Tom kept the truck in second gear over the rough road, to protect the springs. At Needles he drove into a service station, checked the worn tires for air, checked the spares tied to the back. He had the gas tank filled, and he bought two five-gallon cans of gasoline and a two-gallon can of oil. He filled the radiator, begged a map, and studied it. The service-station boy, in his white uniform, seemed uneasy until the bill was paid. He said, “You people sure have got nerve.’’ Tom looked up from the map. “What you mean?’’ “Well, crossin’ in a jalopy like this.’’ “You been acrost?’’ “Sure,
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