For once, Doc Brown wished he didn't always have to be so stubborn - especially when he was younger!
Well, he had to d o something about this, didn't he?
Maybe, he thought, if he disguised his voice -
'Who, me? he asked gruffly.
'yeah,' his 1955 version answered. 'Be a pal and hand me a 3/8 inch wrench.'
To tighten the flux capacitor? But that was all wrong!
‘3/8?’ Doc replied just as gruffly as before. ‘Don’t you mean a 1/2 inch?’
‘Why,’ his 1955 self said in astonishment, ‘you’re right!’
Doc reached into the toolbox. He handed his 1955 version the correct wrench without turning around. But should he say something else? Maybe a little polite conversation would keep his younger self from getting suspicious.
‘I presume,’ Doc added, ‘you’re conducting some sort of weather experiment.’
‘That’s right!’ 1955 exclaimed, every bit as astonished as before. ‘How did you know that?’
‘Oh,’ Doc replied humbly (but still as gruffly as his voice could stand), ‘I happen to have a little experience in that area.’
‘Yes, well,' 1955 explained, pleased to find a colleague, I'm hoping to see some lightning tonight although the weatherman says there’s not going to be any rain.'
‘Oh,’ Doc reassured him, ‘there’ll be rain, all right. And wind, thunder, lightning -' He couldn’t help but chuckle. ‘It’s gonna be one hell of a storm.’
He heard the rustle of the tarp as his 1955 self prepared to go back into the car.
‘Well, nice talking to you,’ 1955 said. ‘Maybe we’ll bump into each other again sometime in the future.'
‘Or the past,’ Doc added, once his younger self was gone and he was safely back on his bike.
Still, he had met his younger self, and they both had survived. He could only hope that Marty would be as lucky.
Chapter Seventeen
Biff stopped the car. Even in the well behind the seat, Marty could see the upper storey of the high school across the parking lot. Biff climbed out. Marty waited a minute, then cautiously raised his head so he could see over the side of the convertible.
Biff was headed for the back entrance to the gym. God! Marty thought. He never thought he would say this, but he was really glad to see Hill Valley High whole again, and not that bombed-out hulk he’d found in that other 1985.
Wait a minute! Biff had left the sports book behind. It was still sitting on the dashboard. Marty couldn’t believe his luck. All he had to do was lift himself up a little bit more, then reach forward and -
Marty ducked as Biff turned around and headed back toward the car. Biff grabbed the Almanac, and stuck it once more in the back of his pants, then walked toward the gym again.
Marty climbed out of the car once Biff had crossed the parking area, then ran and hid behind one of the pillars by the school’s back door. He knew he never should have expected this to be easy. Marty would just have to keep Biff in sight, and wait to make his move.
Biff walked quickly to a fire door at the back of the gym. A couple of other students walked over as Biff tried the door.
‘Hold it there, Biff!’ one of the students called.
‘Yeah, Biff,’ the other guy added. ‘We can’t let you in without a ticket.’
Biff held his right fist up to the two other guys.
‘I got five tickets right here.’
The other two guys took off. Biff opened the fire door, and went into the dance the back way.