RAY: You remember our pal Vinnie Goombatz? Well, he had--and note the use of the past tense--two cousins, Rocco and Throckmorton.

One day, Rocco and Throckmorton find themselves in the middle of a little mob fracas. Next thing they know, they're both locked in the airtight trunk of a late-model Lincoln Town Car.

After the gunplay subsides, Rocco and Throck realize that if they don't get out, they're going to die. So Rocco begins beating on the trunk and screaming, "Let us out!"

It's to no avail. Rocco expends considerable energy and most of his air supply. Finally, after several hours, Rocco ceases his banging and screaming and, in fact, expires.

During this time, however, Throckmorton has done nothing. He hasn't made a sound. He's just lying there, saving his breath, while Rocco sucks up all the air.

Hours later, Throckmorton hears a car approach. He figures this is his last chance. He bangs on the trunk...sure enough, it's the police. They open the trunk and let him free.

How could Throckmorton possibly have survived for hours after Rocco had sucked up all the air and expired?

[ Car Talk Puzzler ]