The Race

by Ian Berry

  “Take careful note of the fact that Saskia and I have promised your Mrs. Rogers to stand over you while you catch up with Thursday’s work. We thought over next weekend. You should get set some work to do either on Wednesday or Friday. Ok?”

  “Yep. Ready for that. It’ll be worth it. Er, can I have a look round the plant first, before Thursday?”

  “Mm. After the garage if you like. Don’t think you need to go to Eddie’s today as I recall.”

  “No. Just Saskia’s dad.”

  “Ok. Lunch with us as usual. Bring your plant badge or Security will get the collywobbles and chuck you in the cells.”

  Rio rushed off to fetch said badge. She was back moments later wearing it.

  “Don’t need it at the garage, dear,” said Saskia. “But it is the best place to keep it.”

  There weren’t many cars to deal with this particular weekend. We had a bad moment when a handbrake got left off in all the shunting and Rio nearly got run over. She was looking intently through her camera at the time and never even noticed Saskia using super strength to hold the car in place while I opened the door and applied the brake.

  Rio joined us at home as usual to download her pictures and edit them. We were used to this by now and left her to get on with it while Saskia and I rustled up some lunch. We’d nicely finished arranging some chicken sandwiches on plates when Rio appeared in the kitchen.

  “Finished?”

  “Yeah. Weren’t all that many. All done and sent off.”

  “Come and get some of these. Got to keep your strength up.”

  Sandwiches scoffed and drinks drunk, we piled back into the mini and Saskia drove to the plant. Because Rio was with us, Security wouldn’t have batted an eyelid, let alone have the collywobbles - and the plant didn’t have any cells anyway. Didn’t stop Rio looking around apprehensively, until we explained it was a joke.

  We started in the boardroom to make sure Rio got the feel of the place.

  “Hey Saskia, there’s Arnold with the car. James must be here. We can tell him about last night.”

  I went to look out of the same window. “Mm. You’re right. We’ll bang on his door on the way past.”

  With Rio clued up about what the room would look like on Thursday, we went to bang on James’ door. “Who the hell’s that on a Saturday. Come on in.”

  Saskia stuck her head round the door. “Sorry, Boss. If it’s not convenient ...”

  “No, no. Come on in. Oh, hello, Rio.”

  “Hello, Sir James. I hope we’re not disturbing you. My idea, I’m afraid. I wanted to see the plant before Thursday.”

  “These two don’t know the meaning of the word ‘disturbing’, you might see if you can teach them.” Then he smiled to show he didn’t mean it.

  “Two quick things, Boss, since you’re here. The Government people have egg on their face.”

  “Sounds good. Do tell.”

  “You know we booked them into the hotel at their expense? They were good enough to invite us to dinner last night. Good job they did because their credit card went tilt. They wouldn’t have been able to pay the bill this morning.”

  “So what did you do? I expect you did something? Stuck it on the Robinson account?”

  “Yeah. Sorry James. Cesca is going to send the bill separately on Monday so you can get Accounts to turn it round as quick as possible. Saskia got the details of where to send it, we’ll make sure Accounts have it first thing Monday.”

  James grin had been getting wider and wider. “Ha-ha. Robinson Corporation dig Government out of poo. I like it.”

  “Sure you don’t mind James? It was the only thing we could do.”

  “No problem. Anyway, the other thing?”

  “Just so you know, the tour through the plant will be the manufacturing areas. We thought that’d be better than offices full of people.”

  “Yeah. Good idea. I like that. One thing, though. You’ll need to get Security to make barriered areas for the press in each area. Don’t want any of them falling into the machinery. Plays havoc with the production figures. Make sure the PM wears a hat in the relevant areas.”

  “Thanks James. Might not have thought that one all the way through. We’ll make sure we touch all the bases.”

  “Anyway, glad you’re here, you too, Rio. Saskias, your lot will be back home for Christmas won’t they?”

  “Mm. Yes, James. Why?”

  “What are you doing for a Christmas get together?”

  “Not sure yet,” said Saskia. “We’re letting Ellie come up with ideas. I think it might just end up in somebody’s house. Cost too much otherwise.”

  “Ok. Make that somebody’s house mine. Party, you, your friends, Lydia and me - and Rio. Time she met your crazy gang.”

  “But, James, what about your friends, people you want to invite.”

  “There are people I have to invite and people I want to invite. Which do you think I prefer and which category do you and friends fit into? The people I have to invite will be at a different party. Same location, different day. I may require you two to attend both this year.”

  “Saskia, I think he means that. You know what this requires?”

  “Yes Twin. I’m with you on this.”

  We approached from both sides and hugged James. He got a kiss from each of us. I spotted Rio, her eyes like saucers.

  “Rio? James has just invited you to a Christmas party. Will you come? Don’t worry, you don’t have to thank him quite like this.”

  James turned to Rio. “The Saskias and I - and my wife Lydia - have known each other for years, hence the way we behave. We don’t usually do it in public, but then, I don’t think you count as public. Will you come to the party with the Saskias and their friends?”

  Rio had a surprise up her sleeve. “Sir James, I’d be proud and honoured to come to your Christmas party. Thank you so much.” And she stuck out her hand for James to shake.

  James grinned as he shook the proffered hand gently. “Have you been training her?”

  “No, James. All down to her. We’ve always thought she’d fit in with the rest. What do you think?”

  “Like a glove. Melanie can be your oldest member,” he paused, then went on, “and Rio can be your youngest. Details later. Off you go. I’m sorry, I’ve got work to do.”

  “Something’s happened, Twin. Something’s upset him.” whispered Saskia.

  “Take Rio to the office to get hats, I’ll hang around and see if I can find out.”

  “Ok. Go for it.”

  Then in a normal voice, “Come on Rio. Need hard hats. In the office. We’ll catch you up Saskia.”

  I made to leave with them then snuck back in. “What happened, James. You paused then went all wobbly.”

  “It’s really, really silly. What I meant to say was ‘Melanie can be your oldest member, apart from you, of course’ but it wouldn’t come out. Then I remembered Rio was there. That was why. I’m sorry I shooed you out but I think that’s the first time it’s ever been as definite as that.”

  “Oh, poor James. Are you ok?”

  “Yes. Just a shock.”

  “Can I bring you a coffee? I’ll arrange to go via the cafeteria next and have this idea that you might like one and bring it up.”

  “Would you do that? I don’t like to treat you as fetch and carry people.”

  I reached across and touched his cheek. “Don’t worry. We’re very hard to offend. Coffee in a few minutes.”

  I met Saskia and Rio at the top of the stairs. “All sorted, Twin?” whispered Saskia.

  “Yep. Details later.” Then in a normal voice, “Cafeteria first stop. My fault. I sort of asked James if he’d like a coffee.”

  “I could go a hot chocolate anyway,” said Saskia.

  �
��Saskia, you can always go a hot chocolate,” chucked Rio. “You must have hollow legs.”

  “Funny, that’s what everybody else says too,” I said.

  “And you’re no better, Saskia Chandler,” laughed Rio.

  “Funny, that’s what everybody else says too,” grinned Saskia.

  Rio did eventually get her tour of the plant. We used it to map out where the press barriers would be. Rio was useful for this as she could visualise what a picture would look like simply by standing where the camera would be. Saskia and I played the part of the PM and his hangers-on while Rio wandered around and said “Here.” Then we just made a note.

  In due time, Rio was delivered home and Saskia and I arrived home as well. Rob had declared himself chef du jour, for a change he said. Saskia and I tidied up after him. We declared ourselves ready for an early night, kissed Rob soundly and retired upstairs.

  “I think I really do want an early night,” said Saskia.

  As usual, when there was nothing to keep us awake, we felt tired and sleepy like normal girls. In truth I wasn’t far behind Saskia and we were both asleep within minutes.

  Ten

  Sunday. A whole day with nothing planned. After breakfast Saskia and I decided on a walk. The sun was shining although it was quite chilly. Didn’t bother us, we could have walked naked - not that we’d do that of course. Suitably wrapped up, we ventured forth into the woods. Our lazy day with nothing planned was just about to go on hold.

  Time slowed to a stop. Voice was with us. “We have a strange task ahead of us. You must travel four years into your future.”

  “The future? Isn’t that dangerous?”

  “I see no alternative. The two of you at that time will be engaged elsewhere, naturally I cannot tell you where or what you will be doing. For various reasons, the two of you here, now, today, are most suitably placed to do what must be done. There is a snag to this - you, Saskia (it meant me, I’m don’t know how I knew) must once again become Richie.”

  “Oh wow. You can’t mean that.”

  “Regrettably I do. You, Saskia (it meant Saskia this time) must become the fictitious ‘girlfriend’, ‘ Kylie’.”

  “Ok, ok. Details.”

  Details were complicated. According to newspaper reports of the day. A girl had been prevented from jumping from Sydney Harbour Bridge by a man and a woman called Richie and Kylie. Inspection of the timeline concerned had revealed no trace of the man or woman although the girl had undoubtedly been saved and the event recorded. The anomaly thus caused was putting kinks in time in the future of that event. These were not critical in themselves, but needed smoothing out. Our job apparently.

  “But why us?”

  “Because your timeline contains a couple called ‘Richie’ and ‘Kylie’. One is entirely fictitious and the other not presently corporeal but both exist as part of the fabric. Calculations indicate that these two must be the missing rescuers.”

  “But what if we do the wrong thing? Make a branch in time that didn’t exist before? What then?” I asked.

  “The event has been at least partially observed, by yourselves here and now if nothing else. Therefore you will be following the time track as laid down, merely supplying the pieces currently apparently missing.”

  “Well, we’d better get on with it then.”

  “You will appear in a back street close to the bridge. You must make your own arrangements from there.”

  Without any sense of in-between, we were standing in an alley behind a building. It appeared to be almost sunset, having no idea what time of year we’d appeared in, we couldn’t tell what time it was.

  “Blimey,” said Saskia. “I’ve no idea where we are.”

  “First job is to look around. There, see? Through that building and through the next one, that’s the bridge.”

  “Ah, yes. Hm. Smaller that I thought it’d be. How do people ... there’s a set of steps up to the deck. Looks like a fair old trek all the way across. Wonder where our girl is?”

  “With our luck she’ll be in the middle. Come on, let’s get on with it, I’ve got to be Richie. Can you remember what Kylie looked like?”

  “Yes. Like this.” Saskia changed to be ‘Kylie’. “Your turn. Come on, I’ll give you a kiss.”

  I changed to be Richie. “Oh, wow. This feels strange.”

  Saskia came and put her arms round me, “You’ll be ok, don’t worry.” She reached up and kissed me. “Come on, lover boy. Up for a romantic stroll across the bridge?”

  “You just knock that off,” I said with a grin.

  I did feel strange, even though I’d been Richie far longer that I’d been Saskia, but we had a job to do. Hand in hand, we made our way to the steps up to the bridge. I discovered a small problem.

  “Err, I’m not used to this. I’m actually getting out of breath. I don’t think I’ll survive a fast walk right across the bridge.”

  “Yes you will. Here’s how you do it. Every so often change to be Richie again. That’ll reset your body and you won’t be out of breath anymore.”

  “Never thought of that. Thanks, Twin.”

  She laughed. “Not twins at the moment, but I know what you mean.”

  “Err, another problem.”

  “What is it this time?”

  “I just tried looking for the girl with super vision. Don’t have super vision. Going to have to leave that to you.”

  “Ho-hum. All down to little me then. Let’s see now. There’s several people crossing the bridge. Three - no, four - of them are women. Only one is what I’d call a girl. She’s about four hundred metres in front of us. Can’t see if she looks upset, she’s facing away from us.”

  We walked quickly on a little more. I found that changing every time I felt breathless worked fine, I could keep up with Saskia easily.

  “Interesting. Our girl’s being followed, and it’s not us I’m referring to either. It’s a boy, well, a man anyway. He’s going to catch her up in a few minutes.”

  “Might be just a coincidence.”

  “They’re both walking quite fast. Everybody else is just strolling along - apart from us. A few of them are actually just standing looking at that funny building stuck out into the water.”

  “That’s the Sydney Opera House which I’m sure you really knew already.”

  She laughed. “This is really weird. I did know, of course I knew, but I wanted you to tell me. It’s as if it mattered to me that you needed to feel appreciated and loved. I know I do that as Saskia, and so do you, but here it’s different somehow, sort of more important? Make any sort of sense?”

  I laughed. “It’s a boy/girl thing. Must be. I think Richie and Kylie really love each other. I know the Saskias do. It must just manifest differently when we’re one of each instead of both the same.”

  “Unscrew the inscrutable later. We’ve nearly caught them up. The man’s reached the girl. They do know each other, he’s grabbed her arm. You can probably see for yourself now.”

  I could see them fairly well even though they were still a hundred metres or so away. They seemed to be arguing. Suddenly the girl pulled away from the man, jumped up the high fencing and scrambled onto the outside. By now Saskia and I were running and I could hear what they were saying.

  “I will jump Rory, I will!”

  “Lauren! Be careful!”

  “I don’t care! I can’t let you carry on treating me like that.”

  Saskia and I joined Rory and Lauren.

  “What are you doing?” asked Saskia. “You poor girl, you’ll hurt yourself.”

  “You keep out of this,” growled Rory. “It’s got nothing to do with you!”

  I thought, “That’s what you think, mate.” But I said nothing out loud of course.

  “No. Tell them. Tell them what a bastar
d you are!”

  “Lauren!”

  “No! He beats me, he hits me. He’s horrible to me.”

  “Lauren, please.”

  “Why haven’t you left him?” asked Saskia.

  “Because - because - I love him too much! There, I’ve said it.”

  “Do you think he loves you?” I asked.

  “Yes, yes he does - I know he does.”

  “And what about you?” Saskia asked Rory softly. “Do you love her? And if the answer is ‘yes’ how can you possibly treat her like that?”

  Rory put his face in his hands, I could barely hear his answer, “I don’t know, I don’t know. It’s as if anything she says or does that isn’t exactly what I want winds me up inside. I have to lash out at her to make it go away. I have to make it go away - to make the love come back.”

  Saskia put her hand on Rory’s arm. “You poor man,” she said quietly. “There’s no reason for you to feel this way, you don’t feel this way, look at me Rory, look at me! You need not hit Lauren, Rory, you can do this.”

  “No - I - what. Oh my. Lauren, what have I done to you. Come back to me please, I love you.”

  “Rory, I can’t. I can’t get back!”

  “I’ll get you, I’m coming.”

  I flung my arms around him. “No Rory,” I said gently. “Stay here, with me. It’ll be all right. You’ll see.”

  Saskia had already ‘scrambled’ up the fence and dropped easily down the other side to where Lauren was hanging on. She put her arm round the trembling girl. “You’re ok. There’s two of us hanging on now. Much better than just one.”

  “But you might fall as well!”

  “No I won’t, and neither will you. We’ll look out for each other. Now, put your foot there.”

  Saskia could have simply lifted Lauren up and flown with her to safety but that would never do. Aside from anything else, a small crowd of people had gathered round us, thankfully keeping quiet and letting us work it all out. Step by step, Saskia guided Lauren back up the outside of the fence. I could see that she was basically holding Lauren up using super strength and not bothering to hold herself at all, she was hovering most of the time, but it looked like they were scrambling up together.