“We did it, Cabbie!” Jimmy whooped in delight.
“Well done, Jimmy,” said Cabbie.
“Me?” said Jimmy, grinning broadly. “Well done, Cabbie, I think you mean!”
“We were a pretty good team, weren’t we?” the taxi replied.
“I didn’t think we’d finish the race, let alone come second!” Jimmy laughed. “And we beat Horace Pelly!”
Jimmy watched in disbelief as one by one the other racers crossed the line.
“Come on,” said Cabbie, firing up his engines again, “let’s have a look at the results boards.” They headed for the main grandstand, where a huge hovering display board was just about to show the final results.
“What are we waiting for?” Jimmy wondered aloud, climbing out of Cabbie. “Everyone knows Princess Kako came first and we came second.”
The display boards flashed, numbers whirring, and high above them sailed Lord Leadpipe’s airship, his grinning face projected on its side once more.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” boomed Lord Leadpipe’s voice from the loudspeakers, “the results of this thrilling first leg of the Robot Races Championship are as follows...”
“In first place, with ten points,” boomed Lord Leadpipe, “it’s ... Princess Kako and Lightning.” The crowd cheered and the newspaper reporters swarmed around the princess and her robobike, their cameras flashing.
“In second place, with eight points,” said Lord Leadpipe, “it’s ... Jimmy Roberts and Cabbie!”
Jimmy felt his heart swell in his chest until he thought it would explode.
“In third place,” said Lord Leadpipe, “it’s Horace Pelly and Zoom. But,” continued Lord Leadpipe, “Horace Pelly will have two points deducted – repeat two points deducted – following the use of unauthorized gadgetry and suspicious conduct.”
“What!” screeched Horace Pelly. “Unauthorized? Suspicious? Is he calling me a cheat? Dad!” he shrieked, stamping his foot. “Dad! Get over here! And bring those NASA idiots with you!”
“So Horace Pelly and Zoom,” continued Lord Leadpipe, “are in equal third place on four points with Chip Travers and Dug. Missy McGovern and Monster have two points. Samir Bahur and Maximus did not complete the course and so are yet to score.”
Jimmy watched as Horace bellowed at his father and kicked dents in Zoom’s doors, but he soon lost sight of them as he and Cabbie were swamped by reporters with cameras and notebooks asking them all kinds of questions.
“How did you feel, knowing you were favourite to come last?”
“How do you feel about coming second?”
“What are your chances in the next race?”
“Who built your racer?”
“What were your tactics?”
Jimmy stood with his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish, and only one thought in his head: find Grandpa.
“I’ll answer that question,” came Cabbie’s voice from behind Jimmy. “At first,” Cabbie explained to the journalist, “we played it cool. Keeping our heads down. Not wanting to take the lead, but—”
Jimmy pushed his way through the crowd, leaving Cabbie to enjoy his moment in the spotlight. He was looking for a glimpse of Grandpa’s wild white hair. And there it was, bobbing its way towards him. He had his arms outstretched, with a smile so wide it nearly met round the back of his head. Jimmy leaped into Grandpa’s arms and they both hugged till they were gasping for breath.
“Well done, my boy,” Grandpa finally managed to splutter. “Well done!”
The crowd around them clapped and cheered.
“Thanks for your help out there,” said Chip, pushing through the crowd and shaking Jimmy by the hand until his arm ached. “I’d still be there now if you hadn’t come along and saved me.”
“No problem,” said Jimmy.
“Congratulations, Jimmy,” said a familiar voice behind him. Jimmy turned slowly to meet the twinkling eyes and rosy red cheeks of one of the richest and most powerful men on the planet – Lord Leadpipe. “You and Cabbie drove a marvellous race. Beautifully done. That’s one of the finest performances I think I’ve seen in all the years we’ve held the competition. And certainly one of the closest finishes.” His smile broadened and he leaned forward to pat Jimmy on the shoulder. “Why don’t you introduce me to the rest of your team. Is this your mechanic over here...?” Lord Leadpipe turned to Grandpa. “Good lord,” he said. “You’re ... I mean, it’s—”
“Wilfred Roberts,” finished Grandpa coldly. “Hello, Ludwick. It’s been a long time.”
“It’s so nice to see you after all these years,” Lord Leadpipe said, a smile spreading across his very-famous face. But what are you doing here?”
“Jimmy’s my grandson,” explained Grandpa, his voice growing colder. “And I built his racer, Cabbie. You see, Ludwick, my robot might not be as flashy and shiny as some of yours, but I’ve still got a few robo-tricks up my sleeves.”
“Well,” said Lord Leadpipe, looking flustered, “it’s – it’s lovely to see you again.”
“Is it?” snapped Grandpa. “I wish I could say the same.”
“Oh dear,” said Lord Leadpipe, his monocle dropping out of his eye and his face turning an even deeper shade of red. “Well,” he went on, trying to fix a smile on his face as a swarm of newspaper reporters and photographers surrounded them, “you’ve got a grandson to be proud of. I noticed him stopping off to help one of the other competitors who had got into a spot of bother, even though he knew it would probably cost him the race. It’s not every driver that would do such a thing. Either of you,” said Lord Leadpipe turning to Jimmy and Chip, “could have won that race, you know.”
Jimmy and Chip went bright red and stared at the ground, each burning with pure pleasure. “And who knows,” added Lord Leadpipe, “one of you may well win the next leg of the Robot Races Championship. Talking of which, I have an announcement to make.”
Lord Leadpipe waved a hand in the air and Joshua Johnson, the robot co-ordinator with the enormous eyebrows, came running over with a microphone. He still had cotton wool stuffed deep in his ears.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Lord Leadpipe said into the microphone, his voice ringing out around the Grand Canyon. “I am delighted to announce that the next stage of the Robot Races Championship will take place in just one month’s time. I can’t reveal where just yet – but rest assured it will be another action-packed, adrenaline-fuelled, no-holds-barred fight to the chequered flag! We look forward to seeing you all there! And remember, keeeeep racing!”
Jimmy and Grandpa looked at Cabbie, and then at each other, their eyes twinkling with excitement.
“A month?” said Cabbie, revving his engines. “Grandpa, get your spanner, we’ve got work to do! Today’s race might be finished – but the championship’s only just begun!”