The heat is on

Chapter Five

THE LEVER on the side of the heater grill was positioned on "Hot". I pushed the lever up and down a few times, but the temperature of the rushing air did not change. I started to get angry again.

I looked at the driver's window. Behind it hung a concertina blind that prevented the interior lights reflecting on the inside windshield and obscuring the driver's view of the road.

Even the small rectangular flap on the blind that allowed the driver a view of the passengers was closed.

I assumed that the driver had access to the heater's main control.

All I had to do was make him aware that the heater was not working and he would switch it on. I made to rap on the window. I hesitated.

I thought "what if he had deliberately left me at the stop? If he did, he must be a mean bastard. I don't want to upset him. But then again, he did wait for me".

My knuckles wavered at the glass.

"Things were not that bad", I thought, "At least I was out of the wind, and on my way to a town. Best I leave things as they are. Anyway the conductor will be down any minute. I'll ask him about the heater".

I lowered my hand, shifted back to my seat and turned my attention to the road. I hunched over the front window and cupped my hands to the glass.

The vibration of the rushing bus made it difficult to keep my hands steady, but I could see out. A few seconds past and I saw my car. I gasped at what I saw.

A man was standing over the open boot of my car! The bus hit a bump and I rebounded off the glass and fell back onto the seat. A shock of blackness hit me as the interior lights went out. Then the lights flickered and came on again.

Confused, I stood, but a sudden burst of nausea made me reel and I sat back down. I held tightly onto the handrail as the bus bound along. "Just my luck." I thought, "a thief breaking into my car I don't need. He'd have a job driving it away if that's his intention."

I did not want to think; my head hurt too much. There was nothing I could do anyway. I sighed and sat back. I did not fancy being stuck out in the cold dealing with a car thief.

I felt relieved of that unpleasant responsibility. Sometimes fate unshackles one from responsibility; no need to choose, just ride along on fates rollercoaster. I searched through my pockets for some change to pay my fare.

"Where was the conductor anyway? He should have come down by now? Unless he's having a sleep"

I had no change. I remembered that I had spent the money that I had to fill the car with petrol. What was I to do now?

I decided to explain my misfortune to the conductor. He would understand and forego the fare for now. If we hit a town before he appeared it would not matter anyway.

As a last resort I could jump off without paying. I shivered, drew my feet up onto the seat, and closed my eyes. I dozed.

Sleep does funny things with time. One can never be sure how much time has passed. What seems like only a few minutes can be an hour and an hour a minute.

From time to time my eyes opened, but that we were not yet at a town must have registered on my sleepy mind and I dozed again.

A sharp bump jerked me awake. I uncurled my stiff joints and slowly sat up. I looked at my watch. Twelve thirty.

"It can't be!" I said leaning to the window and cupping my hands against the glass.