Chip was on the other side of him, his race team fussing over a tiny scratch on Dug’s side while Chip discussed tactics with his dad.
“Good race today, son, but we need to keep an eye on that Australian girl. She’s looking to take the title from us,” said Mr Travers.
Chip shrugged. “She’s a good racer, Pa. I’ll see if I can distract her with a vegemite sandwich.”
Sammy was having a similar conversation with his father, Omar Bahur.
“To be a winner, Samir, you must think like a winner!”
“Father, I have a better idea.” Sammy replied. “To be a winner, I must eat like a winner. I’m starving!”
Just then Princess Kako entered the town on Lightning. She looked like she’d had a tough time in the desert, and when she got off her robot, Missy and Jimmy came over to help her.
“Can I get you anything?” asked Missy.
“Two more wheels,” said Kako, exhausted. “I’m thinking of turning Lightning into a jeep. It’s the only way I’ll do better tomorrow!”
Over twenty minutes after the princess, Jimmy heard the noise of another engine approaching as Horace pulled into the town.
“What time do you call this? You might as well have not taken part!” said Mr Pelly as Zoom’s door opened and an angry-looking Horace stamped out, mumbling crossly about getting lost.
Father and son continued to bicker as they made their way towards the food tent. Jimmy couldn’t hear what they were saying and was about to go off to his own tent when he saw something strange. Horace and Mr Pelly paused in the middle of their argument and shook hands. It was an odd gesture, Jimmy thought. As their hands parted, he saw something – a tiny glint of metal between their fingers.
Probably nothing , he thought. A ring, perhaps, reflecting in the sunlight? It could be perfectly innocent. But I know Horace , Jimmy thought. And I bet he’s up to something!
Chapter 10 - Messages from Home
Jimmy and the other robot racers sat around a camp fire in the middle of the deserted town. It was dark, but they were well lit by the fire and the stars above. Jimmy had never seen anything like it. There were so many stars, and every one looked like a diamond, sparkling bright and white against the jet-black sky. The racers had all had a good meal, and while their teams fussed over the robots (all except Grandpa, who was playing chess with Cabbie), the competitors talked about what they expected from the next day.
“I expect it’ll be pretty simple,” said Chip with a wink. “I’m sure there won’t be any surprises or panics.”
The whole group burst out laughing. They had yet to run a race that went smoothly.
Just then Joshua Johnson came ambling over, the gold ‘L’ on his dark blazer gleaming in the firelight. He looked more like he was on his way to a king’s banquet than preparing to spend the night round a camp fire in the middle of nowhere.
“I have a little surprise for you,” said the robot co-ordinator with a broad smile. And without another word he produced a small tablet TV from his inside pocket and placed it carefully on an empty chair. He swiped his finger across the screen once, and all of a sudden an image flashed up in front of the racers.
“Hello, racers,” Bet Bristle said from the screen. “It’s been an exciting day, hasn’t it? Congratulations to you all for making it this far.”
The children shuffled a little closer so that they could hear what Bet was saying.
“As you are so far from home, Lord Leadpipe asked me to provide you each with a little treat. Something to remind you that your nearest and dearest are thinking of you during these testing times. Enjoy.”
The screen changed suddenly and Jimmy found himself looking at a busy town in a hot country. Shoppers, tourists and stallholders struggled to get into the picture and give a thumbs-up to the camera.
“It’s Cairo,” Sammy gasped.
Then the camera panned left and focused on a small, dumpy-looking woman with a nervous
“Good race today, son, but we need to keep an eye on that Australian girl. She’s looking to take the title from us,” said Mr Travers.
Chip shrugged. “She’s a good racer, Pa. I’ll see if I can distract her with a vegemite sandwich.”
Sammy was having a similar conversation with his father, Omar Bahur.
“To be a winner, Samir, you must think like a winner!”
“Father, I have a better idea.” Sammy replied. “To be a winner, I must eat like a winner. I’m starving!”
Just then Princess Kako entered the town on Lightning. She looked like she’d had a tough time in the desert, and when she got off her robot, Missy and Jimmy came over to help her.
“Can I get you anything?” asked Missy.
“Two more wheels,” said Kako, exhausted. “I’m thinking of turning Lightning into a jeep. It’s the only way I’ll do better tomorrow!”
Over twenty minutes after the princess, Jimmy heard the noise of another engine approaching as Horace pulled into the town.
“What time do you call this? You might as well have not taken part!” said Mr Pelly as Zoom’s door opened and an angry-looking Horace stamped out, mumbling crossly about getting lost.
Father and son continued to bicker as they made their way towards the food tent. Jimmy couldn’t hear what they were saying and was about to go off to his own tent when he saw something strange. Horace and Mr Pelly paused in the middle of their argument and shook hands. It was an odd gesture, Jimmy thought. As their hands parted, he saw something – a tiny glint of metal between their fingers.
Probably nothing , he thought. A ring, perhaps, reflecting in the sunlight? It could be perfectly innocent. But I know Horace , Jimmy thought. And I bet he’s up to something!
Chapter 10 - Messages from Home
Jimmy and the other robot racers sat around a camp fire in the middle of the deserted town. It was dark, but they were well lit by the fire and the stars above. Jimmy had never seen anything like it. There were so many stars, and every one looked like a diamond, sparkling bright and white against the jet-black sky. The racers had all had a good meal, and while their teams fussed over the robots (all except Grandpa, who was playing chess with Cabbie), the competitors talked about what they expected from the next day.
“I expect it’ll be pretty simple,” said Chip with a wink. “I’m sure there won’t be any surprises or panics.”
The whole group burst out laughing. They had yet to run a race that went smoothly.
Just then Joshua Johnson came ambling over, the gold ‘L’ on his dark blazer gleaming in the firelight. He looked more like he was on his way to a king’s banquet than preparing to spend the night round a camp fire in the middle of nowhere.
“I have a little surprise for you,” said the robot co-ordinator with a broad smile. And without another word he produced a small tablet TV from his inside pocket and placed it carefully on an empty chair. He swiped his finger across the screen once, and all of a sudden an image flashed up in front of the racers.
“Hello, racers,” Bet Bristle said from the screen. “It’s been an exciting day, hasn’t it? Congratulations to you all for making it this far.”
The children shuffled a little closer so that they could hear what Bet was saying.
“As you are so far from home, Lord Leadpipe asked me to provide you each with a little treat. Something to remind you that your nearest and dearest are thinking of you during these testing times. Enjoy.”
The screen changed suddenly and Jimmy found himself looking at a busy town in a hot country. Shoppers, tourists and stallholders struggled to get into the picture and give a thumbs-up to the camera.
“It’s Cairo,” Sammy gasped.
Then the camera panned left and focused on a small, dumpy-looking woman with a nervous
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