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           Fromthebackoftheloadedtruckheadslookeddown.Alretardedhissparkandlistenedtohisidlingmotor.Tomasked,"What’samatter,Al?"

           Alspeededthemotor."Listentoher."Therattlingpoundwasloudernow.

           Tomlistened."Putupyoursparkan’idle,"hesaid.Heopenedthehoodandputhisheadinside."Nowspeedher."Helistenedforamomentandthenclosedthehood."Well,Iguessyou’reright,Al,"hesaid.

           "Con-rodbearing,ain’tit?"

           "Soundslikeit,"saidTom.

           "Ikep’plentyoilin,"Alcomplained.

           "Well,itjus’didn’gettoher.Drier’nabitchmonkeynow.Well,thereain’tnothin’todobuttearherout.Look,I’llpullaheadan’findaflatplacetostop.Youcomeaheadslow.Don’tknockthepanoutofher."

           Wilsonasked,"Isitbad?"

           "Purtybad,"saidTom,andwalkedbacktothetruckandmovedslowlyahead.

           Alexplained,"Idon’tknowwhatmadehergoout.Igiveherplentyofoil."Alknewtheblamewasonhim.Hefelthisfailure.Masaid,"Itain’tyourfault.Youdoneever’thingright."Andthensheaskedalittletimidly,"Isitterriblebad?"

           "Well,it’shardtogetat,an’wegottogetanewcon-rodorelsesomebabbittinthisone."Hesigheddeeply."IsureamgladTom’shere.Ineverfittednobearing.HopetoJesusTomdid."

           Ahugeredbillboardstoodbesidetheroadahead,anditthrewagreatoblongshadow.Tomedgedthetruckofftheroadandacrosstheshallowroadsideditch,andhepulledupintheshadow.