Taking the Chequered Flag Read Online Free PDF

Mario got to his feet. ‘I don’t know about Tony, though.’
    Dust covered the motocross bikes and it was hard to see clearly. Gabby watched the blue bike behind E.D. anxiously. It had dropped back, leaving a gap of about two metres between the brothers. The green bike was just in front of Tony. The pack went around the corner and started back towards the trailer. E.D. pulled even further ahead. He was sitting down again now, and on the flat sand he floored it and the bike screamed away.
    ‘He’s having fun,’ said Hannah.
    Mario didn’t answer. He’d taken a step forward and was looking intently into the group of screaming, roaring bikes. ‘Hold it steady,’ he said. ‘Tony, hold it steady!’
    Something was drastically wrong. The green motorbike pulled away from the pack, disappearing across the sand. Two other bikes swerved suddenly, veering away from the rest, exposing Tony on his new blue bike. He was wobbling dangerously from side to side.
    Mario swore and began to run towards his brother.
    There was nothing he could do. Tony hit a rider on his left and the blue bike spun out of control. It went down, sending Tony over the handlebars and crashing onto the hard sand. Other bikes slid over as well, making the dust thicken.
    ‘What’s happened?’ Gabby screamed.
    ‘They’ve all crashed!’ yelled Hannah. She stood up on the back of the trailer to get a better view.
    The dust started to settle. Two of the riders who had gone down after Tony were on their feet, pulling up their motorbikes and wheeling them away. One rider sat on the sand holding his foot and someone stopped to help him. At first, they hid Tony from view, but when the injured rider hobbled away with the help of his friend, Hannah could see Mario crouched over Tony. ‘Tony’s hurt,’ she said to Gabby, and jumped down from the trailer and ran to the two brothers.
    Tony lay motionless. Mario was gently taking off his goggles. Tony’s eyes were closed and his face was grey with dust and shock. Mario undid the chinstrap but Hannah put her hand on his arm.
    ‘Don’t take his helmet off,’ she said. ‘You aren’t meant to. Just in case he’s hurt his neck.’
    Mario looked at her and Hannah saw how his face was twisted with concern. ‘Have you done first aid?’ he asked.
    Hannah nodded. ‘I did it when I was a scout. I don’t remember a lot, but I do remember that you shouldn’t move people too much.’
    ‘He’s breathing. I checked that. But look at his leg.’
    Hannah glanced at Tony’s legs. They were lying in an odd position, as if he was a doll that had been thrown away by some kid who was sick of him. Fear rose in Hannah’s throat. ‘Call an ambulance,’ she said to Mario. ‘He doesn’t look right.’
    She crouched beside the unconscious boy while Mario pulled out his phone and made an emergency call. Tony’s breathing was slow and steady. He didn’t seem to be bleeding anywhere. Hannah tried to think of what else she should do but came up with nothing. He wasn’t bleeding, he was breathing; they just had to wait.
    Mario knelt down and gently took his brother’s hand. ‘They’re on their way, Antonio. You just hang in there.’
    Hannah felt a shadow over her. She looked up; the sun was in her face and it took her a moment to realise who was standing there. Inthe shock of the accident, she’d forgotten E.D. He stood there now, with his helmet off and the strangest expression on his face. Hannah reached up and touched his arm but he didn’t move. Then she realised just why she didn’t recognise that expression—she’d never seen E.D. terrified before.

Chapter 5
The Laneway
Wednesday, 12 January
    Angus stared moodily at King through his bedroom window. Over the past few days he’d tried to busy himself with jobs both at home and down at the racetrack with his father. He needed to stay busy to keep from stewing over the crazy kid on the motorbike and what he’d do if he found him. He’d even tidied his desk.