102
You and Captain Frankland curse your bad luck: first the clansmen at Columbus and now this breakdown have thwarted your hopes of a rendezvous with the colony at Deming. Then suddenly it occurs to you that if the colony were able to reach Deming on time, they would by now have realized that you were not going to make it, and would have continued along Interstate 10 as planned. You are less than fifteen miles from this freeway, and should be well within radio range.
With your hopes high, you retrieve your CB transceiver from your pack, switch on, and key in the frequency used by DC1. ‘Phoenix to DC1, Phoenix to DC1,’ you call, but the only reply you receive is a loud burst of static. After trying several different frequencies, you finally accept that you cannot get through.
‘Don’t worry, Cal,’ says the captain on seeing how disappointed you are. ‘At least if we can’t use the radio to keep in touch, then neither can Mad Dog’s men.’
It is early evening before Sergeant Haskell and Marine Knott return, but at least their journey was not in vain. The ignition unit that Knott spotted at the gas station works perfectly when fitted to the truck, and within half an hour of their return, the engine is running smoothly once more and you are able to continue.
