At the beach, which is more like a desert, we have left unattended on our blanket a pile of three manuscripts, the topmost of which is an unpublished essay by Garry Wills with a title something like, "VIOLENT CRIME: WHY WE CANNOT KNOW WHAT WE KNOW, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT WHAT WE KNOW IS EITHER HARD TO KNOW OR UNKNOWABLE." While we are busy chatting, a wiry Algerian nonchalantly walks over out blanket and takes the pile of manuscripts to his extended family a few feet away. When I walk over to confront him, he returns with one silent finger extended like a gun.