Canyon Chaos by Axel Lewis
Author:Axel Lewis [Lewis, Axel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Curious Fox
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00
Chapter 9 - The Return of Horace Pelly
“I wondered when you’d turn up,” sneered Horace, looking at Jimmy as though he’d found him stuck to the bottom his shoe.
Jimmy said nothing.
“Pleased to see me?” said Horace.
Still Jimmy said nothing. His mouth seemed to have stopped working.
“These NASA people,” said Horace, nodding over his shoulder at a small group of men and women in blue overalls and peaked hats, “are amazing. They’ve worked wonders with Zoom since the qualifier. He’s faster, cleverer and better equipped. He’s got thirty-two more features than—”
“But—” Jimmy started.
“Why am I here?” asked Horace, his mouth breaking into that sneer again.
Jimmy nodded.
“That Swedish boy? Olaf something?” said Horace. “Turned out he wasn’t a Swedish boy at all – just a very short adult racing-car driver. He was disqualified. And I was the next fastest qualifier. So I suppose you could say—”
“Horace!” called a voice.
A tall, slim man marched up to them. He looked just like Horace, apart from the fact that his thick hair was jet black while his son’s hair was blond, and he had a long, thin moustache which sat just above his top lip like someone had glued a pipe cleaner under his nose. His hair was slicked back and he wore a smart, expensive-looking suit.
“Yes, Daddy?” said Horace.
“Stop yabbering at this boy, Horace,” said Mr Pelly, twiddling his moustache irritably between his finger and thumb. “Come with me. We must prepare for victory.”
“But you’re paying those NASA people to do that for us, aren’t you, Daddy?” whined Horace.
“Not winning the race,” laughed his father. “I mean, your victory speech. Remember: when you’re on the winner’s rostrum after each race, you must thank everyone who made your victory possible – but especially your beloved father, Hector Pelly. Oh, and you should probably say something about Mummy too, I suppose. Come along and we’ll practise it.”
And with that, Horace and his father marched off to a vast, silver motorhome parked behind Zoom. The door slid open automatically, and the Pellys disappeared inside.
“Disqualified!” exploded Grandpa in disgust when they’d gone. “There’s something funny going on here.”
“What do you mean?” asked Jimmy.
“If that boy got in the finals fair and square, Jimmy lad,” hissed Grandpa angrily, “then I’m a milkmaid!”
“You mean—?”
“I mean,” said Grandpa, “that his father has paid someone a lot of money to get him in this race – and it’s probably something to do with that no-good, double-dealing, cheating snake, Ludwick Lead—”
“Ssshhh!” hissed Jimmy. “Lord Leadpipe’s probably on the airship. He’ll hear you!”
But there was no need for Grandpa to hush. A voice boomed out of the loudspeakers above their heads and silenced everyone.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” it announced, “we have one more competitor joining us, and then we’ll be landing at the Grand Canyon racetrack within one hour.”
Everyone cheered.
“Well,” said Grandpa, “that was quick! Six thousand miles at hyperspeed, and not a whisper of turbulence!”
“Are you impressed with Lord Leadpipe’s airship?” asked Jimmy.
“No,” replied Grandpa quickly.
Jimmy smiled.
A few seconds later, there was a terrific
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