theory test Q.062 How can you avoid wheel-spin when driving in freezing conditions? Mark one answer m A Drive in first gear all the time m B Put on your hand-brake if "How's it going down there, Darren, you alright? Over." / Darren turned, gave the warehouse a fleeting scan ….if the wheels begin to slip, God, how many times- picked up his radio, clicked it. "Aye Rich, everything's fine, over." m C Drive in as higher a gear as poss "Alright, well-" He slammed his pen down Dragged his hands through his hair. "-call from't delivery chap, he got stuck in traffic on't A629, been a crash, apparently. Anyway, I think we're done for tonight, you might as well open't back doors and teck all't rubbish out. I'll be coming down wit last power truck in about ten minutes, I've just gotta finish up here… Over." Click. "Okay Rich." He put the radio down, waited a moment… Picked up his pen. m D Allow the vehicle Laughter. "I've just seen you on't security camera, Daz, what the hell you doing?" / To coast, glide, slide, take it easy. Click. "Studying for chrissake. I got my driving theory test in Bradford, tomorrow. Wouldn't mind, bloody book cost me eight quid." / More laughter. Interference. "-st teck rubbish out, Daz, don't give birth." Darren muttered, stood up, clipped the radio onto his belt. Allow the vehicle. Mouthed his pen, slid the book off the desk, began to head for the back door. To coast, allow- His boots broke the drone of the overhead lights. Stock watched through tight-packaged gaps stacked high on chrome-silver shelves. McCulloch. Qualcast. Black & Decker. Allow the ve- An odd sound. He stopped, turned. A loose black strap was tapping against a Flymo Strimmer. You arrive at the warehouse door. Do you, A- He made the book and pen vanish, unfastened his keys, slotted one into the panel. Checking his watch (1:46am) he snatched up the saftey bolt, pressed and held the s button. The aluminium door shuddered vigourously, began to lift to the sound of a jangling chain. Crisp and peanut packets wheezed inside as the gap widened, followed by a Wilkinson Sword box riding a rug of squashed bubble-wrap. The groan of a motorbike, a distant siren. Frosty November air slashed rain across the amber-lit yard. Keeping the button pushed, Darren tugged the book out of his pocket, thumbed it open and held it up near his face. Allow the vehicle, allow- Over the top of it, he watched a man dressed in a dark green jacket shuffle calmly under the rising door. AllowCHRIST- Book drooping, he sprang his finger off the button. The door halted, clanged into silence. The intruder, navy blue gloves and a crowbar, shook rain out of his greying hair. "Alright lad?" He turned, faced Darren, unzipped his jacket. "Now then, there's a bloke workin this shift called Richard Dunlop," He ran his sleeve under his nose. Sniffed. "He's still here isn't he?" (Looking at the dangling bar, Darren nodded.) "Good. Now listen. I don't wanna touch you, alright? All I want you to do's gerron't tannoy or whatever, and tell Dunlop you've got a problem with this door. Tell him you can't gerrout side, somethin like that, okay? Owt you like, just gerrim down here." Litter hurried into corners. The security camera glinted above the delivery desk. "Listen," (The man rubbed his chin - "don't mess with me, lad" - swapped the crowbar into his other hand.) "No, I won't, just listen okay, you're being watched... All this, now, okay, it's being recorded. Maybe you should..." Icy black metal stung Darren's cheek. He shook. Dropped the theory test book. ALLOW THE VE- "Call. Dunlop. This's between me and him. Don't make it have owt to do we you." Eyes closed against the cold PleaseGodallowthevehicle- Darren reached down, took a sweaty hold of the radio, trailed it clumsily upto his mouth. PleaseGod- Click. "Ah… Richard?" He seized a shaky breath. "Richard… It's it's Darren. You there?" / Interference. "-right Daz, I'm here. Just checkin't monitors up in't control room, looks like camera system's gone down. How you doin? You taken all't crap out yet?" The man grinned, pushing the metal harder against Darren's jaw. More litter came scuttling in from the yard. Across rain and roads and a garden fence, a dog barked. "Did you get that Daz? Over." Hair blowing/bloodshot eyes stared down a runway of cold metal. "Daz? You alright?" Click. Q.063 A man is going to put either you or your boss in hospital. Who's it to be? Mark one answer © Andy J Campbell 1998 |