“Maybe we could make a dicker,” said Ozaki. “You fix things, I answer questions—some questions that is,” he added hastily.
“It’s a deal,” said Kurt who was filled with a burning curiosity as to his whereabouts. Certain things were already clear in his mind. He knew that wherever he was he’d never been there before. That meant evidently that there was a garrison on the other side of the mountains whose existence had never been suspected. What bothered him was how he had got there.
“Check,” said Ozaki. “First, do you know anything about plumbing?”
“What’s plumbing?” asked Kurt curiously.
“Pipes,” said Ozaki. “They’re plugged. They’ve been plugged for more time than I like to think about.”
“I can try,” said Kurt.
“Good!” said the pilot and ushered him into the small cubicle that opened off the rear bulkhead. “You might tackle the shower while you’re at it.”
“What’s a shower?”
“That curved dingbat up there,” said Ozaki pointing. “The thermostat’s out of whack.”
“Thermostats are kid stuff,” said Kurt, shutting the door.