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Chapter 12
Ifsomethingbreaks—well,ifsomethingbreakswecamprightherewhileJimwalkstotownandgetsapartandwalksbackand—howmuchfoodwegot?
Listentothemotor.Listentothewheels.Listenwithyourearsandwithyourhandsonthesteeringwheel;listenwiththepalmofyourhandonthegear-shiftlever;listenwithyourfeetonthefloorboards.Listentothepoundingoldjalopywithallyoursenses,forachangeoftone,avariationofrhythmmaymean—aweekhere?Thatrattle—that’stappets.Don’thurtabit.TappetscanrattletillJesuscomesagainwithoutnoharm.Butthatthuddingasthecarmovesalong—can’thearthat—justkindoffeelit.Maybeoilisn’tgettin’someplace.Maybeabearin’sstartin’togo.Jesus,ifit’sabearing,what’llwedo?Money’sgoin’fast.
Andwhy’stheson-of-a-bitchheatupsohottoday?Thisain’tnoclimb.Le’slook.GodAlmighty,thefanbelt’sgone!Here,makeabeltoutathislittlepiecearope.Le’sseehowlong—there.I’llsplicetheends.Nowtakeherslow—slow,tillwecangettoatown.Thatropebeltwon’tlastlong.
’Fwecanon’ygettoCaliforniawheretheorangesgrowbeforethishereol’jugblowsup.’Fweon’ycan.
Andthetires—twolayersoffabricwornthrough.On’yafour-plytire.Mightgetahundredmilesmoreoutaherifwedon’thitarockan’blowher.Which’llwetake—ahunderd,maybe,miles,ormaybespoilthetubes?Which?Ahunderdmiles.Well,that’ssomepinyougottothinkabout.Wegottubepatches.
