There are no friends on the race track.
The Argonaut III sped down the river doing 820km/h, spraying two solid walls of geysers in its wake. Behind it, a second hover car searched doggedly to pass.
The silver bullet behind him jerked to the right, the Argonaut parred –
Only to find that it had called victim to the driving that had won him his first Pro-circuit. The second car had feinted a pass from the right before shooting past the Argonaut easily on the left.
The Argonaut's navigated spoke softly into his helmet mike.
"I know, I know," the racer replied. His grip on the steering tightened. "This is going to cost us."
The two hover cars too the last turn with the Argonaut III swinging wide and falling even more behind.
And suddenly, the grand finish was in sight.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The steel arch structure that bridged the two sides of the harbour blazed with the glory of countless light bulbs. Every year the state government commissioned the leading artists and art contest winners to decorate the bridge for the Sydney Tournament. This year, the bridge took the shape of a brilliant rainbow snake, a creature from the Australian Aborigine dreamtime stories and even though it was a heart stopping sight in the Australian twilight, neither cars could afford to sight-see.
He knew the Argonaut could match the leading hover car in an out-right dash.
The river stretched straight like a blessing before them. He gained on the leader.
Half a car length…
… Tip to nose wing…
Jason Chaser held his breath.
They weren't going to make it in time.