 Why was Don unable to shower while on Superior?
Radio messages stated simply that Superior had seceded from Earth. A truck driver named Pierce Knaubloch was the first to report it. The state police converged on the former site of Superior from several directions. Communicating by radiophone across the vast pit, they confirmed that the town undoubtedly was missing. The train's schedule called for it to pass through but not stop at Superior at 11:58. A National Guard officer volunteered to take a jeep down into the pit, having found a spot that seemed navigable. The Pentagon and the Atomic Energy Commission denied that they had been conducting secret experiments. A United Airlines pilot found Superior early on the morning of November 1. The object loomed out of a cloudbank at twelve thousand feet and Studley changed course to avoid it. A few minutes later he had relayed a message from Superior, formerly of Ohio, addressed to whom it might concern: It said that Superior had seceded from Earth. One other radio message came from Superior, now airborne, on that first day. Don Cort had been dozing in what passed for the club car on the Buckeye Cannonball when the train braked to a stop. When Don had entered the club car he'd seen her hatless head from above and noticed that the hair along the part was dark. But it was likely that all she noticed then was the brief case he carried, attached by a chain to a handcuff on his left wrist. Don hesitated, shrugged at the redhead, said, "Excuse me," and followed the conductor. Don made his way up to the locomotive and found a bigger knot of people gathered in front of the cowcatcher. Don saw two men who must have been the engineer and the fireman talking to an old bearded gentleman wearing a civil defense helmet, a topcoat and riding boots. Don Cort and the fireman walked cautiously toward the edge while the professor ambled ahead with the familiarity of one who had been there before. Nevertheless, Don could see that it apparently was a neat, sharp edge, not one of your old ragged, random edges such as might have been caused by an explosion. He didn't have to stand on tiptoe any more than he had to sit on the edge of his seat during the exciting part of a movie, but the situation seemed to call for it. Well, Professor Garet telephoned and said, 'Hector'—that's my name, "Maybe not a plane," Don said, "but a helicopter could land just about anywhere."
 He was unable to remove the briefcase in order to remove his clothing,
 He feared that someone would steal the briefcase if he left it unattended.  The water supply was lacking from the stream flowing out of Superior.  There was an electrical current flowing throughout the water in Superior.  He was unable to remove the briefcase in order to remove his clothing,