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Chapter 26
«Goddamnyou,Al!»Tomcried.«Youletthebatteryrundown.»
Alblustered,«HowthehellwasIgonnakeepherupifIain’tgotgastorunher?»
Tomchuckledsuddenly.«Well,Idon’knowhow,butit’syourfault.Yougottocrankher.»
«Itellyouitain’tmyfault.»
Tomgotoutandfoundthecrankundertheseat.«It’smyfault,"hesaid.
«Gimmethatcrank.»Alseizedit.«Pulldownthesparksoshedon’ttakemyarmoff.»
«O.K.Twisthertail.»
Allaboredatthecrank,aroundandaround.Theenginecaught,spluttered,androaredasTomchokedthecardelicately.Heraisedthesparkandreducedthethrottle.Maclimbedinbesidehim.«Wewokeupever’bodyinthecamp,"shesaid.
«They’llgotosleepagain.»
Alclimbedinontheotherside.«Pa’n’UncleJohngotuptop,"hesaid.«Goin’tosleepagain.»
Tomdrovetowardthemaingate.Thewatchmancameoutoftheofficeandplayedhisflashlightonthetruck.«Waitaminute.»
«Whatyawant?»
«Youcheckin’out?»
«Sure.»
«Well,Igottocrossyouoff.»
«O.K.»
«Knowwhichwayyou’regoin’?»
«Well,we’regonnatryupnorth.»
«Well,goodluck,"saidthewatchman.
«Sametoyou.Solong.»
Thetruckedgedslowlyoverthebighumpandintotheroad.Tomretracedtheroadhehaddrivenbefore,pastWeedpatchandwestuntilhecameto99,thennorthonthegreatpavedroad,towardBakersfield.Itwasgrowinglightwhenhecameintotheoutskirtsofthecity.
Tomsaid,«Ever’placeyoulookisrestaurants.An’themplacesallgotcoffee.
