sneak peek: Desert Steve breaks down in the desert (from Nuff Sed: A Novel)

“What was that?” Lydia asked.

“Don’t know.” Steve’s brow furrowed. Something didn’t feel right about the automobile. He hoped it was a tire problem—easy to fix. But he had a feeling it was something mechanical.

“Could it be the rocks kickin’ up?” Thurman said from the back seat. Steve glanced back. The vibration and sound had woken Thurman, but Thelma and Herbert were dozing undisturbed.

“Maybe.” He eased off the throttle a bit, listening closely. Sort of knocking or rattling sound. And was that an intermittent grinding? “Nope.”

He pushed down on the throttle and the engine made a groaning sound and coughed. He eased off, and the engine went silent. 

Stanley stirred and began to cry. Lydia shushed him. “Did we run out of fuel?” she said.

“No.” It sounded like the engine had no fuel, but they should have plenty. He had extra fuel in containers. 

Herbert woke up and looked around. “What’s happening? Are we gonna die in the desert?”

“No, ya loon,” Thurman replied. “Father can fix anything.”

Herbert began to cry. Lydia turned and reached back to touch the seven-year-old. “We’re fine, Herbert. Just relax.”

Steve put the automobile in park with the hand lever, then shifted the spark advance all the way up. “Let’s try to re-start.” 

He got out. Lydia woke Thelma and handed Stanley to her, then moved to the driver’s seat. 

Steve, in front of the vehicle, said, “Make sure the ignition is set to battery, not magneto. Advance the throttle a little.”

Lydia did as he asked. Steve pulled out the choke lever and turned the crank three times with his right hand to prime the engine.

“Ok, turn the ignition on.”

She did so. “Done.”

He cranked again, this time with his left hand in case the engine kicked back. The engine tried to turn over, but would not catch. He folded open the bonnet and opened the fuel tank. At least half full.

After waiting a few minutes, they tried again. Same result. Raising up, he took off his hat and wiped his brow. It was still morning, but getting hotter by the minute. He estimated it was around ninety-five at the moment. 

He let out a sigh as he walked around the automobile, squatting down to scan the ground underneath. He walked to the rear. Turning slowly, he leaned down and touched the ground, bringing his hand up to his face to take a whiff. “Hm.”

Thurman appeared beside him. “Did you figure it out?”

Steve looked as if seeing him for the first time. “Get back in the car.” He walked in the direction they had come, crouched over, still scanning the ground between the ruts in the sand. Gotta be a fuel leak. But if there’s fuel in the tank, then that means…