Cutting Edge by Tom Clancy

Author:Tom Clancy
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780425187050
Publisher: Berkley Books
Published: 2002-11-05T10:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Eight

OH, NO!” Nancy cried, her voice joining the shouts of alarm throughout the arena.

Yoko’s music had come to a triumphant climax, but the skater herself lay frighteningly still on the ice.

“I think she’s unconscious!” cried George, horrified.

“Her blade came off, George,” Nancy said. “I saw it.”

George’s eyes narrowed as she absorbed Nancy’s words. “But how could anything like that happen?” she murmured.

“That’s what we’ve got to find out,” Nancy replied. “I have a feeling this is another act of sabotage. We’ve got to get to the bottom of this.”

Medics and federation officials had already hurried onto the ice and were kneeling at Yoko’s side. From where Nancy and George were sitting, on the far side of the stadium from the judges’ station, Nancy couldn’t even tell if the fallen skater was breathing.

“Come on, George,” Nancy said. Getting to her feet, she made her way past the shaken onlookers in the stands. “Let’s get down there.”

The two girls wove their way to rinkside, and made it to a place near the holding area. The other skaters had all gathered there, watching the horrible scene unfold before them. The team of medics were lifting Yoko’s limp form onto a stretcher and carrying her toward an exit.

Nancy craned her neck and was able to see outside as the large double doors were opened. Outside an ambulance was waiting. She guessed that the federation kept it on call for emergencies such as this one.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” came Kathy Soren’s voice over the microphone. “Ms. Hamara will receive prompt medical attention. We beg your patience for just a moment until we can resume our program. Thank you.”

Shaking his head sadly, Gilbert Fleischman conferred with the other judges.

“She was heading for an all-around perfect score, too, I’ll bet,” George said sadly.

“Let’s go closer to the other skaters,” Nancy suggested. “I want to hear what they’re saying.”

Any differences among the competitors seemed to be momentarily forgotten as they huddled together talking.

“It could happen to any of us, at any time,” Suzanne Jurgens said weakly as Nancy and George approached the group.

“I remember the time I broke my leg,” Elaine murmured. “It hurt like crazy. Poor Yoko.”

“What do you think really happened?” Ann Lasser wondered out loud. “I mean, she was skating so perfectly. You don’t just mess up like that.”

“Her blade came loose,” Nancy put in. “It was detached from the toe end of her boot.”

The skaters all turned to Nancy. “I didn’t see that,” Suzanne said.

“You’re right,” Elaine told Nancy. “Now that you mention it, I saw her blade swinging loose when they picked her up and put her on the stretcher.”

“Have you ever heard of anything like that happening?” Nancy asked the group.

“Sure,” Trish replied. “It used to happen to me all the time when I was little. I’d always forget to tighten the screws on the blade.”

“Some skaters have two or even three sets of blades for each pair of boots,” Suzanne added. “Some blades are better for speed, some are better for figures.”

Ann shook her head sadly.

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