Out of chronological sequence at this point, by the way.
Even the Bureau couldn’t manage better than a refurbished hydrocar for Norm and Cartwright’s ‘personal vehicle,’ but that was all right. Simply having their own car — and David to drive it — was swank enough and to spare. They were trying to look rich and stupid, not stupid rich.
David drove stiffer than Norm did, though. “More cars on the road than I remember,” he admitted, his eyes fixed on the road. “Hell, this is worse than Laandan.”
“Congress rammed through a DepTran rollback last year,” Cartwright told him, as smug as if she had lobbied for the legislation herself. “It’s never been easier to get an unlocked driver’s license.”
“Never been easier to get stuck in traffic, either,” Norm groused. “Is there air conditioning?”
David flicked his eyes over the dashboard. “Just a fan. I guess we pull down the windows? Get some wind that way.”
Norm tried the crank, and figured out how to lower the window on only the second try. “If this is what rich civvies get, I’m never quitting. Oh, hey, there’s a detour sign.”