Nope--no one-man-rodeo in the short story...I wouldn't trust my OWN ears, but i saw it with SFEric (from San Jose), a real live wire--in fact, he brought us all goodies, including a audio disc which is STILL playing after 1 1/2 hours!--and when I said "The hell WE are," he said "you're right." So I fiured i was right. But sionce you saw it and listened for it speciaslly, I will take your word...
By the way is it "dashboard" or "jackboard"? ("but he can't.....me!")