Alex Rider: A Billionaires Paradise

Spilling Liquid

Alex was thrilled. He had reached into his pocket money, and had somehow managed to get seats rather close to the front. He and Jack were heading off to an electric car rally, a few miles off London. From what he had seen, on the website, it was a selection of wider country roads, with some barriers that could be added. Along a straight stretch, there was a barn, that had seats on the roof, which was also used as a car repair facility, when the race was underway. As they pulled up into the car park, some random farmers field, Alex could hear the silent squeal of engines. Along with around a hundred fans, Alex and jack walked into the facility. As they approached the barn, Alex saw the practical side to the barn. It had some sliding doors, that led into a very large space. On the track side, the front row was a few meters above the track, and it angled up, as it went further back. Currently, it was full with over a hundred thousand pounds of car. He guessed that in the off season, it would house tractors, or crops. But he wasn't there to take a tour of the farm. He was there for a race.
"We're in the third row, close to the middle. I think we're numbeeers...yes. 24 and 25."
"Brilliant! Right in the middle."
They walked up the stairs, alex groaning a bit, as his leg dealt with the tall steps. The track was the classic brittish conditions: dry, but with some surface water. They sat down, on the folding chairs. They had arrived half an hour early, and they quietly listened to the comentary.
"Red Bull, in the red, white striped car. I've heard that they're driving a new engine. Let's see how that compares to our leading champions, regenex, in the white, with the 20PV engine. Lets see if they can retain their title today."
For the next few minutes, cars began driving out from below them, onto the track. After a few practise laps, the crowd went silent, and a bird flew across the track. The cars were lined up, along the straight. Alex could see most of the track, becuase the fields were very flat, and apart from a few trees, everything was visible. The suspended light array hung over the starting block, and all eyes were fixed on it, waiting for the beginning of the race. Green, green, green, red. The engines silently accelerated, and the squealing of tires swept over the crowds ears. The lined up cars got up to speed very quickly, and many had reached full speed by the end of the striaght. The entire field skidded round corner 1, and the leaders kicked up mud, as they skidded round the corners. When they went into the blind section, the order went: red, blue, white, green. By the time they came out of the blind zone, the order went: green, blue, red, white. They skidded round the next rew corners, the leader desperately defending his lead, with the rest making risky moves to try and over take. They got to the straight, the blue regenex on the tail of the green car. Suddenly, the regenex pulled away. It was as if it had a hidden engine somewhere. It spat up dust, leaving the competition in its wake. Alex recalled that they had the 20PV engine. He had known that they had won before, but he hadn't realised that they were that much better. Thinking deeper, he recognised regenex as the electric car branch, of Blair Andersons businesses. The man practically did everything, short of space travel. He made electric cars, car chargers, wind energy, wave energy, thermal energy, solar energy. The man had a leg on every side of the fence. Then again, he probably made the fence. The race continued for the next four laps, and the regenex nearly lapped the drivers in last place. Alex wondered if the first lap was intentionally slow. The regenex was 30 seconds faster than the next driver, and Alex could no longer focus in second and first at the same time. The regenex finished, and around two minutes passed before the rest of the pack zoomed past the line. Alex's drink had spilled on the third lap, but not becuase he was clumsy. He had put it on the floor, and when the pack came round on the third lap, his soda ended up dripping down the the row in front. The air disturbed by the cars was that powerful. Alex could feel the air being battered around by the cars, and it even reached up to the stand. The cars were now all underneath them, being repared or cleaned or something. The comentary kept talking. From previous results, to future events, he never seemed to run out of things to talk about. He kept up the sound until the podium was moved onto the track. There was some cheering for third and second, but alex felt nearly deafened by the sheer nose created for the first place. The driver was plainly used to the podium. He was standing next to the podium very confidently, but was respectful when the second and third place claimed their rewards. He waited until the right moment, savouring the attention. He sprang up, right up onto the podium, holding his hands up high. The crowd was roaring, and he obviously liked the attention. He was given the small, metal trophy, and he held it high. The organiser seemed bored, and slightly unenthusiastic. This had been the regenex thirteenth win in a row, according to the comentary. Alex couldn't help but laugh at how unfair the competition was. At that point, it was a race for second place. A few minutes later, someone walked out of the barn, onto the track. The man had a microphone in his hand, and an odd shaped shoe on his left leg. Alex was about to put a face on it, when the man turned around, facing the crowd. Blair spoke into the microphone.
"Hello! A pure brilliant race, great track this. Now, I'd just like te say good job to the other drivers. Good show."