“That.” Mr. Mendez leaned back against the counter. “We move our office records in it when we leave.”

“Come back to get them,” Dr. Favor said.

I said, “They have to be in Bisbee Friday.” That was in three days. I even added, “If they don’t get there, it’ll be too late.”

Mr. Mendez just shrugged. “If I could do something-”

I said, “Why not use the mud wagon and come back? We could do that without any trouble.”

Mr. Mendez was probably already mad because I was talking up, but he still looked patient. He said, “And who would drive it?”

“I could do it,” I said. Which just came to me that moment.

“Do you think the company would put an inexperienced driver on a run like that?”

“Well,” I said, “how do you get experience?”

“All of a sudden you want to be a driver.”

“I’m trying to help Dr. Favor. If he has to be in Bisbee, I think the company should see he gets there.”

“Within the company’s power,” Mr. Mendez said, still patient. “I think you and I can discuss this another time, uh?”

“That doesn’t help Dr. Favor any.”

Dr. Favor said, “What if I’m willing to let him drive?”

“You might also be willing to bring suit if something happens,” Mr. Mendez said.

“If I bought the rig?” Dr. Favor said.

But Mr. Mendez shook his head. “It’s not mine to sell.”

“Then if I paid more than just our fares.”

“You’re anxious to get there,” Mr. Mendez said.

“I thought you understood that.”

Mr. Mendez nodded his head to the side. “Isn’t that your buggy by the hotel? Use that.”

“It’s government property,” Dr. Favor said. “There’s a regulation about using it for private matters.”

“We have regulations too.”

“How much do you want?” Dr. Favor seemed just as patient as Mr. Mendez.

“Well, if there was a driver here.”