When he hit the damp riverbed he turned right. He nosed it in under the bridge, and they were all alone there.

Some waters trickled past them, and the lightning con- tinued to flash. The sky was a shifting kaleidoscope and constant came the thunder. He could hear a sound like hail on the bridge above them.

"We're safe," he said and killed the engine.

"Are the doors locked?"

They do it automatically."

Tanner turned off the outside lights.

"Wish I could buy you a drink, besides coffee."

"Coffee'd be good, just right,"

"Okay, it's on the way," and he cleaned out the pot and filled it and plugged it in.

They sat there and smoked as the storm raged, and he said, "You know, it's a kind of nice feeling being all snug as a rat in a hole while everything goes to hell outside.

Listen to that bastard come down! And we couldn't care less."

"I suppose so,*' she said. "What're you going to do af- ter you make it to Boston?"

"Oh, I don't know. . . . Maybe get a job, scrape up some loot, and maybe open a bike shop or a garage.

Either one'd be nice."

"Sounds good. You going to ride much yourself?"

190 .

"You bet. I don't suppose they have any good clubs in town?"

"No. They're all roadrunners."

"Thought so. Maybe I'll organize my own."

He reached out and touched her hand, then squeezed it.

"I can buy you a drink."

"What do you mean?"

She drew a plastic flask from the right side pocket of her Jacket. She uncapped it and passed it to him.

"Here."

He took a mouthful and gulped it, coughed, took a second, then handed it back.

"Great! You're a woman of unsuspected potential and like that. Thanks."

"Don't mention it." She took a drink herself and set the flask on the dash.

"Cigarette?"

"Just a minute."

He lit two. passed her one.

There you are. Corny."

"Thankh I'd like to help you finish this run."

"How come?"

"I got nothing else to do. My crowd's all gone away, and I've got nobody else to run with now. Also, if you make it, you'll be a big man. Like capital letters. Think you might keep me around after that?"

"Mavbe What are you like?"

"Oh, I'm real nice. I'll even rub your shoulders for you when they're sore."

"They're sore now."

"I thought so. Give me a lean."

He bent toward her, and she began to rub his shoul- ders. Her hands were quick and strong.

"You do that good, girL"

"Thanks."

He straightened up, leaned back. Then he reached out, took the flask and had another drink. She took a small sip when be passed it to her.

The furieil rode about them. but the bridge above stood the siege. Tanner turned off the lights.

"Let's make it," he said, and he seized her and drew her to him.

She did not resist him, and he found her belt buckle

191.

and unfastened it. Then he started on the buttons. After awhile, he reclined her seat.

"Will you keep me?" she asked him.

"Sure."

"I'll help you. I'll do anything you say to get you through."

"Great."

"After all, if Boston goes, then we go, too."