Chapter 9 The Race Begins
As I awoke the next morning, I saw Rod sleeping next to the tent. I had slept in my dragon form. I yawned and stretched then stood up. Dusty had begun to stir too. I looked around confused. 'Oh. That's right. I forgot we are in a race.' I thought to myself. I looked over to the engine that was in the back of the tent. I walked to it and quickly put it on. 'Dusty, it is time to get ready.' I said as I put the rope down from the tent. Dusty opened his eyes tiredly. I walked out of the tent with the engine fastened to my back. I looked around to see that the other racers were starting to stir too. I turned and walked up to Rod and prodded him with a paw.
Rod slowly opened his eyes. "Mornin', Silver." He stifled a yawn.
'The race is about to begin.' I told Rod.
"I will be in the stands." Rod said as he began to drive away to the stands.
"Silverwind," Calls Dusty from behind me.
I looked behind me to see that Dusty was heading for the runway.
"I must speak to you, quickly." Dusty said.
I dipped my head and followed. I was in front of Dusty's tent while all the racers left for the runway.
"Is it true that you decide to go to Ripslinger's team?" Dusty asked.
My eyes widened then I lowered my head. 'Yes.'
"Then it is true what Ripslinger said." Dusty solemnly said.
'What is?' I asked.
"That you don't want to make friends." Dusty said.
'What!?' I was shocked.
"Then it is true." Dusty said.
Ripslinger had just rolled by and looked at me with a smirk like he was saying: 'I told you don't need friends outside our team.'
My eyes widened as I looked to Dusty. 'No.'
"Then see you on the track, Silverwind." Dusty coldly said.
My heart sank as Dusty left. 'Ripslinger did this!' I hissed to myself. It was already too late to apologize. I walked to the runway, head and tail lowered.
(The first bit is a TV thing and I can't really explain it.)"Race fans," Brent began the introduction, "it's that time of year again. Welcome to the Wings Around the Globe." Brent then was shown on the news. "Hello, I'm Brent Mustangburger," Yeah, like I did not know already. "…and this is the flagship event of the world's fastest sport were only the best of the best compete. Each leg brings a new challenge, testing agility, navigation and endurance. But when it's all said and done, speed is the name of the game. Our very own Colin Cowling is standing live from JFK airport with the best seat in the house." Colins was a blimp. "How's the view, big guy?"
"Brent, the scene below me is absolutely electric." Colins replied. "As you know, we have racers from all over the world, here. But the real story should be who's coming in second to three-time defending champ, Ripslinger, who is seeking to be the first four-time winner in the Wings Around The Globe. The racers are making their way to the runway."
"It's Dusty and Silverwind!" Dotty exclaims as we were caught on the camera heading out to the runway.
"Whoo!" That was Sparky.
"All right, everybody, get your Dusty and Silver bobble-heads." That was Chug. "Your oven mitts, hats, bumper stickers, and I also ordered a thousand commemorative whistles."
Sparky whittles one of them.
"Hey, you think you can get me set up a website?" Chug asked Sparky.
"Does a giga bite?" Sparky asked.
"Well, not if you pet him nicely." Chug answered.
Both of them laughed.
Meanwhile, Dusty and I past photographers. He was keeping well away from me. We both were getting blinded by the lights flashing at us.
"One-hundred and thirty-six nations compete." Brent said. Dusty and I headed toward the exit, which was very bright. "Twenty-one planes and Silverwind selected. Folks, a step onto this field, is a step into history." As the light faded, I saw the runway. As soon as I reached the runway, I raised my head to not show my disappointment. Both sides of the runway had stands. The twenty-one planes lined up in pairs. I was the only one to line up by myself.
"Holy smokes." I hear Dusty gasp with excitement.
I was terrified. I looked into the stadium to see if the town's folk made it. I was especially looking for Lightning's red paint color. But I could not find them. I lowered my head with a sigh.
"And for the first time, folks, we have a crop duster and a dragon, by record, in the race." Colin highlighted us on the TV.
"A crop duster and dragon?" asked a forklift from a UK region, watching the TV from a bar.
"Well, they're gonna die." Said the she-forklift, next to the first.
We lined up to the starting line. I was then beckoned forward to the front by a forklift. I kept my head lowered as I followed. Why am I being escorted to the front? I notice Bulldog look at me.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"I don't know." I answered. "I have to follow their command." I lowered my head as I passed him. I still could not believe that Dusty believed I would betray him.
As I got there, I noticed that Ripslinger was in the front. He was sitting in the front of the right-side planes. I was placed to the left of Ripslinger. "Why was I beckoned up here?" I hissed.
"You must stay where I go." Riplslinger answered.
I looked back to see that Ned and Zed were right behind us.
I noticed that everyone was cheering for Ripslinger.
"Yeah." Ripslinger said. "You're caught in the riptide!"
I snorted at his behavior. But what else was I supposed to do? Let him go through with his plans? I was listening to the back of the group to Dusty. He was set beside El Chupacabra.
"Whoa." I hear Dusty gasp. "Look at this crowd."
"Stay focused, amigo." El Chupacabra said. "Don't let anything distract you. Ay-yay!" I hear him notice something. I look back to him. I followed his gaze to this pink plane testing her wings to see if they worked fine.
I was knocked on my.
"Focus!" Ripslinger hissed.
I did not answer; I only hissed.
"Who is that vision?" I listened to El Chupacabra ask.
"That's Rochelle, the Canadian rally champ." Dusty answered.
"She's like an eagle, sent from heaven." El Chupacabra said. "Like a sunrise after a lifetime of darkness."
"Like fresh fertilizer on a field of dying grass." Dusty commented.
I laughed in my head for I was afraid if I laughed aloud, Ripslinger would knock me on the head again.
"This is not your thing, my friend." El Chupacabra said.
"Silver," I hear a familiar voice. I look over to see Doc sitting there.
'Doc?' I asked him.
"How ya doin'?" Doc asked.
'Good,' I replied. 'Can anyone see you?'
"No," Doc said. "Apparently, it is only you."
'Why have you come?' I was curious.
"To let you know that folk of Radiator Springs is comin'." Doc answered.
'Really?' I asked. I had now hope build up.
"They're hear," Doc said then disappeared.
'Wait, who's here?' I pleaded. I wildly looked around. Then I knew what he mean by 'they're here'.
I saw that the town folk of Radiator Springs was here. They took the front row.
"Silverwind, you there?" A voice spoke through the ear bud.
'Who's this?' I asked.
"This is Finn." The voice said.
'Finn!' I smiled with shock.
"We all came to watch you race." Finn said.
"Who?" I asked.
"The town's folk, Mr. and Mrs. The King, Kurt, Rod, Holley, Sanderson, and me." Finn said.
My spirit was raised. I did have friends. None were planes but they were friends. Ripslinger can't take them away because these cars knew me better than Ripslinger's lies. 'Okay, Finn, Holley, Kurt, and Sanderson," I called the agents by name. "Rod know this but you guys must know. See that green plane up ahead?'
"We do see him." Finn said
"What are you getting to?" Holley asked.
'That plane is bad news. He acts like Chick and I see visions of Chick when I look at him.' I explained.
"Are you sure?" Finn asked.
'My visions are never wrong.' I hissed. 'I was friends with this crop duster and that green plane threw it away. Now the crop duster thinks we are enemies now. I don't know how to show him he can trust me without him spitting venom at me.'
"Venom?" Kurt asked.
'It means really mad, Kurt.' I answered.
"Why is Silver in this race?" I hear King ask.
"That, we don't know." Finn answered.
"She is in it for that flying Chick." Rod answered.
"How do you know who that is?" That was Lightning.
"I had the visions and she told me." Rod said.
"All right, racers." The announcement began. "Start your engines!"
As Ripslinger started his engines, I quickly started mine too. The engine vibrated on my back. It was still weird and it tickled my scales to my skin underneath.
"Seven legs, over 31,000 kilometers, the world's highest mountains and the deepest oceans all stand before them just waiting to be conquered by the right competitor." Brent said over the TV.
"You are going to do fine, Silver." Said Sally, in the stands.
'I hope you are right.' I sighed.
Back at Propwash, Chug said, "Here we go." He was getting excited. "Oh, boy!"
"All the preparation." Brent continued. "It all comes down to this moment. One of these planes, and in Silverwind's case, dragon is about to fly off into the pages of sports history and become a champion."
I hear Dusty exhale.
I quickly brought out my wings ready for the takeoff.
The green flag was raised and I was ready. "Go!" the flag was dropped and all the planes immediately took off.
"And we are under way!" Brent said.
I ran like crazy, along the runway. "I am… going… to… take the…back." I breathed the words.
"Good thinking. That way, you can warn me." Ripslinger said as I kept running but let the planes pass me.
"What are you doing?" Bulldog asked.
"I… can't… run…. like you…. guys." I panted.
And with that, we took off. Everyone brought in their wheels but Dusty. I was panting from the run.
"What was that about you can't run like us?" Bulldog asked as we both kept up the same speed.
"My limbs, or wheels for you, move. I use up my energy when I go across that runway." I answered. I knew I would be okay with energy since the engine took most of the work. I showed him a paw, moving each digit.
"I never met such a…" Bulldog was cut off.
"Monster? Beast?" I hiss. "I know you was going to say that"
Bulldog was taken aback.
"Thought so." I looked away. "Why should I have friends who can fly. Dusty, the crop duster, thinks I betrayed him. Now I can see that all planes think that." Each word came out as a hiss of frustration.
"Why do you assume all planes see you that way?" Bulldog asked.
"Silver, stop talking to the competitors." I hear Ripslinger say over the ear buds of mine.
"Bud out, Ripslinger. I will stop when I am through." I hissed. "You can't tell me what to do."
"Whoa! Swirlies!" I hear Dusty gasp. "Whoa! Whoa." He regains his flight balance. I look behind to see Dusty going to the ocean.
Just then, I saw a vision. The same vision I got when I first came to Radiator Springs. I was in the water able to breathe. I notice a guy with black hair and orange tints in his hair. Chestnut brown eyes showed fear. I then realized that this drowning boy was someone I knew. My eyes grew wide with fear. I notice the net drop into the water.
"Silver!" I hear a familiar voice. I thought it was Finn. "Silverwind!"
I snapped out of my vision to see that I was still flying next to Bulldog.
"What happened?" Bulldog puzzled. "You were losing your flight balance."
"I know who is going to drown!" I exclaimed.
Bulldog's eyes widened for a moment. "Who?"
"I think it is him." I looked down to Dusty. "But not really sure how it is going to happen." I watched Dusty flying low. "I will keep an eye on him."
"Our first stage is whopper." Brent said. "A dead sprint across the North Atlantic."
"That's right, Brent." Colins agreed. "This is how it works, folks. The winner of the leg today is the first to take off tomorrow."
Dusty still kept low to the water. Even though Dusty does not care if we were still friends, I cared. That means, I watch out for him.
Moments later, dark clouds covered Dusty completely. "I must go low." I reported to Bulldog. He seemed to not hear so gave him a quick tap.
"What?" Bulldog looks to me.
"I am going to go into the clouds. Dusty is under them and I must make sure he is okay." I said.
"I told you that this is a one man race." Bulldog reminded.
"I know." I agreed. "But friendship is more important than a race."
"How are you going to keep your blance in those clouds? They can put up a strong wind." Bulldog was curious.
'You see the set of wings at the base of my tail?' I pulled a little ahead of Bulldog.
"Yes," Bulldog confirmed.
'They keep my balance while strong winds blow.' I explained. I looked to the clouds. 'I going in.' Without another word, I pulled in my wings and dove into the clouds.
"She's nuts." I last heard Bulldog mutter.
I was just low enough to spot Dusty flying across the water. 'Dusty, pick up your altitude.' I spoke to myself. Icebergs started to appear in the ocean. And surprisingly, it got cold. Good thing I could withstand the temperature in my dragon form. Then fog started to pick up. Then snow picked up. I realized it was not snow; it was hail. And Dusty was getting hit by them. I did not want to help feared he would push it away; so I stayed high in the clouds, hiding.
Later that night, Dusty and I landed. I kept my distance from Dusty, trying to hide in the blizzard.
"I know you have been following me, Silver." Dusty spoke over the hail.
I stepped into his site. "I had to make sure you were safe."
"I don't need your protection." Dusty snapped as he and I headed for the racers' hanger.
"You do too." I said.
"You aren't my friend." Dusty hissed.
"I know who will drown!" I snapped as the door opened.
Everyone looked at us both. Icicles formed on my horns by the time we reached the hanger. Dusty was shivering badly.
"Hey, look who's finally here!" Zed announced. "It's that low-flying farmer boy!"
"Shut up, Zed." I hissed.
"You do know this is a race, right?" Ripslinger asked.
Ned and Zed laughed at Ripslinger's comment.
'Can't believe I am in their group!' I hissed to myself.
"That's a good one, boss." I last heard one of the twins say as Dusty went to his part of the hanger; I followed.
"Silver!" I hear a familiar voice call me over.
I looked to see Bulldog. 'I wonder what he wants.' I thought. As I walked over to Bulldog, I heard El Chupacabra roll up to Rochelle.
"Excuse me, how much does a snow plow weigh?" El Chupacabra asked.
"Je ne sais pas." Rochelle spoke up. "I don't know."
"Enough to break the ice." El Chupacabra answered. "I am El Chupacabra."
"Ah." She realizes. "You are the snow plow, oui?"
'Goodness, El Chupacabra, what are you getting yourself into?' I solemnly thought.
"You could say that, yes." El Chupacabra answered.
"And I am the ice?" Rochelle urged on.
"Yes." He answered, dreamily.
"Cold, frozen and lifeless?" she spat.
"No, I…" He choked, "It sounds better in Spanish."
'Spanish?' I was shocked.
She laughs a bit, "Why don't you go plow yourself," She smacked his propel with her wing. "…El Chu-toy." Then she rolled away.
El Chupacabra watches after her, "She is like an angel."
"Silver?"
I was brought back to where I was. I noticed I was about to walk right into Bulldog. I quickly staggered backward.
"Watch where you're going." He said.
"Sorry," I lowered my head. "How was the race so far?"
"Good," Bulldog answered. "What about Dusty?"
"He snapped at me again." I lowered my head. "He knew I was following. I wish I could fly with more silence. Stupid Ripslinger."
"Get some rest." He offered. "We have another long race tomorrow. And fill up that engine too."
I dipped my head then walked away.
Meanwhile, Dusty took a sip of hiss oil. I sat far away listening to his conversation.
"This is Propwash Junction to Dusty Crophopper and Silverwind." Chug spoke over radio.
Dusty quickly stops taking his sip pressed a button, "I read you, Chug. And Silverwind is not here."
"Why not?" Chug asked.
"We went our separate ways." Dusty answered.
"But I thought you were friends." Chug was taken aback.
"I thought she was a good friend." Dusty quickly glares at my staring look.
I was gasped in shock by his cold glare then I lowered my head.
"So what's it like racing the big dogs, Duster?" Chug asked, trying to change the subject.
"Well, my wings froze solid." Dusty answered.
"Man!" Chug muttered.
"I had icicles hanging off my sprayer." Dusty continued.
"All right!" Chug whood.
I just remembered that I had icicles hanging from my head horns and bit here and there too.
"And I nearly smashed into a 10-story iceberg." Dusty said.
"Awesome!" Chug muttered.
"Yeah, 'awesome' is not quite the word that I would use to describe a gruesome near-death experience." Dusty retorted.
"You hang in there, buddy." Chug encouraged. "There's nothing better than dying while doing what you love most."
Dottie sighs, "That's gonna make him feel a lot better."
"Dusty, just like when the Jolly Wrenches were up in the Aleutians the air down close to the sea has more moisture, which is why you took on ice." Skipper explained. "You gotta try to fly higher."
"Great." Dusty muttered.
"The good news is tomorrow's leg goes through the Bavarian obstacle course." Skipper reassured. "It's all about agility, so it's your chance to move up."