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are brothers, right? Do you always agree on everything?”
    The Hardys chuckled. “Not nearly,” Frank said.
    â€œBut we’ve been in a few tight scrapes before,” Joe added, “and come out okay.”
    â€œForgive me for not being more trusting,” Hawk said, “but my people have gotten some bad advice over the years.”
    â€œYour people? What do you mean?” Joe asked.
    â€œI belong to the Fire Creek Mohawks,” Hawk said. “My ancestors roamed the land from the Laurentians to New Hampshire’s White Mountains long before Europeans came to this continent. This land used to be ours.”
    â€œAnd you want it back, I suppose,” Lupin said, somewhat annoyed.
    Hawk scowled at him. “Some of it, yes. We’d like to keep some of the streams clear of industrial pollution and some of the mountainsides free from clear-cutting.”
    â€œSo you’re entering the race to publicize your cause?” Frank asked.
    Kelly Hawk nodded. “Among other reasons.”
    â€œWhile we were driving here, we heard something on the radio about Native American protests,” Joe said.
    â€œThat’s our lawyers fighting it out in court,” Hawk said. “I don’t go for that stuff. I’m a one-woman protest and publicity campaign.”
    â€œWell, good luck,” Frank said.
    â€œBoth in the race and with your political efforts,” Joe added.
    â€œThanks,” Hawk said with a wry smile. “Maybe you two aren’t as boring and straightlaced as you seem.”
    â€œBefore this becomes a mutual admiration society,” Lupin said, “you should know I’m not here to make friends; I’m in this race to win. ”
    â€œAnd to make up for your loss on Last Person Standing ?” Hawk asked.
    â€œI nearly won on the show,” Lupin countered. “And I’m going to win here.” He checked his watch again.
    â€œI crossed a rope bridge hand-over-hand in Borneo,” Lupin said. “This cable is a lot sturdier than that. You can wait if you want to, but if this chair gives way, I’m not going to be sitting here when it happens.” He began to raise the safety bar.
    â€œDon’t be an idiot,” Hawk said. “That was a TV show, this is real life.”
    â€œHey, the danger was real,” Lupin shot back.
    Frank grabbed Lupin’s shoulder. “Don’t do it,” he said. “Standing up in this chair could endanger us all.”
    â€œWe’re in this together,” Hawk said, “so sit down and wait patiently with the rest of us.”
    Lupin glanced from Frank to Joe to Hawk. Helowered the safety bar. “Yeah, okay,” he said. “I won’t wait forever, though.”
    â€œTough break your trainer landing in the hospital,” Frank said.
    Lupin nodded grimly. “I’m not too happy about using a race-sponsored support crew,” he said.
    â€œI thought all competitors brought their own support people,” Joe said.
    â€œNot everyone has their own team,” Hawk replied. “The race hires crews for racers who don’t bring their own.”
    â€œFor a fee,” Lupin added. He crossed his arms over his chest and grumbled, “Makes me feel like an amateur.”
    Just then the chairlift gave a jerk and started moving again.
    Moments later they all landed on the staging platform near the summit lodge. A young man wearing a badge that said, Staff: Kendall, quickly walked over to the group. “I am so sorry,” he said.
    â€œWhat happened?” Frank asked.
    â€œSomething got jammed in the chairlift equipment at the bottom of the slope,” Kendall replied. “Fortunately, no one was hurt. Mr. Lupin, we’ve found a new support team for you. If you’d follow me, please . . . The rest of you can hook up with your crews and equipment at the summit lodge.”
    â€œGood deal,” Joe said. He, Frank, and