| One of the mules had stopped--and so, consequently, had the eight or
so other mules in single file behind it.
Clint took the pistol of off his belt and pointed it lazily at the motionless mule. His thumb hit the button labeled 'INIT' without his having to look down. The light on top of the mule that had been flashing an over-vivid red began flashing an over-vivid blue. The mules had been installed ten years ago as part of a "revolutionary new baggage handling system that completely automates the baggage handling process". But the mules were the only part of the system that ever worked. Big guys--and few big gals--still had to load and unload the planes. And someone still had to keep an eye on the mules and reboot them from time to time. The flashing over-vivid blue light changed to a pale, steady green. The mule started to move again. But before the mule behind it could move too, he had fired an INIT at it, its pale green light now flashing an over-vivid blue. He rebooted all the mules that had been stopped by the crashed mule. Rebooting a working mule didn't accomplish anything. It wasn't a procedure that the training video had recommended. And he knew that it didn't keep them from crashing. But it made him happy. |