Taking the Chequered Flag (5 page)

Gabby hunted through her wardrobe and pulled out a sundress. For once, she really didn’t care what she wore. Her dad’s friend—Mr Mills—lived with his wife and kids in a house that didn’t have a pool or a games room. Indeed, it had a huge outdoor entertaining area with a gigantic barbecue, a theatre room with a movie projector screen, and a shed full of brand new cars.

Gabby had been to lots of parties there before and each one had been the same; they ate gourmet sausages, listened to Mr Mills talk about his kids—two primary school aged boys—and then they watched endless movies, mostly thriller adventures, while their parents chatted
on over brandy and cards. The Mills’ place was one of the least thrilling places to go to on a Saturday night.

She changed her mind, and pulled out shorts and a T-shirt. Sometimes there were other kids from school at these parties but most of her friends had gone away on holidays. If only E.D. had agreed to come with her. Gabby scowled. Not that he wanted to, of course. Not that he could bear to go anywhere with her.

‘Are you ready, Gabriella?’

‘Coming, Mum.’

Gabby ran down the stairs and jumped into her mother’s four wheel drive. Her father smiled at her as she slammed the door. ‘Ready for the Mills’ kids’ latest success story, Gab?’

‘Great, Dad. I can’t wait.’

When they got there, the party was in full swing. The smell of tomato and basil sausages wafted out to meet them. Mrs Mills came to the door and ushered them to the back where Mr and Mrs Hunter were quickly drawn into the crowd of grown-ups, leaving Gabby to find a soft drink and wander around to the theatre room.

About ten little kids were already lounging around on couches and pillows on the floor.
A huge car chase was screening, complete with thumping rock music and the sound of crashing vehicles as the hero of the story made his way through several impossible road blocks. ‘What’s on?’ Gabby yelled at Adrian Mills.

‘
Road of the Damned.
Isn’t it cool?’

‘Yeah,’ said Gabby without enthusiasm. ‘Most unbelievable car chase I’ve ever seen.’

Adrian looked at her crookedly and she shrugged. The kid turned back to the movie and Gabby scanned the crowd. There was no one over the age of ten in the room and it had looked like the group of people in the backyard were all at least as old as the birthday boy. Terrific, thought Gabby. So I’ll either end up as a babysitter to a bunch of Grade 4s or I’ll be a drinks-and-food runner for the parents. She backed out of the theatre and wandered into the lounge room at the front of the house where it was quieter.

From the large bay window, the Mills had a good view of Teasdale. The house was on a hill by itself, with vacant blocks on either side. At the bottom of the hill, houses sat side by side all the way to town. Gabby looked out through the window. She’d said to E.D. that the party
was close to his place, but she hadn’t realised how close. She could see E.D.’s house from where she was. Its roof tiles were covered in lichen and a cluster of ratty looking sheds filled the yard. The only thing that kept the scene from looking too ugly was an old peppercorn tree at the side of the De Lugios’, its branches waving in the breeze.

Something appeared in the front yard of the house. It was a motorbike that was twisting in and out of the few scraggly bushes that made up the De Lugios’ front garden. Gabby strained to see who it was—E.D. or Mario?—but she was too far away to recognise them. She looked back into the house. An enormous crash came from the theatre room as several Hollywood cars bit the dust. Through the open back door, women laughed and sausages cooked. They wouldn’t miss me if I went to see E.D., thought Gabby. I won’t be too long.

She slipped out the front door, closing it quietly behind her—not that anyone would hear it click shut—and walked down the hill towards E.D.’s. A hot breeze rolled over her and she wished she was at home in her pool. Still, visiting E.D. had to be better than staying at the Mills’.

The motorbike was still going up and down the driveway when she got there. Clouds of dust flew up behind it and Gabby wondered how Mrs D put up with it. She stopped at the gate and waited until the bike completed its circuit and came towards her again. The rider saw her at the last moment and skidded to a stop just a metre away.

‘Gabby!’

It was Mario. He thumbed the kill switch and the bike went quiet.

‘Hi,’ said Gabby. ‘I was just up there,’ she pointed up the hill, ‘and thought I might come and see E.D.’

‘He’s not here. He went to stay at Angus’.’

Gabby frowned. He wouldn’t go with me to a party, she thought grumpily, but he’d go over there. ‘Well, I hope he’s having a good time.’

Mario laughed. ‘It doesn’t sound like you are! Boring party, eh?’

‘Full of little kids.’

‘Stay here for a while, then.’ Mario took off his helmet and shook his head to free his hair, reminding Gabby of E.D.

‘Mario?’ she said suddenly. ‘Can you teach me to ride a motorbike?’

‘What would you want to do that for?’

Gabby shrugged, thinking of Tony. ‘Everyone else seems to be able to do it.’

‘Don’t know about that.’ Mario looked at Gabby curiously. ‘Have you ever ridden a motorbike before?’

‘I’ve been on the back of E.D.’s.’

‘That must have been scary!’ Mario climbed off his bike and handed Gabby his helmet. ‘I can teach you but you’ll have to wear this.’

Gabby took the sweaty helmet and placed it gingerly on her head. Oh, well, she thought, I can wash my hair later.

‘This is a motocross bike,’ Mario explained. ‘So it hasn’t got a key. To start it, you have to kick.’ He demonstrated by pushing down with his right foot. The bike roared into life and he shut it down again. ‘Your go.’

He wheeled the bike to Gabby. She swung her leg over and held the rubber handgrips. ‘Okay, what now?’

‘It’s in neutral. Push down on the kick starter with your right foot. Put it into first gear by clicking down with your left foot,’ said Mario, pointing to the clutch, ‘and use your right hand on the throttle. Remember, the gears go one down and four up.’

Gabby was nearly as tall as Mario and easily balanced the bike with her two feet on the ground. She pushed down on the kick starter and the bike roared and died.

‘Try again,’ said Mario, encouragingly.

On the third push, the bike started. Gabby glanced at Mario who nodded and pointed to the bike’s gears. She put her left foot on its peg and clicked it into first gear. The bike jumped forward, taking her by surprise, and stalled.

‘Hold the clutch in with your left hand and let it out slowly,’ Mario said. ‘Give it another go.’

Gabby tried again. And again. On her third attempt, the bike took off smoothly and she went with it. ‘Keep going up the gears,’ yelled Mario, running beside her.

Gabby got it up to second gear and everything went well until she hit the rough ground near a tree. The bike twisted under her and she almost fell, putting her feet down at the last moment. ‘Sorry,’ she said to Mario as he rushed over. ‘I’m okay.’

‘Doesn’t matter,’ he said. ‘It’s an old bike. And we’ve got at least five bikes between us. Do what you like, it won’t matter. As long as you’re okay.’

Gabby started again. She got the bike into second gear and carefully steered around the
yard. Mario stood with his arms folded at the front gate and nodded as she went by.

Time passed. Gabby didn’t know how long she rode. At one stage, Mrs D appeared on the front porch and stood with her hands in the air yelling across the yard in Italian to Mario. Gabby didn’t dare stop; she didn’t want Mrs D to ask her to get off, not until she’d given it a good go. Whatever Mario had said back must have done the trick. Mrs De Lugio finally gave Gabby a smile and a wave and went back inside.

Just as it was getting dark, Gabby pulled up beside Mario.

‘Had enough? You were getting quite good.’

‘Yeah, I’ve had enough for one day.’ Gabby looked down at her dusty legs. Her shorts and sneakers were brown. She got off the bike and brushed herself down. ‘Thanks for teaching me. Mario, don’t tell anyone. E.D. might expect me to go riding with him and Angus might be angry that I’d rather ride a bike than ride a horse.’

‘I won’t tell anyone. Hey, you want a ride up the hill to the party?’

Gabby shook her head. ‘Thanks anyway.’ She handed the helmet back to Mario, who slammed it on his head, started the bike and wheeled
away. Gabby watched him skidding up the driveway with admiration. Now that she’d ridden one, she realised that motorbike riding was harder than she thought.

She walked up the hill, dusting off her clothes as she went, and slipped back inside the house. Like she’d thought, no one had missed her. She made her way out the back to where her mother was sitting.

‘Having a good time, Gabriella?’ Mrs Hunter said.

‘This is the best party I’ve been to for a while,’ said Gabby. And she meant it.

It was growing dark where E.D. was, as well. He was hiding in the laneway beside Proctor’s Powerhouse, waiting for Jack Proctor to show his face, having told his family he was going to stay with Angus. He’d been waiting for two hours but he wasn’t going anywhere until he’d seen—and dealt with—Jack.

But Jack wasn’t home. That was very clear. He’s got to be back soon, thought E.D. Tomorrow’s the preliminaries and he’s in them. He’ll have to come home sooner or later.

A car came along the road and E.D. shrank back alongside the fence. Jack, he thought, at
last. But the car switched off its lights and turned into the laneway. It passed him and stopped about halfway down the lane. E.D. pushed himself behind a clump of tall weeds and watched.

A man stepped out from the driver’s side. He glanced up and down the laneway and then went round the car to the boot. He unlocked it and the boot sprang up, revealing an empty space in the glow of the inside light. The passenger side door opened but instead of Jack or Teagan stepping out, another big guy appeared. E.D. tried even harder to shrink.

The men went through the side gate into the shop’s yard to where a big crate sat. E.D. crept forward until he could see what they were doing. Each man lifted a stack of boxes out of the crate and came back towards the car. A box fell from the top of one stack, splitting open as it hit the ground. One of the men cursed. A square item in bubble wrap rolled towards E.D. then stopped. E.D. took a good look at it then turned and crept away. When he was out of the lane, he ran like he’d never run before.

That was one of those GPS things, he thought, remembering the gadget in the railway truck. They’re taking them from Proctor’s yard. But
where was Mr Proctor? Why were they doing it in the dark as if they didn’t want anyone to know?

E.D. ran until he was out of breath. There was lots going on—it was making his head spin. One thing was clear, though. He looked back the way he’d come. ‘I haven’t forgotten you, Jack,’ he said out loud. ‘You can wait until tomorrow.’

‘Well, I hope you can understand all that,’ Angus said, frowning as he studied the noticeboard outside a large tent. There were people everywhere and a big group of riders had gathered around the noticeboard, straining to get a look at the race information.

‘Race four,’ E.D. called. ‘That’s all I need to know. Come on; let’s get out of here before we get crushed.’

Angus and E.D. worked their way back through the throng of riders, officials and parents and out into an open space.

‘So what’s the plan?’ Angus asked.

‘Ride like crazy for four laps and see where I end up.’

‘Sounds like a good plan to me. Sort of like letting things take care of themselves.’

‘Exactly,’ E.D. nodded. ‘You just gotta hope that everyone who’s racing goes in with the same attitude. There are three elimination races.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘In the first race there are 24 bikes. Top 15 go through. In the second race, nine go through.’

‘Out of the 15?’

‘Yep.’

‘So that means there are only nine in the last race.’

‘You got it. But you’ve still got to get as high a placing as possible because you get points for your position—for the club championship. Top three go to the Inter Club Meet next week.’

They had drifted over towards the pits and E.D.’s voice was momentarily drowned out by a motorbike that suddenly loomed up behind them, its engine screaming. The boys paused as Jack Proctor cruised past. He glared at E.D., who held his gaze.

‘I wonder where his sister is,’ Angus said, as the boys watched Jack get off his bike and walk over to a dark blue van.
Proctor’s Powerhouse
was written in bold, lime-green letters across its side.

‘You know what?’ E.D. asked, as Jack looked around quickly before climbing into the van.

‘What’s that?’

‘I reckon if we took a look in that over-sized van of theirs we’d probably find some interesting stuff.’

‘Yeah, well maybe now’s not a good time.’ The door to the van had opened again and Mr Proctor was standing at the top of a short flight of metal steps, his arms folded and his eyes roaming the area. He stopped, his gaze resting on Angus and E.D. He smiled at Angus and lifted a hand in greeting. Angus nodded back.

‘I’m going to go up into the stand to watch the girls’ race,’ Angus said, heading off.

‘Yeah right!’ E.D. called, but Angus didn’t hear him. E.D. stood there a moment as Mr Proctor moved to the side to let one of his kids past.

‘Good luck, Teagan!’ he said, loudly, as if he wanted everyone within 20 metres to hear. E.D. watched Teagan bounce down the steps and grab the bike that Jack had just been on. Nice to see they’re sharing bikes, E.D. thought, wandering over to Mario’s van. Hope it hasn’t got anything poisonous on it from Jack.

‘I didn’t know so many people liked motorbike racing,’ Gabby exclaimed, watching the seats below her quickly fill. Groups of people were surging up the steps of the grandstand to get a good view of the first race of the day. Hannah looked across at the start. She smiled. There was something exciting, almost exhilarating, about the noise of the bikes revving their engines at the start line. She was surprised how quickly she had embraced the whole motorbike racing scene. She turned to Gabby.

‘It’s pretty awesome, isn’t it?’

Gabby nodded.

The noise of the engines intensified and then suddenly 24 bikes were racing, leaving a plume of dust and exhaust fumes in their wake.

‘It’s amazing how quickly a gap opens up between the first riders and the ones at the back,’ Hannah said, watching the lead bikes approach the first corner.

‘Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. And look who’s out in front already.’ Gabby pointed to a lime-green bike.

‘Teagan Proctor!’ roared the P.A. system.

‘Teagan Proctor,’ Hannah muttered, smiling all the same. Teagan had already established a lead of five metres and was extending it. ‘She’s
so aggressive. Look how she rips into the corner.’

‘How does she do it?’ Gabby wondered aloud, fiddling with the zoom on her new silver video recorder. Teagan certainly was an incredible rider. The lime-green bike surged forward along the back straight. Teagan’s shoulders were hunched as she crouched low on the bike. She approached the next corner hard, hitting the brakes at the last minute. The back wheel swerved neatly, sliding up the small embankment of the hill. She stuck her left foot out briefly to maintain balance, then suddenly the bike was tearing away from the corner, wobbling slightly but then solid again as Teagan soared through the air at one of the jumps.

‘I guess it’s a race for second,’ Hannah said, turning her attention to a group of bikes that were only now entering the long straight before the curve that Teagan had just left. ‘She should race against the boys.’

‘Hey, shove over,’ Angus said, plonking himself half on Gabby’s knees. Gabby and Hannah moved left to allow Angus some space.

‘Isn’t she incredible?’ Gabby said to Angus as they watched Teagan speed past them along the
finishing straight. ‘She’s going to lap some of them.’ Angus didn’t say anything. ‘Hey, you in love or something?’ Gabby elbowed Angus gently in the ribs.

‘That’s not Teagan,’ he said finally.

‘Don’t be stupid, Angus, of course it’s Teagan.’ Hannah leaned forward and turned her attention to Angus. ‘What makes you think that?’ She had picked up something in Angus’ expression. Angus bent his head to the two girls next to him and spoke quietly.

‘I’ve just been with E.D. We saw Jack at the Proctors’ van and then Teagan came out to race. When me and E.D. split up, I went back and had a bit of a closer look at the van until this security guy told me to nick off.’

‘Security guy?’ Hannah’s eyes narrowed. ‘Why would there be a security guy around there?’

‘Well, that motorbike stuff is going to be pretty expensive,’ Gabby said.

‘Yeah, well, whatever. But I could hear shouting from inside the van. Teagan and her dad—screaming at each other.’

‘Well, that wouldn’t be the first time in history a daughter has shouted at her father.’

‘It would be if the same daughter was out riding a motorbike.’ For a few moments the three
of them watched the race. The green bike was now at least 30 metres in front and didn’t appear to be letting up.

‘You’re saying that Teagan is in the Proctor van and not on that lime-green bike?’ Gabby whispered.

‘That’s what I’m saying. I didn’t hear exactly what was said, although I heard her father say “keep your bloody voice down”.’

‘Well then whoever the girl is out there now is a damn good rider,’ Hannah said, leaning back in her seat.

‘Like I said—she should ride against the boys,’ said Gabby. ‘If I was that good a swimmer I’d race against boys.’

‘No, you wouldn’t, Gab,’ Hannah said.

Gabby folded her arms and turned to Hannah. ‘No, actually you’re probably right,’ she said, grinning to herself. ‘They wouldn’t like me beating them.’

Hannah opened a small packet of biscuits she had brought and chewed thoughtfully. She turned to Angus and passed the biscuits to him. ‘Angus, from what you and E.D. told us this morning about the things that have happened in the last few days, I reckon I can smell something rotten.’

Angus went red. ‘Sorry. Couldn’t help it.’

‘No, not you!’ Hannah rolled her eyes. ‘I mean, you met those rough guys at Proctor’s then E.D. sees boxes being loaded in the dark from Proctor’s—by the same guys. And Tony is in some sort of trouble where someone is going to bury him. Now we have Teagan shouting at her father and someone riding in her place. It’s all very suspicious.’

‘You reckon?’ Gabby bent over her bag. ‘Found them!’ She sat up. In her hand were three drink cartons. She handed them out. ‘I think the worst thing is what was said to Tony. I wish we knew more. In fact, I was thinking of speaking with Tony myself.’ She tried to sound nonchalant and relaxed.

‘Gabby, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,’ said Angus. ‘Not without E.D. knowing anyway.’

‘I agree,’ Hannah said then took a long drink.

Angus watched the bikes for a moment. He raised his voice as a large group surged together past the finish line. ‘This whole business with Jack and Teagan; there’s something definitely fishy going on there. I heard them say she isn’t allowed to race.’

‘You need to go and ask her,’ Gabby said.

‘Yeah, maybe.’ Angus looked away. ‘She seemed really nice.’

Hannah and Gabby looked at each other.

‘Let’s watch E.D.’s race first, then talk with him,’ Hannah suggested.

‘Okay,’ said Gabby.

But Angus was still looking over to the track where Teagan—or whoever—had just crossed the finish line, and didn’t say a thing.

The three of them yelled and cheered as E.D. flew around the course, each following his progress as he fought past a bike and then was suddenly overtaken again in a flurry of activity at a corner or down a straight.

‘What’s he got to get to make it again?’ Gabby called.

‘Top 15,’ Angus shouted.

‘He’ll do it easily,’ said Gabby, clapping her hands as E.D. raced into a corner and sped ahead of two riders who had taken a higher line.

‘He’s coming ninth,’ said Hannah.

‘What about Jack?’ Angus asked.

‘Fifth. Can I have a look through your video recorder, Gabby?’ Hannah asked.

‘In a minute, Han.’ Gabby knew how much Hannah loved new technology but she didn’t
want Hannah pointing out all the features before she had discovered a few of them herself.

E.D. finished the race in eighth position, behind Jack. They watched two more races, Gabby videoing unsuspecting spectators, pleased with the way she was getting the hang of her new recorder. She even let Hannah take a few minutes of film.

‘I think this is E.D.’s next race,’ Hannah said, checking the program.

‘Oh, quick, Han. Pass me back the camera. I want—’

‘Ssshhh,’ Hannah said, holding up her hand.

‘…so this will be the final race of the day.’ A race official had just finished speaking over the loud speaker.

‘Last race?’ Gabby queried, taking the camera from Hannah.

‘Something about a severe weather alert, I think,’ Hannah said, glancing over her shoulder at a bank of almost black clouds looming behind the railway line to the south-west.

‘E.D.’s going to have to finish in the top six,’ Angus said, listening intently to the announcement. ‘The officials are telling the riders now. There’s supposed to be this massive storm approaching.’

Gabby glanced about nervously as the bikes took off in a cloud of brown dust. ‘Do you think we should go?’

‘No way. This is E.D.’s big race.’ Angus finished off Gabby’s drink and gazed out over the track. It had certainly got darker all of a sudden. Gabby scanned the riders, found E.D. amongst them, and locked her camera on him.

‘You recording?’ Angus asked.

‘You betcha,’ she grinned, watching the race on the tiny screen.

‘Hey, he’s going brilliantly,’ Hannah shouted, as E.D. overtook the rider in front.

E.D. knew that he would have to race out of his skin to get into the top six. After one lap he realised that he wasn’t going to get near the top four riders, who had their own battle going, way out in front of the rest of the riders. He was in the next group, which included Jack. There were five of them. Five riders: two places.

E.D.’s bike lacked the power to keep up with the others on the straights, but over the small hills and at the corners, he was able to gain ground quickly. With aggressive riding he felt he had a 50:50 chance of making it.

For two laps the group of five jostled for position, swapping places regularly as they weaved around the course.

As E.D. entered the first curve of their final lap, a tough rider on a red and black bike went down. He had gone into the corner way too fast. E.D. sped past and found himself with open track ahead.

He gunned the accelerator, knowing that this was his best chance yet to put some space between himself and the riders behind him.

Two out of four, he muttered, concentrating hard as he rode the jumps. He kept his bike steady, trying to relax his arms and hands as the bike hit the ground again and sped away towards the next curve.

But in a flash he sensed Jack’s lime-green bike closing him down. He aimed for the high berm, keeping the power in the bike for as long as possible, before quickly shutting off and at the same time hitting the brakes. E.D. leaned forward, stuck out his left leg, all the time keeping his backside off the seat. He knew that putting a lot of weight over the front wheel of the bike would help it stick to the line he was taking.

Halfway through, E.D. started to accelerate, conscious of the green bike down to his left. And
in that split second E.D. almost lost control as he eyed Jack slipping through the inside.

E.D. eased out of the berm and gunned the accelerator, surprised to find that he was overtaking Jack again.

They were on the most remote part of the course. Suddenly Jack’s bike veered towards E.D.’s and before he could react, E.D. saw Jack’s right leg extend. In one quick movement, Jack kicked out at E.D.’s bike, sending him angling over.

Jack sped off as E.D. struggled to keep the bike upright. Another bike zoomed past before E.D. finally managed to wrest back control, but by then yet another bike had snuck inside him and was scooting ahead.

Swearing, E.D. tried in vain to catch up to the riders in front, but although he got close, they managed to keep him at bay.

E.D. crossed the line in seventh place. He glanced into the stand as he slowly rode his bike back into the pit area. People were running for cover as big fat drops of rain had started to fall from a black sky.

E.D. swore again.