Tall buildings loomed in the distance and the sign indicated five miles to the airport entrance. Marvin started to relax when the low battery warning beeper emitted its horrible ear splitting noise. A clipped metallic voice from under the instrument panel said, “Mr. Dimwiddy, at the present speed there are four miles of travel left in the batteries. Either activate the pollution creating device under the hood or stop at an approved charging station.”

Marvin’s foot decreased the pressure on the speed pedal to slow the car. The drivers of the vehicles following the Earth Saver Custom Deluxe sounded their horns as the Saver slowed even more. “Congratulations, Mr. Dimwiddy, by my calculations based on your GPS, you will be able to continue to the nearest approved charging station at the National Airport,” the nerve grating metallic voice said.

“Daddy, isn’t there some way to shut that voice off?” Molly asked with obvious disgust.

“Little Molly that’s required on all the new cars so we won’t be stranded if the engine and batteries malfunction.” 

“We sure didn’t have those dumb voices in our pickup. I liked it much better.”

“My daughter, all of this is necessary to help save the planet. Here we are at the charging station.” Just as the car rolled to a stop at a vacant charging station stall, the warning beeper tried to beep and quit. The voice said, “The batteries are—”

“Dead,” Marvin said. He got out and went to the power cord to attach it to the car for the battery charge. He took a five dollar bill out of his wallet to pay for the electricity. He saw a sign covering the slot where the bill was to be inserted. The big red letters on the sign gave Marvin no comfort. Out of Order. Do Not Use! Marvin walked to the next stall and saw the same words. He went to the third stall and saw yet another sign. He looked around helpless, not knowing what to do.

A man came out of small building and said, “Mister, all the stalls are closed. It will be awhile before you can charge the batteries.”

“I need to get to the airport to pick up my wife’s mother. How long is it going to be before the chargers will be working? What’s the problem?”

“The wind generator power has been diverted to more critical uses. They are only turning at half speed due to low wind velocity. When that happens the charging stations receive reduced power. Ours is cut off completely.”

“How am I going to charge the batteries? The engine is out of ethanol blend and I don’t have a permit to purchase fuel in this part of the state,” Marvin said with extreme anguish.  “We were assured that none of this would happen.”

 Mister, even if you had a permit there isn’t any fuel here. The fuel permits are issued on a per need basis and the Fuel Allocation and Licensing Bureau ruled that I didn’t need one. The county only has a maximum number of permits available, and it wouldn’t have made any difference if they said I could have one since all of the permits have been issued. You’ll just have to wait until I receive authorization to start the fuel powered generator. When the Anti-Pollution Commission notifies me that air quality has improved enough, I can fire up the generator and you can charge the batteries. It’ll cost eight dollars instead of five due to the pollution penalty for the generator engine.”

Marvin handed the man eight dollars and said, “Molly and I are going over to that restaurant to get something to eat. Her grandmother’s plane isn’t due for another hour and a half. Could you hook up the power if it comes on while we’re gone?”

“That’ll be another two dollars.” Marvin dug into his pocket for more money.

(To be continued.)

    © 07-03-2008 DEC