"If I were mired a few feet to either side I might have had the chance of grasping the rock walls and scrambling free; but instead I am here, sinking quietly and helplessly with the rock just beyond my reach. No matter; this is longer than I thought to survive today. To be swallowed by the soft earth rather than broken by a fall upon hard boulders or torn apart by my hunters; it's an unexpected fate, even an intriguing one. I picture my eventual disappearance, eyes closing, ears folding, the quicksand rolling in over me, the splutter of my last expelled breath and then silence; the surface smoothing over until I am gone without trace. I look up at the rock which has looked down on this spot for a million lifetimes and will do so for a million more after me. I see an unmistakable fossil; as a fossil-to-be, I know I will at least have a little company. The earth takes my waist; the cool canyon breeze blows over me, brings scents to my nose, tickles my ears. Yes, there are worse ends."