Free Cars 2 by Irene Trimble Page A

now!” Mater shouted. He looked around and saw the entire Radiator Springs gang in the pit.
    â€œWh-what are you guys doing here?” he sputtered.
    â€œWe’re all here because of you,” Sally told him. “Is everything okay?”
    â€œNo! Everything is not okay! There’s a bomb in here! You guys gotta get out now!”
    Suddenly, Mater heard Finn over his radio. Finn was driving through the streets of London as Holley flew above him.
    â€œMater, listen to me,” Finn said. “The bomb is on you! They knew you’d try to help Lightning McQueen, so they planted it in your air filter when you were knocked out.”
    Mater was shocked. He snorted and blew his air filter cover off. It was true! Mater could see the bomb attached to his engine. Then he looked up and saw Lightning, grinning and racing right toward him.
    â€œMater!” Lightning called out from the track where he was racing neck and neck with the other cars. “I’ve been so worried about you!”
    Up in the stands, Professor Z was watching from his private box. He was waiting for Lightning to get close enough to Mater. Then he would press the detonator and get rid of them both!
    Just as Lightning was about to enter the pit, Mater cried out, “Stay away from me!” Wildly, Mater spun out and started driving backward onto the track.
    â€œThat’s not going to happen this time,” Lightning said, and drove faster, trying to catch up with Mater. “I’m sticking by you the way you always stick by me! I just want a chance to explain myself. Please stop!”
    Lightning sped up even more. “I’m not letting you get away again!” he said as he zoomed within inches of Mater’s bumper, desperately trying to latch on to Mater’s hook. Professor Z smiled and rolled his front tire toward the detonator.
    In a panic, Mater shouted to his computer, “Gotta get away from Lightning!”
    Mater’s secret-agent computer answered: “Request acknowledged.”
    Professor Z was just about to press the detonator when a rocket in Mater’s arsenal blasted him forward. Professor Z was furious when his detonator flashed TARGET OUT OF RANGE.
    Lightning, stunned, continued to chase Mater. He had never seen his buddy race at such a high speed. Mater whizzed past Francesco and crashed through a fence. Mater was causing chaos right in the middle of the World Grand Prix racing course!
    Lightning took the opportunity to catch up with his buddy. This time, he latched on to Mater’s hook and held on tight.
    In Lightning McQueen’s pit, the Radiator Springs gang watched their television monitor in shock. They heard Brent Mustangburger say, “And Lightning McQueen just blasted away, hooked to a rocket-propelled tow truck.”
    From his private box, Professor Z was still pressing the detonator, hoping something would happen. He suddenly saw Holley appear in front of his window. She was hovering in midair. Professor Z quickly realized that her presence could mean nothing but trouble for him. He panicked and raced away, leaving the detonator behind.
    Hovering near Professor Z, the Lemons howled, “Get Lightning McQueen!” They remembered Professor Z’s warning that there would be no Lemon victory unless Allinol and Lightning McQueen were both ruined.
    On the streets of London, Professor Z was beating a hasty retreat when Finn McMissile caught a glimpse of him zooming down a side street. In a flash, the secret agent was on the Professor’s tail, desperately trying to capture him.
    Finn urgently radioed Holley with a plan: “I’ll get Professor Z! You help Mater!”
    Holley, who was still in the air, radioed, “Got it!” She quickly flew over Francesco, turned a corner, and disappeared from sight.
    â€œWhat is happening?” Francesco asked. Everything seemed to be faster than Francesco today.
    Finn screamed around a corner, only to see