The manager bought my explanation without hesitation and looked at Mr. Guerrero with a regretful smile and a shrug.

“There you have it. I’m afraid the earliest we’d have a room available is tomorrow afternoon, like I said,” the manager said, and was writing something on a brochure that he was about to give the man.

My heart was beating a million miles an hour but I kept my overall demeanor of being distracted by something. To reinforce that appearance I asked the manager, in a pretend-sleepy voice, “Umm… I had a question, actually. What would be the safe thing to wear to protect against snakes and stuff … you know in case one is lurking near a trail I’m walking on …?”

The manager flashed me an understanding smile, and said, “That’s one of the things people who aren’t used to the trails here tend to ask, and keeping safe while on a trail is, indeed, something we want our guests to be mindful of, so …”

He was about to launch into what sounded like an extensive explanation of trail safety, and I could see that Mr. Guerrero was becoming more agitated.

The latter man had a disheveled appearance, I noticed, and his face was haggard.

He cut into the manager’s monologue about the types of trail boots were safest to wear. “Well, if there really isn’t any room here for the night, what do you suggest I do?!” he asked irritably.

“There are camping options and less … um … luxurious accommodations in Twentynine Palms, sir, that you may want to consider, if it’s important that you stay near Joshua Tree, as you said,” the manager responded, and flashed me an apologetic smile, motioning with his hand to ask me for patience, as he turned to look again at the impatient and agitated man.

“I think I should just change my plans and go somewhere else,” Mr. Guerrero answered, and turned around abruptly, brushing past me as he went down the hall, turned, and then left the inn.

I shrugged at the manager, still pretending to be sleepy and distracted. I forbore the manager’s exposition on trail boots while I waited for the sound of a car engine to start and then drive away.