2008-8-1 04:29:00
by Ted Dewey
As they entered the city of Prescott, Henry bypassed the motel and drove directly to the ranch. Thomas could hardly wait to get a look at the car that ran on compressed air.
It was lunch time when they arrived at the house. Henry made a pair of cheese sandwiches and opened a couple of cans of beer.
Refreshed, the pair took off across the plank, and up the creek to the old mine tunnel. Henry unlocked the heavy door and swung it open. Both men stepped inside.
For a moment Thomas stood staring at the object in front of him. Slowly he walked completely around it taking in every detail "Beautiful!" he murmured. "Just plain beautiful."
"I think she will look pretty good after I use a few pounds of body putty and give it a paint job."
"It sure is streamlined. Looks like one of our fighter planes without wings."
"If it had wings it would fly."
They walked around to the front end of the machine.
"How do we get a look at the motor?" Thomas asked.
Henry moved back to the driver's seat, reached in under the dash and pulled a lever. The front end opened a trifle. "Just like most cars, Oran. Now reach under the hood and release the catch."
Thomas did as he was told and the hood popped open. He stood staring down at the motor.
"Is she ready to go?" he asked.
Henry nodded. "Shall I start her up?"
"Sure, why not? But let me see how you do it."
"Step back here and I will get her going." He leaned over and took hold of a small lever which was fastened to the steering column. Gently he pulled it down a notch. A gentle purr came from the exhaust pipe in the rear.
Thomas moved back to the front end and stared down at the motor. "Is she going?" he asked.
Henry nodded. "It is turning over about three hundred revolutions a minute; just a slow idle."
"Unbelievable! I can't see a thing moving. No fan no belts, no nothing. Not even a radiator!"
"No cooling system is needed." Henry pointed with his finger. "Look down at the front end of the crankshaft. There is a small pulley that is spinning around. This will turn the alternator when I get time to hook it up. It will supply current for the lights." Henry grinned. "When I find time to put them on."
"I don't see any wiring."
"There is no ignition system. And all the moving parts are enclosed. An oil change should run for years."
Thomas patted the side of the machine. "Just one big air tank. Correct?"
"Right you are. I haven't figured out the exact amount of cubic feet but there are a lot of them. I am sure it will run for at least an hour at normal highway speed. Maybe two."
"That is enough. No one should stay behind the wheel longer than that without stopping for a stretch. How much does it weigh?"
"I haven't had it near any scales but I know it is a lot lighter than most cars. I can lift either end of it off the ground."
"Light and streamlined. It shouldn't take much energy to keep this thing going.
There is only one thing more. Is it safe? Suppose she sprung a leak, or got wrecked? Wouldn't it blow up like a bubble?"
Henry shook his head. "I thought of that and I did something about it. That body consists of several different compartments. Only a small hole connects them together on the inside. So if one compartment did blow the rest would not. They would leak out slow enough not to hurt anyone."
"Looks like you have thought of about everything. Henry, you are indeed a genius. Now are we going to go for a ride?"
"Sure. There is an old dirt road that goes up the creek for a couple of miles. It is rough in places but it is the best I can do. Get in."
The two men climbed into the bucket seats. Henry put the machine in reverse and backed out into the open air. He spun the front wheels around and they were headed up the road.
The road sure didn't look like much but Henry knew every chuckhole in it. If Thomas wanted a ride he would sure give him one.
Without warning he let out a yell and stepped down hard on the foot throttle: A shower of dust and rocks from the front wheels arose high into the air. Then like a rocket, the car took off.
Oran Thomas was not prepared for such a move and was shoved back against the seat by this sudden forward thrust. His hat flew from his head and went sailing off in a cloud of dust! He turned and looked at the grinning face of Henry Bower.
One quick glance convinced him that the man knew what he was doing. He let out a yell and shouted...
"Giver her hell Henry!"
-- End Of Chapter Fifteen --
Copyright © 2008 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved