9
SWORD MOUNTAIN
When the Mach 5 was finished, Speed headed for Sword Mountain. The race would begin on a professional racetrack, then veer off to an off-road course.
Racing fans crowded the stands as the drivers lined up on foot for the race. They stood across the track, facing their cars. A bright blue sky shone overhead.
Speed got stuck standing next to Skull Duggery. Duggery wore a red uniform and helmet to match his car.
“I’m going to win this race, Speed, and those five thousand bucks will be mine,” Duggery taunted.
“You better not count on them, Duggery,” Speed responded.
Across the track, Spritle and Chim Chim peeked out of the trunk of the Mach 5. Speed didn’t know it, but his little brother and pet chimpanzee had stowed away! Spritle took after Pops and Speed—he loved a race. Just because he wasn’t old enough to drive didn’t mean he had to miss out on all of the excitement.
“This is going to be some ride, Chim Chim!” Spritle said. Then he quickly closed the trunk so they wouldn’t be caught.
The announcer’s voice blared from a loudspeaker. “All drivers stand by! When the flag is lowered, drivers will run to their cars and start. Racing positions on the track will be determined by quick starts and getaways. Get ready! The race will begin in exactly fifteen seconds! ”
Speed got into position, his heart pumping. He couldn’t wait for the race to start.
A man stepped out onto the track, holding a red flag above his head.
Bam! A shot rang out. The man lowered the flag. The race was on!
Speed charged across the track. He jumped into the Mach 5 a split second before Duggery hopped into his own race car. Speed and Duggery revved their engines and took off. They were the first to lead the pack.
Speed took the lead, but Duggery was right on his tail.
“Speed! Watch out for Duggery!” Sparky warned from the sidelines.
A racer in a yellow car tried to pass Duggery. Duggery smiled and steered right toward the car, forcing it off the track.
“Aaaaah!”the driver yelled as his car careened over the safety wall. Onlookers in the stands screamed and scrambled to get out of the way.
Wham! The car crashed into the stands. The shaken driver crawled out of the car as medics rushed to help him.
Duggery grinned. He wasn’t going to let anyone come between him and Speed.
A driver in a blue car tried to pass Duggery.
Bam! Duggery slammed into the race car. The blue car spun out of control. The driver behind him couldn’t stop in time, and the two cars collided.
Speed watched the action in his rearview mirror and frowned. There was no room in the sport for a dirty racer like Duggery.
The track opened up to the mountain road. The colorful stands gave way to a landscape of red rocks and dirt. Duggery caught up to Speed just as the road changed. The two kicked up red dust as they led the race, side by side.
Ace Ducey waited patiently down the road. He had gathered a small army of goons to help him steal the plans for the Mach 5. He and his men were all driving black race cars. They idled their engines, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Ace radioed his men. “Our target is car number five. We want its windshield.”
Seconds later, Speed zoomed past. Ace and his men drove onto the road and entered the race. The road was crowded with the other race cars.
“The other cars are in the way! Get rid of them ! ” Ace ordered his goons.
A sharp spike poked from the hubcap of each wheel on the black race cars. One of Ace’s goons drove alongside a green race car. The smell of burning rubber filled the air as the spikes tore into the race car’s tire.
The green car veered out of control. Bam! It crashed into another car, sending both cars spinning off of the road.
Two more cars sped up, and Ace’s men struck using the same dirty trick.
Slash! Slash! The spikes ripped the tires on the two cars. The cars spun wildly out of control and smashed into the rocky mountainside.
Soon the road was a pile of burning, twisted metal. The drivers climbed out of their wrecked cars and shook their fists at the goons.
Duggery watched the attack in his mirror. “I don’t know who’s driving those new cars in the race, but they’re looking for trouble,” he muttered to himself. “I don’t want any of them trying to wreck me.”
Duggery swerved off the main road and headed down a dusty trail.
Spritle and Chim Chim heard all the commotion from their hiding place. They opened the trunk and peeked out to see a fleet of black cars advancing on the Mach 5.
“Look, Chim Chim, we’re in for it!” Spritle cried.
Ace Ducey had exactly what he wanted. Speed was the only driver on the road now. He pulled up alongside Speed.
“You better do as I say, otherwise I’ll smash you right off the course! ” he called out over the roar of the engines.
The other black race cars surrounded Speed.
“All I want is your windshield. Give it to me or I promise you’ll never reach the finish line!” Ace shouted.
Speed thought fast. He recognized Ace as the thug who’d tied up Pops, trying to steal the plans for the Mach 5.
There’s only one reason they’d want this windshield, Speed realized. I bet Pops hid the design on it.
Well, there was no way he was going to let Ace Ducey get his hands on those plans!
“Come on! Take it off if you can!” Speed taunted.
“That kid’s a fool!” Ace said angrily.
He sidled up next to the Mach 5, and Speed saw the sharp spikes protruding from Ace’s wheels. He quickly steered out of the way.
They were on a rough stretch of road now. It twisted and turned like a snake. Guardrails were the only thing that could stop a car from falling down the steep cliffsides on either side of the road.
“Whoa! Speed cried out. He expertly steered through the twists and turns. But Ace was right on him. There was only one way to escape Ace.
Speed pressed the A button on the steering wheel. The hydraulic jacks lowered, then sent Speed soaring right over the guardrail!
Speed had escaped Ace. There was only one problem.
Now the Mach 5 was hurtling down the side of a rocky cliff!
