I said: “For Pete’s sake keep as sober as you can.”
“If you were right here, you’d try an’ get as tight as a tick… that’s what keeps me from goin’ crackers. How’d you like to be sitting next to a corpse? She’s looking at me all the time. I’m tellin’ you, this dame just can’t see enough of me. It’s givin’ me the heebies.”
“Aw, shut up,” I said, and concentrated on the dark road. After a little while Ackie began to sing. I couldn’t stand that. I took my foot off the gas-pedal and stamped on the brake. I twisted round in the seat. “For suffering in silence,” I said, “will you lay off it?”
“She likes it,” Ackie said. “You ask her an’ see.”
I switched on the light inside the car. Ackie was crouched up on the far side away from Blondie, his face the colour of a fish’s belly and his eyes popping. I reached out a hand and took the bottle away from him. He’d been working on it. There was only just one small drink left, and I had it. I tossed the bottle off the road.
“Take it easy,” I said; “for Pete’s sake take it easy.”
“Sure… you just go on… we’re fine here. I tell you we’re fine.”
I started the car rolling again. The gas was getting low and I couldn’t risk running out on a well-lit road. I’d have to take some on board at the nearest hick station.
I didn’t have to go far before I sighted one. I slowed down.
“I’ve got to pull in for some gas,” I said. “Keep quiet an’ don’t start anything.”