Faster Than Lightning Read Free Page A

third weekend every month during spring. The Teasdale Cup always made it to the national papers.
    A loud voice booming through speakers announced the placings for the previous race. Horses stamped their feet as they were saddled. Strappers moved quietly among them. Stern trainers, just like Angus’s dad, were talking to their jockeys and plotting the race that was about to start.
    ‘Are race days always like this?’ Hannah said, forgetting her brief moment of anger and stepping sideways to avoid some steaming green manure.
    ‘Yeah.’ Angus was busy looking at each horse as he passed. ‘This is what it’s all about.’ He sidestepped another small heap of dung without even noticing. Hannah fiddled with the binoculars hanging round her neck. Apart from a bit of neighbour spying, she really hadn’t tried them out. Horses were all right, she thought, butI’d rather be up in the stand watching the crowd through the glasses. Not boy watching, just people watching. James Bond style.
    ‘I reckon we’ll be able to see the colour of a jockey’s eyes way over the back straight with these,’ she yelled to Angus, lifting the binoculars up and waving them at him.
    She hadn’t noticed that he’d stopped, and walked straight into him. She spun around and, putting the binoculars to her face, scanned the crowd of people mingling in the trainers’ area, trying to get a glimpse of the two girls she thought she’d spotted a few minutes back.
    ‘There!’ she cried. ‘My God, would you look at that girl? Who’s she trying to impress?’
    ‘What are you talking about?’ Angus said, finally stopping and looking at Hannah.
    ‘Gabby. She’s dressed to kill.’ Hannah chuckled.
    ‘What? Give me a look.’
    ‘Oh, so now you’re interested?’ Hannah focused the lens. ‘She’s wearing high heels and just managed to avoid a big pile of poo. Oh, hang on. No she didn’t. She’s fallen over.’ Hannah chuckled again.
    ‘Give me a look!’ Angus grabbed at the binoculars but a commotion from further downthe line of stalls made him turn. Gabby and her high heels were forgotten. He let the binoculars go and quickly walked past the last few stalls. There were fewer people here. Someone was shouting.
    Behind them, horses were being led out into the parade ring. Only one horse was left, a tall rangy black surrounded by arguing men. Angus pulled up, hidden by the wooden slats of the last stall.
    ‘Can’t you do anything right?’ hissed a short man in a black vest. ‘Rub it in hard.’
    Angus strained to see what they were doing. A nervous strapper was holding a pot of something black and the short man was rubbing at the horse’s hooves. Maybe it has a sore leg, thought Angus. He looked again at the black stuff in the pot. Or maybe they’re trying to hide something. The horse was vaguely familiar to him…
    The thoroughbred was suddenly trotted out of the stall, almost running Hannah and Angus over. The short man pushed roughly past them, frowning. Angus grabbed Hannah’s arm to stop her falling. She glared at the backs of the men as they hurried away.
    ‘Well, excuse me !’
    ‘Hey,’ said Angus. ‘They’ve dropped this.’ He bent down and picked up a small silver mobile phone.
    ‘It’s probably fallen out of someone’s pocket.’ Hannah took the phone from her friend. ‘Serves them right for being so rude.’ She fiddled with the screen display. ‘Latest model too. Worth heaps. Better than mine.’ She pulled her phone out of her pocket and looked at it ruefully. ‘But at least mine’s more techno than E.D.‘s.’
    ’Race four, race four,’ boomed the speakers. ‘Last call for race four.’
    ‘Come on,’ said Angus. ‘We’ll miss Dad’s race.’
    ‘Hey, guys! Wait up.’
    The two turned around to see Gabby come into view, wearing a tight white dress with a large pink belt and high heels, stumbling forward and being supported by her friend.
    ‘Hi, Gabby,’ Hannah called. ‘Saw you coming.’ She