Date: Sat, 8 Apr 1995 22:06:38 -0700
Title: Claire's Ride

Claire spent most of the night at Bikers, sore from the
bruises she got when she fell to the asphalt and
in pain from the small burns from the explosion.
She had finished at least half a dozen of Jake's
evening specials, "Zippers" as  he called them.  Usually
it only took two of Jakes specials to keep someone
in their seat, but Claire was beyond her pain.  She
was up and about,  looking for a ride South to find Joey.

"Geez, I'd take ya Claire, but one of the truckles is
broke on my bike.  I'm afraid ta go any distance at all
fer fear of breakin' down, ya know?  It's the belt
drive..."

1.  truck.le \'tr*k-*l\ n : a small wheel : PULLEY, CASTER.

"Shit!  Your truckle is more your imagination than broke!
Anyway, I don't wanna go to fucking La Paz or anything!
How about a quickie to TJ,  I hear they've organized
a Poker Run at the La Punta.  C'mon, let's go for it!"

Vern, with an uncharacteristic smile on his face, makes
his way to Claire's table and stands there, looking down
at Claire, "Speakin' of truckle...  Damn, Claire, ya know
I'd do anything if ya'd ride with me again.  Hell, we
could probably win the run t'gether,  if ya'd let me
take ya. C'mon, Claire, please...Gimme another chance."

2.  truckle vb : to yield slavishly to the will of another : SUBMIT
  SYN: fawn, toady, cringe, cower.

"You're  NUTS if you think I'd do that!!  That old heap
of yours won't hold two anymore... You got so much junk in
that stupid side car, and besides I don't trust you, Vern."

The last run Claire and Vern had gone on  together was
to Laughlin for a Beat the Heat Meet.  Vern decided to
see how much his bike could take and on his own did the hill
climbs at 1pm when the temperature was over 125 degrees.
He ended up in the hospital after the 3rd climb when his bike
got so hot the insides of his legs had 2nd degree burns on
them and his hands were blistered, even through the gloves.
Claire had gone on the first hill with him, in the side-car,
and had to jump out half way up the precipitous  incline
when Vern pulled the lever to detach the car so he
wouldn't stall out and loose everything.  That was Claire's
last ride-along.  From that time on she drove.

"Tell ya what Vern.  I don't wanna seem captious or anything,
so I'll go with you ... IF, ONLY if, I drive and you ride in
that idiot side car of yours!  How's about that?"

cap.tious \'kap-sh*s\ adj : marked by an inclination to find fault :
  CRITICAL.
 -- cap.tious.ly adv
  -- cap.tious.ness n

Sorry for the length of this one.  Hope the Weekend was
good to you.
later,
luv
de




----------------------------------************----------------------------
Dick Ellis, Librarian
San Diego Supercomputer Center
(619)534-5171 (voice)
(619)534-5117 (fax)
dellis@sdsc.edu

        "Go Moan for Mankind..."
            J. Kerouac