Alex Rider: A Billionaires Paradise

Valleys & Road signs

Alex's eyes were flickering the way that they do, as he stared at the tree's and passing cars. In London, you never really cross the thirty mile-per-hour point. So, it was better to get a small, maneuverable, very efficient car. In London, there was a growing number of electric cars. They were simply better. They were smaller, quieter, and more range developed. You never needed the full tank of a petrol car. But the problem with the city optimised cars, is that they aren't as good elsewhere. Their small, two seater electric got them out of the bustle, but it wasn't as useful on the motorway. They only ever went to the inside lane when they passed trucks. Alex had become accustomed to long journeys. He had needed to fly out to Australia to sign a contract. MI6 had sort of decided to rent him away. The flight had taken more than a day, and his seat on the return flight didn't have a functioning TV screen. That was probably why the ticket had cost a fifth of the price. Thankfully, it would only take ten hours to drive to the Highlands, nine if they took some shortcuts. It was still a long time, but it wasn't nearly as arduous as it could be. Alex and jack had tried to find some interesting things to do while the car replenished it's batteries. Another problem with electric cars. They have shorter battery life. Alex had found only the most interesting service station.

"In two junctions there's a station. It has a short hill, that overlooks a pond. Does that sound good?"
"Is there coffee?"
"Yes. There's a Costa and a cafe in the lobby."
They drove for a few miles, before veering off the motorway, onto a sliproad. They parked the car next to the charging station, and got out. Alex had tried to avoid seeing the views of the valley. He wanted to see it with his own eyes. They climbed the few hundred meters to the top of the small rise, and looked out over the small pool of water, at the bottom of steep valley. The jagged rock walls lay at a very steep angle, and alex understood why there were wooden barriers stopping anyone from going closer. Alex leaned against the fence for a bit, admiring the view, and taking stress off his injured leg. Jack went to get a coffee from the small building. The few people up there with him left, walking down the gravel track. Alex stayed, looking over the calm water, only disturbed by a slight breeze, and occasional water birds. Alex felt a hand touch his shoulder, and he turned around.
"The cars nearly recharged."
They walked back down the hill, taking a direct route to the car park. They safely crossed the road, and walked over to the charging area. Jack unlocked the car, and alex got in, while jack unplugged the cable. After paying, they hit the road again, and as quickly as they had arrived, they had left again. Zooming down the motorway, at just below the speed limit, alex couldn't help but feel bored. The radio station that they were listening to was ok, but it was hard to differ between the different songs. Alex looked out of the window, for something unique. Something other than the roadside shrubbery, or the fences, or occasional town. Jack sang along to a few of the more famous songs, and even alex had to hum to some of them. But it lost its kick after the first four hours.
_________________________________________

"Now! Left now!"
Jack swerved into the apropriate lane with around thirty meters to spare. A close call. Alex dropped his phone down the side. The incriminating device had nearly made them miss a stop. Alex and jack had made every stop so far. This specific trip was going to be a close one, with nearly an hour of charging on the last stop.
"C'mon alex. We don't have that much left. We might not have had enough charge to make it if we missed.
"Sorry. I'll try not to mess it up next time."
They rolled in to the charging point, and alex quickly walked in, to the men's room, before going back out to the car. Alex retrieved his phone from under the seat, where he had dropped it, and went to the back of the small vehicle. Opening the boot, he took out a box. Jack had attached the charging cable, and gone to a nearby picnic table. They ate their lunch, sandwiches, crisps (chips for americans), fruit and chocolate. There was a small pond, with a sizable population of ducks. Alex would have few them, but he hadn't had a large breakfast, and he needed the sandwich more than them. They looked a bit plump, and alex hadn't eaten anything reasonable since very early in the morning. He barely even tasted the small apple as he ate it. Sometime later, when he had exausted his food supply, he went over to see the cars charge. Alex reckoned that they would need a few more minutes charge. He walked back to the table, and sat down. He thought for a second. He had gone from being in a hospital bed, to saving someone from potential death, to driving up to the top of Britain for a lecture the would really be of much use to him. Maybe alex had moved too quickly. He could have waited until his leg was better, or maybe he could have thought about it more. It made no sense. In the emails exchanged, blair had mentioned a tour. Either way, it had all happened so quickly. Too late to stop now. He had already committed.