A Long Way From Kilkenny.
The Kilkenny Kid tried again to start the engine and then turned to frown at Barney, his eyebrows eloquent in expressing his annoyance. "I thought you were gonna get it checked."
"I thought you did. You were talking with Miguel."
"I was arranging the supplies, as agreed. You were supposed to deal with the car."
"It's a good car." said Barney defensively, knowing the Kid was about to mention that they had spent his money on it.
"Barney, a good car, a really excellent car, moves."
"Hey, this car has moved all the way from Campo Grande!"
"I know, but it's stopped now, hasn't it?" said the Kid.
"Well, maybe you should take a look at it." said Barney, "You're good with cars, Kid."
"If you'd done as we agreed ... "
"Just take a look. The sooner it's mended, the sooner we can move on to the next crowd. You'll be a star, very soon."
"Yeah, very soon. Can't wait." said the Kid, but he got out of the car.
"Hey, Kid!" said Barney.
He came to the window. "Yeah?"
"Be careful, you're losing your accent."
"You think that matters, out here?"
"Never know who might be listening, so Irish it up!"
"Anything else you want me to do while you rest your fat ... "
"Now, Kid, we're equal partners. I promise, I'm not idle in here." said Barney, but he was pleased to hear a hint of shamrock slipping back into the Kid's voice. "Hey, when we hit the big time, we'll pay someone to take care of the car."
"When we hit the big time, we're buying a car that works." said the Kid.
"Two cars! Ever driven in a Jaguar, Kid?"
"We came bloody close to being eaten by one on that last shortcut of yours."
"That wasn't a jaguar. It almost certainly was something small and harmless. A fox, maybe."
"I never heard a fox make that noise."
"You're suddenly an expert on foxes? I think jungles make you nervous."
"Bloody big cats that want to eat me make me nervous."
"You never even saw it." said Barney.
"Maybe we should go back and try to attract it into sight, but you can be bait, not me." The Kid went to look into the engine and Barney settled back to read a newspaper. He was beginning to take an interest in an article about Rio de Janeiro's traffic, when the Kid tapped on the roof of the car.
Barney peered out. "Any luck?"
"Partners?"
"All the way, you know that."
"So if I were in the middle of nowhere, gasping for a drop of water, you'd find me some?"
"Sure I would! Partners, always!"
The Kid thrust a bottle at him through the open window. "Then get walking. You were supposed to fill the radiator and the water bottle before we left. Clean water, please."
Barney was about to argue or make an excuse, but the Kid had that mad dog look in his eye and Barney wasn't about to argue with that.
The End