THE RACE FOR THE ICE

The sun was a white ball burning in an azure sky over the pastel buildings of the Mont Royale principality, painting them in the colors of Easter eggs. The main roads throughout the commonwealth were cordoned off for the race that was taking place at noon. It was 10:30 AM and all the cars and their drivers were in their respective pits making last minute adjustments, the Go Team no different except for the conspicuous absence of their crew chief, Sparky.

Pops Racer was on the scene, supervising the rest of the team hovering around the Mach 5, adjusting the track bar, checking tire pressure, double checking fuel supplies, and just overall pre-race preparations. Speed was there as well, leaning under the hood making his own adjustments prior to the driver's meeting.

Pops clapped his middle child on the back as he came up from the Mach 5's power plant. "Well, son it's good to see that you're sober. After last night, I would've figured that you'd be in rough shape."

"Nah, Pops, I knew the race was today and I wanted to have my head together," Speed stated emphatically.

"I'm glad, son. You've grown up quite a bit, getting married and all. I can tell that you're maturing. I owe Trixie a debt of gratitude for getting you to this point," Pops said with a grin.

Speed smiled warmly at the mention of his intended. "Have you seen her around yet today?"

Pops' grin widened. "Sure, she's over at the airfield with the president's chopper. You know how she is on race day. If you want to go and say hi, go ahead."

Speed shook his head. "Thanks Pops, but I can't. She won't let me see her before the wedding." His grin faded as he showed his disappointment.

Pops chuckled at his son's expression. "Speed, believe it or not, your mother did the same thing. About two days before our wedding, she didn't let me see her and it drove me crazy. But," he continued with a wink and a nudge, "We had the best wedding night. So believe me, Speed it'll be worth the wait."

Speed's face broke into another grin. "Yeah, that's what I'm thinking." Both men laughed heartily.

Their discussion was interrupted by a figure that came dragging into the pit area with his baseball cap askew and a dark pair of sunglasses. He crept gingerly up to where Pops and Speed were standing.

"Well, well, how nice of you to grace us with your presence, Mr. Sabu! You look like hell," Pops pointed out in irritation. "What'd ya do last night Sparky, spend the evening in a beer keg?"

Sparky moaned, holding his head. "Could ya keep it down, Pops? My head feels like it's gonna explode."

Pops' eyes widened and seeing the gathering storm Speed decided to run interference. "Ahhh, why don't you go check with Trixie to make sure she's okay, Pops? I'll take care of Sparky."

Pops took a deep breath and whirled on his heel, striding away grumbling. Speed watched him disappear and then turned to his best friend who took a seat on a 50 gallon drum bent over holding his head. He moaned again as Speed regarded him dubiously with his arms crossed over his chest.

"You don't look so good, pal."

"That, Speed my friend, is an understatement," Sparky said carefully. He hopped off the drum and walked slowly to the side of the stall, holding on to the shelving for support. Speed watched with a mixture of concern and amusement. He went over to the coffee urn and got a cup of the steaming liquid then brought it over and handed it to Sparky.

"You'd better suck it up, Spark. The race is in about two hours and I need you on the ball." He glanced at the clock on the pit wall. "I gotta split to the driver's meeting, hope you feel better. See ya." Speed waved and turned to head to the meeting.

Sparky saluted weakly as he sipped his coffee and groaned.

Over in the Elite Team's stall, Sandpaper Fingers approached Pace Jordan slowly and in a clandestine manner placed a package in his care. Pace glanced down and gave a ghost of a smile as he nodded wordlessly and headed to his car. He unlocked the glove compartment and placed the package inside, then closed and locked it. He then headed for the drivers' meeting and passed an overall clad mechanic who reached and picked out a small walkie-talkie from his front pocket.

"The drop just happened."

Before too long it was almost time for the race to begin. All the cars were lined up according to the qualifying runs made two days hence and they were lined up in rows of two due to the streets of Mont Royale being that wide. The pole position was held by Speed and the car next to him was the Shooting Star, with Racer X.

Speed was filled with the thrill of the hunt, anxious as always to begin. Just before the green flag he could feel his blood race through his veins and his heart pound as his eyes focused ahead, his game face on. His mind was only on one thing, winning the Grand Prix.

Over in the Shooting Star, Racer X also had his attention to the task ahead but also was determined to find out just how and when the Rubicon I would make its trip over the border to Sylvania. He picked up his radio to communicate with his crew chief.

"Joe. Come in, Joe."

The radio crackled to life. "I'm right here. What's up?"

"Have you gotten any word from Headquarters?"

"Nope, nothing yet."

Racer X sighed, "This is just like flying blind. They should've contacted me by now."

"Sorry, boss. I'll patch the chief right in to you once he calls."

"Okay, Joe. Roger and Out." Racer X replaced the mike and glanced at the Mach 5 right next to him. He watched, as Speed was poised for battle, his gloved hands gripping the wheel as they all waited for the directive to start their engines signifying the beginning of the race. He smiled in spite of himself getting excited by the prospect of racing his kid brother yet again.

Speed turned and glanced at Racer X, right beside him in the lineup. He lifted his hand and waved as he saw the mask face him and Racer X saluted back, showing the utmost respect and sportsmanship.

"Hey Racer X! Best of luck to ya!" Speed called out.

"Right back at ya, Speed!" Racer X answered back. "Let's do, it!"

The P.A. then blared, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN NOW FOR THE MOST FAMOUS WORDS IN RACING---GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES!"

All the cars roared to life, power plants revving to fill the air with the sound of horsepower and the scent of exhaust. Speed picked up his mike to contact his spotter.

"Mach 5 to Trixie, come in."

Trixie's voice came over the speaker. "Trixie, here. Has the race started, Speed?"

"Yeah, we just got the call. We're about to do our parade miles then we're off. Are you airborne yet?"

"Yeah, I just got up here. I'm headed over to the first checkpoint."

"Okay. Make sure you keep in touch."

"I will. Please be careful, Speed. Remember tomorrow." Trixie reminded him.

Speed said reassuringly, "Don't worry, baby I will. I'll be waiting at the finish line for you. And tomorrow I'll be waiting at the end of that aisle for you. Over and out." He replaced the mike and took off as the field lurched forward and Speed immediately shot into the lead.

The cars began their journey on the course. The road course would take them through the main route of the commonwealth, which winds through the business center, government center, presidential palace and then past the formal gardens which takes the road briefly into Sylvania and then back into Mont Royale. The racers were winding their way through the business district with Speed and Racer X being pursued by Pace Jordan, driver for the Elite Team.

Speed glanced in his rear view mirror and spotted the Elite Team's car, remembering Inspector Detector's words of the night before. Then he saw the Shooting Star right behind the Mach 5 and he became aware of the masked racer's actions. Racer X appeared to be acting as a buffer, placing himself as an obstacle between Speed and Jordan as they broke away from the rest of the pack.

They were in the government center and then past the presidential palace and then they were speeding through the formal gardens, playing with each other as they jockeyed for position. The three man catch-me-if-you-can game continued when Speed's radio came to life.

"Trixie to Mach 5, come in."

Speed picked up the mike, "Mach 5 here, what's up, Trix?"

"Speed, there's something strange going on at the border. The guards have just split, and are heading to the palace."

"No kidding. Okay, do me a favor, Trix I want you to fly back to the palace and check things out for me."

"But why, Speed? I have to spot for you for the rest of the race."

Speed sighed as he continued to concentrate on the road. "Look, Trix I forgot to tell you. The other night at my bachelor party there was an attempt made on President Gabriele's life."

Trixie cried, "Oh no!"

"Yeah, me and Racer X pushed him down when some guy tried to take a shot at him. Later, after I left your room, Inspector Detector came to see me and he told me about the Rubicon I disappearance. He said the gem's here in Mont Royale and will be smuggled over the border during the race. I can't help thinking that the two events are linked somehow."

"He's asked you to help again," she said matter-of-factly.

"Uh-huh," Speed answered. "That's why I want you to head back to the palace and check things out. Make sure His Excellency is okay and let me know."

"But what about the race? I'm supposed to be up here spotting for you."

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine, just check on Gabriele." he directed.

"Okay, Speed. You can count on me," Trixie acquiesced.

"That's my girl. Just be careful, baby," Speed reminded her.

"You too."

"Will do, over and out."

Trixie replaced the mike and banked the helicopter to head back to the palace. She took her binoculars out and scanned the parameter of the grounds, searching for anything that appeared strange or out of the ordinary. She guided the craft back and forth while making her reconnaissance being thorough as she usually was when she spotted a shadow, moving stealthily along near the East Wing. A tickle of unease slid up her spine as she moved closer but not so close to cause the person she was following suspicion but there was something unsavory afoot and she was determined to see what.

The man in the bushes peeked out and was attempting to break into the palace via a window. Trixie immediately became alarmed and searched the inside of the helicopter. She saw the distress kit, located in a chest under the passenger seat and putting the helicopter on automatic, rooted through and found some smoke flares like the kinds she kept in her own chopper. She smiled satisfactorily as she opened the hatch and started tossing them out. Upon making contact with the ground the flares exploded with a dull boom and whitish-gray smoke began billowing up in clouds around the palace. Pandemonium then took place as the all the doors to the building flew open and all the people streamed out including the president, fleeing. In addition, like the last rat leaving a sinking ship whomever was trying to break in before also fled with the others.

Giggling Trixie watched the mass exodus, taking place below her. "Well, mission accomplished," she said airily as she headed back to the racecourse. "Speed'll be so proud of me."

Meantime, the radio in the Mach 5 spoke with Inspector Detector's voice. "Speed, are you there?"

Speed picked up his mike. "Yeah, Inspector, what's up?"

"Speed, our undercover man at the garage saw the exchange take place. Jordan definitely has the gem in his possession."

"Okay, Inspector. I'll head him off and get the gem," Speed assured.

"IPF's operative, Agent 9 a.k.a. Racer X is also on the trail. So if you run into him trying to recover the gem, give him a hand."

"Okie Doakie. Roger and out." Speed replaced the mike and gripping the wheel focused on the road. He grinned as he thought about him and Racer X joining forces to thwart evil yet again. Then idly he wondered how Trixie was doing at the palace when he heard the unmistakable whirring of a helicopter above him. He glanced up and saw the chopper fly for the border ahead of him Huh, I wonder if that's Trixie up there now. Wonder if she saw anything. He reached for the mike then as a second thought, pulled his hand back Nah, she'd have contacted me if she did. He re-gripped the wheel and concentrated on the race, noticing that Pace Jordan had gotten a run on him during that radio exchange with Detector.

On the racecourse, Racer X was busy keeping up with both Pace Jordan and his brother who were neck and neck when his radio squawked for his attention. With a sigh, Rex picked up the mike.

"Yeah, Joe?"

Joe Grimes voice came over the wire. "The chief's on the line, Rex, I'm patching him through."

Chief Pettit's voice crackled over the speaker. "Agent 9, Inspector Detector of Interpol just informed us that the drop of the gem took place as expected. It's in the Elite Team's car driven by Pace Jordan. Is he anywhere in your vicinity?"

"Affirmative. He's two seconds right in front of me in a battle for the lead with the Mach 5."

"Good. Agent 9, make sure that gem does not get over that border."

"Yes, sir." Racer X replaced his mike and began to devise a plan to catch Jordan before they get to the border, which was about 45 miles away. At the present pace they were racing, time was running out but Racer X couldn't help grinning as he found himself allied again with his kid brother. No doubt Speed's been asked to lend his assistance in this venture.

Racer X then found himself thrown back in memory as he recalled the trap the International Spies Inc had set for him, Speed and the Car Acrobatic Team and how they all were lured to a trick race so the spies could capture him. He remembered that the group of spies also knew that he was Speed's older brother and that he'd go over to the trap to save his brother. He thought about how after Speed and the Car Acrobatic Team foiled the plan and destroyed the spies and Speed confronted him about being Rex, he punched him in the stomach and knocked him out to keep his alter ego intact. It had been hard to do that and even harder to walk away from racing which was why he came back to racing a year later. He also remembered how he had said once that he would return to his family. He mulled over the fact that his kid brother, who had followed him everywhere and worshiped the ground he walked on before was about to become a married man.

Rex continued racing and as he drew closer to the rear end of the Mach 5 he made a vow—Speed, if we can pull this off—if we can recover the Rubicon I—then, my brother, my friend, I will come back home again. I'll tell Pops and Mom and Spritle who I am. That's my wedding gift to you, Speedy.

TO BE CONTINUED----THE JEWEL IS RECOVERED BY BOTH RACER BROTHERS, THE RACE IS WON

NEXT----CAPTURE…RECOVERY…VICTORY!