139
You are sure that the old hermit is bluffing and that he will say anything to cadge a ride with the colony. ‘Sorry, old timer,’ you say, as you make ready to leave the cave, ‘the bus is full an’ we’re short o’ food. Anyway, you’d be safer to stay here than come with us. There’s a whole heap o’ trouble on our tail.’
‘I ain’t afraid o’ trouble,’ retorts the hermit proudly, ‘an’ I promise I’ll be no burden to y’all. I’m rightly useful when it comes to huntin’ an’ findin’ water. An’ besides, if you want that bus o’ yours back on the road, you need me to tell you where to find a new steering linkage.’
It seems that you have no choice but to take the hermit with you. If he is bluffing about the replacement part, both he and the bus will not be going anywhere. Reluctantly you agree to his proposition and tell him to collect his things.
