“Whassit say?”
“Two hundred a five. Would be boiling in minute.”
“Letta boil.”
I picked up the wrench. I had it between my feet. But just then, way up the grade, I saw the lights of a car. I had to stall. I had to stall for a minute, until that car went by.
“C’me on, Nick. Sing’s a song.”
He looked out on those bad lands, but he didn’t seem to feel like singing. Then he opened the door and got out. We could hear him back there, sick. That was where he was when the car went by. I looked at the number to burn it in my brain. Then I burst out laughing. She looked back at me.
“ ’S all right. Give them something to remember. Both guys alive when they went by.”
“Did you get the number?”
“2R-58-01.”
“2R-58-01. 2R-58-01. All right. I’ve got it too.”