The story starts out in a neat but rundown little diner just off the highway in the middle of nowhere, New Mexico. The protagonist, Stephen "Red" Ryder, is sitting at the counter after finishing his shift.
The narrative commences in a tidy yet dilapidated eatery situated adjacent to the highway, smack in the middle of rural New Mexico. The protagonist, Stephen "Red" Ryder, is seated at the counter after completing his shift.