Desert Party, by Victor Ostrovsky

Desert Party is a revised version of The Playing Field. In its original rendering, the party takes place in an exclusive viewing box high above Yankee Stadium in New York City. In this version, the party has moved to the desert. The familiar shape of the towering saguaro cactus unmistakably identifies the setting as near the artist’s home in Arizona. The unique plant is native only to the Grand Canyon State. While the party plays on, the spies continue to play their deadly games in the distant city.