Tanunda. And for once the weather is cool.
Bang! The teams ride out from Tanunda.
Up Menglers Hill and back through Tanunda.
A number of times.
How many times? asks David after the first time.
I don't know, says Vello. Does it matter?
I suppose not, says David.
Pierre-Louis catches up to his team mates.
Heard the gossip? asks Pierre-Louis. Sweezus is cheating.
He's not clever enough, says Vello.
I heard it, says David. It's nonsense.
Well he didn't come off in the crash back there, says Pierre-Louis.
Nor did you, says David. It's not proof of cheating.
What's Sweezus supposed to be doing? asks Vello.
He's supposed to have paid big money for the Gift of Balance, says David.
There you go, says Vello. That proves he isn't cheating. He never has any money.
They all pedal thoughtfully.
Phil Bauhaus speeds by.
HE came off, says Pierre-Louis.
Bauhaus? says Vello. Came off?
And got straight back on, says Pierre-Louis.
Proving nothing, says Vello.
When you think about it, says David, don't we all have the Gift of Balance?
Until we lose it, says Vello.
Caleb Ewan passes them with a few of his team mates.
They hear the following:
Caleb Ewan: He got it from two old dudes in Saint Malo.
Jarrad Drizners: What, like a couple of wizards?
Then no more can be heard.
Gaius catches up with Team Philosophe.
Vello! Shall I give you a leadout? says Gaius.
No thanks, says Vello. We are all doomed to failure. Sweezus has been magicked by wizards.
Ha ha! laughs Gaius.
He shoots forward towards the next sprint in Tanunda.
No one follows.
A pep talk is needed, thinks Gaius.
A few more crashes occur, none of which involve Sweezus.
Sweezus is getting black looks from the other riders.
The black looks are putting him off.
What've I done? asks Sweezus.
I'll find out, says Arthur.
He drops back to where Caleb Ewan is getting ready for a final attack on Phil Bauhaus.
Hey... begins Arthur.
Caleb ignores him but loses a crucial quarter-second.
Phil Bauhaus comes first.
No comments:
Post a Comment