“OK, Harry, I knew you’d see it my way,” said Do-Wop, grinning. “I’ll tell Soosh about that robot theory, and maybe we’ll add metal and plastic detectors to what we’re setting up. Thanks!”
“Think nothin’ of it,” said Chocolate Harry. He picked up his copy of Biker’s Dream and began looking for the ad again. Maybe this time he could find it without being interrupted for company business.
Phule had booted up his Port-a-Brain and settled back to look over his investments-there were a couple of items in his portfolio that hadn’t been performing well, and he thought it might be time to divest them-when the hoverjeep’s engine alarm began to beep. “What does that mean, Beeker?” he said, looking up from the screen. They’d put the vehicle on automatic for the trip back to base, expecting no traffic or weather problems. Now, halfway home, something was going wrong.
“We seem to be approaching a magnetic anomaly, sir,” said Beeker, who was sitting in the front seat near the instrument panel. He peered at the readout and said, “Power seems to be dropping abruptly.”
“That’s not good,” said Phule. “Let’s find someplace to set down before power runs out entirely. If worse comes to worst, we’ll call base and have somebody take a run out and pick us up.”
“Yes, sir,” said Beeker. “There’s a clear area just ahead. I’ll put us down there.” He slid into the driver’s seat and flipped the control switch over to manual. After a moment, he said, “The controls aren’t responding, sir. Shall I activate the emergency signal?”