|
They gassed up and headed North, plenty early, so they could get a good spot to park and not have to do everything at the last minute, as they did every other year.
Things went smoothly for the first two hours of driving, then the engine started to bog on a grade. Ed wanted to get out and check things over. Marvin insisted it was the high altitude and cold night air that was causing the ratty old engine to pull so badly.
Ed floored it and nervously watched as the gauges swung back and forth. After ten minutes of this, a heavy vibration set in and the smell of burning rubber started to drift into the cab.
Ed sniffed the air, quickly ate the last three cheeseburgers and a greasy taco, wrapper and all, then protested to Marvin that something indeed was amiss. Marv called Ed several kinds of wimp and a paranoid, telling him to keep the pedal to the floor and everything would be all right once they cleared the top of the grade. |
