Tony Walker

There was an idea at the back of my mind that there was some reason why it was unwise to use melted snow, and it wasn't until I arrived with a bucket full that I remembered what it was.

Of course, goiter.

When I got back to her, she'd got the radiator cap off and inserted what a Danish friend of mine calls a funeral.

We poured a little water in.

Luckily, I'd warned her to stand clear.

The first tablespoonful that went in came straight out again, red hot, and blew the funeral sky high.

We waited a few minutes until things had cooled down a bit, but it was no go.

As fast as we poured water in it simply ran out again into the road beneath.

It was quite evident that she'd been driving with the radiator bone dry and that her engine had seized right up.

I told her so.

She said, ''Does that mean I've got to stop here all night?''

I explained that it wasn't as bad as all that.

That is, if she cared to accept the hospitality of my poor roof.

And it was a poor roof.

It let the wet in.

But she wouldn't hear of it.

By the by, she didn't know the circumstances, so it wasn't that.

No, she wanted to leave the car where it was and go on on foot.

I said, don't be silly, it's miles to anywhere.

However, at that moment we heard a car coming along the road, the same way as she'd come.