andthesheernumbersofpeopletheyemploybothdirectlyandindirectly—havepotentiallymorelobbyingpowerthananylegalbusinessinthatnation.Fortunately, thecomparisonbetweenthetraffickers’andthefoodindustry’sabilitytoswaygovernmentendswiththeungovernableviolencethataccompaniesattemptsbyMexicoCitytocurtailthedrugtrade.Unfortunately,thesameAmericanimmigrationpolicythatprovidesa low-wageworkforceidealfor thefoodindustryiswhatkeepstheDTOsinbusiness.That’s tosaythat theDTOsdonotdirectlyinfluencetheU.S.government.Thereisnoearmarkingfor theArellanoFelixOrganization(AFO)or theGulfCartel.ButbydirectlyinfluencingtheMexicangovernment, theAFOandtheGulfCartel,alongwiththeother threeDTOs,doinfactplayaroleinU.S.politics,for theinterestsof theDTOsarealignedwiththoseof thelikesofCargillandADM.So, too,aretheinterestsof theDTOsservedbyunrestrictedfreetrade,whichhasbeenacommonpriorityofbothgovernmentsat leastsinceNAFTA.AkeycomponentofGeorgeW.Bush’sfirstvictory, in2000,washisappeal toMexicanAmericans,whichheengineeredinpartbyappearingwiththen-presidentVicenteFoxofMexicotoappealforamoreopenborder.Inthefivetraffickingcapitals,fromTijuanatoMatamoros, theremusthavebeendancinginthestreets.

By2006, itwasclear that theCombatMethActwouldrequiretwothingsinorderfor it towork.First, theMexicangovernmentwouldhavetostanduptotheDTOsbymakingitmoredifficultforthemtoimportbulkpseudoephedrine.Second, theU.S.governmentwouldhavetostanduptoBigAgandBigPharmabyforcingtheformertocurtail itsemploymentof illegalsandthelattertomakecoldmedicinefromsomethingother thanpseudoephedrine.What’s interestingis that themanwhostoodat thenexusof theimmigrationdebateraging

throughout theU.S.governmentin2005and2006is theverycongressmanwhoallbutsingle-handedlypushedtheCombatMethAct through:RepresentativeMarkSouder,RepublicanofIndiana.AtthesametimeSouderwasworkingonthemethlegislation,hewasanoutspokenproponentofPresidentBush’splantosolvethe“border issue”byheavilyreinvestingintechnologicalstrategieslikeeyescansanddroneplanes.InSouder’spolitics, it’spossibletoseealmostallof theironiesandcomplexitiesof themethepidemicinstarkrelief.BackinOctober2005,Iwent tovisitRepresentativeSouderinWashington,D.C.Souder’s

district,whichincludesFortWayne,innortheasternIndiana, ishometoseveralpoultryplantsrunbyTyson.TheareaismuchlikethataroundOttumwaandOelwein:overwhelminglyagricultural,withonedominant typeofemploymentandmanysmallerplacesthathavebeenstrugglingeconomicallysincethemid-1980s.TheThirdDistrict isalso,asSouderput it,“definedbyitsmethproblem.”Atthetime,ayearbeforethepassageof theCombatMethAct,Souderwasthechairmanof the

CongressionalSubcommitteeonCriminalJustice,DrugPolicy,andHumanResourcesaswellasa

memberof theHomelandSecurityCommittee.Assuch,hehadthreeprincipalobsessions:meth,immigration,andterrorism.TheimmigrationdebatehadreachedaboilingpointwithintheRepublicanParty,evenasPresidentBushwasputtingtogetherapolicythatwouldbeputforthinhisJanuary2006StateoftheUnionaddress.Bushwouldrecommendtheuseof technologyandNationalGuardtroops—alongwithfenceconstruction—tosecurethelargelyuninhabitedandinvisible“line”betweenMexicoandtheUnitedStates.Souder, likemanyrepresentativesofbothparties, insistedthepresidentwasright: technologywouldstopillegalsfromenteringthecountry.SoudertookforgrantedAmerican’sdependenceonimmigrant labor—that is, theideathat large

companiesmustbeabletopayaslittleaspossibleinorder toremainrelevant inaglobaleconomy.Souderalsoworrieddeeplyabout immigrationasacontentiousdividethat threatenedtotear theRepublicanPartyinhalf.Thatdayinhisoffice,Souderdescribedtheparty’sgrowingschismthisway:someRepublicanssawimmigrantsasanecessaryevil,andotherswereonwhatSoudercalledthe“WeDon’tWantThemHere”side.Theformercampincludedbusinesseslikethemeatpackingplants.Ontheotherside,saidSouder,werethepeoplewhothinktheillegalMexicansandother immigrants takejobsfromAmericans.“Notnecessarilyracist,”saidSouder,“but theydon’twant themaround.”Itwasdifficult togetSoudertogivehisowntakeonimmigration.Atonepoint,hesaid,“I’mon

thesidethatsaysthatimmigrants inthiscountryhavealwayshadthecrappiest jobs.”Later,hetoldastoryabouthisgreat-auntElly,whocometoIndianafromGermany, thepointofwhichwasthattwopeoplecanlookatonethingandseegreatdifferences.Whenpressed,though,SouderframedthedebatefirstbyblamingU.S.workersfor theirunwillingnesstodohardjobs—acontentionforwhichheofferednoevidence—andthenbyhighlightingthepowerof thelargecorporationsthatimportforeignlabor.Asheput it,“MaybeAmericanswilldothesejobs.Ormaybetheywon’t,andwehavetohaveMexicansandOTMs[other thanMexicans] todothem.Eitherway, itdoesn’tmatter,becauseifwemakethecompaniespayhigherwages, they’llgooffshore.It’sassimpleasthat.Andwhenthathappens,we’renotonlygoingtolosethesix-dollar jobs;we’ll losethetwelve-dollarandthequarter-million-dollarjobs, too.That’s justreality.”WhenIsuggestedtheoften-repeatedpotentialsolutionoffiningcompaniesthatemployillegal

immigrantswhileheavilytaxingtheproductsof thosethatmoveoffshore,Souderignoredmysuggestion.Heinsteadrecitedfrommemorythestatistics thathadbecomethepivotpointsof2005’snationaldebateonimmigration: threehundredthousandillegal immigrantscrossingtheMexicanbordereachyear;at leastonemillionundocumentedpeoplelivingintheUnitedStates(accordingtothePewstudy,thenumberis twelvemillion);rampant identitytheft;overburdenedhospitalsgoingbankruptbytreatingpeoplewhocan’tpaytheirmedicalbills.Soudersaidthathe—alongwiththeRepublicanPartyandthesupportofmanyDemocrats—wasadvocatingheavynewinvestments ineyescansandcomputerizedfingerprint imagestokeeptrackofpeoplewhoenter thecountry.Hesaidthiswouldensurethatcompaniesemployingguestworkerswouldbebetterequippedtokeeptrackof theiremployees.Hereiteratedtheneedfor infraredsensorsandunmannedplanes—theverythingsadvocatedbyTomVilsack, thentheDemocraticgovernorofIowa,andRepublicansenatorJimTalentofMissouri,bothofwhomI’dalsorecentlyinterviewed.Myvisit in2005totheNogales,Arizona,bordercrossingunderscoredtheridiculousness

regardingtheideathat illegalaliensdesperateenoughtorisktheir livescrossingthedesertwillstopatcheckpointsforeyescans.Giventhedistancebetweenthecheckpointsaswellas theharshnessof theterrain,onecouldunderstandhowthetermbordercheckpoint isoxymoronic.Theideathatsomeoneinthisenvironmentwouldgooutofhiswaytobechecked—orwouldbe

stoppedbyafence—isbeyondreason.Further,myprivateconversationswithImmigrationandCustomsEnforcementagentsservedtoreiteratedoubtsabout theusefulnessofdroneplanessendingimmigrants’geographiccoordinatestoICEagents,wheninfact theagencyishopelesslyunderstaffed.Really, though,spendingtimewithillegal immigrants inIowaisall it tooktoconvincemethat,as longastherearejobs, thereisnoreasontothinkpeoplewillnotcrosstheborder toget them.Inthatway, talkofincreasedborder technologyseemsonlytoworkintandemwith—andasacynicaladdendumto—anutter lackof interest inremovingthereal impetustowalkacrossthedesert:Cargill-Excel inOttumwaisalwayshiring.RepresentativeSouder,whoadmitshehasneverbeentoNogales,Arizona, isastrongsupporter

ofDEAandlawenforcement.Thedaywespoke,hesaidheknewallabout theDTOs.He’dbeenfollowingSteveSuo’sstories intheOregonian,whichimplicitlylinkedtheriseofmethtotheriseof theMexicanDTOs.SouderhadlaudedSuo,andhadusedhisreportingas thefoundationofhisargumentsbeforeCongressthatsomethingmustbedoneaboutmeth,evenveeringwideofpartylinesbyverypubliclytakingtotaskPresidentBush’sdrugczar,JohnWalters.Souderwas, in thatway,as informedandknowledgeableregardingmethasanymemberof theUnitedStatesgovernment.Ifhewasunwillingorunabletoseethecomplexitiesof theissue,I thought,whowouldbe?Whenourtimewasup,IaskedSouder,asI’ddoneat thebeginningof theinterview,ifhesawanyconnectionbetweenimmigrationpolicy,small-towneconomies, themethproblem,andBigAgricultureas itexistedinaplacelikeIndiana’sThirdDistrict.Souderpausedalongtimebeforehesaid,“Myconstituents tellmewehavetwoproblemsin

northernIndiana:methandimmigration.Asfarashowthey’reconnected,Idon’tknow.I justdealwithwhatI’mgiven.LikeIsayall thetime,I’mjustaweathervane.”

CHAPTER10

LASFLORES

ShortlyafterChristmas2006,Oelwein’sMainStreet lookedlikeamovie-setversionof itsformerself.PhaseIIofMayorMurphy’srevitalizationwascomplete.Thestreet,whichhadbeenrippedupsixmonthsbefore,wasneatlyandfreshlypaved.Theupdated,evenlygradedsidewalkswerecleanlyplowedofsnow.Saplingshadbeenplantedalongbothsidesof thestreet,andthoughtheywereleafless inwinter, theynonethelesspromisednewlife inthespring.Abovethem,therefurbishedstreetlampswerehungwithwreathsandwrappedinredvelvetyribbon.Nofewerthanninenewbusinesseslinedthesidewalks,allof theminlong-emptystorefronts, includingLasFlores,theMexicanrestaurant thathadopenedthatfall.LasFloresisequidistantfromthemovietheateronthenorthandtheDoDropInnonthesouth,

andisrightacrossthestreetfromVonTuck’sBierHaus.OnenightIhaddinneratLasFloreswithLarryMurphy,NathanLein,andClayHallberg.Ithadbeenmonthssinceall threemenhadseenoneanother; lifehadgottenbusy,andthensuddenlytheholidayseasonhaddescended,repletewithitsinnumerablechores.The2006Christmaspageant,whichhadbeenthenewandimprovedOelwein’sdefactocoming-outparty,hadgoneswimmingly,byallaccounts.Now,lifewassettlingonceagainintotheslowerrhythmsofwhatpromisedtobea long,coldIowawinter.AtsixP.M.onthenightwemetfordinner, thelargedigital thermometer intheIowaStateBankparkinglotsaiditwassevendegrees,withawindchillof twenty-fourbelowzero.IcameintoLasFloreswithNathan.We’dbeenpheasanthuntingallafternooninthecattailbreaks

andcreekbottomsthatbisect thelandofafarmerknownaroundtownasPuffy.ClayandMurphywerealreadyseatedinaboothwhenwegot totherestaurant.Keepingtheindoortemperaturetolerable, ifnotquitecomfortable,seemstobeapointofprideinnorthernIowainthewinter.Assuch, itwascoldinsidetherestaurant—notenoughtoseeyourbreath,butenoughsothatMurphyandClay,liketheotherdozenorsocustomers,stillworetheirparkas,albeitunzippedtothemiddleof theirchests toexposeheavywoolsweatersbeneath.LasFloresis theonlyoutwardsign,saveforoccasionalsightingsintheaislesof theDollar

GeneralorKmart,of thegrowingbut largelyinvisibleMexicanimmigrantpopulationinOelwein.Accordingtoa localRE/MAXbrokerwhospecializesinrentalproperties, thereareneighborhoods,particularlyinthetown’ssouthwestquadrant,whereNathanlives, inwhichthirtyorfortyMexicansshareafewsmall two-bedroomhomes.Mostworkat theJohnDeereplantover inWaterloo, thoughuntilJanuary2006afewdozenhadbeenemployedbythenow-defunctTysonmeat-packingoperationinOelwein.Forwelloveracentury,eversincethePirillosandtheLeosopenedtheirbakeriesandrestaurants, immigrants inOelweinhaveusedfoodasanassimilativelever.Indeed, themélangeof immigrantcuisineandAmericancuriosityisaprincipalsocializingforceinourculture,afact thatwasonceas trueinSanFrancisco’sChinatownasit is todayinsmall townsthroughouttheUnitedStates,as thenumberofMexicanimmigrantshasgrownalongsidea tastefor tacosandfajitas.ThemenuatLasFloresisenormous,as thoughtryingtopleaseboththelocalsandtheMexican

workers.There’saselectionofauthenticMexicanfood,whichincludesseveralfishdishesmarinatedinlimejuiceandsautéedinhomemadesauces;aselectionofTex-Mex,dishesinvariablyendingwiththewordgringo(as in tacogringo);andaselectiondevotedsolelytofajitas.That thefajitassectionisatoncethelargestandtheonewiththefewestentries,akindofbillboardbuiltintothemenuitself,speaksloudlytothefact that,accordingtoEduardo,hesellsahundred“chickensizzlers”toevery tilapiaalajillo.MurphyandNathanandClayall thought thechangetoOelwein,at leastasmeasuredbyfood,

wasgreat.Overstatingthecasemorethanslightly,Murphyslippedintomayormodewhileperusingthemargarita listandsaid,“Whereelseinthiscounty—oreveninIowa—canyougetgoodMexican,Chinese,andItalianfoodonthesameblock?”ClaywassmokingaMarlboroLightashelookedat themenu, tiltinghisheadbydegrees, trying

tolineuphiseyeswiththereading-glasshalfofhisbifocals.Lookingover theframes,hesaid,“Um,haveyouheardofDesMoines,Murph?IfI’mnotmistaken, isn’t that inIowa?”“EvenGreekfood,”saidMurphy,pressingthepoint.HewasreferringtoTwoBrothersGreek

Restaurant,ablocknorth,whosewindowshadneonsignsadvertisingsteaksandpizza.Nowhereonthemenuwastherea traceof tsatsiki, taramosalata,orevenagyro.“SincewhendoesSalisburysteakcountforGreekfood?”saidNathan.Murphywasunfazed, thoughhissmileservedasaslightcrackof ironyinhisfacade.“Tome, it’s

just incredibletheethnicdiversityinourlittle town.”“Scribe,”Nathansaidtome,“myguessis thatMurphwantsyoutowrite thatdown.”HeritageinOelweinisnotsomethingthat is takenforgranted; inafarmingculturepredicatedon

thechangeabilityofseasons,historyis insomewayswhat thereis toholdonto.Andyet theIrishman, theGerman,andtheNorwegiansittinginLasFloresthatnight trulycelebratedtheinfluxofMexicansintotheir town.Itseemedonlyfitting, therefore, thatLasFloresoccupiesthegroundfloorofoneof theoldestandprettiestbuildingsinOelwein.Fourstories tallandmadeofhand-laidstonewithavaultedentryway, it’soneof themost interestingaswell, thestreet-levelwindowstintednearlyblack,addingasleek,modernaesthetic totheplace.Therestaurant itself issixteenhundredsquarefeet,enoughtoaccommodatefourteentablesandninebooths.Thesmokingsectionseemstoexpandandcontractdependingonshifts intheclientele.Thewallsarefakebrickfromthebaseboardtothesconces,andabovethat,syntheticadobepaintedapaleyellow.Everyfewfeet,andinnoapparentpattern,hangssomekindofartisanalmemento—agarishponcho,agiganticsombrero,andaphotoofashoelesspeasantstrumminghisguitarnext toaburro.Thecheesinessinnowayunderminestheauthenticity.Tothecontrary,whatmakesLasFloresenduring—inanoldbuildinginanoldAmericantown—isinsomewaystheparadoxof itsnovelty.ThatMexicanimmigrantsstereotypicallyworkhard,Iwastold, isconsideredthehighestformof

praiseinOelwein.Thattheyarebrown-skinnedandspeakalanguagewhichsoundsfast ina townwherepeopletypicallytaketheir timeformulatingtheirsentencesis, justaswiththeItaliansintheearlytwentiethcentury,goingtotakesomegettingusedto.Thereisrespect, tobesure, thoughwithpredictablelimits.Astherealestatebrokertoldme,“Notmanylandlordsarelininguptorent toMexicans.”Thefeelingthat thenewarrivalsaretakingawayjobsfromthelocals isupfordebate,anddoesnotseem—bymycount,anyway—tobetheflashpoint it issometimesportrayedasbeinginnewspapersacrossthecountry.Ontheotherhand, thefact that theimmigrants lackmedicalinsurance,saysClay, isa tremendousstrainonthealreadyovertaxedlocalhospital.Andthenthereis thequestionof thedrugs,particularlymeth.AccordingtoJeremyLogan,methisdistributedbyafewwell-placedMexicandealerswhoareincreasinglybusyeversincetheCombatMethActwent

intoeffect.Still,noonewasonawitchhunt.Farfromit.Everyoneat thetable—thedoctor, themayor,and

theprosecutor—acceptedthatEduardo, theownerofLasFlores,wasprobablyanillegal immigrantwithoutfeelingtheneedtoverifyitasfact.AsNathansaid,youwouldn’thavetolookveryfarintoanyone’shistoryaroundthoseparts,hisownincluded, tofindasimilarstorytoldinanothertime.HeinstinctivelygraspedwhatRepresentativeSouder—forone—didnot,whichis that ifyouencouragepeopletocometoyourcountry,youcannot thenholditagainst themforshowingup.Asaprosecutor,Nathansimplydidn’taskpeople’sstatus.Thatway,hewouldn’tbepartytoforcingsomeoneout“throughthegate,”asheput it,“whichis leftperpetuallyandinvitinglyopen.”Oneof theattractionsatLasFloresis thesixty-four-ouncemargarita,whichisdrawnfromaclear

plasticmachineinsideofwhichthreelargemechanicalspatulasstirseparatevatsofred,green,andyellowslush.Murphyorderedstrawberry,nosalt,whileNathanaskedforregular,extrasalt.Meantime,Claylitanothercigarette.Infrontofhimwasatwenty-four-ounceDietCokeinabrownplasticglasswithcrushedice.Clayhadbeensoberfivemonthsandcounting—longenoughtohavehadtheIntoxilockremovedfromhis truck.Clayhadalso, though,beenhavingtroubleatMercyHospital,wherehewaschiefofstaff.After

orderingtortillasandsalsa,chimichangas,andfajitas,MurphyandNathanlistenedasClaylaunchedintoacritiqueof thehospital’sowner,WheatonFranciscanHealthCare,whichdrewheavilyontheanti-corporateformulationsofNoamChomsky—Clay’slatesthero.Clay,adevoutbutnon-churchgoingMethodist,wasafanofGodinhisspecificwayandsuspiciousofchurchesgenerally—especiallytheCatholicchurch.Accordingtohim,theWheatonFranciscans, technicallyanonprofitorderof thechurch,had“systematizedtheirdisrespectforhumanlife tosuchadegree”thatClaywaseithergoingtoquitorbefiredaschiefofstaff.Whatgalledhimevenmorethanwhathedeemedthehospital’ssubstandardequipmentwasthefact that, inorder tosavemoney,patients’testswerebeingsentbycomputer todoctors inAustraliaandIndiatobereadandanalyzed,withtheresultse-mailedback.“Imean,what thefuck?”saidClay.“How’boutno,okay?How’bout,I’mnot trustingmy

mammogramtosomeguyinMumbai?It’snot that they’renot talenteddoctors,”hewenton,“it’sthat they’renothere.Partofbeingadoctor isholdingyourcolleaguesaccountable.IfsomeguyinIndiamisreadsmypatient’sbiopsyandthepatientdiesofcancer,doyouthinkwe’llget theguyfromIndiadeposedat thecivilhearingthat takesmylicenseandsuesmeforallI’mworth?”ClaystaredatNathan,whostaredbackimpassively.Asthingsaroundhimheatedup—Clay’s

temper,for instance—Nathan’sheartrateseemedtoslowconsiderably.“Notlikely,”saidClay,finallyansweringhisownquestion.“Okay,”saidNathan.Murphsaidenthusiastically,“I’llbedarned.”AsClaysawit, thehospitalandinsurancesystemslackedcriticaloversight.Forexample,

WheatonFranciscanhadrecentlybegunplacingphysicians,mostfromIndia, inunderservedareasacrosstheruralUnitedStates.LiketheMexicanswhoworkedintheslaughterhouses, theIndiandoctorswouldworkfor lessmoneythantheAmericandoctors.Thetroublewas,saidClay,fewoftheforeigndoctorsstayedfor theentire two-yearrotation,for thereasonthat theIndians’culturalmilieudidn’tmeshwiththatofplaceslikeOelwein.Theseshortenedterms,saidClay,drovethequalityofcaredownanddestabilizedthestaff.AtMercy,hecontinued, threedoctorshadleftearlyinthepasteighteenmonths,keepingtheERinutter turmoil.What’smore, insurancecompaniesusedhighdoctor turnoverasacriterionforraisingpremiums.PracticingmedicineinOelweinfeltmore

andmoredifficult,saidClay,andmoralewaslow.Murphynoddedsympathetically.Hesaid,“Theinsurancecompanieshaveamonopoly.Whatcan

youdo?”WhatClaywasconsideringdoingwasquitting.He’dbeenthinkingabout“freelancing,”asheput

it,bytakingpay-by-the-hourjobsinruralemergencyrooms.“That’s theonlyplaceIcandoanygood,”saidClay.“Imean,whoneedsyoumorethanan

elderlyladywithnoinsurancewhocomestotheERat twoP.M.onaTuesday?”“What’sstoppingyou?”askedNathan.“Mydad,”saidClay.“Thishospital—it’swhereDadpracticedforhalfacentury.Ourfamily

practice isourfamily.Thiswholetown,kindof, isourpractice.Idon’tknowhowtojustwalkawayfromthat.”“That’s just therub,”saidNathan.“Yes,”agreedMurphy,“it trulyis.”Still, themenhadalot tobehappyabout thatDecember.OneofClay’s twodaughtershadjust

hadherfirstchildout inSacramento,California,whereshelivedwithherhusband.Nathanhadwonconvictionsagainst thetwinbrothersTonieandZonieBarrett—theformerforfirstdegreemurder, thelatterforconspiracy—intheJune2005killingofMarieFerrell.AndMurphwasgettinggoodfeedbackontheimprovementsaroundtown.Thenewlibrarywasasmashingsuccess,anditspatronsenjoyedtwodozencomputerswithfreehigh-speedInternetconnections.NotonlyhadOelweinHighSchoolavoidedbankruptcy,but2006wasthefirstyear inadecadethat thestudentbodyhadgrown—bythreestudents.Thoughthecallcenter talkshadstalled,MurphyandthecitycouncilhadpersuadedNortheastIowaCommunityCollegetobuildacampusat theIndustrialPark.TheRegionalAcademyforMathandSciencewasalsoplanningtomovethere, justwestof thecollege.Murphyandthecitycouncilhaddecidedtobuilda technologycenterontheremaininglandasagambletoluremorebusinesses,especiallynowthat theycouldofferanewsepticsystem.Finally, thesecond-largestethanolplant inIowahadrecentlybeenbuiltsevenmileswestof town;thishadresurrectedsometrafficonthelocalrail lines,allowingseveralOelweinbusinessestosavesignificantlyontransportationcosts.Thankstotheplant,cornpriceshadrisenbyfivecentsabushel.Thehopewasthat thingswouldjustkeepgettingbetterandbetter.Perhapsthemostencouragingyardstickwasthatmethamphetemine,measuredbythenumberof

labsthathadbeendismantled,hadallbutceasedtobeanissuearoundOelwein.Infact, theCopShophadn’thadasinglecallabouta labinnearlysixmonths,datingbackalmostexactlytotheweekwhengroundwasbrokenfor theMainStreetrefurbishments.ThingstrulyfeltdifferentaroundOelweinsinceI’dfirstbeenthere.InJune2005, itwasnotuncommontoseemethcooksintheheadlightsofyourcar lateatnight,ridingaroundthetown’smoreperipheralneighborhoodssingle-batchingdopeinbottlesstrappedtotheirmountainbikes.Justayearandahalf later, thestreetsnolongerfeltunsafe,or likeyouweren’tsurewhatwouldhappenifyougotaflat tire inthewrongplaceat thewrongtime.Housesnolongerblewupinthemiddleof theafternoon,andnoonephonedinreports tothepoliceaboutastrongsmellofethercomingfromaneighbor’sgarage.EventheDoDropInnfeltvaguely(ifsomewhat lamentably)secure.Infact,byChristmas2006,Oelweinhadcometorepresent thehopefulnessof thousandsofsmall

townsacrossthenationthathadseenmajordropsinthenumberof labbusts.TheCombatMethActhadbeeninplaceforsixmonths,andnationalnewspapershadlargelystoppedreportingontheepidemic; theruralUnitedStateswasnolongerportrayedinthesour,Lynchianlightinwhichithadbeencastsince2004.Thesewereallreasonstocelebrate, indeed,sittinginaboothatLasFlores

asthesnowbegantofalloutsidethewindow.

Thebasicfunctionsof theCombatMethActweretolimit theamountofcoldmedicineconsumerscouldbuyintheUnitedStates;toallowtheStateDepartment towithdrawforeignaidfromnationsthatfail tostopthediversionofpseudoephedrineandephedrinetotheillicitmarket;andtoimposequotasonhowmuchpseudoephedrineandephedrineU.S.pharmaceuticalcompaniescouldimport.Inaway, theCombatMethActaccomplishedwhatGeneHaislip, longsinceretiredfromDEA,hadconsideredthemost importantaspectof thebattleagainstmethfornearlytwenty-fiveyears: tomonitor theimportationandexportationof itsprecursors.ThequotasimposedbytheCombatMethActsetoffachainreactionofeconomicevents that

Haislipcouldhaveimaginedonlyinhiswildestdreams.Fearfulofrestrictionsonpseudoephedrine,Pfizer, theworld’s largestcoldmedicinemanufacturerandthemakerofSudafed,beganusingachemicalcalledphenylephrinetomake50percentof itscoldproducts.Phenylephrine,approvedin1976bytheFDA,cannotbemadeintomethamphetamine.Theswitchcausedtheninecompaniesthatproducetheworld’ssupplyofpseudotodecreasetheirproduction, therebyreducingtheamountofpseudoavailablefornarco-traffickers toturnintometh.Accordingtooneof thelastmetharticleswrittenbySteveSuofor theOregonian,U.S.drugcompaniescut importsofpseudobymorethantwothirdsin2006, to275tonsfrom1,130tonstheyearbefore.TheU.S.StateDepartmentconvincedtheMexicangovernmenttohalveimportsofpseudoandtobarmiddlemenfromtheprocess,causingNorthAmerica’saggregateimportsofmeth’sprincipalprecursor todrop75percentbetween2004and2006.Suoalsoreportedthat,basedonDEAstatistics,meth’spurityhadfallentoanaverageof51percent,downfrom77percent theyearbefore.Thedegradationinquality,Suowrote,wasasuresignthatfar lessmethwasbeingproduced.Mom-and-popmethproductionwasdownnot just inOelwein,buteverywhere.Alsoin2006,drugczarJohnWaltersunveiledaplanthatwouldexpanddrugcourts, inwhich

addictsaremonitoredbyjudiciaryprocessforeighteenmonthsandallowedtoholda job.(NathanLein,a longtimeproponentof thedrugcourts,saidtheirveryexistencewasanadmissionthat thestandardprocedurewithdrugaddicts—puttingtheminjailforshortperiodsandgivingthemlittleornocounseling—wasn’tworkingandresultedinhighrecidivismrates.)Waltersallocatedmoneyfornationwideanti-methTVads, thelikesofwhichhadshowngreatpromiseinanumberofstates,particularlyMontana,whereprivatecitizenshadfundedsuchcampaignsin2005.Waltersalsopromisedhigh-level traffickingprosecutionsbyDEA.Theveryfact thathewastrying—nowthatCongresshadtakenmethon—tocatchuptothetrendwasitselfareasontofeelgoodaboutwhatwashappeningnationwide.Andworldwide: theUnitedNationsCommissiononNarcoticDrugsofferedtobrokerdealsbetweencountriesandpseudomanufacturers;andtheInternationalNarcoticsControlBoard, inVienna, initiatedplanstohaltshipmentsof illicitlygottenprecursorsbeginningin2007.All thegoodnewswasbuoyedfurtherbytworeports thatseemedtoconfirmmeth’sretreat.Every

fouryears, theNationalInstituteofDrugAbuse(NIDA)issuesareportcalledtheNationalSurveyonDrugUseandHealth.NIDA,anarmoftheNationalInstitutesofHealthwithintheU.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices, is thedefactoresearcharmoftheOfficeofNationalDrugControlPolicy(ONDCP),whichisheadedbythepresident’sdrugczar.Assuch,NIDA’Srecommendations,whichseemimplicit in itsresearch,guidelegislativedrugpolicyperhapsmorethanthoseofanyotherU.S.governmentinstitute.WhatNIDAreportedjustbeforetheOelweinChristmaspageantof2006wasthatmethusethroughouttheUnitedStatesremainedstableor

droppedbetween2002and2006.Thenation’ssecond-most-influentialnarcoticssurvey,MonitoringtheFuture,fundedbytheUniversityofMichigan,reportedsomethingevenmoreencouraging:methuseamonghighschoolstudentsbetween1999and2005hadsharplydeclined.Pointingtothesestudiesasreal-timeindicatorsof theeffectsofchangesingovernmentpolicy,JohnWalters toldtheOregonian inanAugust2006interviewthat theUnitedStateswas“winning”thewaronmeth.Moresurprisingly,Waltershintedsomethingheretoforeunimaginable: that themethepidemicwas

over.“Wasmethanepidemicinsomepartsof thecountry?”hesaidinhis interviewwithSuo.“Yes . . . Is it theworstdrugproblem?Is itanepidemiceverywhere?Theanswerisno.”

ButthequestionsthathadtobeaskedthatDecembernightatLasFloreswaswhy, ifeverythingseemedsomuchbetter,hadthenumberofmethcasesthatNathanLeinwasgettingnotdeclined?Andwhyhadn’t thenumberofmeth-relatedcomplaintsofClayHallberg’spatientsdwindled?Theanswerstothosequestionsrequireanunderstandingofwhatexactlyadrugepidemicisandhowareport liketheNationalSurveyonDrugUseandHealthgetsmade.But themost importantaspecttounderstandingwhyOelwein’smethproblemseemedtohavebecome“invisible,”asClayput itthatnight,wasarecentshift in thenarcoticsmarket.Ashadbeenhappeningfor twentyyears,sincethedaysofGeneHaislip,methhadnotgoneawayorbeeneradicated.Ithadreassorteditsgenome.Askanydrugepidemiologist thequestion“Whatisadrugepidemic?”andtheanswerwill likely

be,“Idon’tknow.”Itmayseemcounterintuitivethatadrugepidemiologistcan’tdefinetheveryconceptforwhichtheprofessionisnamed,butconsiderthedifficultiesof therelatedfieldofviralepidemiology.Sayyouaskyourdoctor theseelementalquestions:What is theflu?Whereexactlydoesitcomefrom?Whatexactlydoesitdo?Howdoesitdothat?WhatcanIdotoconfront it?Whatwillbetheoutcomeof thatconfrontation?Thebestyourdoctorcandois takethelittle that isknownbeyondadoubtabout theflu;combineitwithcommonsense,anecdote,andtheory;andrecommendasolutionwithoutanyguaranteeofsuccess.Theepidemiologyofadrugisnodifferent:it isunquantifiableinabsoluteterms.ConsideragaintheopinionofDr.StanleyKoob, theneuropharmacologistat theScrippsResearch

Instituteandahighlyregardeddrugaddictionspecialist.Whenhesaysthat“methiswayuptherewiththeworstdrugsonearth,”onlypartof thatopinioncanbeproven.Itcanbescientificallymeasuredthatsmokingadrug—asopposedtoeating,snorting, injecting,or takingitanally—isthefastestdeliverysystemtothebrain.It isfurthersupposed, thoughnotproven, that thespeedofdeliveryaffectsadrug’saddictiveness.So,becausemethcanbesmoked, it(likenicotine,butunlikealcohol)hasentréeintothecategoryof“mostaddictive.”Fromthere,Koob’sstatementveers intotherealmof instinctmixedwithcommonsense.ThebulkofKoob’sevidenceregardingmeth’s“uniquedangers”stemsfromhis theoryof thedrug’ssocial identity.InKoob’sopinion,muchofmeth’sdangerlies inthedrug’slonghistoryofusefulnesstothesocioculturalandsocioeconomicconceptsAmericansocietyholdsdear,manyofwhichstemfromthepursuitofwealththroughhardwork.Nowtakenationaldrugstudies.Thoughthetermimplies technicalexactitude, it issimply

impossibletoknowhowmanypeoplebecomeaddictedtoanydrug,methamphetamineincluded.It’simpossibletoknowhowmanypeopleareusingadrug—addictively,regularly,episodically,orsingularly.Furthermore, thereisnosetnumberorpercentageofdrugusers thatsignalsadrug“epidemic.”It’s thisverylackofaquantifiablefoundationthatpreventsanyhonestdrugepidemiologistfrombeingabletodefineadrugepidemic.Sayingthereisamethepidemicis justasunverifiableassayingthemethepidemicisover.Inthisoddway, thenewspapercolumnists

who,inreactiontoSuo’sreportingandtheworkatNewsweekandFrontline,hadbegunassertinginmid-2006that therehadneverbeenamethepidemic—that itwasaninvention,amyth—werepartlycorrect.Thepoint is thatweinvariablycomebacktotestingasameansofunderstandingdruguse,even

thoughassumingthesetestsleadtotruthputsoneonshakyground.Yousimplycan’tprovesomethingtobetrueorfalseif themeansofconfirmationareeasilyquestioned.ConsiderhowtheNationalSurveyonDrugUseandHealthconcludeseveryfouryearshowmanymethaddicts thereareintheUnitedStates.First,surveyorsaskemployers togivetheiremployeesaquestionnaireondruguse.Thesurveyasksemployeeswhether theyhavedoneamphetamines(notspecificallymethamphetamines)intheir lifetime, inthelastyear,and/or inthelastsixmonths.First, itseemsunlikelythatdrugaddictswill takethiscompletelyoptional test;willanswertruthfullyif theydotakeit;andwillevenbeatworkinthefirstplace—asopposedtohomecookingmeth.Further,sincemethamphetamineis justoneofabroadclassofstimulants intheamphetaminefamily,ananswerofyestoaquestionaboutusingoneamphetaminecan’tbetakenasananswerofyestousinganother.Andyet,forthestudy’spurposes,anyonewhosaysthey’vedoneanykindofamphetamineinthelastsixmonthsisconsidered“addictedtoamphetamines,”and—inawaythat isimpossibletounderstand—acertainpercentageof theserespondersisdeemedaddictedtocrank.It’sinaccordancewiththissystemthatNIDAproclaimed—andJohnWalterscelebrated—meth’sdemisein2006.Butadrug’savailability,accordingtoDr.Koob, is thekeytoitspower.Andwhetherornot the

Oelweinpolicewerebustinglabs,clearlytherewasstilla lotofmetharoundtown,sinceNathanhadn’tnoticedadropinhiscases.Labbustsremovedthedrug’smostobviouselements: thesmellyhomes, thefires, thesickenedchildren.Removinglabs, it turnsout, isn’t thesameasremovingthedrug,or theproblemsforwhichthatdrugservesassomesortofanswer.Wheremethwascomingfromnow;howitwasgettingtoOelwein;andwhytheCombatMethActhadn’tstoppedit—thesewerethenewquestionsthathadtobeanswered.SittinginLasFloresthatnight,Iwasremindedofa talkI’dhadayearbeforewithPhilPrice,

whohadsinceretiredasthespecialagent inchargeof theGeorgiaBureauofInvestigation.Atthetime,Pricewassimultaneouslyinvestigatingelevenexecution-stylemurdersofMexicannationals,allcommittedinemptymansionsinquietAtlantasuburbs,allmeth-related.Indiscussingthemurders,PricehadforeseentheCombatMethAct’sultimateweakness, longbeforeitwaspassed.“Look,”he’dsaidinhis thickNorthGeorgiaaccent,“I’llget introubleforsayingthis,but the

CombatMethActwillonlytakethelittlebitof themethbusinessawayfromthedipshitswiththeBunsenburnersandtheBudweiserchemistrysetandgiveit to theonlypeoplewho’veknownallalongwhat todowithit: theMexicanDTOs.“Forawhile,”hewenton,“peoplewillapplaudthegovernment,andthingswillgetremarkably

better.Butmarkmywords:it’llgetworsefromthere.Becausenoneof this isaboutadrug.It’saboutasystemofgovernmentandaneconomy.TheCombatMethActwillonlyservetohighlightourimmigrationpolicy,andwhataholycrockofshit it is.Butnoonewillseethat.All they’llseeisashort-termvictoryagainstmeth.Bythetimethecrankcomesflowingback,”concludedPrice,“thegovernmentandthemediawillbelonggone,andwe’llbestuckworsethanever.”

PART3

2007

CHAPTER11

ALGONA

DuringthethreeandahalfyearsIwentbackandforthtoOelwein,I toldmyself thatIwassearchingfor themeaningofmethinsmall-townAmerica.That iscertainlytrue.ButI thinkIwasalsolookingfor themeaningofasmall towninmyownlifeandinmyfamily’shistory.Andwhat,ifanything,hadchangedsoprofoundlythatwhenIwouldtellmyfatherwhatIwasseeinginIowa,hewasmadetowonderifhewouldevenrecognizetheplacewhencehecomes.RuralAmericaremainsthecradleofournationalcreationmyth.But ithasbecomesomethingelse,

too—somethingmoresinisteranddifficult todefine.Whethermethchangedourperceptionof theAmericansmall townorsimplybrought tolight thefactthat thingsinsmall-townAmericaaremuchchangedis insomewaysirrelevant.Inmytelling,methhasalwaysbeenlessanagentofchangeandmoreofasymptomofit.Theendofawayof life is thestory; thedrugiswhatsignaledtotherestof thenationthat theendhadcome.Thetruthis that, in theweeksIdrovearoundIllinois,Kentucky,Alabama,Georgia,andMissouri,

anytowninwhichIstoppedforadayor twowouldhavesatisfiedthecriteriaasasettingforabookaboutmeth—methwasapartof life inallof them.It’sfair tosayIfocusedonIowabeginningin2005notbecauseof therecordnumberof labsinthestateorbecauseIwasquicktodeveloparelationshipwithClayandNathan,butbecauseIowais theplacewheremyfather’sbranchof theRedingfamilyhadlivedsincethemid-nineteenthcentury.Asit turnsout,myfather’slifefits intotheconundrumofmethamphetamine’slinkwiththeruralUnitedStates,not justbecausehecomesfromAlgona,butbecauseheworkedforty-twoyears intheindustrythatIhavecometoseeasaforcebehindthedifficultiesfacedbyplaceslikeAlgonaandOelwein:BigAgriculture.

Mygreat-grandfatherNicholasRedingcametoAlgonafromtheFranco-PrussianprincipateofLuxembourgin1868.Withhimhebroughthissecondwife(thefirsthaddied)andthefifteenchildrenfromhis twomarriages.After learningthat thelocalschoolteacherwouldbeeducatinghischildreninEnglish,mygreat-grandfatherbecameateacherhimself,foundinghisownschoolspecificallysohecouldeducatehischildreninGerman.LouisRedingwastheyoungestofNicholas’schildren,bornin1899.Louisspenthiswholelife in

Algona,whereheworkedasa tractorpartsmanat theInternationalHarvestershop.Hediedin1979.Alice,mygrandmother,wasborninLuVerne(pronounced“Laverne”),Iowa, twelvemilessouthofAlgona.Alicewasoneoffourchildrenofawomanwhomust,bythefertilitystandardsoftheRedingclan,haveseemedjustahairshyofbarren.Alicewasfivefeet tall;sheworkedasatellerat theIowaStateBankforfifty-oneyears.Shediedin1989,at theageofeighty-eight.Myfather,NicholasReding,namedforhisgrandfather,wasborntheyoungestoffourin

November1934;hissisterRozis theoldest,followedbytwins,JanandJoe.Myfatherwassmallasaboy,withblondhairanddarkbrowneyes.DuringtheDepressionandwar, itwasoftenuptomyfatherandhisbrother tokillpheasants,pigeons,orsquirrelsforsupper.Inthewinter,theymarket-huntedjackrabbits,bywhichit ismeant that theywentout intothefieldsatnight inthe

backsof trucksandkilledtheanimalsas theyweretemporarilyparalyzedbytheheadlights.Myfatherandunclefilledkeg-barrelswiththerabbitstheyshot,for this ishowcanneries inSiouxCityandrestaurants inFortDodgecameabout theirmeatduringtherationedyears inWorldWarII.Inthesummer, theyfishedforperchandcatfishintheEastBranchof theDesMoinesRiver—whichflows320milesaway,past thecabininOttumwawhereLoriArnoldoncelived.Myfatherwent toIowaState inAmesin1952.Hewasseventeen.Bythen,hishairwaswellon

itswaytoturningblack;hewassmall, likehismother,andweighedjust110poundshisfreshmanyear.If itweren’tforhis threescholarships,hewouldneverhavebeeneducatedbeyondhighschool.Abaseballscholarshippaidforhisroom,achemicalengineeringscholarshippaidforhisboard,andaReserveOfficerTrainingCorps(ROTC)scholarshippaidforhisbooks.Thereisaphotoofhimasafreshman,standingaheadshorter thanmostothermembersofIowaState’svarsitybaseballsquad.Thatphotohasalwayshadacomplicatedeffectonme.Ontheonehand,IfeelatremendousamountofpridethatmyfatherevermadeitoutofAlgona,Iowa.Ontheotherhand,Ifeelacomicsenseofdisbelief,formyfather,standingontheendofa lineof tall,strappingyoungmen, looksimpossiblyyoungandsmall.It’ssurprisingthatheevenmadeit throughthebrutalwinters,nevermindthathewasabletoswingathirty-four-inchwoodenbatateighty-five-mile-per-hourfastballswithoutbeingblownover.What’smoreincrediblestill is theremarkablelifehewouldgoontolead.Byhissophomoreyear,myfatherhadgrowntofivefeetnineandhadgainedthirtypounds—

hardlythestuffof legend,butenoughtobestartingincenterfieldforwhatat thetimewasapowerhouseofacollegiatebaseball team.IowaStatewastherunner-upthatyear intheCollegeWorldSeries—myfatherwastheMVP.HesetaNationalCollegiateAthleticAssociationrecordforthenumberofstolenbasesinagame—six, includingstealinghome—thatstoodformanyyears.Attheendof theseason,at theageofnineteen,hewasdraftedinthefirstroundbytheNewYorkYankeesandtheSt.LouisCardinalsatatimewhentherivalrybetweenthemwasoneof themostenduringandstoriedrivalries insports.Myfather, though,didn’tbelieveplayingsportswasareliableroadoutofpoverty.Despitebeing

draftedagainbytheYankeesfollowinghis junioryear,hestayedatIowaState tofinishhischemicalengineeringdegree.In1955,hewasofferedajobwithMonsanto, inSt.Louis,Missouri.Hearrivedinthecitywithtwoshirts, twopairsofshoes, twoties,andonesuit,andhemovedintoaboardinghouse.HemetmymotheratMonsanto,whereshewasworkingasasecretary.Mymaternalgrandmother,MildredViolaNicholson, twodecadesremovedfromheryears inEbo,Missouri, tookanimmediatelikingtomyfather.Shesawakindredspirit inaboyfromthecountrywho’dcometoagrandandimportantAmericancityinhopesofmakinghisway.Mildred’sfirsthusbandhadlefther,mymother,andmyaunt,andMildredhadworkedallheradult lifeasasinglemother,firstasamaidandthenasacookinadowntowncafeteriacalledMissHulling’s.Whenmyfatherbecameillwithinfluenzain1956,mymotherandgrandmother tookthebuseverymorningandeveryeveningfor threeweekstocareforhimat theboardinghouseuntilhewaswellagain.Myparentsweremarriedin1958.Myfatherspentforty-twoyearsworkingforMonsanto,retiringasvicechairmanin1998.Inthe

decadeshewasthere,Monsantobecameanagriculturalpowerhouse,acquiringseedcompanies,patentingherbicides,andmostmarkedly,pioneeringthefieldofbiogeneticcropengineering.SopowerfulwasMonsantothat in1996itformedajointventurewithCargill. It’s inthiswaythat theriseofBigAgricultureoutof thesmall townsof theruralUnitedStatesmirrors thestoryofmyfamilyandofmyfather’s life.It’s inthisway, too, that thecomplexityandtheoverridinghumanity

ofthingsbecomesevident.Monsanto,inonetelling,playedapart indestroyingthewayof life inthesmall-townUnitedStates—theveryplacefromwhichmyfatherandmygrandmothercome.Inanother telling,Monsanto’s industrializationoffarmingwasn’truinous,butrather itrevolutionizedaremarkablydifficultvocationthroughtechnologyandscience—inotherwords,Monsanto,alongwithCargillandADMandConAgra,streamlinedandmodernizedtheraisingofcrops.Initially,duringthe1970s, theincreasedefficiencyofAmericanfarmersprovedaboonforsmall-

townAmerica.OPEC,richwithasurplusofso-calledpetrodollars,wasfundingindustrythroughouttheworld—primarilyinChina, theSovietUnion,andLatinAmerica—inthewaytheInternationalMonetaryFundandtheWorldBankdotoday.Anxioustomodernizetheir industryandinfrastructure,thesenationsspent lessmoneyonfoodproduction,promptingU.S.farmersto—atthenow-infamousbehestof thesecretaryofagriculture—“feedtheworld”and“planthedgerowtohedgerow.”U.S.foodproductionwaspushedtorecordhighs.Bythecloseof thedecade, though, thegascrisishadabated,OPECwaslendinglessmoney,andU.S.farmerswho’doverextendedthemselvesinorder togrowgraintosell toArgentinaor theSovietUnionhadtoforecloseontheir land.Thefarmcrisisof theearly1980swasborn,andfollowedbyamassiveruralout-migration.RuralsociologistWilliamHeffernanhasfocusedmuchofhisworkontheperiodfrom1970to

2000.Heffernanrefersofteninhisworktotheeffect“theformationof thethreemajorfoodchainclusters”hadonAmericanfarming—andasadirectresult,onruralAmerica.Oneof theclustersthatHeffernanidentifies isCargill-Monsanto.AccordingtoHeffernan,by1996, twoyearsbeforemyfatherretired,Cargill—withthehelpofMonsantoanditsstableofseedcompanies—controlledmassivesharesofalmosteveryfood-relatedmarket.Itwasamongthetopfivebeefandporkpackers,beef-feedlotowners, turkey-farmingoperators,andethanolproducers.Itwasnumberoneinanimal-feedplantsandgrainelevators,andnumbertwoinflourmilling,drycornmilling,wetcornmilling,andsoybeancrushing.Cargillwasalsomovingaggressivelyintothetransportationbusiness,namelyriverbarges,railroadcars,andtruckingcompanies,aswellasacquiringgrocerystorechains.Asaresultof thiscentralization,saysHeffernan,“mostruraleconomicdevelopmentspecialistsdiscountagricultureasacontributor toruraldevelopment.”That’s tosaythat,whetheryou’retalkingaboutOelwein,Algona,orOttumwa,Iowa,between1980and1995, thelifebloodofthosetownsceasedtoprovidethesamelife that ithadofferedforoverahundredyears—roughlysincemygreat-grandfatherarrivedfromLuxembourg.Heffernan’sanalysisshowsanastonishingseachangeinaveryshortperiod.Justaquartercentury

ago,asHeffernanpointsout,“whenfamilybusinesseswerethepredominantsysteminruralcommunities,researchers talkedofmultipliereffectsofthreeorfour.”MeaningthateachdollargeneratedbyJamesandDonnaLeininOelweinwouldexchangehandsthreeorfourtimesbeforeleavingthecommunity.Today,notesHeffernan, thatnumberisdowntoone.Historically,farmingcommunitiesweremodelsofruraleconomichealth,andminingcommunities likethoseintheAppalachianswereanindicatorofacripplingsystemofcentralization.Today,farmingandminingcommunitiesareindistinguishable,saysHeffernan.OelweinandAlgonaarestatisticallyrelatedtoElkGarden,WestVirginia.Muchof thetripfromOelweintoAlgonaisonHighway18.Inaneraof interstates,Highway18

isa throwback,andlittlemorethanawell-keptcountryroadrunningsevenhundredmilesfromMountHoreb,Wisconsin,acrosstheIowaandSouthDakotaprairie,all thewaytoMuleCreekJunction,Wyoming.Alongitspath,Highway18passesthroughtwiceasmanyIndianreservations(two)andnationalgrasslands(alsotwo)thantownsofmorethantenthousandpeople.Infact,westofMasonCity,Iowa, it’sgenerallytwentyor thirtymilesbetweengasstations,andanhourormore

betweentownsthathavetheirownhighschools.It is trulyoneof themorenostalgicstretchesofAmericanroad—onethatseemsfrozenintime, thoughofcoursethat’ssimplynolongertrue.Ostensibly,Iwent toAlgonatofindmyfather’shouseandthemakeshiftbaseballfieldwherehe

andmyuncleJoeusedtoplay.Becausethehighschooldidn’thaveaballfieldof itsown, theAlgonaBulldogsduringthe1940sand’50splayedalltheirgamesaway.Mydadsaidtheprovisionaldiamondwassomewhereeastalongtherailroadtracks,nearwherethepheasantsusedtosunthemselvesoncolddayswhilepickingatwastegraindroppedfromthefreightcarsheadedtoChicagoviaOelweinandWaterloo.Ridingaroundtownwithmyfathergivingmedirectionsbycellphone,Iwent tohischildhood

home,a three-bedroomwooden-shingledfarmhousebuilt in1919.Hewantedtoknoweverydetail:thecolorof thewoodandtheroof; if therewasstillaporch;andif themulberrytreewasstill inthefrontyard.AfterIgavehimmyreport, itbecameapparent that theonlythingthathadbeenchangedinnearlysixtyyearswasthecolorof thesmallfrontporch—fromgreentogray.StateStreet,Algona’smaindrag,wasalsomuchasherememberedit,withtheexceptionthat theIowaStateBankisnolongerinexistence, thoughtheredbrickbuildingthathouseditstillstands.Unchangedaswellwouldappear tobetheRedinghabitforpropagationstretchingbacktothefirstNicholasReding.Accordingtothewaitresswhobroughtmeafrench-dipsandwichandcupofcoffeeat thetown’scafé,hersister ismarriedtooneRedingandhercousintoanother.“Byspringthaw,”shesaid,“youwon’tbeabletoturnoverasinglerockinthis townwithoutaRedingcrawlingoutfromunderit.”After lunch,Icalledmydadagaintohelpmefindtheoldballfield.Itwasafool’serrand,for

theprairie ineverydirectionwasundereight inchesofsnow,beneathwhichwasahardlayerofice.Still, Iwasn’tcomingbacktoAlgonaanytimesoon,andIwantedtobenear theplacemyfatherhadoncecherished,wherehe’dlearnedtohitandfieldandstealbaseswithUncleJoe.AsIwalkedeastalongthetracksas theyborderedHighway18, itwasclearandblueandfrigid

inthewakeof thestormsthathadpassedover theregioninsuccessionforaweek.Icouldsee, itseemed,forever,andforeverseemedtobeasheetofwhite,frozensnowblownintotopographicaldrifts.Ihavealwaysfoundmountainstobebeautiful.ButI’mnotmovedbytheminanyway.Thesameis trueof theocean,andofbeachesandlargerivers.TheHudsonandtheMississippivalleysaremarvelsofnaturalgrandeur; theyaremagnificent,butnothumbling.Prairie ishumbling.Theisolation—falseas itmaybe,whatwithfarmhouseseveryfewhundredorfewthousandacres—isatonceexhilaratingandterrifying.Thesightof it thatday,ofall thatopencountry,wasgnawingatmystomach.Theveryideathat tinyPlainstownsfromIowatoMontanaaregivennameslikeHarveyandMelvinandMaurice,DanaandBodeandBritt—firstnames,familiarnames—underscorestheutterhumanityofanattempttoexist inaplacenevermeant tosustainourill-fatedandultimatelyimpossibledesireforpermanence.Andyetherewestillare, livinganddyinginAlgonaandinCylinder,hunkereddowninFortCharlesandFortDodge,havingafrenchdipandwalkingdownthetracks, lookingforwardtostandingaroundthewood-stoveatnightwithNathanLeinandhisgirlfriendJamiePorter.Theargumentofsomesociologists,namelythatweshouldpickupandleave,callaspadeaspade,clearout thetownsof thePlainsrather thanartificiallysupport themonfarmsubsidies,put thelandintoanationalparkandreintroducethebuffalo: thisargumentmakesacertainkindofsense.NathanLein’sparentswondereverynighthowthey’llmakeit throughanotherwinter.Andyetwhereelsewouldwego?What,really,wouldwehaveourselvesdo, ifnot this?EvenasI’mcapableofcriticizingmyfather’s legacy,I’mincapableoffeelinganythingless than

terrificprideinhisaccomplishments.Hisstorydefiessociology.It isanexampleof individual

greatnessof itsownstubbornaccord: theessentialcomponentoftheAmericandream.Nonetheless,thereareconsequences.Thebestof intentionssometimesdon’t turnout likethey’resupposedto—justasmethamphetamine, themiraclepharmaceuticalof the1930s,hastodaybecomeanightmare.Somewherealongthewaycompaniesgrewtohavenorespectfor thepeoplewhoselivestheirproductsperhapsintendedtoimprove,refusingtoprovideworkerswithadecentwageorhealthinsurance.Despite this,peoplefight toendure, justas theyalwayshave.Andastheyfight,somepercentageof themwill looktoadrugthatfalselypromiseshelpinthatcause.Walkingalongthetracksthatday,Ifoundithardtobelievethat, justasmyfatherhadpredicted,

threeroosterpheasantspickedatwastegraininthefrigidmiddaysun.Somewheretotheeast,buriedinthesnow,wastheballfield.

CHAPTER12

ELPASO

Bythebeginningof2007, theCombatMethActhadbeenineffectforsixmonths.AsPhilPrice,nowaformerspecialagentinchargeof theGeorgiaBureauofInvestigation,hadpredictedtwoyearsearlier, thelawsmakingitharder tobuycoldmedicinehadindeedreducedthenumberofBeavisandButt-HeadlabsacrosstheUnitedStates.Thenumbersofaddicts,however,hadn’tchanged.Thismeant that thosewhohadreliedonhome-cookeddope—15to25percentofusers,accordingto2005DEAestimates—werenowdoingbusinesswiththeDTOs,meaningthat95to100percentof themethconsumedintheUnitedStatescamefromMexican-runlabs.TheDTOshadquicklyadjustedtothedifficultyof importinglargeamountsofpseudoephedrineintoMexicobypurchasingitfromagrowingnumberofmiddlemen—mostlyinChinabutalso, increasingly, inAfrica.This, in turn,resultedinincreasedproductionof thedrug.AlsoasPhilPricehadpredicted, theU.S.mediabymid-2007hadcompletedanautopsyof the

drugepidemicthat,accordingtodrugczarJohnWalters,wasnowallbutover.ExcludingtheworkofSteveSuoandafewothers, themedia’srabidcoverageofmethin2005and2006hadtreatedthedrugasasmall-labphenomena.Nowthatsmall-labnumbershaddwindledfromArizonatoNewJersey,statepoliticians,magazines,newspapers,andeveningnewscasters tookthisreductionas thesoleindicatorthat theepidemicwasundercontrolorcured.Seenanotherway,methjustwasn’tasinterestingtoreportononceitcouldnolongerbecastasafundamentallyAmericanmoralityplaywhoseactswereoncecarriedoutadnauseamintrailers,kitchensinks,andbathtubsacrossthenation.Inmanycases, thepostmortembecameawitchhunt,asbloggersandnewspapercolumnistscalledintoquestionwhether themethepidemichadeverexistedinthefirstplace.NowherewasthissuspicionmorecandidlystatedthaninaMarch2006article inPortland’sWillametteWeek, therivalpaperof theOregonian.Titled“MethMadness:HowTheOregonianManufacturedanEpidemic,PoliticiansBoughtItandYou’rePaying,”thearticlefunctionedasacompendiumofquestionsregardingSteveSuo’sandtheOregonian’s integrity.Furthermore,WillametteWeekaccusedstateandfederalofficialsofusingthemethstoryfor theirpoliticalgain.Thegistof thecriticism,assummedupbytheWillametteWeekarticle,wasthatmeth,asamedia

phenomenon,hadbeenproppedupbynumbersandstatistics thatseemedquestionable, ifnotspecious.Forinstance,WillametteWeek tooktotaskareportentitledMultnomahCountyMethTaxwrittenbyaneconomicresearchfirmcalledECONorthwest.Thereport,oft-citedbySuoandbothOregonandnationalpoliticians—andultimatelyimitatedbyotherfirmsinothercommunities likeBentonCounty,Arkansas—claimedthateveryhouseholdinMultnomahCountypaidtheequivalentof$350annuallytocompensatefor thecommunityproblemscausedbymeth.That’s tosaythateveryhouseholdinthedenselypopulatedarea,whichincludesPortland,waspayingtheroughequivalentof theiryearlystate taxestocovertherisingcostsof increasedfostercare,overtimestaffingofpoliceprecincts,propertydamage,andmissedworktimeattributabletoasurgeinmethuse.TheWillametteWeekarticlecontendedthat thestatisticsonwhichthereportwasbasedwerea

mixoffactandanecdote,andthereforethestudyitselfwaspreposterous.Forinstance,aPortland

policechiefcouldn’texplainhowhe’dcomeupwiththestatistic that80percentofarrests inhisprecinctweremeth-related.Nor,saidthearticle,couldtheideaofa“methtax”betakenseriouslywhenit includesthecostof“meth-fueledpropertydamage”thatcannotbeconclusivelylinkedtothedrug.AccordingtoWillametteWeek, theOregonian’srelianceon“badstatisticsandarhetoricofcrisis . . .hasskewedthetruth[and]rearrangedgovernmentalspendingpriorities,perhapswithoutjustification.”NewspapercolumnistsfromtheWallStreetJournal, theNewYorkTimes,andtheMiamiHerald

agreed.JohnTierneyof theTimes lamentedthat, thankstometh,politicanshad“lostsightof theirduties.”GlennGarvinof theHeraldcalledtheOregonian’scoverage“nonsensical.”CraigReinarman,whosecriticismof theReaganadministration’sresponsetothecrackepidemicwasputforthinthebookCrackinAmerica,worriedthat theexorbitantmethcoveragebypapers liketheOregonianhadfurtherdirectedmoneytolawenforcementandprison,and“awayfromtheunderlyingsourcesofpeople’s troubles,”ashetoldWillametteWeek.Noonewasmorecriticalofthenation’smethcoveragethanJackShaferofSlate.com,whoseweeklycolumnstriedtodisproveeverystudyonwhichtheconceptofamethepidemichadstood.AmongShafer’sfavorite targetsweretheestimatedhundredmilliondollarsannuallythatmethsupposedlycost thestateofIndiana,andaNationalAssociationofCountiessurveythatfoundmethhadsentmorepeopletolocalemergencyroomsin2005thananyotherdrug.It takesaconsiderablelackof ironyforonenewspapertoloudlyanddramaticallyaccuseanother

ofhistrionics.Nevertheless,WillametteWeekmadeoneextremelyvalidpoint:drugstudiesandstatisticsareinherentlyflawed, insofaras thesupposedlyquantitativedataisbasedlargelyonhearsay,observation,andcommonsense—which,dependingonwhereyoustand,mayormaynotseemcommon,andmayfailaltogether tomakesense.It’sunfortunate, though, thatWillametteWeek—alongwithmostof theothercritics,JackShaferofSlate.comincluded—reliedonequallyunstablegroundfor theirmetricalevidence.What thepaperandShaferpointedtoweretheNIDAandUniversityofMichiganreports,whichfound,viaadeeplyfaultedsystemoftheirown, thatmethusehadremainedstableordroppedintheUnitedStatesbetween2004and2006.Basically,onequantitativeanalysisprovedtobeas invalidas theother.Meantime,asWillametteWeek triedtodisproveECONorthwest’sfindingsbyreferringtothe

UniversityofMichiganreport, itseemedtobeimportant tounderstandthetrueeffectofrecentchangesinthemethmarketfosteredbythepassageof theCombatMethAct.Whatwouldthelaw—alongwithanabsentmedia—meaninLoriArnold’shometownofOttumwa?Asananswertothatquestion,Iwasremindedof twotripsI’dtakentheretheyearbefore.

OnHalloweennightof2005,I’dmetaformerMexicandrugtrafficker,alongwithhishandler, inasmallconferenceroomattheabandonedcommuterairportoutsideOttumwa.ThetraffickeraskedtobecalledRudy.Nowtwenty-four,hewasborninCiudadJuárez,Mexico, thenmovedwithhismotherandbrotheracrosstheborder totheJuárez’ssistercityofElPaso,Texas.There,Rudyandhisbrother joinedagangandbegandealingcocaineat theagesof thirteenandfifteen,respectively.Bysixteen,RudywastravelingfromJuáreztoElPasowithuptofifteenkilosofcocaineinabackpack.TheRioGrandebetweenthetwocities isdryformuchof theyear,saidRudy,andlargelyunguardedawayfromthebusyinternationalbridges.Rudyandhisbrotherwouldpickapromisingspot,descendintotheriverbed,andclimbuptheotherside.Whentheywerediscovered,RudyandhisbrotherwouldreturntoMexico,haveasodatopassthetime,andthentrytocrossagainfromadifferentspotafewhundredyardsoracoupleofmilesaway; theywerealways

successful,hesaid.Eventually,RudyandhisbrotherbeganworkingforacomandanteoftheMexicanfederalpolice,

predominantlytransportingmarijuana.Thenonedayhisbrotherwasinacaraccident inMexicoandlosta loadofdope, leadingtohismurder.Rudywasabletoidentifythebodyonlybyatattooonhisbrother’scalf—hisbrotherhadbeenshotsomanytimesthathisfacewasgone.Afraidforhislife,Rudyagreedtotakeahundred-poundloadofmethamphetaminefromtheMexicanborderuptotheOzarkMountains.Thiswasin1999.AccordingtoRudy,hehadnoideawhatmethwas,orevenwhathehaddeliveredtothewhitemenwithlongbeardswhomethiminthewoodedhillsoutsideRogers,Arkansas.Fromthere,Rudytookaseriesofmeatpackingjobs,first inMissouriandtheninIowa.All thewhile,hedealtmeth,whichwaseithersent tohimonetofivepoundsata timeinthemailorgiventohiminbulkbytraffickers todistributeat thepackingplant.RudycalledtheDTOs’infiltrationofmeatpackingplants“theperfectsystem.”Thefirst thingyou

doonceyoucrosstheborder,hesaid, is tostealsomeone’sdriver’s license.Oryoubuyastolenlicenseat themeatpackingplant.(WhenRudysaidthis,hishandler—asergeant intheOttumwaPoliceDepartmentnamedTomMcAndrew—laughed,andaddedthatat leastonceamonth,aconfusedfirst-generationMexicanAmericaninCalifornia,Texas,orArizonawillcall theOttumwapolicewonderingwhythereisanoutstandingwarrantforhisarrest inIowa,astate towhichhehasneverbeen.)Moreover,saidRudy, traffickersworklonghoursinthepackingplants, just likeeveryoneelse, inanattempttogounnoticed.Asheput it,U.S. lawenforcementisusedtodrugdealerswhoareflashyanddon’twork.Mexicantraffickersusedthisstrategyofblendingintothegeneralpopulationof immigrantworkers toveryquicklydevelopmarketsasfarnorthandeastasMichiganandPennsylvania.TheDTO’sdominationandexpansionof themethmarketwassostreamlined, infact, thatwhenRudywentbacktoElPasotwoyearsafterhisfirstdeliverytoArkansas,crackandcokewerenolongerthesmugglers’drugofchoice;crankwas.Eventually,Rudywascompelledbyaspeedingticketandresultant immigrationinvestigationto

workasaninformantforwhatwasformerlytheImmigrationandNaturalizationServices(INS),butsince2001hasbeentheImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement(ICE)—adepartmentof theOfficeofHomelandSecurity.ICEagents toldRudythathewouldberewardedwithagreencardifhecouldhelpthemindictandconvictenough“coyotes,”as thehumantraffickerswhobringgroupsof illegalsacrosstheborderarecalled.Rudyagreed,butheplayedbothsidesof thefence:manycoyotesalsosmuggledrugs,soRudyusedhisconnectionsatICEtolessenhiscompetitionfor theElPasomethmarket.WhenICEagentsbalkedat theirpromisetogiveRudyagreencard,heleftTexasandheadedonceagainforIowa.He’dheardthat theCargillExcelplant inOttumwawashiring,andheassumedthepoliceandsheriff’sdepartment therewouldbehighlyunsophisticatedcomparedwithDEAinElPaso.Rudygot toOttumwain2002.Howexactlyhecametobeaninformant therehewon’tsay,

thoughitwasthroughadealforsomeviolation,whetherfordealingmethor lackingpapers.Whatisclear ishowdesperatelyRudyisneededinIowa.TomMcAndrewis thedirectorof theSoutheastIowaInter-AgencyDrugTaskForce,anumbrellaagencyincludingstate, local,andfederalantinarcoticagents.ItwasMcAndrewwho,asanundercovercop,bustedLoriArnoldin2001.Today,McAndrewcallsRudythemostoverusedinformant inIowa,pointingtothefact thatRudy, inadditiontoworkingforDEA,gets“farmedout toeverypoliceandsheriff’sdepartment inthestate,not tomentionacoupleotherstateswhentheneedarises.”It’sforgoodreason.AccordingtopeopleatDEA,acriticaldifferencebetweentheColombianandtheMexicandealers is that theColombianshavetorelyonAmericanstodistributeandsell theirproduct.NotsowiththeDTOs,

whorelyonavastnetworkofMexicantraffickersanddealerswhoarehardtotrack.Thelanguagebarrieralone—particularlyinruralareaswheretheremaybemanyimmigrantsbutfewEnglish-speakingoneswillingtoworkagainst theirownpeople—makesitdifficultforDEAagents topenetrate thedrugorganizations.AndaccordingtoRudy,evennativeSpanishspeakerswouldstillneedtohavetheproperconnectionstoJuárezorElPasoorMatamorostogainaccesstoinformation.TalkingtoRudymadeiteasytoseehowtheDTOs’insularity—enforcedwiththethreatofviolenceagainstadistributor’sfamilymemberswhoremaininMexico—madehimsoformidable.AccordingtoMcAndrew,RudywasoneofonlythreeSpanish-speakinginformantsworkingina

staterifewithMexicanDTOoperatives.Aswespokethatnight,McAndrewkeptgoingtothelonewindowinthelittleroomat thecommuterairportandpeeringoutintothedarknessfrombehindthecurtain.ThereasonMcAndrewhadfinallyagreedtoletmetalktoRudy,hesaid,wastounderscorewhatMcAndrewandhismen—alongwiththerestofIowalawenforcement,whetherDEAagents inDesMoines,BureauofNarcoticsEnforcementagents inCedarFalls,orcopsinOelwein—weredealingwith,andwhat limitedrecoursetheyhadwithorganizationsthathadamilitaristic leveloforganization,efficiency,andincreasingly,violence.Intheend,Rudywasgoodenoughthathecould,asMcAndrewsaid,“bringinasmanyfive-pounddealsaswe[could]handle.”Buthewasnevergoingtoinfiltratehighintothetraffickers’organizations.Theyweretooclosed.Inaway, itmadeMcAndrewlongfor thedayswhenLoriArnoldranthings,beforetheDTOstookover.McAndrewhadfitright intoLori’smilieu.PointingatRudy,McAndrewsaid,“This is it,man.Not thatIdon’t loveyou,buddy.Butyouand

meagainst them—that’sprettyfunny.”

InaMay12,2008,NewYorkerarticle,MalcolmGladwellobservesthatworld-shiftingideas,farfromoccurringtojustonepersonata time,cropupinsomethingmoreakintoclusters.AlexanderGrahamBell,Gladwellpointsout, iscreditedwithinventingthetelephone, thoughElishaGrayfiledapatentfor thesameinventiononthesameday.CalculuswasdiscoveredindependentlybyIsaacNewtonandGottfriedLeibniz; thetheoryofevolutionwasformulatedbyCharlesDarwinandAlfredRusselWallaceatapproximatelythesametime.ForGladwell,“thesheernumberofmultiplescouldmeanonlyonething:discoveriesmust, insomesense,beinevitable.”LoriArnoldhadcertainlyhadanenormousimpactonOttumwainherday,aswellasonagood

dealof thegreaterMidwest.Butwhoknowshowmanyothershadspearheadeddrugroutesintherestof thecountry—withorwithout thehelpofasuperlabhiddenonahorsefarm.Thoughhedidn’tquitehaveLori’svision,JeffreyWilliamHayesofOelweinwasessentiallytryingtodothesamething.Hadafewthingsgonedifferently,hemightwellhavebeentheLoriArnoldofhis time.OelweinandOttumwamighthavereversedrolesasplanetandsatellite inthemethsolarsystem.Thestoryofmultiples issurelythestoryofmeth,bothinthecaseofLoriArnoldinIowaandtheAmezcuabrothers inCalifornia,alongwithanunknownnumberofcontemporaries.“Goodideas,”concludesGladwell,“areout thereforanyonewiththewitandthewill tofind

them.”Oncefound,goodideasreinforceoneanother.This isonewayofdescribingRudy’spresenceinOttumwa,alongwithhowevermanyotherswhohavelandedtherewiththeideaofgoingintothecrankbusiness:Loribuilt it,andtherestcame.Itsaysa lotaboutwhatOttumwahasbecomethatTomMcAndrew,despitefifteenyearsworking

there,hasnevermovedhisfamilytoOttumwafromKahoka,Missouri,seventymilesaway.Hewouldfear,hesaid,for thewelfareofhiswifeanddaughters.Thenightweallmetat thecommuterairport,Rudyconcurred,saying,“IusedtothinkElPasowastheworstplaceinthe

world.NowI thinkthis is.”It’sclichétosuggest that theundercovercopandthedrugdealerarebutonechromosomal

mutationfrombeingthesameperson.Andyet inMcAndrewandRudy—thecountryboyandthestreet thug,whomMcAndrewdescribesas“justabigoldsofty”—therewaseveryreasontoseebasis inthisstereotype.RudylovedtherushofbringingMcAndrewandDEAsmall-timeMexicanmethdealers.Rudy’sjobwasessentially,hesaid, to“goaroundIowa,makingconnections.”Beingindangerwaslikedrugforhim.ForMcAndrew,thecat-and-mousegameheplayedwithdealerswasalsolikeadrug;hejust lovedbustingdealers,plainandsimple.Thetwomenneededeachother inwaysthatwerereadilyapparent:McAndrewneededRudy’s

connectionsandSpanishskills;RudyneededMcAndrew’ssupervisiontoworkoffhisviolationandstayoutof jail.Theybothnoddedknowinglyandcompletedeachother’ssentencesduringthetwohourswetalkedthatHalloweennight.Theyweretwoofaverylimitednumberofpeopleinavast,underpopulatedareadoingthisonespecific thing: infiltratingdrugrings.Sowhile theywerewary,untrustingfriends,theysharedacuriouskindofrespect.McAndrewclearlydidn’t likeMexicans,andRudyclearlydidn’t likewhites.Andyet,aswiththecobraandthemongoose,wherewouldtheybewithouteachother?Thedynamicbetweenthemwasmostclear insomethingthatMcAndrewsaidthatnightwhilewedrovebacktotown:hewonderedifRudy’seventualcareer turn,oncehe’dturnedinenoughlow-leveldealers toMcAndrewandDEA,wouldbetogobackintothemethbusiness.“That’swhatI’ddo,”McAndrewhadsaid.Whilewewereat theairport,Rudytalkedat lengthabout themistrustbetweennativeOttumwans

andtheimmigrantswhocameinever largernumbers.McAndrewsaidheunderstood,butaddeddrilythathedidn’tfeelwelcomeintown,either,givenhowmanyMexicanstherewere.McAndrewandRudybothlaughed.ThenMcAndrewgrewdeadlyserious.Recently,hesaid,Mexicanmethtraffickershadbegunfollowinghismenaround.Justafewweeksbefore, twooff-dutyagentswiththeIowaBureauofNarcoticsEnforcementhadgoneintoapharmacyonMainStreetandwerefollowedbytwoyoungtraffickers.Theagentsweretoldtostopinvestigatingaparticularmethcase.If theydidn’t,saidthetraffickers, theofficers’wivesandchildrenwouldbekilled.Toprovetheymeantbusiness, thetraffickersrelatedtheinsandoutsofeachfamilymember’sdailyroutine: they’dbeenwatching.(Theviolencedidnot includeonlyMexicandrugtraffickers.Afewmonthsbeforethat,amethaddicthadwalkeddownMainStreetwithashotgun,shootingatshopwindows, lights,andbystandersfor tenminutesbeforeMcAndrew’smenkilledhim.McAndrewhimselfhadrecentlybeenrunoverbyacarduringacrankbust.)RudyhadseenitallbeforeinElPaso.He’dseenwhathappenedina traffickingwar,andhow,

whenthingsgotserious, theDTOssent in“thescariestpeopleyoueversaw—peoplewhodothingslikewhat theydidtomybrother.”(Coincidentally, themonthbefore, thenewpolicechiefofNuevoLaredo,Mexico,wasgunneddownbytraffickers justfourhoursafterbeingswornin.)Ottuwmawouldbefine,saidRudy,as longasnothinghappenedtomaketheDTOswant tofurtherconsolidatethemarketorfightover turf.“If thathappens,”Rudysaid,“watchout.”Atthat,McAndrewonceagainstoodandlookedout thewindow.

Ironically, ignoringtheDTOsis insomewaystotheadvantageof localpoliceandsheriffs’departmentsof theruralUnitedStatesfor thereasonthatconfrontingthemwouldalmostcertainlyresult infailure.InOelwein,chiefJeremyLoganhadbeenenormouslysuccessful inthefightagainstlocalmethproduction.WhenIaskedhimwhathe’ddoabout theDTOs,hesaidflatly,“Whoknows.”BarringinstancesliketheonesinOttumwa,wheretraffickers threatenedthelocalpolice,

thoseintheemployof themajornarcoticsnetworkslargelyworkunseenwithinthesmall-townimmigrantcommunity.AsRudynoted,partof theDTOs’successisbecausetheirvendorsgounnoticed,worklongshifts,andremainhighlymobile.PhilPricehadoncenotedthat thetraffickers’subtletyworksnicelyforeveryoneinvolved.“IfJoeBlowtorcheshismom’shouse,”hesaid,“youhavetorespond.But ifsmart traffickersarequietlymovinghundredsofpounds, totallyoutofsight,youdon’treallyhavetopickthatfight.You’reasmall-towncopandfederalhelpis twohundredmilesaway, inthestatecapital.You’reprobablysmartnot tolooktooclose.”HowOttumwawoulddeal—ornotdeal—withwhatwasquicklybecominganewer,moreviolent

phaseof themethepidemicwasoncuriousdisplayoneswelteringJulynight,asTomMcAndrewoversawthelastof threeexercisesdesignedtotraintheWapelloSWATteamhowtorespondtoamethlab,alongwiththeoften-well-armedmenwhoworkat them.Itwaseleveno’clock,andweweresittinginthedarkamidseveralhundredacresofchest-highcornadjacent totheDesMoinesRiver.Iwaspretendingtobeamethcook,alongwithMcAndrew,a localpharmacist,andafiremanfromthenearbytownofEldon.Armed, liketheSWATteam,withpaintballguns,andprotectedbymotocrosshelmets,weweretoresistarrestasvehementlyaswecouldoncetheSWATteammadetheirmoveonourposition.Weweren’tsurewhenthatwouldbe,andwaitingtobeattackedhadeveryoneonedge.Especiallysincetheday’stwopreviousexercises—oneinanoldbarn,anotherataformerbatchsite inthewoods—hadgottenincreasinglyaggressive.Wewereallsupposedtobeacting.But theheatandtheisolationhadconspiredwiththeadrenaline,nearlyleadingtotwofistfights.Thefourteen-manSWATteamtookthetrainingseriously,bearingdowninfullbodyarmor,theirpaintballgunsdesignedtolooklikeautomaticweapons.Thetacklingandcuffingtookplaceatfullspeed.Ifoneofus“killed”oneof them,itwastakenasaveryrealfailure.Nowwe’dbeenwaitingfor twohoursintheheatof theriverbottomwhile theunseenSWAT

teambelly-crawledtowardourpositionthroughthecorn.Aswesataroundafirewebuilt in thesmallclearingwhereourimaginarylabwas, theadrenalineandfearkeeningthroughourbodiesgrewtemperedbyfatigue.SoMcAndrew,seatedina lawnchairwithhispaintgunacrosshis lapandhismotocrosshelmetproppedonhisforehead,begantellingstories.ThefirststorywasaboutafamousOttumwamethcook,whowasthirty-fiveyearsoldandlived

inanicethree-bedroomhousewithhis twenty-year-oldgirlfriend.Thiswasbackinthelate1990s,whenMcAndrew’steamwasraidinganaverageofonemethlabeveryfourdays.(Onetaskforcemember,DougHurley,personallyhelpedtodismantlefifteenhundredmethlabsinthefirstnineyearsheworkedinsoutheastIowa.)WhatMcAndrewandhismenfoundinthekitchenof thisparticularhousewasatypical“user

lab”:anelectricheatingpad,somechemistryglasswareandtubing,asmallmachinethatpoppedcoldpillsonesheetata timefromtheiraluminum-backedpackaging,afewkerosenecontainersfullofanhydrousammonia,andsomeColemanlanternfluid.Itwasenoughtomakethreetofivegramsofcrankata time.Or, ifdonewrong, toblowupthehouse.Inthelivingroom,saidMcAndrew,therewerethreeold-fashionedporcelainbathtubsfullof

humanexcrement.Moundsofexcrement,McAndrewsaid,neatlypiledas thoughtheshape—measuredbytheproportionof lengthtowidthtoheight, likeMayanorAztecruins—wereofutmostimportance.“Thiswasn’t justshit,”saidMcAndrew.“Itwasarchitecture.”Keptneatlyinmanilafolderswerehundredsofphotos.These, too,fit togetherwithwhat

McAndrew,inhisquietdrawl,called“somekindofahellofadeal.”Roughly, thecookandhis

girlfriendwouldgethighonmeth,whichtheylikedtodointravenously.Thenthecookwouldinstructhisgirlfriendtoinsertastore-boughtenemaintohissphincter.Next, tokeeptheenemafromcomingout,sheinsertedpigsinablanket,smallhotdogswrappedindoughsoldfrozeninbagsatthegrocerystore.Accordingtohisscientificallydetailednotes, thecook’srecordwastohaveonefullpoundofpigsinablanket inhisanusatonetime.Another timehisgirlfriendinsertedintohimsevenblowgundarts,a litcigar,andalargedildo,whichMcAndrewdescribedasbeingasbigaroundasaCokecan.Accordingtohis journals, themanwascapableofgoinguptotwodayswithoutdefecating.Whenhecouldnolongerholdall this insidehimself, itwasoff tooneof thebathtubs.Hecould, ifhetookenoughmethamphetamine,begintheentireprocessalloveragainfollowingjustafewhours’sleep.McAndrewsaidsuchbizarrescenarioswerenotuncommonbackwhenhome-cookedcrankstill

accountedforaquarterorsooftheOttumwamethmarket.Therealpointof thestory, though, isthatMcAndrewseesnodifferencebetweenthemanwiththeuser labandthetraffickerswhofollowhismen.McAndrewisn’t thetypetochoosehisbattlesor towalkawayfromafight.Heandhismenhadhandledthelocalmethmarketanditsusers justfine.Now,though, theywereconfrontingsomethingdifferent,anditwasn’tclearMcAndrewsawhowpoorlyequippedhemightbe.Bymidnight,McAndrewwasnearlydonetellinghisstory,pausingeveryfewminutestolookout

intothedarknessbeyondthefire.Thepharmacistandthefiremanwerequiet.Inthesullensilencetheyseemedtobewonderingwhereintheworldtheywere.Notbecausetheywereinacornfieldwaitingfor theSWATteamtoattackthem,butbecausetheywereinIowa,anditnolongerseemedrecognizable.Whenthepharmacistaskedwhathappenedtothemethcook,McAndrew’sstoryended,inaway,withthemanbeingsentencedtosixyears,andwithhimgettingoutof jail inninemonths.Inanotherway, thestoryendedlikethis:withtheenormousboomofaconcussiongrenade,

followedimmediatelybytheSWATteamracinginfromalldirections,weaponsraised,wearingfullbodyarmorandnight-visiongoggles,screaming,“Police!Police!Getonyourknees!”Unliketheday’stwopreviousscenarios, theydidnotwaitforustoshootfirst this time.

CHAPTER13

DISCONNECTEDSTATES

ThomasP.M.BarnettandMoisésNaímaretwopost-cold-warthinkerswhohavecometoprominencerecently.Areadingof theirworksuggestsaframeworkforunderstandingthechangingmannerinwhichOttumwaandOelweinfit intotheworld—andultimately,howmethhasbecomesuchaninherentpartof life there.Barnett isaprofessorandresearcherat theU.S.NavalWarCollege.Oneof theanchorsofhisworldview,asputforthinhisbookThePentagon’sNewMap,is theideathatnationscanbedividedintotwotypes: the“functioningcore”andthe“non-integratedgap,”or“disconnected”states.Theformer—theG8,plusMexico,Brazil,Taiwan,Australia,andothersimilar industrializednations—playbyone“ruleset”predicatedonglobalpoliticalandeconomicintegration.Thelatter—andforBarnett this includesmostof theworld’snations—areacollectionofroguestates,batteredeconomicandpoliticalshellstates,dictatorships,andotherwisewaywardentities.Thisnon-integratedgapreliesonaseparaterulesetpredicatedontheblackmarketandthemovementofgoodsandservicesthatarea threat tothestabilityof thefunctioningcore.Theglobaldrug-traffickingbusinessisbynaturedisposedtooperateoutsidetheboundsof law,

politics,andtraditionaleconomics.Though,as themethtradehasshown,thisdoesn’tstoptraffickersfromfunctioningintandemwith,orfrompreyingon,governmentpolicyandstablefinancialsystems.Onemightsaythat themakersanddistributorsofnarcoticsfunctionasadisconnectedstate,whichnonethelessexerts tremendousinfluencewithinthebordersandculturesofnationswithoutregardtowhether they’refunctioningordisconnected—globalizedormarginalized.Andjustasmethamphetaminefromthenon-integratedgapstateofNorthKoreatravels tothecorenationsofJapanandAustralia,sotoodoespseudoephedrinefromthecorenationofIndiagetshippedtoMexico(anothercorenation),whereit ismadeintocrankwhichissent totheUnitedStates(perhapsthecorenation).Thishappensthroughaloosenetworkofmarketforcesthatcombinetheideasofconnectivityanddivisiondeepwithinthesameborders.ThestateofMichoacán,Mexico, isanexample,asarethecitiesofNuevoLaredo,Juárez,Nogales,andMatamoros,whereeventheMexicanarmyholdsnosway.Butwhatabout insidetheUnitedStates?WhataboutCalifornia’sCentralValley;or theso-called

Methlehemsectionof tinyOelwein,Iowa;or thetinierstill townofBenton,Illinois?WhataboutAlgonaandLuVerneandCongressmanSouder’spoultry-richThirdDistrictofnortheasternIndiana?Howconnected,really,aretheseplacestotherestof theUnitedStates,andtotheworld?Insomeways, thelinkisclear.Thereisaverygoodchance,forexample, thatmostofwhatyouate todaycamefromtheCentralValley,whethereggsorbeefordatesororangesor lettuce.Thechickenyouhadlastnightstandsabetter-than-averagechanceofhavingcomefromsomewherewithinahundredmilesofFortWayne,Indiana.Inanotherway, though,manyof thetownsof theruralUnitedStatesarequitedisconnectedfrom

therestof thenation.Povertyratesarehigher,fewerpeoplehaveachievedsecondarylevelsofeducation,andsubstanceabuseisfarmoreprevalent thaninurbanAmerica.It’sworthnotingthat

thereasonyourdinnermovesanaverageoffifteenhundredmiles togetfromitssourcetoyourplate isbecausethesource—orsources,really—isdeterminedbycompanieslikeTysonandCargillandConAgrabasedonwheretheycanpaythecheapest laborcosts.Barnettposits thatwhenonepieceisnolongerpartof thesystem—thatis,whenit isdisengagedfromthestandardrules—everyoneisvulnerable.OelweinmaylookverydifferentfromIndependence,butOelwein’sproblemsnonethelessaffect itsneighbor.Oelwein’svulnerabilitiesareIowa’svulnerabilities,andAmerica’s.Naím,theeditor inchiefofForeignPolicymagazineandtheformerministerof tradeandindustry

ofVenezuela, issayingmuchthesamethingasBarnett is inhisbookIllicit.Rather thananation,thevictiminhisparadigmismorelikelyacarmanufacturer inDetroitwhosuffersfromChineseknockoffparts,orHollywoodtakingahitfromtheblackmarketDVDtradeintheGoldenTriangleofBrazil,Paraguay,andArgentina.ForNaím,wheneverythingandanythingcanessentiallybestolenbeforeitendsupinthehandsofconsumers,noonecanbetrulyinoculatedfromthe“system”ofchaos.Now,insteadofHollywoodDVDsorcars, thinkof jobsinOelweinandOttumwa,GreenvilleandGooding.Whenthosetownsareintrouble,sotooareScarsdale,NewYork,andLadue,Missouri—thesecond-andfourth-richestcities inthenation,respectively.Theproofis in themeththatendsupinNewYorkorSt.Louisafterstoppingatasmall,ruraltranshipmentpoint.WereNaímorBarnettanepidemiologist, itstandstochancetheywouldgravitate towardthestudy

ofRNAviruses, liketheflu.Thepowerof thecommonflurelies inpartonwhat iscalledantigenicdrift,meaningthat,ashumansdevelopantibodiestowardoff infection, thevirusmutatesitsproteinssothat theantibodiescannolongerbindtotheviralsurface.Basically,youmakealock,andthevirusmakesakey.Whenthekeyturns,yougetsick.Whathappensonceina lifetime,onaverage, is that thesesameRNAviruses“reassort” themselves.That is thefearwithH5N1,commonlyreferredtoasbirdflu,whichplacesliketheCentersforDiseaseControlandtheWorldHealthOrganizationarecarefullymonitoring.Thefear is that thisparticularstrainoffluwill“figureout”howtoadopt(orco-opt) thegeneticattributesof thesameregularoldinfectionthatmakeslargenumbersofpeopleintheworldvomitandfeelpunyforafewdaysoraweekeachyear.Byrearranging,orreassorting, itsRNA,H5N1couldtheoreticallyusethecommonflutomakethejumpfromchickensandduckstohumans.Onceahumanfalls illwithbothflus, thetwoviruseswouldbeabletoreplicateinthesamecellsat thesametime,resultinginanantigenicshift.Thekeytounlockyourimmunity, ifyouwill,wouldbepassedalongwitheverysneezeandcoughoneveryairplaneandineveryofficearoundtheworldinamatterofdaysorweeks.AsaUCLAprofessorwrites inhisopeninglectureforaclassonviralepidemiology,“this isnotgood!”Drugtraffickingisa lot likethecommonflu.It’s longbeenguaranteedtomutateperiodically

withinafairlyclosedsystem.Drugtraffickersstayaroundbymakingkeystogovernmentlocks,attimesbeforethelocksareeventhoughtof.This iswhathappenedwhentheDTOsbeganmovingtomethproductionviapseudoephedrineinanticipationof—asopposedtoasareactionto—GeneHaislip’s legislationin1996.Butdrugtrafficking,saysNaím,hasgottenaloteasier inthelasttwentyyears.Orat leasta lotharder tofollow.Traffickers, likeanRNAvirus,affectantigenicdriftall thetime,andinfectionscomeandgoasepidemicseverydecade:LSDandPCPintheseventies,cocaineintheeighties,crackintheearlynineties,andcrankeversince.Alladrugneedsinordertomutateisabodypolitic; theshiftoccurswherethatbodyisweakest—whereunemploymentishighandpovertyisrife,andpeoplearedisabusedof theirmarginalization,or their“disconnectedness”fromthe“core.”Theplaceswherethisoccursarenot just theroguestates that

Barnett imagines—theYemensandtheTajikistansandtheEcuadorsof theworld.The“core”hasholesof itsown, inOttumwaandOelwein, inCylinderandAlgona,andinElPaso.

Naímwrites thatsince“theearly1990s,global illicit tradehasembarkedonagreatmutation.It isthesamemutationasthatof international terroristorganizationslikeal-QaedaorIslamicJihad. . .Allhavemovedawayfromfixedhierarchiesandtowarddecentralizednetworks;awayfromcontrollingleadersandtowardmultiple, looselylinked,dispersedagentsandcells;awayfromrigidlinesofcontrolandexchangeandtowardconstantlyshiftingtransactionsasopportunitiesdictate.Itisamutationthatgovernments inthe1990sbarelyrecognizedandcouldnot, inanycase,hopetoemulate.”WhenIreadthat, it remindedmeofoneof thefearsIheardvoicedmanytimeswhileresearching

thisbook: thatdrugtraffickerswillsomedayteamwithterroristorganizations.Or,at theveryleast,toexploit thesameweaknessesinthesocialfabricthat theArellanoFelixOrganizationandtheGulfCartelhavesosuccessfullyexploited.Intruth, thishasalreadyhappenedat leastonce.In2001,TonyLoya—who’drunOperationSnowcapfromGuatemalabackin1987—retiredfrom

DEAandtookajobas thedirectorof theNationalMethamphetamineChemicalInitiative(NMCI).Hisjobwastotrackthemethbusinessonbehalfof theDepartmentofJusticeandtoanticipatetheDTOs’nextmoves.Loyanoticedthatgasstationsthatsellsoda,cigarettes,andbasicpharmaceuticalslikecoldmedicine—orwhatLoyacalls“stop-and-robs”—werebuyingenormousamountsofpill-formpseudoephedrine.Inaddition,thegasstationownershadspecialmachinesthatcouldpopentirerowsofpseudoephedrinepillsfromtheirblisterpacksinthewaythatagarlicpresssqueezesthemeatfromtheskin.IntheCentralValley,agentsfounddumpsites litteredwiththousandsofemptyblisterpacksneardismantledlabs.OnceLoyanoticedthis,hebeganinvestigatingwhether thesamethingwashappeninginother

areasof thecountry.Itwas:conveniencestoresinNewJerseyweredoingthesamething.Asitturnsout, theJerseystoreswereownedbyYemeninationalswhowerenotonlyimportingbulkcoldmedication; theywereillegallyimportingpowderedpseudoephedrineandroutingit totraffickingorganizations.WhenDEAmovedtoclosedowntheirbusinesses, theYemenismovedtoCanada,mostlytoTorontoandMontreal,wheretherewerenolawsgoverningtheimportationofbulkpseudoephedrine.TherewasnothingLoyacoulddo.By2002,DEAagentshadinformedLoya,whocultivates lawenforcementcontacts theworld

over, thathigh-levelMexicantraffickersweregoingregularlytoDetroit.Loyaknewfromothercontacts thatproductionofmethintheCentralValleywasexpandingexponentially,andreasonedthat theMexicanswerecourtingtheYemenisbymeetingtheminDetroit,closetotheYemenis’hometurf.Onahunch,LoyaauthorizednighttimesurveillanceofremoteroadsatCanadianpointsofentry.Wheretheretypicallywouldn’thaveevenbeenanycarsatnight,hesaid, thevideocaughtimagesofdozensofeighteen-wheelers.Whensearched,severalof thevehicleswerefoundtohaveloadsofpseudoephedrinehiddeninthefenderwells.Soon,saidLoya, inanindicationthat therelationshipbetweentheDTOsandtheYemeniswas

becomingstrongerthanever,theYemenisbegantravelingtoseetheirMexicanpartners intheMexicans’backyard:LasVegas.“They’dhavethesebigdinners,”saidanotherformerDEAofficialwhoranwiretapsonthedinner

meetings.“Lotsofwine—verylovey-dovey.Thenwe’dget thetapesbackfromourwiretaps,andtheMexicanswouldcall theirfriendsbackinCaliforniaandsay,‘If itweren’tfor themoney,I’dkill theseheathenMoorsonsofbitches.’AndtheYemenisareintheirhotelroomsonthephone

withTorontosaying,‘If itweren’tfor themoney,I’dkill thosestinkingCatholic infidelsonsofbitches.’”Thewiretapsalsorevealedthat theYemeniswerefunnelinghundredsofmillionsofdollars tothe

terroristorganizationHamas.Itwasjust luck,saidTony, thathewasabletoput together theclues.Intheend,anymovesagainst theDTOswerejustaminorirritation,for therealconnection

betweendrugsandterror isseeninBarnett’sconceptof“disconnected”statesandNaím’s“invisibleborder.”TheDTOssimplyreassortedthemselves,movingproductionfromtheisolatedfarmlandsofCalifornia’sCentralValleytotheMexicanstateofMichoacán,for thereasonthat,asanotherformerDEAagentdescribedit,“thefurtheryougetfromthelimitedbandwidthofcontrolsurroundingtheseatofgovernment, themoreautonomousandlawlessthingsget.”MichoacánisseveralstatesremovedfromMexicoCity, thecountry’scapital.TheformerDEAagentwenton,“Wewon’tevensendagents toMichoacán—they’dbekilledimmediately.EvenMexicanfederalpeoplecan’tget inthere.It’s likeitsownnationwithinMexico, inthesamewaythatallmajor traffickingpoints—Juárez,Nogales,etcetera—arelikecity-states.There’snowaytocontrol themcentrally.”That lackofcontrolextendsnorthoftheborder,all throughout thepoor,disconnectedpartsof theUnitedStates.InOttumwa,TomMcAndrewis tryingtofigureouthowtokeephismenfromhavingtheirfamilieskilled.

TwoweeksbeforemeetingRudy,I’dbeeninGeorgiaandAlabamainthewakeofHurricaneKatrina.I’dgonetherebecause,accordingtoTonyLoya,recordamountsofmethhadbeenflowingintotheareafromtheEastTexasborderduringthepastfewmonths.TherehadbeenanincreaseindrugcartelviolencearoundthesiblingtownsofLaredoandNuevoLaredothathadmadeeverymajorAmericannewspaper’sfrontpageoffandonforweeks.TheMexicangovernment, inreaction,hadsent inthearmy.Thedruglords, incounter-suit,hadredoubledtheirattacksononeanother.Tothatend, theyhadbegunemployingagangknownastheZetas,formerAmerican-trainedmembersoftheMexicanspecialforces.Onemorning,I’dspokenwithSherriStrange, thentheDEAspecialagent inchargeof theAtlanta

office.Accordingtoher,themethmarket inherseven-stateareawassogoodthatmanyof theZetashadgoneintobusinessfor themselves,armedwiththeirexpertiseinsurveillance,weaponry,andcounterintelligence.“TheDTOsholdAtlanta,”saidStrange.“Andthey’rehereinawaythat, tome,after twenty-five

yearsbeingonthestreetandinchargeinvariouslocations, isfrightening.WeusedtohaveMexicans—andexcusetheterm,I’monlytalkingaboutafewbut,I’msorry,all thebigplayersareMexican—thatwereprettyminorleague.Theywerejustguystryingtomakeenoughmoneyinayear togobackhomeandretire.Now,inthelasteightmonths, there’saseachange.We’regettingtraffickerswhoareashighlytrainedasweareinintelligencegathering,evasiontechniques,weapons.They’rescary.Icanliterallywalkdownthestreet—andthishappenedhereawhileback—andjustknowwhat’sgoingon.Youseethem,ifyouknowwhat tolookfor,andyoujust think,‘OhmyGod.’”Later in2005,Iwent tomeetAlexGonzalez,anofficerwiththeHooverPoliceDepartment, in

Alabama’spoultry-richnortherntier.Aninterdictionspecialist,meaningthathepullscarsandtrucksoverandsearchesthem,Gonzalezandhispartnerarealsopartof thevastwebofpeoplewhokeepTonyLoyaapprisedofwhat’shappeningonthefringesof thenarcoticsworld.Describingtherelationshiphehaswiththetraffickers,Gonzalezsaid,“We’llgeta loadoneday,abigone,maybeahundredpoundsofcrystalheadedtoAtlanta.Ormaybe$1.2millionincashheadedbackto

Mexico.Andthatnight thetraffickerscallyouonyourcellphoneandsay,‘Nicejob,man!Thatwasabigbust!’It’s likewe’refriendly,almost—jokingwitheachother.Thentheyaskaboutyourwife,anditgetsverycreepy; theywantyoutoknowhowmuchthey’vegotonyou.Theysay,‘Toobadwhileyouweretakingthefivehourstodealwiththathundredpounds,wegotanother thousandpoundspastyou.’Thehundredpoundswerejustadecoy.”Hewenton:“Theywatchuswatchingthem.Their‘counterintelligence’ issosuperior toour

‘intelligence’—andIcan’tstressenoughwhatabullshitwordthat is—that it’s justnocontest.Youtaunteachother, likeit’sagame,but it’sagametheyalwayswin.“What’snotagameis that, ifdrugorganizationscannotonlygetmajorshipmentspastusevery

day,butcanknowhowmuch theygotpastandcan laughat it—ifthey’rewatchingthatclose—what’retheterroristsdoing?I’ll tellyouwhat they’renotdoingisadvertising.It’snotagametothem,Iwouldn’t think.Andwhat if theygointobusinesstogether?They’vedoneitbefore.Thenwhat?”

CHAPTER14

KANT’SREDEMPTION

Mylast triptoOelweinwasinmid-December2007.AstheplaneflewwestfromNewYork,anicestormworkeditswayeast.Imet theweatheratO’HareAirport,whichclosedformostofaday; thatwaswhereIspent thenight.Bylate thefollowingafternoon, theglareoff thefrozenfieldsalongHighway150wasdizzying,andthesleet turnedtosnowandbacktosleetagain.ItsnowedthewholeweekIwasinOelwein; thehightemperaturewaseighteendegrees.Thiswasonlythebeginningofa longwinter.ByApril,FayetteCountywouldgetnearlyeightfeetofsnow.DriftsattheLeins’farmwouldbefortyfeethighwherethewind,withnothingtostopitforwhatseemedlikea thousandfeaturelessmiles,hadpiledituptotheroofof thehouse.Onthefirstmorningof that last trip,NathanandIgot inhiswhitedieselJetta(itnowhad

222,000milesonit,45,000morethanwhenI’dfirstmethim)andheadedtocourt inWestUnion.Nathanwasdressedinhiscustomarygraysuitandwhiteshirt.Hishairwascarefullygelled,andhehadonhisclassringfromLutherCollege.JamiehadonceagaingottenajobcontractingwithDHS,andwasnolongerbartendinginStrawberryPoint.Thingsaroundthehouseweremuchbetterfor it.Betterstill,mostofJamie’scasesweredowninIndependence.Thismeantshedidn’trunintoclients’families,oreventheclientsthemselves,whileoutandabout inOelwein.AndsheandNathandidn’thavetoworryabout influencingeachother’sviewsofpeoplewhom,for instance,Nathanmightbeprosecuting,evenasJamiewasattemptingtopersuadethecourtnot totaketheirchildrenaway.It’sa thirty-minutedrivefromOelweintoWestUnion.Whenit’s threedegreesFahrenheit,witha

windchillof twenty-sevenbelow,it takeshalf that timefor theJetta’sheat tokickin.Aswedrove,NathanandI lookedforpheasantsalongthesideof theroad,comingoutof thedrawsandcreekbottomstopeckatwastegrainfallenoff thefarmtrucks.Whenwesawthem—inpairsandthrees, theirgreenandredheadsiridescent intheharsh,slantinglight—Nathanmadeanoteofwhosefieldtheywereon.Thatway,wecouldcomebackintheafternoonandaskthefarmerforpermissiontohuntonhisproperty.Atonefencecrossing,wesawanentirecoveyofbirds,promptingmetowhistleandslapthedashboardwithexcitement.“Uh-uh,”saidNathan.“Amish.”TheAmishdidn’t letnon-Amishhuntontheir land,andviceversa.Not that therewasanyreal

antipathybetweenthetwogroupsinandaroundOelwein.Rather, therewererulesofengagement,whichservedtohighlight thedifferencesbetweentheMennonitesandtherestof thecommunity.EvenwhentheAmishcametotownandparticipatedinthewiderworld, theyinvariablymanagedtoset themselvescompletelyapart.Thenightbefore,Iwasat theKumandGogasstationwhenanenormousbluevanpulledin.NofewerthanfifteenAmishmen,noneofwhomweretechnicallyallowedtooperategasorelectricmachinery,pouredoutof thevan,whichhadfiverowsofseats.Thefirstdayofdeerseasonhad—inaccordancewiththesemi-religiousaspectofthesport innorthernIowa—endedatsundown.TheAmishmenhadhiredthevananddriver totakethemtoapieceofstate landcalledtheVolgaRiverWildlifeManagementAreatohunt thatday;attachedto

thebackfenderof thevanwasaheavy,gratedcagethatcouldbeusedforhaulingequipment,butinthiscasewasstackedwithfourguttedwhitetailbucks.AllfifteenAmishmen, includingelderlymenandboysintheir teens,eachwithabeardandnomustache—orinthecaseof theboys,adustingofpeachfuzzalongtheir jaw—walkedsinglefile intotheKumandGotoeatmicrowavedburritosanddrinksteamingblackcoffeefromStyrofoamcups.Despite theviolentcold, theyworecollaredwhiteshirts,navybluesuitsof thickwool,andrubberknee-highboots.Inorder tocomplywithstatehuntingregulationstheyeachhadpulledahunter-orangestockingcapoverthecrownoftheirstrawhatandfasteneditwithsafetypins.WhentheAmishleft thegasstation,everyoneinlinewatchedthem.ThensomeonesaidtheywereYoders.“Notheyain’t,either,”saidthecashier.“ThemareBontragers,noquestion.”Coveyofpheasantsornot,askingtheAmishforpermissiontohuntwasn’tgoingtohappen.Not

that itwasofanyconsequence,for theprincipalmotivationbehindgoinghuntingwasless tohuntandmoretospendtimewithNathan,whom,ashadhappenedwithClayHallberg,I’dlongbeforecometothinkofasafriend.OnthedrivetoWestUnionthatmorning,NathanandI,promptedbythefact thatI’dgottenmarriedtwomonthsbefore, talkedabouthisrelationshipwithJamie.Nathansaiditwashardtoimaginehimselfgettingmarried.Thinkingabout itwasa littlebit likeimaginingdeath,oreternity:whenheclosedhiseyesandlookedintoit, thedarknessclosedinallaround.Itwasbetter tokeephiseyesopen.“Idon’tknowifIcantrustanyonelikethat,”hesaid.“Or,frankly, ifIcanbetrustedwith

someone’sheart.”NathansaidhisfatherstillaskedaboutJamie,despite thefactNathanhadnotbroughther tothe

farminnearlyayear.Hismother, though,saidNathan,neverbreathedawordaboutJamie.Whilehisfather’sgood-naturedinquiriesfelt toNathanlikethefaintestkindlingoffamilialwarmthandacceptance,hismother’ssilencewaslikeabucketofcoldwater,Nathansaid.Eventually,Nathanbeganignoringhisfather’squestionsaltogether, leavingthemtosmolderanddiebeneaththeweightofhismother’scoolness.Itwasnothardtoimaginethethreeof theminthetinyfarmkitchen,bundledinwool, takingaquick,standingdinneronabrutalwinternightbeforegoingbackintothebarntohelptheeweslambout.Briefly, theywouldall lookat thegreen,peelinglinoleumfloortowhichhisfather’squestionshadsilentlyfallen.Norwasithardtoseehow,eventually,Nathan’sfatherwouldsurelystopaskingaboutJamie.AsfarasNathanwasconcerned, thiswasfine—atleastuntilhefiguredoutsomeotherwayto

dealwithit.WhenIwonderedaloudwhat thatwaymightbe, therewasa longsilencewhilewebothpretendedtolookacrossthefrozenplainforpheasants.FinallyNathansaid,“Jamiedoesn’tcomplain,butIknowit’shardforher.”Nathanwasfullyawarethathewascrippled,asheput it,byanirrationalfearofconflict.He

knewJamiewasnotgoingtowaitaroundforever.Shehadturnedthirty-onein2007.Shewantedtogetmarriedandhavechildren,andshewantedtodothosethingswithNathanLeinandnooneelse.They’dbeenlivingtogetherclosetoeighteenmonths.Jamiewantedtobeincludedinhisplansabout thefarm.Yet,stillsheatedinneraloneinNathan’shouseonthenightshewasathisparents’place,orelseshetriedtoworklateherselfsothey’dgethomeat thesametime.Sometimesshedidn’tknowwhatshewasdoing,cominghometoahousethatwasn’thers,sittingtherealonewaitingwhile themanshewantedtohaveafamilywithatedinnerwithhisfamily.Thenagain,shedidn’tknowwhatelseshecoulddo.Tosaythat itwashardforJamie—andforNathan—doesn’tquitegivethesituationitsdue.“I’msurethateventually,”saidNathan,“somethingwillgive.Till then,hereweare.”

Withthat,wepulledintothecourthouseparkinglot, theJetta’s tiresmakingasoundlikecrinklingpaperonthefrozencrustof thesnow.ItwaseightA.M.sharp.Withnoovercoaton,Nathanstoodbehindhiscarforafewlongmoments,withhisbriefcaseontheice-slickedtrunk,goingthroughhispapersas thoughthecoldwereofnoconcern.

TheFayetteCountyCourthouse, inWestUnion,wasbuilt in1905.Inside, thereisamarbleatrium,andthreestoriesaboveit,anenormousroundskylightofgreenstainedglass.Everythingiscleanandpolished, includingthegranitedrinkingfountains,whicharethesizeofa tollbooth.Thestaircaseismarble,andNathanandIwalkeduptothethirdfloor,pastmothersandfathers inworkpantsandparkassittingwiththeirchildrenoncomfortablebenchesinthehigh-ceilingedhallwayoutsidethejuvenilecourtroom.Beyondthiswasanoldoakdoorwithaplaquethatsaidlawlibrary.Onabenchbesidethatdoorsattwoyoungmeninorangejump-suits, theirhandsmanacledtochainsontheirwaists,andfromthere, tocuffsontheirankles.“Howdy,”saidoneman.“Backagain,”saidNathan,as thoughheweretalkingtosomeonewho’djust leftastoreandthen

returned,havingforgottensomethingonhisshoppinglist.TheLawLibraryiswherethethreeFayetteCountyassistantprosecutorsandthevariousprivate

andstatedefenseattorneyshavetheircoffeeandgoover theday’scaseswithoneanother.TheLawLibrary,withits twelve-foot-highbookshelvesofpolishedcedar,hardlyhasa tenseatmosphere, inpartbecauseveryfewcasesareactuallytriedinFayetteCounty.Muchofwhathappensisconfinedtotheworkmanlikeproceduralsofpleabargains,parolerenewals,andcounty-jail incarcerations.Addtothis thatmanyof theattorneyshavebeencomingherefivemorningsaweekforoneor twodecades—andwillcontinuetodosountil theyretire—andtheresult isameasureoffamiliaritythatwouldbeunattainablein,say,Miami-DadeCounty.Streamliningone’sstrategywithanopponentnotonlygetseveryoneoutofcourtsooner; it isalsosimplyamatterofcourse,andabenefitof theattorneys’personalfluency.Fromthewindowinthecourtroom,threestorieshighinabuildingthatsitsonaslightriseinthe

prairie,onecanseetheFirstNationalBankandSteege’sdrugstoreacrossthestreet,andbeyondthem,over thetopsof thesurroundinghouses,thethirtyorsorollingmilesstretchingeastbetweenWestUnionandMississippiLockandDamNumber10,near theconfluenceof theWisconsinRiver.Alongtheway, thereareElginandGunder,St.OlafandFarmers-burg,FroelichandMcGregor.Halfwaytotheriver, thelandbucksandjumps, therivervalleystightenas thegradeincreases,andthereisaproliferationoftimberandcoal.Twelvethousandyearsago,anicebergthesizeofWisconsinflattenedmostofIowa,andasitreceded,depositedscreeandlimealongwhatwouldonedaybecalledtheMississippi.Fora time, this tinyareaofIowawascalledLittleSwitzerland,solushandfertiledidthehillsappear tothePrussiansandAustrianswhosettledthosevalleysinthe1850sand’60s.Firstonthedocket thatmorningwasthemaninshackleswho’dsaidhellointhehallway.Though

helookedtwenty-five,hewasinfact thirty-eight.Hehadblondhair,ablondbeard,blueeyes,andanoselikeafalcon’sbeak.Heenteredhispleaofguiltywithagood-humoredtingeofaMinnesotanaccent.Hewasafamiliarsight intheFayetteCountyCourt,andhe’dbeen, likeRolandJarvis, in the

clinkoffandonforyears.Severalmonthsbefore,he’dbeenputonprobationfordrivingundertheinfluenceofanillegalsubstance, inthiscasemeth.Aweekago,he’dbeenpickedupafterdrivingerraticallyupinWinneshiekCounty,northeastofFayette.Nowheclaimednottoknowthatboth

drivingandleavingthecountyviolatedthetermsofhisprobation.Nathanhadgrownwearyofhim.Sippinghiscoffeehalfanhourbefore,Nathanhadsaidtothejudge,whosat justafewfeetawayfromtheattorneysintheLawLibrary,fillingoutpapers:“Ican’tstanditwhensomeonepatronizesme.”“Meneither,” thejudgehadsaidwithout lookingup.ThenNathansaidhewantedthemaximum

sentenceof threeyears.Thejudgeandthedefenseattorneyagreed.What theyallknewwasthatbecauseofovercrowdingintheIowaprisonsystem,themanwouldbeout insixmonths.Inthecourtroom,itwasamatterofgoingthroughtheformalitiesofreadingtothemanthe

charges, themeaningofhisplea,thebasisforsentencing,andthephilosophical tenetsonwhichrestthepowertoincarcerateahumanbeinginthestateofIowa.Fromthebench, thejudgestartedbyreadingallof this.Thenherecitedtherestfrommemorywhilefillingoutpaperwork,onlyoccasionallyglancingupathischarge.Thejudgehadawhitebeardandwhitehair,andhe’drecentlyretired.HeandhiswifewereplanningtodrivetheircampertoFlorida,but thecountyhadaskedthejudgetocomebacktoworkuntilhisreplacementcouldbehired.He’dagreed,buthispatiencewasshort.He’djust turnedseventy,andhewastiredof thecold.Whenhewasdonewiththesentencing, thejudgelookedupandsaidtothedefendant,“Youcan’t

expectmetobelievethatyou,assomethingofaprofessional inthegoofing-updepartment,didn’tknowwhatprobationmeans.Canyou?”“No,sir,”saidtheman.“Ican’t.”Thejudgeshruggedandshookhisheadlightly.Lookingbackdownathismountainofpaperwork,

hesaid,“Well,goodluck.”

ClayHallberghadlaboredduringmuchof2006andpartof2007toshoreupOelwein’scriticallythinaddiction-counselingalternatives.He’dsucceededinhelpingtoconvincetheIowaChildHealthSpecialtyClinics toopenanofficejust twodoorsdownfromtheHallbergFamilyPractice.Staffedwithfourwomen,allofwhomwerecapableofofferinghelptochildrenwhoseparentswereaddictedtometh, theclinichadquadrupledtheavailableassistanceina townthat—thoughithadcomealongwayinthreeshortyears—stillhadlittlerecourseforaddictsandtheirfamilies.But itwasastart,andbyplayingaroleingettingtheclinic toOelwein,Clayfelt involvedinhis town’srevival.ItwasalsoameansbywhichClayalleviatedtheguilthefeltforresigningaschiefofstaffatMercy,andforhis increasingdesire toshut thedoorsof theseventy-year-oldHallbergFamilyPractice.Clayhadbeensoberforovereighteenmonths.It lenthim,hesaid, increasinglyclear insight into

things,someofwhichwasquitepainful.Partof that insightwasthathe’dbeen,asheput it,cuttinghisnosetospitehisfaceregardingmedicine.Soinsteadoffightingtwobattleshecouldn’twin—namely,against theinsurancecompaniesandagainstwhathesawasimmoralhiringpracticesatMercyHospital—he’drolleduphissleevesandgottenbacktobasics,workingonacontractbasisinacoupleofruralemergencyrooms.Themoneywasgood, theexcitement levelwashigh,andtherewardswereimmediate.Ratherthanhavingtoolittle timetotreatsomeonelivingthroughtheprolongedhellofmethaddictionorcancer,Claycouldconcentrateonjustgettingsomeonethroughtheafternoon,orkeepinghimalivetillmorning.Itwasthemedicalequivalentof theAlcoholicsAnonymousphilosophythathadsavedClay’s life:onedayata time.Despite thesedevelopments, in theharsh,fluorescentreflectionofClayHallberg’scontinuing

sobriety,his lifedidnotlookthesametohimasithadwhenhe’dbeendrinking.Someaspectswereworsethanthey’deverbeen,saidClay.Hisbloodpressurehadgottensooutofcontrol that

hebeganfearingforhiswell-being.Whatwasbecomingclear tohiminhissobriety,too,hesaid,wasthathismarriageneededsomeseriousattention.Orrather, ithadlongagotohimbegunneedingattention,andhewasjustnowabletoseethis.ThemanwhopromotedWhorfianlinguisticsandthefluidcommunicativeharmoniesofmusichadfoundhe’dlost theabilitytospeakmeaningfullytohiswifeof twentyyears.Whentheytalked,hesaid, theymadenosensetoeachother.OneeveningafterdinneratLasFlores,ClayandIwentacrossthestreet toVonTuck’sBier

Haus.MorethananyotherplaceinOelwein,VonTuck’scapturesthetown’sdesireforupwardmobilitybytakingthedrinkingtraditionof thenorthernMidwestandelevatingit toa leveloffineryunseenanywhereelseintown.Evenasoberdoctorcanfeelathomethere.Top-shelfwhiskeyslineVonTuck’spolishedbar, it’snot loud,andthebartenderisniceevenifhedoesn’tknowyou.Itwashere,whiledrinkingaDietCokeandchain-smokingMarlboroLights, thatClaydescribedhismostrecentepiphany.“I’mabastard,okay?”hesaid.Iwaitedamoment, thinkingtherewasmore.Therewasn’t.“That’s it.That’s thedeal:I’mashit,andnowIcanstop.”This insightwasn’tvisitedonhiminablindingflashof light,saidClay.Therewasnocollision,

thelikesofwhichhadkilledhismother threeyearsago.This leapofunderstandingdidnot, liketheClydesdale,boltunseenfromthehighwayditchinthemiddleof thenight,crushingthevehicleofClay’s intellect,shatteringtheemotionalwindshieldthroughwhichhe’dlongviewedhimself.Itwasnotaeuphoricrealization,not liketakingallhisneurotransmittersandputtingtheminashotglassandswallowingthematonce.Biochemistry,hydrology,genealogy,physics,Egyptology—thetruthwassomuchmorerealtohimthananyof thathadeverbeen.Hisbloodpressure,hesaid,hadgonewaydown.“I’mlikeafuckinglizard, it’ssolow,”hesaid.

HewasfocusedintheER,notworryingaboutmakingmistakes,orabout tryingtosavepeoplewhohadn’tevenwalkedinoff thestreetyet.“Idrovemyself todrink,”hesaid.“Iprobablydroveeveryonearoundmecrazy.Eitherway, it

doesn’tmatter.I’mnotanyonebutme.Whenyou’reashit,youthinkyou’reotherpeople.Youthinkforotherpeople.AllIhavetodoisnot that.Therest’llworkout.”Helitanothercigarette.“Thethingis,Icouldneverbelievethat.Ididn’tknowhow.ButnowIdo.”

AfewmorebusinesseshadopenedinOelweinbythatDecember, includingLouAnn’sQuiltGardenoverbyJ&LSports,acrossfromthebuildingwhereMarieFerellhadbeenbludgeonedtodeathbyTonieBarrettbackin2005.LouAnnranquiltingclassesoutofabuildingthatsheandherhusbandbought,spurredonbythepromiseof taxbreaksthat thecitycouncilhadpassedtheyearbefore.NowLouAnnnotonlyhadhershopbutalsorentedthetwoapartmentsaboveit.Herquiltingretreatswerebookedthreeyears inadvance,mostlybymiddle-agedwomenwhowentwithLouAnntoMinneapolisorChicagoorKansasCitytoquilt,seemovies,andeatatgoodrestaurantsforafewdaysata time.TheQuiltGardenmadeforsomenicecross-trafficwiththenearbyMorningPerk,whichhadexpandeditscoffeeandbreakfastbusinesswithanadjacentknittingandcollagingshop.Outat theIndustrialPark, theOelweincampusofNortheastIowaCommunityCollegeandthe

accompanyingRegionalAcademyforMathandScience(RAMS)werenearlycomplete.Classeswerescheduledtostart in thefallof2008.Withthecallcenterstillhemmingandhawingaboutwhether tosetupshopinIndiaorOelwein,MurphyhadbegunconstructionofaTechSpecCenter,

asitwascalled, justeastof theRAMSbuilding.Meantime, theold160,000-square-footDonaldsonfactory,acrossthestreetfromtheCopShop,hadtwobrand-newoccupantsafterbeingemptyfornearlytwodecades.OnewasawindturbinecompanycalledSector5; theotherwasabatterymanufacturercalledEastPenn.Betweenthem,theyemployednearlyonehundredOelweiniansathourlyratesoffifteentotwenty-fourdollars,whichiswayabovethecountyaverage.Inrewardforhisefforts,LarryMurphyhadbeenelectedtohisfourthmayoral termonNovember

2,2007.Murphy’srenewaleffortswerefarfromdone; ifanything,hisconvictionhadredoubled,andhewasmoreconsumedthaneverbyhis town.Nextonhisagendawastoexpandwhathe’dcometocall the“downtownstreetscape”totwelveblocksfromthepresentseven.Thiswouldincludemoresewerandwater improvements,newplantingsandrepairedstreetlights,andconvertingmoreabandonedbuildingsintoattractivenewcommercialspaces.Murphywantedtrails intheparksandtwocity-runindoorswimmingpools tohelphis“communitywellness”agenda.Healsowantedthetwelve-blockareatohavemoreefficientgeothermalheatingandcooling, inorder tocutenergycosts.Hewantedtobeginseveralmorehousinginitiatives,whichwasstillaeuphemismforrazingabandonedandlow-incomerentalproperties.Tothisend,MurphywaspressuringNathantorunforcitycouncil.Landordinanceshad,underMurphy’sdirection,beenenforcedbythepolice.IfNathanbecamecouncilman,Murphywouldhaveanallyinsupportinghis initiatives.TheideathatNathanwouldrunforcitycouncilwasobviouslyanothersteptowardgroominghim

to“somedayrunthis town,”asMurphyoncetoldme.Nathanwasundecided.Foronething,heinsistedthathewasanintenselyprivatepersonandthatpoliticswouldneversuithimfor thatreasonalone.Foranother thing,Nathanlikedtosaythathedislikedalmosteveryonehemet, thoughtoseeNathansmilehiswaythroughacrowdis tobecertainthatquite theopposite is true.Infact,hisinsistenceonplayingthecantankerousoutsider ispreciselywhatwouldgiveNathanachanceintheAprilelectionandbeyond,ifhe—asClayHallbergposited—everdecidedtorunforstatecongress.It isworthnotingthatNathan’sisaninherentlyruralsensibility, insofarashecultivatesaquiet

dissatisfactionwiththeoutsideworldfromaself-consciousremove.Thedefensivenessinhisinsistencethathe“doesn’t likepeople”isaspalpableas theyearninginhishabitofsaying,“Thisis justOelwein; it’snotNewYork.”WatchNathanworkameet-and-greetatVonTuck’sBierHausinthepreelectionseasonasheweighshisdesire torunforcitycouncil,andyou’llknowthat,farfromnot likinganyone,helikeseveryone,andwishesnot tobemadevulnerablefor it. It’shislongingforapprovalandinclusionthatmakeshimdistrustful.HereNathan’sbehavior isallegorical.Adecadeago,OelweinwasthebuttofoneofJayLeno’s

jokesonTheTonightShow. Intheinterveningdecade,methcametosignifythedistillationofpovertyanddisenfranchisementinAmericatowhichLenospoke,whichis tosayitcametosignifytheruralUnitedStates,andultimately, thefullnessof itsoutsiderstatus.Oelweinwasthestandardbearer.Inthewakeof this, thetown’s—likeNathan’s—postureisacarefulbalanceofprideanddefensiveness.NotlongafterJayLeno’sjoke,LarryMurphybegantryingtofindaplaceforOelweininanew

world.It tookMurphyaconsiderableamountof timetobuildconsensusforhisfirst,giantstep,whichwastoregainsomebalance—vialarge-scaleeconomicreforms—againsttheunmovableweight thatadrughadcometorepresent.Thetown’sfightforbalancecanbeseeneverywhere—inthedowntownimprovementsandthedarkstreetsatnight intheNinthWard,andinNathan’sandClay’sandJarvis’sandMajor’sprivatelives.Jarvishadruinedhis lifefor inclusionintheglamourofall thatOelweinwasn’t in thelate1980sandearly1990s:theCorvettesandthemoneyandthe

promiseofwhatpeoplelikeLoriArnoldandJeffreyWilliamHayesseemedtooffer.Majorhadnearlyruinedhis lifeadecadelaterfor inclusionintheFamily.ClayHallberg, inrewardforhavingcomehome,wantedinclusioninhisfather’sworld, inwhichatownGPdidn’thavetofightthehospitalandtheinsurancecompanies.Inaway,itseemsthat, likeall thesepeople, theruralUnitedStateshasbeenfightingforbalancesincetheearly1980sandforacceptanceinanationintenselydividedbetweenthemiddleandthecoasts.Inthelastdecade,methhasbecomeanaptmetaphorfor thedivision.AndthoseconflictsevenexistwithinOelwein,wheremethonceagainprovidesthelexicon:eitheryouareashitbagtweakeroryouaren’t.Andwhile thereisnoreasontobeunfriendlyabout it—noreason, that is,not toexchangepleasantriesonthewayintocourt—everytimeNathanputa tweakerinjail, itpushedthebalanceslightlymoreintherightdirection.InNovember2007,MurphyhadorganizedwhathecalledaCommunityBurialCeremonyof

GloomandDoom.Whatwascontainedinthecoffincarriedbyaprocessionof townsfolkwerethesymbolicremnantsofOelwein’seconomicandsocialhelplessness.WhatMurphywantedtomakeclear,howevercornyitseemed,wasthatpeopleshouldnolongertakesufferingasapreconditionoftheir lives.Murphywantedpeopletofight,andtobeaggressiveandpridefulabout therebuilding.Asfaraswhat thechangeinonetownmightdorelativetothedirectionof therestofthecountry,MurphyandNathanandClaywereall tooawarethatwhathappenedinOelweinwasjustadropinthebucket.Therewasafeelingakintothatofacity-stateundersiege.Oelweinwasrepellingtheinvaders,but thatdidn’tmeantheyweregoingaway.Thelackofgoodjobswascertaintoremain,drugtraffickerswerelikelytokeepgainingafoothold,andthepopulationwoulddwindle,whetherornotcornpricesstayedhighandthelocalbusinessesallswitchedtogeothermalheating.AsNathanandI talkedabout thisoneevening,Iaskedhimifhe’dconsiderrunningformayor

onceMurphwasnolongerinoffice.Wewereinhisgarage.Thefire inthestovewasout,andwewerecuttingkindlingtoget itgoingagain.“Yes,”saidNathan,“Iwould.”Itwasoneof theonlytimesintwoandahalfyearsat thatpoint thatIheardNathanspeakof the

futurewithanutter lackofequivocation.LarryMurphyhadchangedthings, indeed.

CHAPTER15

INDEPENDENCE

Onenightonthat last triptoIowa,IdrovedowntoIndependencetoseeMajor.WhenIarrived,hewasbabysittinghissonBuck,whowasnowfouryearsold.Majorwasstill livingwithhisparents,JosephandBonnie.That theytrustedMajorenoughtogotoapartythatnightwasagreatimprovementsincethesummerof2005.Backthen,freshoffahorriblethreeyearsduringwhichMajorandhisgirlfriendwouldbreakintoSteveandBrenda’shometostealwhat theycouldinorder tosell ittobuymoremeth,Major’sparentswereafraidtoleavehimaloneforevenfifteenminutes.Nowhisparentswereonceagainconsideringsomethingtheythought they’dneveragainhavethechancetodo: takeoneof theirbelovedfishingtripstoCanadanextsummer.WhenIgot tohisparents’house,Majorwasdrinkingabeerandchewingtobaccoasheprepared

Buck’ssupperofmicrowavedtomatoandcheesepizza.Buck,oncethechildwiththehighesthair-folliclecountofmethamphetamineinthehistoryof thestateofIowa,waswatchingTVfrominsideaforthe’dbuiltbyanchoringonesideofablanketbeneaththecouchcushionsandtheothersidebeneathheavybooksontopof thecoffeetable.Onbothsides,he’dstackedcardboardbricksfromthefloortotheblanket-rooftomakewalls.Buckpeeredat thetelevisionoutofaholehe’dleft inthebricks.OnTV,BugsBunnyattemptedtooutwitYosemiteSam,whointhisversionplayedthepartofaFrenchchefhell-bentonfricasseeingrabbitfordinner.Presently,Buckdestroyedtheforthehadcreatedandmarchedintothekitchen.“What?”saidMajor.“Dinnertime,”saidBuck.“Becauseyou’retheboss?”“Yes,”saidBuck.“Andbosshungry.”AsBucksatonthecouchandate,Majorupdatedmeonall thathadbeengoingon.Wordslike

sexandbeerandmethhadtobespelledout,sinceBuckwasinthestagewhereherepeatedeverythingheheard,andwasbeginningtoaskquestionswithdifficultanswers.All inall,saidMajor,Buckwasdoingverywell.Developmentally,hewasstillaheadof thegame.What twoyearsbeforehadbeenapersonablehabitofmakingeyecontactandsmilingshylyhadmorphedintoapracticeofholdingone’sgazewhileaskingaquestion—“Whoyou?”he’daskedmewhenIwalkedin—andthenmaintainingeyecontactwhile theanswercame:thehabitofaboss,forsure.WhathadnotchangedsinceI’dlastseenhim,saidMajor,wasthefear thatoneday,outof the

blue,BuckwoulddevelopsomekindofproblemthatwasadirectresultofMajor’sheavymethuse.Theideaof this—andthat itmight,nomatterhowmanystridesMajormadeinhis life,becomeasuddenandcrushingreality—grewinsideMajor likeabenigntumorthatcould,atanymoment,metastasizeintoaninoperablecancer.Theverynotionthat innocent, tinyBuckmightbevictimizedbyhisfather’spastwasstillenoughtomakeMajorwant togoandfinishhimselfoffwithonelast,superlativelyfreeingcrankoverdose.Researchregardingthelong-termeffectsofmethexposureinchildrenwas,as ithadbeenin

2005,still inconclusive.UniversityofTorontopharmacologyprofessorDr.SeanWells toldme,

“It’llbetwodecadesbeforethereareanyfirmfindings,”since“long-termeffectscannotbestudiedintheshort term.”ForBuckandMajor,nonewswasgoodnews.But thesamelackof informationalsoallowedMajor’s imaginationtoreinforcehissenseofguilt. ItwasacruelfateforsomeonelikeMajor,whosobadlywantedtobelikedthathehadeasilyfallenundertheswayof theSonsofSilence, towhomhestill referredas theFamily.Majorwasalonewithhisself-loathing,whichat timesextendedtoBuck, thebearerofhisfather’ssins, thevesselholdingthedespicableremnantsofhisparents’all-too-presentpast.Majorsaidhestill feltfarfromacceptedbypeopleinIndependence.Withthehelpofmethand

theFamily,hesaidhe’dputhimselfatafarremovefrommostofAmericansociety,andthisattimesonlyfurther temptedhimtoreturntohisoldlife.ThehelpMajorgotfromhisparentswasremarkable, thoughtheirrelationshipcontinuedtobefraughtwithdifficulties.Buck’smotherwasstillmeth-addictedandstill livingwiththeFamily.Majorknewitwouldbehisundoingtohaveanycontactwithher,buthemissedBuck’smotherhorribly.Whoelse,really,couldevenbegintounderstandhissituation?Majorwasstillonprobation,stillattendingmandatoryNarcoticsAnonymousmeetings,andstill

workingaconstructionjobtowhichhewasalwayshavingtofindaride;his licensewouldremainsuspendedforanothersixmonths.Thegoodnews,hesaid,wasthathehadajob,andthateachdayhestayedclean,hewasastepcloser tobeingfreeofmethforever(hehoped)andtogettingoffprobation.OncehecoulddriveagainhehopedtofindahouseforhimselfandBuckandmaybetopickuphisstudiesat thecommunitycollegewherehe’dleft themfordeadsixyearsago.Oneday,hesaid,hestillhopedtobecomeamachinist.Thebadnews,saidMajor,wasthathelackedanythinginwhichtobelieve.Hewasworkinghard

—atstayingclean,atraisingBuck,atmakingmoney.Butwithoutmeth,Majorfoundit impossibletofeel,asheput it,“happy.”ItwaspreciselythedilemmathatClayHallberghadseensomanytimesinpatients likeRolandJarvis.EvenwhenMajordidtheright thing,hecouldn’tquitebelieveinitsrightness,for that thingdidn’tsatisfyhim—methdid.Thefirst timeIspoketoClayonthephone,he’dsaidthatanentiregenerationofpeoplewassufferingfromthis,andthatmethwasless theculprit thantheperfectmetaphor.Togetbacktonormal—that is, tobeginonceagaintoderivemeaningfromthehumdrumfactsof life—might takeyears.Clay’sownrecentepiphanywasessentiallythat intellectcannotsubstitutefor instinct—knowingisnotfeeling.Inthesameway,Major’sself-admonishmentthatheought tobegrateful isnosubstitutefor theneurotransmitters—andthefeelingofwell-beingtheycreate—thathecannolongerproduce.Inthemeantime, thegravitationalpullofmeth,withitspyrotechnicpromiseofbiochemicalecstasy,couldbeoverwhelming.Major,standinginhiskitchenonaSaturdaynight,seemedtobesearchingaggressively,almostviolently,fororder,evenashewasresolvedtothefact thathewouldnotfindit.Iaskedhimifhewasreadytorevert tohisgivenname,Thomas,or ifhestillpreferredhisnickname.“It’snotanickname,”hesaid.“It’swhoIam.”Thefirst timeI’dmetMajorwe’dgoneonagloriousJulydaytoanisolatedparkafewmiles

outsidetown,atMajor’srequest,toplayFrisbeegolf.Thecoursewaslaidout inthewoods,andeach“hole”wasa largemetalbasketsetatcertaindistances,fromahundredyardstoseveralhundred,fromeach“tee,”whichwasnothingmorethanamowedpatchofgrassamidthetrees.Afterplaying,Major instructedmetotakeashortcutonthewayhome.Asonegravelsectionroadledtothenext,withgreen,chest-highcornobscuringthehorizonineverydirection, itwasobviousweweren’theadedbacktotownbut,rather,fartherintothecountry.Majoraskedmeseveral times

ifIknewwhereIwas,knowingwell thatIdidnot.Heclearlyenjoyedthecontrol.Eventually,hetoldmetopull in thedrivewayofanisolatedfarmhouse,whichturnedout tobethecurrentresidenceof theFamily.There, theSonsofSilenceleader,Bob,waslivingwithhisdaughter—Buck’smother—andpresumablybatchingmethinthebarn, justashe’dbeendoingwhenMajorwassent tojail.Onlyafewdaysbefore,BobhadcalledBonnieandJosephinthemiddleof thenight tosaythat

hewascomingtokill themandMajor, toburntheirhousedown,andtokidnapBuck.Andyet,atthefirstchanceMajorhad,he’dconcoctedanelaborateplantoplayagameofFrisbeegolf inanisolatedparkinorder tobedrivenbacktothelifehebothloathedandlongedonceagaintolive.WhenIpulledoutof thedriveway,Majorpleadedformetotakehimback, thenrefusedtotellmehowtogetbacktotown.Heberatedme, threatenedtohavemekilled,andpoundedthedashboardasIdrove.Majorpulledoutacellphone,calledagirlheusedtoknow,andpromisedmethat ifI’dtakehimbacktotheFamily,he’dget thegirlhighandshe’ddoanythingIwanted.It tookanhourofdrivingaroundaimlesslybeforeIfinallygothimbackhome.Bythatstretch,Majorhadcomealong, longway.HestillprayedforBuck’smother tocome

backtohim,butonlyifshewereclean.Hestilldreamedof theFamilywhenhesleptatnight,andhadtofight theoccasionalurgetorejointhem,but itwasnolongeradailybattlehewagedwithhimself.Inorder toseemoreclearlystillhowfarhe’dcome,onehasonlytothinkofRolandJarvis,forexample,orevenLoriArnold,whowasdueoutoffederalprisonfor thesecondtimeinJune2008.Thelast timeI’dvisitedJarvis,oddly,wastheonlytimeI’deverseenhimoutsidehismother’s

house.Hewassittinginhismother’sfrontyardina lawnchair,wearinghiscustomaryflannelshirtandheavywarm-uppantsdespite theheat, idlychattingwithneighborswalkingbyonthesidewalk.That, though,seemstohavebeenahighpoint.I’dtriedtocontactJarvis,but tonoavail,whichItooktobeabadsign,givenhowwelcominghe’dbeenduringtwoyears’worthofmytripstoOelwein.Nooneseemedtoknowwherehewasorwhathadhappenedtohim.ClayHallberg,hisdoctor,hadn’tseenhiminmonths.Itwasas thoughRolandJarvishadbeensuddenlyswallowedupbythemustylivingroomfloorofhismother’shouse.YetherewasMajor, twenty-sevenyearsold(JarviswouldturnfortyinDecember2007),staying

clean,holdingajob,seemingtoenjoythesightofhisson,who,sofar,needednotransplantsandnospecialeducation.GonewerethedayswhenMajorwassohighthathemistookanickelforbabyfood.(Bucknearlychokedtodeathonthenickel,whileMajor,fearfulhe’dbeput injail ifhetookthechildtothehospital,droveBucktohisparents’houseandhadthemtakeBucktotheER.Oncethere,Buckhademergencysurgerytoremovethenickelfromhis trachea.)NolongerdidMajorseemtohavetheenergyforthemonologuesdescribinghowenemiesof theFamilywereduct-tapedtochairsandgivenlethalamountsof intravenousmethamphetamine,theirbodiesthrowntothehogs.ByDecember2007,Majorhadlosthisenthusiasmfor theSons’whitesupremacistespousals,which, ironically,he’dalwaysspewedtoaninaudiblebeat—asthough,evenasheragedagainstblacks,oneofhisbelovedWu-TangClanriffsplayedinhismind.ComparedwithRolandJarvis,Majorhadtriumphantlyenteredanentirelynewrealm.Major’shopewasnonetheless tentative.Foronething,hewasattemptingtostaycleanofmeth

whilerefusingtostopdrinking.(WhenIaskedhimabout this,heaskedifdrinkingwasillegal.Ishookmyhead.TowhichMajoraddedangrily,“ThenIrestmycase.”)JusthowcloseMajorwastolosingthegroundhe’dgainedwasmadeclear inastoryhetoldmewhileBuck,drowsywithhisbellyfullofpizza,climbedinsidehisnewlyrebuiltfort,ostensiblytowatchmoreLooneyTunes,

andfellquietlyasleep.Thepreviousnight,Majorsaid,hehadputBucktobedandwalkedintheagonizingcoldtoa

favoritebareightblocksaway.Betweenthetimehe’dspentwiththeFamily, thetimehe’dspent injail,andthetimehe’dspentessentiallyhidinginhisparents’home,afraidthatanysocialcontactwouldleadtoarelapse,mostofMajor’sfriendshadmovedoninoneformoranother.Manyhadleft townlookingforwork,orhadmarriedandtakenjobsthatkept themoutof thebarsatnight.Therest,notunreasonably,wereafraidtoget involvedwithaformerneo-Nazimethdealer.But thatnight,Majorhadrunintoagirlwithwhomhe’dgonetohighschool,andonwhomhe’dhadalong-buriedcrush.Astheytalkedanddrank,Majorbecameawarethatnotonlywerehisadolescentfeelingsstill fresh,but thatshe, too,hadlonghadfeelingsforhim.Thesuddenawarenessthathismindwasateasewasalmostdizzying,sincehe’dbeenconstantly

preoccupiedforsolong.Life,Buck,hisparents,hispast—forasweet,short time, thoughtsofallthesethingsdissolvedawaywiththepitchersofbeerandthewarm,darkroom.Hewasdrunkandhappy,reconnectingwithapartofhis life thatwasfreeof theburdenofhisrecententanglements.Heandthegirl laughedabouthow,backinhighschool,Major,who’dneverdonedrugsofanykinduntilafterhe’dgraduated,hadactuallygivenaspeechtothestudentbodyontheevilsofmethamphetamine.Then,ecstatically,Majorandthegirl tookadvantageof thelowlight inthecornerboothto

engageinthekiss thathadbeennearlyadecadeincoming.Ashekissedher, though,Majorsnuckglancesat thebigwindowsat thefrontof thebar.Heknewhehadtoleave,eventhoughthewarmthofherbodyheldhimfast.ItwasgoingonmidnightonaFriday,andthepolicewouldbeoutcruising.TheyallknewexactlywhoMajorwas.Noneof them,hefeltsure, trulybelievedamanlikehimcouldevergetclean,andtheywouldbegunningforhim.Hehadeightblockstowalk—aloneronquiet,frigidstreets,standingout likeacriminal.Which, legally,hewouldbe:beingdrunkinpublic(andMajorwasmostcertainlydrunkbynow)wouldconstituteaviolationofhisprobation.Shouldhebecaught,hewouldget threeyears injail,noquestionsasked.He’dcompletelyrunoutofstrikes.Finally,Major toldthegirlhehadtogo,pushinghiswayoutof thebooth.He’dthoughtabout

gettingthegirl todrivehimhome,butheknewthatwouldbefoolish.Shewasdrunk, too,andifthepolicepulledherover—whichwaslikely—hewouldgotojail just thesame.Hethoughtbrieflyaboutdrivinghercarhimself.Eightblockswasn’t thatfar,afterall,andMajorwasnothingifnotanexpertatdrivingdrunk.Buthedecidedagainst this, too,knowingthatpublicdrunkennesswouldgethimjail timebut thatanotherdrivingviolationwouldmeanhe’dlosehis licenseforgood.SoMajorkissedthegirlgood-bye,wentout thedooralone,andstartedwalking.Atfirsthekept totheedgeof thesidewalk.Then,hesaid,hepulledhisparkahoodoverhis

head,shieldinghisface.HethoughtaboutBuckandhispenchantforbuildingforts,andhowasmallboyconvinceshimself that tobeunseeingismagicallyequivalent tobeingunseen.Forablock,Majorwalkedwithhishoodpulledtightandhisheaddown.Thenhethrewthehoodback.Hewasgettingpanickynow,andhestartedmovingalongthesnow-coveredlawns,nearer tothehouses,drawnbytheshadowsof theawningsandthefrozen,screened-inporches.SoonMajorwaspantingbeneatha tree, in thethroesofwhatfelt tohimlikeaparalyzing,

vomitousmethwithdrawal—afullthreemaddeningyearssincehe’dsmokedhis lastfoil.All theparanoiacamecrashingbackonhim,knockingthebreathfromhis lungswithaforcelikeawallofwater.Hisvisiontunneled,andhebegansweating.Hisheartracedashepukedonthefrozensnow.Whenhewasdone,hestartedrunning—jumpingfencesandlookingbehindhimself inutter terror in

amaddashtomakeitbackhometohischildandhisparents,drivensuddenlybyadesirenot toescape,but togetcaught.Hewishedtohear thesirensthatwouldn’tcome.Tohavelookedbackandseenthepolicewouldhavebeenarelief.Anythingwouldhavebeenbetter,Majorsaid, thantheinvisibleforcethatboredownonhimfrombehind.

EPILOGUE

HOMEAGAIN

InJune2008,ImovedtoSt.Louiswithmywife,havinglivedawayfrommyhometownforeighteenyears.DuringthefirstweekIwasthere, theSt.LouisPost-Dispatchnewspaperrandailystoriesabouta two-statemurderrampage.First,as thekillerwasinthemidstofhisspree; thenashewasapprehended;andfinally,as thedetailsofhissituationmadethemselvesclear.Themurderer’snamewasNicholasSheley,andhewasfromRockFalls,Illinois,abouteightymileseastofOelwein.InthethreehundredorsomilesbetweenGalesburg,Illinois,andFestus,Missouri,nearSt.Louis,Sheleybeatorbludgeonedtodeatheightpeopleinfivedays.Thewholetime,he’dbeenhighoncrank.InadditiontotheSheleystory, thePost-Dispatchranseveralpiecesduringmyfirst twoweeks

homeaboutmethmanufactureinJeffersonCounty,Missouri,whichis justoutsideSt.Louis.JeffersonCountyhadbecomefamousin2005forhavingthehighestnumberofmethlabsinAmerica,asmeasuredbythenumberdismantledeachyear.Missouri ledthenationwith2,788labsbustedin2005,andJeffCounty,as it’scalled,hadanastounding259of them—nearlytwicethatofthenext leadingMissouricountyofJasper.GiventhatmostpoliceofficerswithwhomIspokefiguretheydismantleonlyoneintenlabsatbest, that’sasmany2,600labsatworkinrural,bucolicJeffersonCountybackin2005.AccordingtothePost-Dispatch,afterabriefbutprecipitousfall inmeth-labbustsduring2007,oncetheCombatMethActhadpassed,JeffCountywasontrackbyJuneof2008tohave200labsdismantledbyyear’send:aclear indicationthat thebatcherswereback.ThefeelingIhadwhilereadingthestoriesofJeffCountyandNicholasSheleyremindedmeof

thefeelingIhadwhenIfirststartedresearchingfor thisbook, inMay2005.AsIdrovearoundIowa,Illinois,Missouri,Kentucky,California,Georgia,andAlabamathatsummerandfall, therewasagenuinesenseofshockandfear inthetownsIvisited.Peoplewereconfusedbythethoughtthat,somehow,justdownthestreetorontheothersideof town,adrugthatcouldbemadeinasinkwasmakingpeopledocrazythings.Not longbeforeImetPhilPrice, theformerspecialagentinchargeof theGeorgiaBureauofInvestigation,he’dhadtoarrestagoodfriendofhis—forty-fiveyearsold,afatherof three,andanewmethaddict.Price,backedbytheSWATteam,hadtalkedhisfriendof twodecadesoutofamotelroominruralCanton,Georgia,wherethemanhadtakenhisownnine-year-oldsonhostage.Itdoesn’t takemanystories likethis tomakepeoplequestionwhat theyknowaboutoneanotherandabout themselves.Thenotionthat thesmall-timecrankbusinesswasbackinfullforcewasvexingtomeasmywife

andIsettledintoournewneighborhood.Itwasalsofrightening.Oneofmyprincipalmotivationsforwantingtowrite thisbookis thatmywife,whogrewupinasmall towninruralNewYork, isarecoveringalcoholic.Ihavethoughtonathousandoccasions:What ifmethhadbeenaseasilyavailablewhenshewasateenageras it isnow?Whatifcrank, insteadofbooze,hadbeenherdrugofchoice?It’sreasonabletosuggest thatI’dhavenevermether.Nowshewaspregnantwithourfirstchild.Thenotionthatnothinghadchanged—forJamesandSeaninGreenville,forJeffCounty,

for theplaceinwhichIwouldsoonraisemyfamily—wasmoreupsettingtomethanithadeverbeen.LikethemothersandfathersI’dmet inCantonandBentonandOelweinin2005,Iwantedtoknowwhatkindofworldmychildwouldinhabit,andhowthingshadgottentobethisway.ItwasasthoughIwasbackwhereIhadstartedthreeyearsbefore.AccordingtoDEA,theCombatMethActwassupposedtohaveeffectivelykilledthehome-

brewedcrankbusiness.Accordingtothenation’sdrugczar,methwasdead.Ifweweretoworryatall, itshouldbeabout theDTOs,notbatchers inJeffCounty.Sowhyhadtheepidemicshiftedintheonewaythatcouldnothavebeenpredicted?Nowthatmethmakinghadcomebackhome,as itwere,peoplewereonceagaincomparingthedrugtosomekindofsupernaturalevil, justashadbeencommonin2005and2006.Peoplewerestartingtopanicalloveragain.Inorder toput thingsinperspective,IcalledTonyLoya.Anhour-longconversationwithhimnot

onlyconfirmedthatmeth’sgenomehadreassorteditselfonceagain; itsuggestedsomethinglikeareversionto1996,afterGeneHaisliphadfinallysucceededinpassingalawmonitoringtheuseofpowderedpseudoephedrine.Methseizuresthatyearwentdown,alongwithpurity,signalingthefirstmajorDEAtriumphoverthedrug’sspread.Ofcourse, thevictorywaspyrrhic,oncetraffickersswitchedtothepill-formpseudothatdruglobbyistsdemandedremainunmonitored.ThewateringdownofHaislip’s1996lawiswhatopenedthedoortothesinglemostdestructiveperiodofmeth’srecenthistory,culminatingnineyears later, in2005,withthehighestrateseverofbothdomesticandinternationalproductionof thedrug.Nowitwasbecomingclear that, in thewakeof theCombatMethAct,anewanddestructiveeraof themethepidemicwasalreadyunderway.Loyaisfivefeetsixandslightlybuilt.Thefirst timeImethim,inasecureroomat theFederal

BuildinginSanDiego,heappearedbehindphotochromicgold-rimmedglassesandadeeptantobeinexorbitantlygoodhealthforamanoffifty-nine.LoyahadtheloomingandinsistentlycharismaticpresenceofaVegasentertainer.He’sbeenagovernmentemployeefor thirty-nineyears:firstwiththeCaliforniaBureauofNarcoticsEnforcement(BNE), thenwithDEAfor twenty-fiveyears,andnowwiththeNationalMethamphetamineChemicalInitiative.Heis thoroughlyacompanyman,preternaturallyslowtocriticizethegovernmentoranygovernmentagency.HeconsidersAmericanindustry“thereasonweleadtheworld”andadvocatesthefiscallyconservativedesireforsmallgovernmentandlimitedregulation.Recentdevelopments, though,hadtrulystretchedmanyofLoya’sconvictions.Whatwasclear thedaythatI talkedtoLoyaonthephone—nearlythreeyears tothedayafter

firstmeetinghiminSanDiego—isthatheinsomewayshasfoundhimselfplayingtheroleofGeneHaislip.Loyawasoneofarchitectsof theCombatMethAct.HealsohadunprecedentedsuccessinpersuadingtheMexicangovernmenttooutlawpseudoephedrineimports intothecountryin2007,therebydepletingtheamountavailabletotheDTOs.Loyaisproudofhiswork.Heisalsogrowingweary,fourdecadesaftergoingtoworkforagovernmentthat,asheput it,“seemseverwillingtogivenewlife tothesamedamnproblemitpurports tosolve.”Hewenton,“Everydecade,wegetachancetoputmethonthematonceandforall.Andwealwaysfail.”AccordingtoLoya, thefailureof theCombatMethAct is, likethefailureofHaislip’s1996law,

thedirectresultof lobbyingrelatedtothepharmaceutical industry.TheguidingphilosophybehindtheCombatMethActwastolessendomesticcrankproductionbymonitoringthesaleofcoldmedicinenationwide.AccordingtoLoya,DEAgaveCongressthreestipulationsfordoingsosuccessfully.One, themeansofmonitoringwouldhavetobefederallymandated,asopposedtobeingleftuptoindividualstates.Two,pharmacieswouldneedtotrackcoldmedicinesalesviacomputer,rather thanthroughhandwrittenlogs.Three,saidLoya,DEAinsistedthatpharmacists’

computerswouldneed“stop-buy”languagebuilt intotheirmonitoringprograms—meaningthat ifacustomerwhohasalreadypurchasedthemonthlymaximumofSudafedtries tobuymore, thecomputerwillautomaticallypromptthepharmacisttodisallowthesale,or“stopthebuy.”This time, itwasn’tAllanRexinger’sProprietaryAssociationthatobjectedtothekeyelementsof

apieceofantimethlegislation;itwastheNationalAssociationofRetailChainStores,whichrepresents,accordingtoLoya, thefivemajorpharmaceuticaldrugchainsintheUnitedStates:Target,Wal-Mart,CVS,Walgreens,andRite-Aid.Theorganization’sacronym,Loyanotedsardonicallyonthephonethatday, isNARCS.WhiletheCombatMethActwasbeingdebatedin2006, lobbyistsonbehalfofNARCSargued

thata“stop-buy”clauseinthelegislationwouldmakepharmacistsandretailemployeesintopolicemen.Why,forexample,NARCSasked,shouldCVSemployeeshavetotellacustomerthathecan’tbuysomething?Rather,NARCSsaid, thedatashouldsimplybemadeavailablefollowingthesaletolocalpolice,atwhichpoint thepolicecoulddoastheysawfit.Thestoreswouldbewillingtocomply,but theyshouldnothavetodosoat thepotentiallyunfair lossofsales.Thecounterargument,asTonyLoyacharacterizedit,wasthis:“Doesrefusingthesaleofalcohol

andtobaccotominorsamountto‘policing’?“Yes,”Loyawenton,“itdoes.Andthedrugchainshavebeendoingthatwithoutcomplaintfor

years.Sowhat’s thedifferenceif theyhavetotellafewpeoplethat theycan’tbuymorethanacertainamountofSudafed?But thelobbyists insistedthatanyattemptwhatsoeveratkeepingtrackofsales isa threat totheirfinancialhealth.It’s justnot true.”Intheend,Congressrejectedthe“stop-buy”language.Moreimportant,CongressresistedDEA’s

pleasthat thelaw’sinterpretationbefederallycontrolled.Instead,CongressdecidedtomaketheCombatMethActmoreofguidelinethananactualmandate, leavingspecific interpretationtostategovernments.This,accordingtoLoya,effectivelylaidthelawbaretothepowerfulNARCSlobby.Meantime, thelaw’sleadingadvocatesandnegotiators—RepublicanCongressmanMarkSouderandSenatorDianneFeinstein,DemocratofCalifornia—declaredthelegislationagroundbreakingblowtometh.Loyacharacterizedthefailureof theCombatMethAct intermsthatwouldhavebeenall too

familiar toLarryMurphybackin2005.States,hesaid, just liketownsandcounties,arebusinesses.Poorstates likeMissouri, just likepoortownslikeOelwein,areloathtoriskstrainingrelationswithchainslikeCVSandRite-Aid.BackwhenLarryMurphymadethedecisiontorebuildhis townbyrejectingbusinessesthatweren’tgoodfor thecommunity,hereconciledhimself totheriskthatOelweincouldbecomepoorerstill,andthathewouldbeblamed.Oelweingambledandwonin2005and2006.Missouri,facedwithanimplicit threat toitsalreadyteeteringeconomyfromNARCS,chosetoplayitsafe,refusingtoadoptDEA’s“stop-buy”languageinits interpretationoftheCombatMethAct late in2006.AtthefurtherbehestofNARCS,Loyasaid, thestate legislatureallowedpharmaciestorelyonhandwrittenlogsofcoldmedicinesales, therebysavingchainstheneedtobuynewcomputerprograms.Ayearandahalf later,MissourionceagainhasthehighestpercapitacrankproductionintheUnitedStates.“Hereweare,”Loyasaid,“themost technologicallyadvancednationinhistory,andwehave

thousandsofpeoplewritinghundredsof thousandsofnamesinnotebooks.Wepassa law,andthenwebasicallytell thesehugecompaniesthat they’renotresponsibleforcomplying.It’sstunning.”Inreaction, thecottagemethindustryhasbecomemoreefficient thanLoyaever imagined.Beavis

andButt-Headlabshavebecomemorelikemidleveloperations,hesaid.Smurfinghasbecomeanindustryinitsownright.Havingdevelopednot just localbutalsonationaldistributionchains,

Smurfersdrivefromstate tostateandregiontoregionbuyingcoldmedicineandsellingit toincreasinglyproductiveandorganizednetworksofbatchers.Locally,Smurfspaypharmacyemployeestoignorethefacttheyarestealingcoldmedicine.“CVSorWalgreensemployees,”saidLoya,“makemoreintwominutesofpretendingnot to

noticetheft thantheymakeinaweekofstandingbehindthecounter.It’sano-brainer.”Asaresult,Loyasaid, labnumbersarestilldowncomparedwiththeirall-timehighsin2004and2005,butproductioniswayup.What’smore,Loya’ssourcesindicatethatcocaineseizuresalongtheMexicanborderareata

twelve-yearhigh,notingthatthelast timecocainewassoheavilyconsumedwasin1996,whenHaislip’s lawbrieflydepressedtheDTOs’methmarket.Loyaattributestheincreaseincocaineseizuresthis timetohisownhard-foughtsuccesswithgettingtheMexicangovernmenttolimitpseudoimports.WhatLoyafears, though, is that localmethproducerswillkeepthemarketalivewhile theDTOs,flushwithmoneyfromaboomingcocainebusiness,willhavetimeandcapitalnotonlytorecoverfromatemporarysetback,but tobecomeevenstronger.“Imean,”Loyasaid,“I’mstuckina timewarp.It’s twelveyearsagoalloveragain,withthe

Mexicansbidingtheir timewithcocainetill theycanfigureoutawaytogetbackthepartof themethbusinesswejust tookaway.Will theygotoCanadaforpseudo,orNorthKorea,orColombia?Whoknows.MyguessisCanada.What’scertainis they’llgosomewhere.Becausetheaddictsarehere.Themoneyishere.TheSmurfsarekeepingeveryonehighwhile theMexicansreorganize.”Loyanotedthat theDTOswillneverabandonthemethbusiness—nomatterhowgoodthecocaine

market—since,withmeth, theDTOscontrolmanufacture,distribution,andretail.Methisapeachofabusiness.It’salsopossibly,asPatriciaCaseoncenoted,“themostAmericandrug.”CoupledwiththeAmericanmaniaforwork, it’sas thoughmeth’sever-reassortinggenomeisapartofourown.AsLoya’sfriendBillRuzzamenti,anotherformerDEAspecialagent incharge,oncesaidtome,“Methtrulywillnevergoaway.Itcan’t.It’s toobigapieceofwhatweare.”WhileLoyawaits toseewhat theDTOswilldonext,hecontinuestoprivatelynegotiatewith

pharmaceuticalcompaniesandtheretailchainsthatsell theirwares, inorder,asheput it,“tomakethemseewhat’satstake.”Thehopeis that ifNARCSwill takethepressureoffstate legislatures,theymightamendtheirmethlawstolookmorelikewhatLoyaandDEAhadinmindallalong.“Youknow,”saidLoya,“I’msympathetic tobigbusiness.I’mnot tryingtomakethingshardfor

them.I justsaytoCVSviathelobbyists,‘Look,yourclerksareincahootswithcrooks.We’regoingtotakethemdown,andyou’ll lookbad.Doyoureallywantyourcompanytolooklikeacriminalorganization?’”Loyapaused.“Isaythat,andI trytostaycalmwhilefreakinghousesareblowingupinJeffersonCounty.ButIcan’tstaycalmanymore.SothenI justyell.”Afewdaysbeforewespoke,Loyatoldme,he’dhadameetingwiththevicepresidentof

NARCS.Loyalistenedwhile themanreiteratedthatclerksandpharmacists intheemployofCVSandRite-Aidaren’tpoliceofficers.Theyshouldnot,saidtheNARCSvicepresident,beexpectedtotellcustomersthat theycan’tbuycoldmedicine.Ifsomeonewasshoplifting, themanwantedtoknow,wouldtheclerkapprehend,cuff,andjail theshoplifter?No—he’dcall thepolice,asheshould.Andanyway,hewenton, thepharmaciesaren’t legallyobligatedtodoanythingmorethanwhat they’redoing.Drugsanddrugmanufacturersarepolicebusiness,not theirs.TheCombatMethActmakesthatveryclear,hetoldLoya.“Afterall theseyears,andall thesemeetings,andall theseconferences,”saidLoya,“Istartedto

dosomethingthatI’venever,everdone:Istartedtogetupandwalkout.Midsentence.ItwaslikeIjust . . .”HereLoyapaused.Hisfirststreetbuy,asa twenty-year-oldagentwiththeCalifornia

BNE,inSanFranciscoin1968,wasmeth.He’sbeencontendingwithiteversince.“Itwaslike,”hewenton,“somethingfinallybroke.”ButLoyadidn’tgetuptoleave.Heremainedseated.Thenhestoppedlistening.Helet thevice

president talk,andhetriednot tohearawordofwhathesaid, insteadsummoningall thepatiencehecouldmusterfromthedeepestreachesofhissoul.Finally,saidLoya, theman’smouthstoppedmoving.That’swhenLoyastartedtoexplain,onemoretime.

InApril2008,NathanLeinwaselectedtotheOelweincitycouncil.Hewon,saidClayHallberg,ina landslide.TheNinthWard,whereNathanlivesinasmallwhitehouseacrossthestreetfromaformermethlab, isnolongerjusthishome—it’snowhischarge, too.InMay,MajorgraduatedfromcommunitycollegeinIndependencewithadegreeinmachineryrepair.Bob,theleaderof theSonsofSilence,wasarrestedalongwithhisdaughter—Major’sex-girlfriend,andthemotherofhisson,Buck—formanufactureofmethamphetaminewiththeintent todistribute.Bobandhisdaughterawaitsentencing.Buck’shalfsister,Caroline, is infostercare.Buckbeginskindergarteninthefall.LoriArnoldwasreleasedfromthemedium-securityfederalworkcampforwomeninGreenville,

Illinois,onJune3,2008.ShemovedtoChandler,Arizona, tolivenearoneofherbrothers.Oneweeklater,shetookherfirstmandatoryurineanalysis,to testfor illegalsubstancesinhersystem.Shefailed,andwassentencedtofiveyears’probation.Thelast timeIcalledRolandJarvis, inJuly2008,hewassittinginthelivingroomofhis

mother’s two-bedroomhouse.IthadbeenmorethanthreeyearssincewehadwatchedGoodfellasin thatsameroomandJarvisbeganunwindingthestrandsofhis two-decadestrugglewithmeth.Iwasgladtohearhisvoice,aftermycallshadgoneunansweredforover twelvemonths.Atonepoint,Ihadheardarumorthatheorhisex-wifehadcommittedsuicide.“No,”hesaid,“noone’scommittedsuicide.”Asidefromthat, itwasstrikesandgutters,assomepeoplesayinOelwein:upsanddowns,goods

andbads.Jarvis’smiddlesonhadfinallyreceivedanewkidneyandwasdoingwell.Jarvis’smother, though,wouldbeheadedbacktojailsoon, thistimefordrivingdrunk.His twodaughtersweredoingwell, too;onehadgraduatedfromOelweinHighthatspring.He’dbeenfishingwiththemat thetownlakejust theotherday.“Sameold,sameold,”saidJarvis.Iaskedhimifhewasclean.“Notreally,”hesaid.“ButI’mstillhere.”Whenwehungup,I thoughtabouta tripI’dtakeninthesummerof2005.Iwasstill lookingfor

atowntowriteabout then.I’dbeentoOelweintwicethatsummer,spendingaboutamonththere.I’dbeendrivingalot, too,droppingintotownsI’dreadabout innewspapers,askingpeopletotalktomeaboutmeth.Ispenta lotof timeinemergencyrooms, incourtrooms,andincountyjails.Oneweekend,IdrovefivehundredmilesfromKentuckytoIowa, thenbackagain.Theproblemis thatIwasn’tsurewhatIwaslookingat,exactly,orevenwhatIwaslookingfor.Solikeeveryoneelse,Iwent toCalifornia.Istartedout inSanDiego,whereImetTonyLoya.Then,foraweek,IdrovearoundtheCentral

Valley,finallyendingupinSanJose.Alongtheway,I triedtoinsinuatemyself intoeverytownwithamotelvacancy.TheCentralValleywasjustasSteinbeckhaddescribedit:hot,flat,anddusty, thecool,distantmountainsapromise,ormaybejustamirage.ItfeltlikeIowainthesummer,or theDakotas,orevenMissouri.Ididn’tknowwhatIwaslookingatwhenIsawhowsomeofthecanals inthemost isolatedpartsof thevalleyranred.Later,aDEAagent toldmethat, in

additiontoprovidingwaterforthemostprolificfarmcountryinthenation, thecanalsweredumpsitesforredphosphorusfrommethsuperlabshiddenamongtheorangeandpecangroves.Attheendof that trip,I tookalate-afternoonflightfromSanJosetoJFKAirport, inNewYork.

Threehoursafter takeoff,lookingatamapinthebackofanin-flightmagazine,IreckonedustobeovereasternSouthDakota,headingforIowa.Atthatpoint, theplanewouldhavebeenat thenadirof itsarc,whereitwouldremainforashortwhilebeforebeginningthelong,smoothdescent.Withthesunslantinglowinourwake, thelandwasawashintherefractedwarmthof theday’sdyinglight.Intheglow,andfromthirty-fivethousandfeet, itwasimpossibletoseethelittle townsbelow.Atthatheight, too,wewerecaught inthetemporalnetherworldthat isspecific tolate-afternoon

andeveningtranscontinentalflights.Thecurvatureof theearthwasclearlyvisible.Ahead, tothenorthandeast, theairwasblueanddark.Behind,tothesouthandwest, theairglowedred.Itwastrulyas thoughthenightwerepushingitselfacrossthevastcontoursoftheland,drivingthedaybeforeit.Belowus, though, inSiouxFallsandinAlgona, thelight,alongwiththenotionofpossibility,remained.Fifteenminuteslater,eventhelargestof theland’sfeaturesbegantofadeas theplanemovedeast.

Mymoodsoured.Ididn’twant togobacktoNewYork.Instead,IyearnedtoreturntoMissourifor thefirst timeinyears.WeweretoofarnorthtoseeSt.Louis,soIsearchedfor theMississippiamongthetiny,sparsepointsof lightvisibleagainst theopaqueland.Atleast theriver,I thought,mightgivemesomefleetingconnectiontomyhome.Momentslater,IfoundwhatIwaslookingfor inthegrowingdarkness.Withmyeyes,Ifollowed

theglowingrivernorth,knowingthatoneof thetinyclustersof lightmustbeOelwein.SuddenlyIknewwhatIwaslookingat,andwhereIneededtogo.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Ofall thepeopletowhomI’mindebtedforhelpinmakingthisbookpossible, thepeopleofOelwein,Iowa,areat thetopof thelist.Without theirwillingnesstoletmeintotheir lives,andtostayembeddedthere—attimesannoyingly,I’msure,likea tick—Methlandwouldhaveneverbeen.NathanLeinandClayHallberg’s intelligence,candor,andabidingsenseofhumanitymakethemtrulyremarkablepeople.I’malsodeeplyobligedtoMayorLarryMurphyfor lettingmewatchatcloserangeashewhittledawayatOelwein’s troubles.Ina timewhentheword“hero”hasbeenoverusedtothepoint that it’s lostallmeaning,Larryservesasareminderofwhataherolooksandacts like.ThanksalsotoJamiePorter,JeremyLogan,TammyHallberg,TimGilson,CharlieHallberg,AlanCoffman,JanBoleyn,andMildredBinstock.ThereareotherIowans, too, towhomIowemydeepestgratitude.Chiefamongthemarethe

addicts,formeraddicts,andtraffickerswhohaveletmeusetheirstories inthemakingof thisbook.It takestremendouscouragetoopenone’s life topublicscrutiny,especiallya life thathasinsomewaysbeendefinedbycrime.Inthatcapacity,I’mgrateful toRolandJarvis,whospokewithmeoverthecourseofnearlyfouryears inthehopethatotherswouldnotfallpreytotheaddictionthathasmonopolizedhis lifefor twodecades.ThankstoLoriArnoldfor themanylettersshesentmefromfederalprison.Herwillingnesstotalk—andtoactasasoundingboardformyownunderstandingofmethtraffickinginAmerica—wascrucial to themakingof thisbook.ManythanksalsototheCooperfamily—Joseph,Bonnie,Buck,andThomas,a.k.a.Major—who,alongwithJudyMurphy,wereelementalinmyunderstandingofhowmethaffectsnot justparentsandtheirchildren,butcommunities.Andfinally, thankstoJeffreyWilliamHayeswhotookthetimetowritehundredsofpagesof letters tomefromLeavenworthPrison.TonyLoyahasbeenbattlingthecountry’smethproblemfor thirty-sevenyears.LikeLarryMurphy,

NathanLein,andClayHallberg,Tonyisanindisputable—ifunheralded—hero.Hewasalsoinvaluableinprovidinginsight intothetrendsthathavedefinedthemethepidemicsince1972, theyearhemadehisfirstdrugbuyasayoungagentwiththeCaliforniaBureauofNarcoticsEnforcement.Ifanyonewilleversucceedincurtailingthisepidemic, itwillbeTony.Anumberofstateandfederalnarcoticsagents,policeofficers,andsheriff’sdeputieshelpedmea

greatdeal,at timesleveragingtheircareers todoso.Inthatregard,I’mdeeplyindebtedtoBillRuzzamenti,CraigHammer,andRichCampsinCalifornia;SergeantTomMcAndrewinIowa;SergeantAlexGonzalezinAlabama;andPhilPriceandSherriStrangeinGeorgia.Thanksalso(whereveryouare) toRudy, themethdealer turnedfederal informantwhoselifestorywasasenlighteningasitwaschilling.AntonMuelleratBloomsburyisanoutstandingeditor.Overthelast twoyears,Iwrotethefirst

halfofMethlandfourtimesbeforefinallygettingitright.Orat leastbeforeshapingit intotheforminwhichitnowstands.ThoughIwas—toput itpolitely—lessthanenthusiasticeachtimeAntonreadmylatesteffortandinstructedmetostartover,I’mgladnowthatheheldhisground.Aneditorwithpatience,astrongstomach,andanenduringpassionforhisauthor’sbookisararitythesedaysindeed,andoneforwhichIfeelextremelyfortunateandgrateful.ThanksalsotomyagentatICM,HeatherShroder.Shenotonlysoldthisbookata timewhenno

oneseemedinterestedinthemethepidemic,butshealsoguidedit throughapotentialdisasterwhentheinitialpublisher,HoughtonMifflin,mergedwithHarcourtBrace.HadHeathernotfoundanew

homeformeandmybookatBloomsbury,I’mnotsurewhatwouldhavebecomeofus.Noonewasmorevaluableinthemakingof thisbookthanmymotherandfather.Thegenesisof

Methlanddatesto1999,andwasdefinedforfiveyearsbyonefailureafteranother—allbeforeIeverbeganwriting.Myparents’willingnesstobelievethatIwouldsucceeddespiterepeatedsetbacksstretchestheboundsofcomprehension.Throughitall, theyrefusedtodoanythingless thansupportmewholeheartedly.Itseemsonlyfittingthat,whilereportingfor thisbook,Igot toseeforthefirst timethesmall townofAlgona,Iowa,wheremyfatherwasbornandraised,andwhichheleftoverhalfacenturyago.EverywhereIwent inIowa, infact,andamongthemanypeopleImet,Icaughtsightof theforthrightgenerosityofspiritthatdefinesmyparents.Mostofall, I’dliketothankmywife,Kelly,whohelpedmeateverystageof thisprocess.It

wasshewhoencouragedmetowriteabookproposalforMethland in2005.Later thatyearandall through2006, theonlythingthatmadebeingawayfromhomeforweeksata timeanyeasierwasknowingthatKellywouldbetherewhenIgotback.ShewaspatientandkindwhileIwroteMethland,andthoughtful inhercriticismasitnearedcompletionin2008.Asawife,afriend,andamother toourchild,sheiseverythingandmorethatIcouldaskfor.Finally,I’mindebtedtothetworesidentsof tinyGreenville,Illinois,whoinspiredthisbook.I

met them—awhitemeth-addictedfelonandablackarmysergeantrecentlyhomefromAfghanistan—inabar inNovember2004.Overthecourseofseveralnights,itbecameclear tomethat twopeoplewhoweresodifferentonthesurfacewereinfactunitedbycircumstancesbeyondtheircontrol.Oneof thefactsof their liveswasthehugeswaymethamphetamineheldover their town.I’llneverforget themomentwhen, intalkingtothem,Isawthisstoryforwhat it is.Ingratitudeandinhope,Methland isdedicatedtothem.

ANOTEONSOURCES

MuchofMethland isaretellingofeventsas theywererelatedtomeoverthecourseoffouryearsbythepeopleofOelwein.Interview isn’treallyawordthatapplieshere.DuringtheweeksandmonthsthatIspent intown,nothingwaseverspokenintoa taperecorder,orwritteninaspacebelowquestionsplottedonnotecards.Rather, thepeopleinthisbooksharedthestoriesandthefactsof their liveswithmeat thesametimethatwesharedtheday’sevents.Wecookeddinnerandwatchedmovies,drovebackandforthtothegrocerystore,shoveledsnow,anddidchoresaroundthehouse.Theygraciouslypermittedmetoplaypoolandhuntpheasantswiththem,gotopartiesandtowork,eatwiththeminrestaurants,stopbythepostofficeonthewaytothedoctor,andcallonneighbors.Thetellingofpasteventsunfoldedsimultaneouslywiththelivingoutofpresentcircumstance, thereby—Ihope—addingadepthandtexturethat isotherwiseunattainable.Intheabsenceofa taperecorderorvideocamera,Iwasforeverexcusingmyself towritenotes

whenevertherewasanappropriatemoment.Eachnight,I’dtakethesehandwrittennotesandexpandthemintoscenes,while thememoriesremainedfresh.OutsideOelwein, too,Iemployedthissamelive-inreportingstrategywheneverpossible.InIndependence,Iowa, theformeraddictandmethcookThomas,a.k.a.Major,preferredtotalkwhileplayingFrisbeegolf, inwhichtheplayers throwplasticdiscsofdifferentshapesandweights(heavieronesare“putters,”while lighterdiscs,becausetheyflyfarther,are“drivers”)towardabasketaffixedtoa tree.WhenMajorandIplayed,itallowedhimtoescape,howeverbriefly,fromthescrutinyofhisparents,withwhomhelived.So, too,didMajor’sparentsseemtoappreciateanychancetoleavetheirhome,wheretheywerenotonlyoverseeingtheinformal, inpatientrehabof theirmeth-addictedson,butwheretheywerealsohelpingtoraisetheirgrandchild,Buck.WhenI talkedtoMajor’sparents, itwasnormallyoverlunchorabeer,preferablyinaplacewheretheycouldbothsmoke.Seeingthembrieflyoutsidetheirhomemadeclearerstill thecomplexityof theircircumstances.Aslightlydifferentprotocolguidedmyinteractionwithtwoformermethtraffickers:LoriArnold

ofOttumwaandJeffreyWilliamHayesofOelwein.Overthecourseof threeyears,LoriandJeffreyWilliam,asheprefers tobecalled,sentmehundredsofpagesof lettersfromthefederalprisonswheretheywereservinglengthysentences.Thelettersdetailednot just theinsandoutsofmajormethproductionanddistributionintheirrespectivehometowns,butalsotheupsanddownsof theirlivesinprison.EventhoughJeffreyWilliamhardlyappears inthisbook,his letterswerenearlyasvitalasLori’s inprovidingcontextanddetail to theriseof themodernmethepidemic—andmoreover, to thecausal linkbetweentheindustrialmethtradeinCalifornia,Mexico,andtheruralMidwest thatheandLorihelpedtoinitiate.Intheend, their lettersarealsostoriesthatframeaparticular timeinthehistoryofruralAmerica.Inorder togivespecificshapetothecareersofLori,JeffreyWilliam,andMajor,Idrewheavily

onreports issuedbytheU.S.OfficeofNationalDrugControlPolicyandtheNationalInstitutesofDrugAddiction.Ialsodependedoninternational,regional,andlocalmethamphetamineassessmentspublishedregularlybytheDrugEnforcementAdministration.Inaddition,severalpeoplemadeaccessibletomeinformationnotavailablepublicly,mostlyoutliningthehistoryandpresentroleofmajorMexicanmethtraffickers,alongwiththelinkbetweenthesetraffickingorganizationsandterroristorganizations.AmongthepeoplewhomI interviewedformallyonat least twooccasionswereBillRuzzamenti, thedirectorofCalifornia’sCentralValleyHigh-IntensityDrug-Trafficking

Area;TonyLoya, thedirectorof theNationalMethamphetamineChemicalInitiative;SherriStrange,specialagent inchargeofDEA’sSoutheastRegion,headquarteredinAtlanta;andPhilPrice,formerSACoftheGeorgiaBureauofInvestigation.InMay2006,IattendedamethsummitbetweenMexicanandU.S.officials, includingtheattorneysgeneralofbothnations,inDallas.Ininterviewsthere,onegovernmentofficialspokeopenly—inreturnforanonymity—aboutwhathesawasthe“directandconsciouslinkbetweenfailedU.S. immigrationpolicyandthemethepidemic.”Mycontentionthat theeconomicdownfallof theruralUnitedStates isattributableinlargepart to

theconsolidationoftheAmericanfoodbusinessisbasedonawiderangeofsources.ManyofthosesourcesarethefarmersandmeatpackingworkersofOelweinandOttumwa,Iowa.Alongwithdozensofnewspaperarticleswrittensincethebeginningof thefarmcrisis inthe1980s, thesemenandwomenhelpedformthefoundationofmythinkingonthesubject.Alsoofparticular importancewastheworkof tworuralsociologists:WilliamHeffernanat theUniversityofMissouri,Columbia,andDouglasConstanceatSamHoustonStateUniversityinTexas.IdrewheavilyonDr.Heffernan’spaper—writtenalongwithDrs.MaryHendricksonandPaulGronski—titled“ConsolidationintheFoodandAgricultureBusiness,”whichessentiallysynthesizedthreedecadesofresearch, thebulkofDr.Heffernan’swell-documentedcareer.TheinputofDr.Constance,ontheotherhand,camevialonge-mailsandphoneconversations.Theworkofseveralothersociologistswasfundamental inthemakingofMethland,whetheror

notIhadreasontocite theirworkinthetext.Threedocumentsofparticular interestwereDr.PatriciaCase’s“AHistoryofMethamphetamine:AnEpidemicinContext,”Dr.CraigReinarman’sbookCrackinAmerica,andDr.KarenVanGundy’spaper“SubstanceAbuseinRuralandSmallTownAmerica,”writtenat theCarseyInstituteat theUniversityofNewHampshire.Numerousscientistscontributedgreatlytotheinformationinthisbook.TothemIowemy

understandingofmeth’schemicalproperties,of thespecificbehavioralandpsychologicalrepercussionsofmethaddiction,of thebiochemicaleffectsofmethonthehumanbrain,andof thepsychologicaleffectsofadrugepidemicnot justonindividuals,butoncommunities.Muchof theinformationthatIaccessedisavailablepublicly, thoughseveralpeopleinparticularsentmepapersinprogressandalsotooktimetospeakwithmeabout theirongoingstudies,beit inperson,bye-mail,oronthephone.TheseincludeDr.PerryHalkitisatNewYorkUniversity,Dr.RickRawsonandDr.TomFreeseatUCLA,Dr.SeanWellsat theUniversityofToronto,andDr.LindaChangattheUniversityofHawaii.ThenumberofarchivednewspaperarticlesonwhichIdrewdirectlyor indirectlywhilewriting

Methlandfills twofiledrawers.ThesearticlescomefrompapersasgeographicallyanddemographicallydisparateasAllentown,Pennsylvania’sMorningCallandtheFresnoBee.Takenofapiece, thearticlesformoneof thedeepeststrataonwhichthisbookrests.Ofparticularimportancewasthethree-partseries“UnnecessaryEpidemic”writtenbySteveSuointheOregonian inOctober2004.Equallycrucialwereseveralpieceswrittenbetween1999and2003intheNewYorkTimesandtheLosAngelesTimesdetailingimmigrationviolationsatmeatpackingplants,particularlythosethatfollowedthestoryofafederal indictmentagainstTysonin2001.Piecesandseries intheChicagoTribune, theSanFranciscoChronicle, theSt.LouisPost-Dispatch,andtheAtlantaJournal-Constitutionplayedimportantrolesaswell.Intheend, though,nothingisas important inMethlandasthepeople.Thenewspapers, the

science,andtheresearchpapersserveonlytocorroboratewhatIsawandwhatIwastoldbytheresidentsofOelwein,Iowa.Theyweretheultimatesourceof thisbook,whichinitssimplestformisanexerciseinfittingonesmallAmericantownintoabroaderframeworkofcrisis.Everyonewho

appears inMethlanddoessobychoiceandwithfullknowledge.Without themMethlandwouldbeemptyindeed.

ANOTEONTHEAUTHOR

NickRedingis theauthorofTheLastCowboysat theEndof theWorld, andhiswritinghasappearedinOutside,Food&Wine,FastCompany,andHarper’s.HelivesinSt.Louis,Missouri,withhiswifeandson.