Phoenix Read Free Page A

then rode back to the starting line. I found your grandfather and he ran down here almost as fast as I could ride. He may look older than dirt, but he runs like a gazelle. No offense.”
    “None taken,” I said. “Have you seen the kid who knocked me out? Did he finish the race?”
    “He probably will soon. It looks like the jerk kept riding. There are fresh tracks continuing up the trail. I assumed he was ahead of you when you wrecked, and that he didn’t know you’d gone down. He’s too far away to call back now. I hope they don’t count the results of this race in our season total.”
    “They won’t. He’ll be the only finisher. It will give him bragging rights, though.”
    Up the trail, Grandfather called out, “Are you coming or not, Grasshopper?”
    I felt myself begin to blush, and Jake whistled softlyagain. “Harsh, bro,” he said in a low voice. “Totally harsh. He’s got some good ears, though.”
    “He’s not so bad.” Then I yelled, “Be right there!”
    As I turned and headed for Grandfather, Jake whispered, “I’m
so
glad my parents don’t have ears like that. I would never be able to get away with anything.”

I hurried back up the trail on foot while Jake rode at my side. It didn’t take us long to catch Grandfather. Jake waved goodbye and cruised up the single-track as I held out my broken helmet to Grandfather, intending to swap it for my broken bike.
    “I will continue to carry the bicycle,” Grandfather said. “It has given you enough trouble for one day.”
    “What happened is not the bike’s fault,” I said, feeling like a white belt who has failed to pass his rank promotion test. “I’m to blame. I should carry it.”
    “I am glad you realize who is responsible,” Grandfather said. “Even so, I will carry it. You were unconscious. You may become dizzy again.”
    “Thank you, Grandfather.”
    He nodded.
    We rounded a bend, and I saw a group of adults that included Jake’s dad hanging out on the trail. Jake waswith them. Jake’s dad called out, “Phoenix! Are you okay? We came down to see if we could help, but you seemed to already be in good hands. Who knew your grandfather could move so fast?”
    “I’m fine,” I called back. “Just a bit of a headache. Jake was a big help. I appreciate you all coming down here, but we’re heading back now.”
    “All right,” Jake’s dad replied, “glad to hear you’re okay. We’ll see you in the parking lot.”
    Jake’s dad retreated with the group in tow. I stopped and waited. Grandfather stopped, too, no doubt sensing that I wanted to talk about something. I wanted to tell him about Slim and Meathead.
    “Grandfather,” I said when the others were out of earshot, “did you happen to see a Chinese man this morning, or a big bodybuilder guy?”
    “No. Should I have?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “Then why do you ask?”
    “They were out at our house yesterday while you were asleep. I forgot to tell you about it. Then today, my front wheel falls apart. I know I should have checked it this morning before the race, but it was fine on Thursday night. At some point between then and now, someone loosened my spokes. There are fresh tool marks on the spoke nuts. For some reason, I think those guys might be responsible.”
    “That makes no sense, Phoenix. What were they doing at our home?”
    “Taking soil samples from our septic field. They looked for real. They even had an EPA van.”
    Grandfather raised a bushy eyebrow. “That is strange. I thought those agencies leave some type of notice that they have been on someone’s property. How do you know one was Chinese?”
    “I heard him speaking on a cell phone.”
    “What did he say?”
    I looked down at my feet. “I, uh, didn’t hear well enough.”
    Grandfather began to walk again, quickly. I looked up and followed. He was moving fast.
    “I do not like the sound of this,” he said. “Where was your bicycle yesterday?”
    “On the back porch, where I always