“Where are you, Janine?” he asked. The answer was a click. She had hung up!
Janine wiped away a tear and turned to her new friends.
“Maybe it would be best if you stayed with us for a while,” said Trixie.
“Oh, thank you, I will! ” said Janine.
That night the three thugs broke into car dealerships all over town. They went to work: loosening lug nuts, cutting brake lines, and unscrewing steering gears.
The next day started with a bang. Then another bang, and another, as runaway cars crashed though windows, ran stoplights, lost their wheels, and caught on fire!
The thugs cackled gleefully. They were making money—and having fun! Their next target would be the race cars!
In his mansion, Mr. Trotter watched the news with pleasure. No one could trace the chaos to him! Soon all the cars would be destroyed, and his daughter would return.
Meanwhile, Janine was enjoying riding around with her new friends. She and Trixie were on their way downtown when they were stopped by a cop. “Too many crashes,” he said. “No more cars allowed in the city.”
They went to a soda shop and saw it all on TV. Because of the accidents, traffic was hopelessly snarled.
Janine had a sinking feeling. Could someone be deliberately causing these accidents?
She was afraid she knew the answer.
Seven: Caught in the Act
The next day, Speed and Sparky were returning from a test drive in the Mach 5. Spritle and Chim Chim were in the back seat.
“Hey,” said Sparky as they approached the garage. “Didn’t I just see three shadows sneaking across the road and into the garage?”
“I’ll bet they are the ones causing all these crashes,” said Speed.
They sneaked in and surprised them. Once Speed had the leader of the thugs flattened on the floor, he asked, “Who are you working for?”
The answer didn’t surprise him.
Speed and Sparky immediately hauled the thugs to the Trotter mansion.
“No use lying, Mr. Trotter,” said Speed. “We know you are behind all these terrible accidents.”
“Get out of here! ” said Mr. Trotter. “I admit to nothing. And where is my daughter, Janine?”
“She is with Trixie,” said Sparky. “They were taking a drive in a new sports car from Pops Racer’s shop. A red runabout.”
The leader of the three thugs, a sneaky little man, gulped. “I worked on that car, Mr. Trotter. I fixed the brakes and the steering both.”
“What? My daughter is in danger!”
Mr. Trotter jumped onto his horse and rode off.
Speed jumped into the Mach 5. He had to save Trixie!
Eight: Drive into Danger
It was a perfect day for a drive. Trixie loved the way the new sports car handled. It had plenty of power for climbing the steep grades of the Craggy Peak Mountains.
But when they reached the top and started down the long twisted road, she saw what it was missing.
“We have no brakes! ” she cried.
“Try the emergency brake! ” shouted Janine. She did.
No good!
The car went faster and faster down the steep grade!
Speed caught up with Mr. Trotter near the top of the mountain road.
He pulled over and said, “Get in, Mr. Trotter. You’ll never catch up with them on that horse.”
Mr. Trotter glared down at him. “After my son was killed, I swore never to ride in a car,” he said.
He spurred the horse and galloped off.
Speed gunned the Mach 5 and followed, in search of Trixie and Janine.
Faster and faster the sabotaged sports car went. It was careening out of control down the steep mountain road.
Trixie pumped the useless brakes. She watched the speedometer in terror.
180 mph, 190 mph—
In the rearview mirror, she saw Speed in the Mach 5, trying to catch up. “Hurry, Speed!” she cried. “Help us, if you can!”
The road narrowed and the turns were even tighter. Now the car was going almost 200 mph!
WHAM, WHAM!
Janine and Trixie screamed as the car smashed off the cliffs, spinning from side to side.
The car crashed through the guardrail. It turned over in the air and fell onto the rocks below.
“Trixie! ” cried Speed.
When Speed got to the wreck, he saw that Trixie was still inside. Her seat belt had saved her. She was dazed but okay.
“Help Janine,” she said, pointing to a crumpled figure lying on the ground nearby.
Speed ran over and picked up Janine. She was unconscious. “We have to get her to a hospital!” he cried.
Just then Mr. Trotter rode up. He jumped off his horse and grabbed his injured daughterfrom Speed. “I will take her,” he said. “She’s my daughter.”
He tried to climb back onto the horse with Janine, but the horse was worn out from running. It sank to the ground, exhausted.
“That horse won’t get her to the hospital in time,” said Speed. “Please, Mr. Trotter, let me take her in the Mach 5!”
Mr. Trotter hesitated.
Trixie spoke up angrily. “We don’t care how much you hate cars,” she said. “Janine’s life is more important!”
Mr. Trotter gave up. He handed his daughter back to Speed Racer. He watched, with a tear in his eye, as Speed and Trixie put her into the Mach 5 and raced off.
nine: A Lesson Learned
A few weeks later, there was a small party in a nearby hospital room.
Janine Trotter was recovered from her injuries. It was finally time for her to go home.
Her new friends, Trixie, Speed, Sparky, and Pops Racer were gathered in her room.
“Oh, thank you!” she said when Spritle and Chim Chim gave her flowers.
Then she heard a deep voice behind her. “Janine! My daughter!” Her father came racing through the door.
“Papa!” she cried. She threw her arms around him. “Why have you waited so long to come and see me in the hospital?”
“I’ve been in jail,” said Mr. Trotter. “Paying for my crimes. But I have learned my lesson. I can see now that a car can be either a weapon or a lifesaver, depending on who is driving.”
“That’s good,” said Pops Racer. “I brought you a present. It’s even better than a horse—and it never gets tired.”
He showed Mr. Trotter the car he had built especially for him. It was a new convertible!
That afternoon, they all went for a drive. “Thank you all,” said Mr. Trotter. “Janine, I’ve thought about it a lot—and I have decided to let you be a race car driver, if that’s what you want!”
“Oh, thank you, Papa!” she said.
“Speed can teach you to drive safely,” said Trixie.
“What about those thugs you hired?” asked Speed.
“I put them to work doing good,” said Mr. Trotter. “I wanted to make up for all the wrecks I caused.”
He pointed to the side of the road.
One of the thugs was helping an old lady across the street. Another was clumsily directing traffic. They were doing their best to do some good.
Speed Racer smiled. The car hater had learned his lesson. Traffic was running smoothly again. At least for now!
Race for Revenge Page 6