again.
Kendall got back in the SUV, leaving the door open while the other two huddled beneath their golf umbrellas talking earnestly as they swept their arms over the landscape. He could make out their tones and some of their words, but not enough to follow the conversation, though that really didn’t matter. They had their work to do, and in his mind Kendall began building the character for the movie. After a good ten minutes of talking and gesturing, the others returned to the SUV, and after stowing everything, they climbed inside. Guy turned the key, and the SUV started and then immediately died. He tried again, and the vehicle did the same thing.
Heat was already building up in the interior, and Kendall closed his eyes and prayed for the stupid engine to start. It didn’t. Guy got out, walked around to the front, and lifted the hood. Kendall opened the door on the shady side to let some of the heat out. Then he opened the cooler, thankful there was plenty of water. He took one and handed another to Lyman. “Fucking piece of crap,” Kendall heard Guy swear from outside. Then he stomped to the back and lifted the gate. “Thank God I keep tools with me,” Guy mumbled, and Kendall heard the rattle of a toolbox.
“Is there anything I can do?” Kendall asked as he looked over the backseat.
“No,” Guy said as he hefted the toolbox out of the back before walking around to the front again. Kendall turned to Lyman, who shrugged and huffed softly.
“He should have it fixed pretty quick,” Lyman said. Kendall wanted to believe that, but he wasn’t feeling hopeful. After a few minutes of banging and a bit more swearing, Kendall grabbed a bottle of water and wandered around to the front.
“I think I’ve almost got it,” Guy said. “Wasn’t getting enough air—damned dust.” He banged what seemed to be the air filter, and a cloud of crap filled the air and then blew away on the wind.
“Here.” Kendall handed the water to Guy and took the filter, hitting it gently to dislodge the dust. Guy upended the bottle and then set to wiping out the inside of the filter housing. “It looks better,” Kendall said, not really sure what he was doing, but getting that junk out should be good.
“There’s something that’s letting the dust in. I’ll have to tell the studio people when we get back. But cleaning this out should be enough to get us home,” Guy explained as he began to put everything back together. “I appreciate the help,” he added once he had the cover on the filter housing. “Try to start it,” Guy said, and Kendall climbed into the driver’s seat and turned the key. The engine started immediately and stayed running. Guy ran to the back, the tools thunking and clanking as he set down the box.
Kendall moved to the backseat, and Guy slid into the driver’s seat. They all closed their doors, and Guy turned onto the side road.
“Well, that was a bit of an adventure,” Lyman said. “I tried to get some help, but there was no signal.”
“That’s why I always have tools on these trips. I also left word with your office with exactly where we were going and when we’d be back. There’s no one out here and the nearest town, once we get to the main road, is Las Vegas.” They bounced around for a while before reaching the main road and finally the highway. Kendall had never been so grateful to be back on smooth pavement in his life.
Kendall sighed as worry about the vehicle having further troubles became less urgent. The other guys talked and reviewed what they’d seen. Kendall was pretty sure Lyman had liked the third location, but the final decision would be his. All Kendall could do was offer his opinion. They crossed back into California and continued driving. After about twenty miles, they came to a combined gas station, convenience store, and restaurant at a turnoff. Guy pulled in and got gas. Lyman headed inside, and Kendall went inside to use the restroom. He was getting a soda when
Kendall got back in the SUV, leaving the door open while the other two huddled beneath their golf umbrellas talking earnestly as they swept their arms over the landscape. He could make out their tones and some of their words, but not enough to follow the conversation, though that really didn’t matter. They had their work to do, and in his mind Kendall began building the character for the movie. After a good ten minutes of talking and gesturing, the others returned to the SUV, and after stowing everything, they climbed inside. Guy turned the key, and the SUV started and then immediately died. He tried again, and the vehicle did the same thing.
Heat was already building up in the interior, and Kendall closed his eyes and prayed for the stupid engine to start. It didn’t. Guy got out, walked around to the front, and lifted the hood. Kendall opened the door on the shady side to let some of the heat out. Then he opened the cooler, thankful there was plenty of water. He took one and handed another to Lyman. “Fucking piece of crap,” Kendall heard Guy swear from outside. Then he stomped to the back and lifted the gate. “Thank God I keep tools with me,” Guy mumbled, and Kendall heard the rattle of a toolbox.
“Is there anything I can do?” Kendall asked as he looked over the backseat.
“No,” Guy said as he hefted the toolbox out of the back before walking around to the front again. Kendall turned to Lyman, who shrugged and huffed softly.
“He should have it fixed pretty quick,” Lyman said. Kendall wanted to believe that, but he wasn’t feeling hopeful. After a few minutes of banging and a bit more swearing, Kendall grabbed a bottle of water and wandered around to the front.
“I think I’ve almost got it,” Guy said. “Wasn’t getting enough air—damned dust.” He banged what seemed to be the air filter, and a cloud of crap filled the air and then blew away on the wind.
“Here.” Kendall handed the water to Guy and took the filter, hitting it gently to dislodge the dust. Guy upended the bottle and then set to wiping out the inside of the filter housing. “It looks better,” Kendall said, not really sure what he was doing, but getting that junk out should be good.
“There’s something that’s letting the dust in. I’ll have to tell the studio people when we get back. But cleaning this out should be enough to get us home,” Guy explained as he began to put everything back together. “I appreciate the help,” he added once he had the cover on the filter housing. “Try to start it,” Guy said, and Kendall climbed into the driver’s seat and turned the key. The engine started immediately and stayed running. Guy ran to the back, the tools thunking and clanking as he set down the box.
Kendall moved to the backseat, and Guy slid into the driver’s seat. They all closed their doors, and Guy turned onto the side road.
“Well, that was a bit of an adventure,” Lyman said. “I tried to get some help, but there was no signal.”
“That’s why I always have tools on these trips. I also left word with your office with exactly where we were going and when we’d be back. There’s no one out here and the nearest town, once we get to the main road, is Las Vegas.” They bounced around for a while before reaching the main road and finally the highway. Kendall had never been so grateful to be back on smooth pavement in his life.
Kendall sighed as worry about the vehicle having further troubles became less urgent. The other guys talked and reviewed what they’d seen. Kendall was pretty sure Lyman had liked the third location, but the final decision would be his. All Kendall could do was offer his opinion. They crossed back into California and continued driving. After about twenty miles, they came to a combined gas station, convenience store, and restaurant at a turnoff. Guy pulled in and got gas. Lyman headed inside, and Kendall went inside to use the restroom. He was getting a soda when
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