By noon the vehicle's external thermometer was displaying 134° F. and the engine temperature was running well above normal with passenger refrigeration turned off. Although we were regularly consuming water, our charges had steadfastly refused. Personal comfort had leveled off at a point where we rode with windows only partially open to keep the searing breeze from our faces, allowing perspiration soaked clothes to provide our only cooling. In the jargon of the southwest, we had become our own swamp boxes.

We stopped briefly for sandwiches, hot coffee, and a well-deserved stretch under the only tree on that lonely road; a Mesquite, I believe. While our passengers nursed their sore backs quite privately and without complaint, I delivered a short sermon on the effects of dehydration, which seemed to produce the desired response. Other than that, conversation consisted only of the usual exchanges between a husband and wife, as our unfortunate charges had not regained sufficient composure to be interested in social amenities.

By now the trio understood perfectly our earlier protestations at returning to Cholla Bay. Despite this, their masculinity and superiority were both injured badly at my wife being behind the wheel. I could see it in their glances and body language. They distinctly did not like being saved by a woman, especially a woman of color. Still, they issued no complaints as we once again got underway.

While we were stopped, the vehicle's external thermometer had succumbed to the sun's persistence with a reading of "over-temp". During the next two hours, the liquid-crystal display turned quite black and the engine coolant came within a hair's breadth of boiling.

The thermometer didn't recover until quite late that afternoon; and when it did, the first temperature displayed was 136° F., a searing testimonial to the hottest day I believe my soul mate and I have ever endured.

 
Copyright (c) 1996-2010
Larry K. Fox

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