Firemen stood ready nearby and continued to drench the steaming metal frame, alert lest the heat spread fire to the surrounding brush. Tired police began directing the long line of backed-up traffic around the seared splotch of highway. Exhausted drivers, many of whom had spent the night discussing what they thought they’d seen amidst the smoke and confusion, climbed back into their cars and prepared to resumed their interrupted travels. One cop had been delegated to break the good news to the impatient truckers. “All right, all clear up ahead. Let’s crank ’em up and move ’em out, boys!” “With pleasure!” replied the first in line. His colleagues readily agreed with him, though they voiced their feelings in more colorful terms as they scattered to their respective rigs. The growls of big Detroit diesels filled the crisp dawn air, sending foraging birds racing for quieter climes. One at a time the big trucks moved out into the newly opened lanes.
