Taking the Chequered Flag Read Free

angrily for the other rider and found him nearby sitting on his lime-green bike, staring at E.D.
    ‘Sorry,’ said the rider. The voice was muffled behind the helmet and hard to hear, but E.D. could tell that the ‘sorry’ wasn’t a real one.
    ‘Yeah, you sound real sorry,’ said E.D. ‘Just watch it, okay?’
    ‘No, I think you’d better watch it.’ The other rider didn’t wait but revved the bike and spun away.
    ‘Are you okay?’ said a girl’s voice.
    E.D. stopped glaring in the direction of the first rider and turned to see another bike pulled up beside him. The rider was on a Kawasaki, the same model and colour as the bike that had pulled up in front.
    ‘I’m okay. Don’t know about my bike.’
    ‘It’ll be right. I’ve taken rougher falls than that.’
    E.D. eyed the newcomer. ‘So you’ve done a bit of racing?’
    ‘I’ve done a lot of riding. I’ve had bad falls—real bad. And I got back up and kept going. No one can stop me.’ The bike revved loudly, and took off to the edge of The Moon, leaving a dark skid mark in the sand.
    E.D. shrugged. The world seemed full of angry motocross riders and if that’s what racing was about, he didn’t know if he could be bothered. It was more fun going up through the bush, weaving in and out of trees and minding his own business, but Tony was pretty stoked that his little brother was going to race. The De Lugio brothers had all raced motocross—all except E.D. He’d always been the back-up guy; the one sitting on the sideline waiting to adjust the brake cable or alter the fuel mix or even change therear sprocket. He was the one who prepared the bikes for racing and the one who fixed them up afterwards. It was what he did best.
    He swung a leg over his bike and kicked it over. The bike started with a roar. It sounded fine; the fall hadn’t hurt it at all. E.D. rode carefully over to Angus who was waiting anxiously out of the way of the other bikes.
    ‘You okay?’ Angus said.
    ‘Yeah.’ E.D. looked back at the stream of riders going along the track. ‘There’s one guy with a bit of attitude out there.’
    ‘Well, he’s got strange tactics. Even I could see that he braked in front of you deliberately. And who was that other guy?’
    ‘It was a girl, but I don’t know who.’ E.D. sat up suddenly. ‘Check that out.’ He pointed. ‘Over there with Tony and Mario.’
    Angus looked around. Mario, E.D.’s oldest brother, had parked the bike trailer at the entrance to The Moon and was loading his new bike onto it. Two girls stood with him; one with blonde hair and one with wild red curls. ‘Gabby and Hannah. They said they might come down and watch you.’
    ‘I don’t want them watching. Haven’t they got anything else to do?’
    Angus laughed at his friend. ‘Come on, E.D. Let’s go over.’
    ‘You go.’ E.D. revved his bike. ‘I’ll do another circuit.’ He took off slowly and joined the other bikes on the track.
    Angus waited until there was a break in the bikes and cantered King across to Tony’s car.
    ‘Hey, Angus,’ said Tony, raising his hand in greeting. ‘Got the girls helping us.’ He gave Angus a wink.
    ‘It’s very dusty, isn’t it?’ said Gabby, holding a webbing strap that was draped across the trailer and looking down at her white jeans with dismay.
    Hannah shook her head. ‘No kidding, Gab.’ She pulled firmly on the strap she was holding and Tony nodded in appreciation.
    ‘Good work, Hannah. Hold it there and I’ll get the other one.’ He took the strap from Gabby and passed it to Hannah. ‘Pull now.’
    Gabby stepped backwards, brushing her hands together. She couldn’t help noticing the way Tony was smiling at Hannah. Tony looked a lot like E.D., only taller and more handsome. His black hair was cut stylishly and his fringe fell over his dark eyes. He’s actually really good looking, thought Gabby, and smiled in Tony’sdirection. But Tony wasn’t looking at her; he was too busy thanking Hannah. With