The Pony sputtered a few times as Jynx rounded the corner out of the gated neighborhood, again nearly clipping a white Aerostar minivan just pulling down the street. While the coincidence should have been obvious to both drivers, they were both so entirely preoccupied at the moment that they failed to register even the slightest hint of déjà vu.

Jynx accelerated down the long, sloping street that skirted along the back side of the neighborhoods, enjoying the still, hot midday air striking her full in the chest as she sat upright, coasting easily until the throttle sputtered and then cut out entirely. Even in third gear the Pony reluctantly snarled and slowed so quickly that Jynx almost went over the front handlebars. She cranked the throttle, stunned, but that didn’t start the engine or accelerate her out of the slowing roll. Just before she came to a stop, she squeezed the clutch to let it continue coasting on the downhill. The rattle of the disengaged chain was the only sound above the helmet-muffled tranquility of the quiet neighborhood.

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Jynx coasted around the corner at the bottom of the hill but felt her momentum fading as the street flattened out. She hopped off the Pony and leaned it against the cinder block wall surrounding the neighborhood. She didn't have to pop the gas cap to know the problem. The tiny stock tank didn't carry a lot of fuel. She unbuckled her helmet and wiped away the thin sheen of dusty sweat on her forehead. She and Austin could swing back for the Pony as soon as he finished his stupid date. In the meantime, she fumbled through her coverall pocket for the tiny disk. Comforted by the weight and lingering coolness of the metal she wiped the beaded sweat off her upper lip with the back of her wrist and replaced her sunglasses. With maybe a mile or two to walk to the Desert Sands lot, the sun was past its zenith and already baking the valley. She pulled her arms out of her coveralls and tied the sleeves around her waist like Austin and Jeremiah always did.