Saint-Jolivet of Pendleton

What he did not like was the immobilized bus and the inconsiderate absence of its driver, probably gone to get hold of some coffee for the eighth time in as many stops.

Still undecided about whether he should prolong his walk, he eventually noticed a little white-haired man picking up a strange little box and looking at it with an expression of deep concern and bewilderment. The little man was turning the thing in all directions, verifying each and every angle, and finally seemed to relax. Pendleton said "watch this man; he looks just like one of those mad scientists from the movies." Flabbergasted, he realized he was talking to himself out loud! With horror, he became conscious of having done it many times that very morning. He almost had a stroke when he recalled having always acted this way. The scariest thing being that this was the first time he had become aware of it. No, it wasn't true, he had always known. He had simply avoided thinking about it.

At the prospect of this incommensurable shame, his brain blocked certain areas of his nervous system and forced him to get interested in the doings of the old man who, having overheard everything, was looking at him surreptitiously. Pendleton could not help feeling a spontaneous sympathy for the elder whose life appeared linked to his strange little metallic device.

The scientist was resolutely walking towards the bus. He abruptly stopped four meters from it. He got frustrated and waved his cube in the air. There was a feeble but distinct click. He stayed in that position, astounded. He took two more steps and halted again as the noise from dozens of horns exploded. Pendleton turned around and noted that the reassuring drivers' wisdom had mysteriously vanished. The cars were now moving in total chaos as if suddenly taken by a collective madness.

Pendleton and Jolivet did not have time to analyze the phenomenon as they heard the discharges of compressed air announcing the inexorable closing of the bus doors. The bending doors started to unfold and professor Jolivet realized he was running out of time. He launched himself towards the vehicle but Pendleton knew he would not make it. Getting rid of his legendary idleness, he broke into a sprint to block them. He managed to do it without too much difficulty.

The entrance was now accessible, once again, and the professor arrived at last. Then, without warning, Pendleton got heated and started to curse at the empty driver's seat. The professor waved his box once more and Pendleton immediately regained his composure.

They both got aboard, Pendleton having decided on a whim to follow his new friend, and sat down to wait for the driver's return. He was railing against their annoying habit of abandoning their post for the sake of a coffee. A little lady, sitting not far from him, and whom Pendleton was bothering with his shouting, intervened.

"But, Mister, what driver are you talking about?"

"The one of this bus of course! Which one do you think I'm talking about?"

"But there is no driver, Mister," she said feebly, worried to be dealing with a madman.

"What do you mean, 'there is no driver'? This is not the end of the line as far as I know."

"That has nothing to do with it.