Chapter 39 Summary

Tristan drives Herriot out to a call because Herriot's left arm is in a sling as a result of an infection. They are in the dilapidated Austin because Tristan wrecked his car earlier that week. Dr. Farnon is ill and has decided that Tristan, however irresponsible, is the one for the job.

After the call, Tristan and Herriot relax in the sunshine. All of the sudden, the Austin starts rolling backwards. Tristan forgot to put the car in park. Their efforts to catch the vehicle are for naught, and it continues to pick up speed. They see a small wooden shed and realize that the Austin is going to smack into it. Tristan realizes that this time, it will just be too much for his brother. All of the surgical instruments go flying out of the Austin as it careens down the hill...