"Mater, no wait!" McQueen rushed into his car and followed his friend with a howl of the engine. Back in Radiator Springs he speeded downthe street and stopped with a drift right next to Flo's cafe. Sheriff who leaned on his car proped up his sunglasses. "Boy, normally I would give you a ticket for that."
Lightning sighed in a rush. "Sorry Sheriff, have you seen Mater?" The police officer frowned. And also Flo and Ramone eho had a drink on one of the benches looked at him in confusion. Ramones hair was freshly dyed aqua, matching the color of Flo's blouse.
"I thought he helped you training.", Sheriff mumbled. Lightning bis his lip. "Yeah, but we kinda had an argument."
"What happened, kid?", Ramone asked. And Guido and Luigi came over the street to them. The yellow jacket of the Italian shop owner shined in the sun. "Is he gone?"
Lightning looked at his friends. He worried about Mater. He know his friend often did stupid decisions and he didn't want him to get any troubles. Not now. "No one has seen him?"
"Non l'ho visto.", said Guido und the skinny Italian shook his head.
"Right, we didn't saw him since this morning." Luigis eyes were filled with worry. "Oh, what did happened?"
McQueen told them the whole story and closed it with: "And I was so stupid and I yelled at him and it is all my fault!" He ran a hand through his messy hair."Kid, you had much stress and trouble lately. Nothing is your fault."
"But that's why he's gone!"
Lightning drove to Mater's crooked wooden hut. His truck wasn't in the garage. Lightning curesed and dialled Mater's phone number in his iPhone. For a few seconds nothing happened amd Lightning put his hand to his hips. Suddenly, an old country song let him wince. Mater's Nokia phone fell off the veranda and landed on the dirt. Great! Lightning hung off. He thought of the places where he could be. Mater's favourite places around Radiator Springs.
He found him at the canyon, staring into the depth. His truck was parked a few meters away from the cliff. Lightning stopped his car and went to his friend. Carefully he sat down next to him. "Hey Mater..."
The tow boy didn't answer. Lightning took a deep breath. He didn't know what to say. "Listen, Mater, I..." He bis his lips and ordered his thoughts. "I am sorry for screaming at you. I was just so nervous and drained from the training and I... I didn't think. You never behaved weird."
He followed the look of his friend and stared into the canyon. The sun threw shadows onto the cliff. Brown rocks piled up to small formations an some cactuses lined the boulders. It was beautiful.
"It was my fault.", Lightning sighed. For some minutes they both keeped silent.
"Why're ya always sayin' it's yer fault?", Mater whispered. Lightning looked at him and shrugged. "Because it's true. I insulted you without any reason. That's not fair. You're my best friend Mater. I don't wanna lose you as well."
Mater gulped. "But yer right. I did behave weird." he turned his head to Lightning. The brown, slightly curly hair was full of dust and Mater's cheeks were dirty. Lightning could see his own reflection in Mater's green eyes.
"I have to tell ya somethin', buddy.", Mater sighed and he wrangled with himself. "Right in the first evening where we were back home, I got a phone call.", he explained. Lightning frowned and listened carefully. He didn't dare to interrupt him.
"It was some guy. He said 'Lightning McQueen is a risk for everyone.'" He imitated the guy. "And after ya told me from the call, I assumed it was the same guy." Mater looked depressed. "He said I should sabotage yer car so that ya cannot start the race. Otherwise he would...", Mater swallowed again. "Otherwise he would kill Sally and Doc.", he whispered.
"What!?" McQueen felt anger raised inside him. This stupid racer threatened his best friend! No one had the right to do that! He clenched his fists and tried to control his breathing. "Mater that was just an empty thread! He would never... kill them.", the last words were just a whisper. Mater looked at his friend. "Yer sure 'bout that, buddy? Cause this guy seems to be a ready for anything." The two friends looked at each other and Lighting placed a hand on Mater's shoulder.
"Mater, I am very sorry for being so rude to you. It will never happen again." Mater smiled at him broadly and pulled the rookie into a tight hug. Lightning was surprised but then he chuckled and returned the hug.
"We will get them back, I promise. And if it's the last thing I'll do."