The Fox Run by David Robbins

Author:David Robbins [Robbins, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Adventure, sf_postapocalyptic
ISBN: 9780843962338
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 7308268
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing Company, Inc.
Published: 1985-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Plato was tired.

With the assistance of some of the Family members, he had loaded all of the Alpha Triad’s provisions, food and ammunition and medical supplies, into the SEAL. There were two bucket seats in the front of the vehicle, one for the driver and the other for a passenger. Between the bucket seats was a control console for several of the SEAL’s special features. Behind the bucket seats was another seat, running the width of the transport. Behind this rear seat was a large area for storage. Two spare tires and tools were kept in a recessed compartment under the storage area.

Plato walked to the SEAL, the vehicle gleaming in the afternoon sun, and opened the driver’s door. Under the dashboard, in the center, hung a red lever. Plato gripped the lever and pushed it to the right. The Operations Manual explained that this lever would activate the solar collector system, if it was still properly functional.

“Any word on this mechanical critter, old-timer?” asked someone behind him.

Plato turned.

Hickok, Blade, and Geronimo were fully armed, ready to go. Blade was giving Hickok a dirty look.

“I will know more in an hour.” Plato grinned. “The Operations Manual states that the solar energization process takes sixty minutes to achieve optimum performance levels. Every morning of your journey, one hour before you intend to drive, place the red lever under the dashboard in the right-hand position.”

“Fine by me,” Hickok said. “But I’ve got one question.”

“Which is?” Plato rolled down the driver’s window.

“What the blazes is a dashboard?”

“Haven’t you studied the books in the library dealing with modes of transportation?” Plato inquired.

“Sure.” Hickok shrugged. “But mainly I just looked at the pictures of the cars and the trucks, specially some of those race cars. Imagine being able to travel at over one hundred miles an hour! I never got into the mechanical aspect, though.”

“Suffice it to say, you have a lot to learn. All of you. Take the Operations Manual with you and read it as you travel. Earlier I placed the additives in the engine. They were stacked in cartons in the chamber housing the SEAL all these years.”

“Additives?” Blade repeated.

“Yes. The engine in the SEAL is unique, unlike any in the world at the time of World War Three. It’s described as self-lubricating when in truth a small amount of lubricant must be added before it can operate.”

“Do you really think the SEAL will work?” Geronimo queried. “After all this time?”

“I honestly can’t say.” Plato sighed and leaned against the transport.

“The Founder had confidence it would. He spent a sizable portion of his fortune devising it.”

“What’s this?” Hickok bent over and picked up a yellow can from the ground near Plato’s feet.

“It’s one of the additives,” Plato explained.

Hickok sniffed at the opening Plato had made in the top of the metal can. “Smells awful,” he commented, scrunching up his nose. “Glad we don’t drink this stuff.”

“The SEAL drinks that stuff,” Plato stated, smiling. “One can every fifty thousand miles. We’ll need to retain a record of the odometer mileage.

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