CHAPTER 2

MONSTER MAZE

The next day, Atalanta meets Theseus before the race. He is the only ThunderTruck to ever beat Bullistic.

The Monster Maze is a course full of twists and turns through a dark canyon.

“I brought this to help you,” Theseus says.

He sets down a silver winch.

“What’s that for?” Atalanta beeps.

“I used it to find my way out of the maze,” Theseus says. “Before you enter, hook the cable to a tree near the entrance.”

Atalanta puts the winch on her back bumper. She hooks its cable to the tree. Then she goes to face Bullistic.

“The rules are simple,” a race official says. “First one to the center of the maze and back wins.”

“Got it,” Atalanta beeps.

“Racers, get ready,” the official blares.

Atalanta revs her engine.

VROOM! VROOM!

“Get set!” the official yells.

SNNNOOORRRTTT! Bullistic zooms off into the maze before the official even says go!

Atalanta races after him. The cable from the winch trails behind her.

Within the maze, rocky walls tower over her. They block out all but a sliver of sunlight. Soon, Atalanta is lost in the twisting and winding of the tunnels.

“Ugh! Another dead end!” Atalanta honks.

She speeds down a canyon and wheels around a turn. She screeches to a halt as she comes grill-to-grill with a rocky wall.

“Again!” she honks.

Twist after turn, Atalanta makes her way through the maze.

The narrow path she raced down opens up into a large cavern. Ahead, the road suddenly disappears. Atalanta SCREECHES to a stop at the edge of a cliff.

“Whoa! That was close,” she beeps.

Below are sharp, jagged rocks. Atalanta also sees junked trucks at the bottom of the pit.

Then a large, dark shadow moves over her. She spins around to see Bullistic blocking the path.

“Congrats,” he snorts. “You have found the middle of the maze.”

“Now I just need to find the exit,” Atalanta beeps.

“Not going to happen,” Bullistic snorts. “You’re about to join the rest of my competitors in the pit.”

Bullistic’s engine roars. RRRR! RRRR! His tires SQUEAL! as he charges. Atalanta winds the winch’s cable around a rock.

When Bullistic leaps forward, she darts to the side. The giant truck trips over the cable.

“AHHHHH!” he screams as he falls into the pit.

BOOM! He lands with a crash.

“Ow! My axle!” Bullistic groans.

“Time to go!” Atalanta beeps.

She follows the cable. She darts down tunnels until she reaches the entrance.

“Atalanta, you did it!” Theseus honks.

“You are the World’s Speediest Truck!” Perseus honks.

Just then, a run down gas-guzzler sputters up to them.

“Medusa!” Atalanta beeps. “What do you want?”

“You aren’t the World’s Speediest Truck until you beat me,” Medusa rattles. “I challenge you to a race in the Endur-X Championship.”