Free Hover Car Racer by Matthew Reilly Page A

pushed the Bug out of the way - and in doing so, received the full force of the blow instead.
    Jason hit the wall. Hard. Blood spilled from his nose.
    ‘Hoo-ah! Ouch!’ Moralez sneered. He moved again towards the Bug, who backed up against the wall, cowering, defenceless, utterly terrified -
    ‘No!’ Jason called, standing up on wobbling legs and again moving in front of the Bug. ‘You don’t touch him.’
    The Bug hated to be touched, absolutely hated it. Hell, he only let two people in the whole world even hug him: Jason and his mother. He didn’t even let his father cuddle him. A full-blown punch from Guido Moralez would probably send him into a catatonic state.
    Jason had to do whatever he could to prevent this creep from touching the Bug…even if that meant acting as an alternative punching bag.
    ‘You wanna pick on someone,’ he said to Moralez, ‘pick on me… asshole .’
    The bait worked.
    ‘Asshole? Asshole! ‘ Moralez sneered. ‘You little punk…’
    Whack! He punched Jason in the gut, the blow sudden and strong. Jason buckled over - winded - but remained standing.
    He swallowed.
    Raised his head.
    Looked Moralez right in the eye. Baited him again.
    ‘You…hit… like a girl ,’ he said grimly.
    Two more lightning-quick blows from Moralez dropped Jason to his knees.
    Moralez moved in.
    ‘Enough!’ Prince Xavier’s voice echoed from the top of the darkened stairwell.
    Moralez rubbed his knuckles as he stepped away from Jason. ‘You forgot what I told you when we arrived here: you never know what kinds of accidents can happen in a place like this. See ya round, Chaser.’
    Jason just stared up at the silhouette that was Xavier Xonora. ‘Next time, Xonora,’ he said, ‘take us on where it counts. On the track.’
    The shadow made no reply.
    Then as quickly as they had appeared, the bigger boys left, melting away into the darkness, and Jason and the Bug were alone in the stairwell.
    The Bug rushed to Jason’s side, tears in his eyes, put his arms around his brother.
    Jason sat up, touched his nose. ‘Ow.’
    The Bug whispered something.
    Jason looked at him. ‘That’s okay, little brother. Anytime.’

CHAPTER FIVE

    The next morning, in the Race Briefing Room, there came a big surprise.
    Accompanying Race Director Calder onto the stage was none other than the Principal of the Race School, Jean Pierre LeClerq. He took the lectern.
    ‘Racers,’ he began. ‘I have an announcement to make. Some excellent news has come through. I have just received word from the Professional Racers Association regarding Race School participants in the annual New York Challenger Race.’
    A buzz filled the room.
    The New York Challenger Race was part of the week-long New York Racing Festival, the high-point of the hover car racing year, held in October. The climax of the Festival was the New York Masters Series: four different kinds of race, held one race per day - a supersprint, a gate race, a multi-car pursuit race and last of all, a long-distance quest race.
    A veritable feast of racing, the New York Masters title was the most prestigious hover car racing title in the world and the last of the four Grand Slams.
    The New York Challenger Race, however, was traditionally held two days before the Masters series. It was an intricate lap race through a street circuit that traversed the avenues and parks of New York City.
    Entry was by invitation only and the race normally featured up-and-coming racers from the satellite leagues. Schools like the International Race School were often given a couple of invitations to disperse as they pleased.
    Participating in the New York Challenger Race was not just an honour - it was also an incredible opportunity for an unknown racer, since it was a chance to race in front of the pro-racing teams who would be assembled in New York for the Masters.
    ‘I am pleased to announce,’ LeClerq said, ‘that the Racers Association has allocated the International Race School four places