call_me_chas (call_me_chas) wrote in morningstar_mnr, @ 2009-06-19 08:19:00 |
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Entry tags: | car, chas, deacon, npc |
Pensacola and west from there
Davis was up early next morning and went down to the diner to get coffee and breakfast for them both. Actually he needed some time away from Langham as well. God that man could bitch.
On his way back out with a pressed carboard tray with coffee and bags of burritos and donuts, he paused to hold the door open so Newman, who had driven in last night in the Nissan, could come in. They exchanged meaningful glances - Langham had called upon Davis to confirm that they should watch out for the red neck in the old muscle car - then Davis went on his way.
Newman and his brother weren't aggressive types, but they were proud of their car, their driving ability and their heritage and it hadn't taken much prodding to get them growling. Even if all they did was cut Ferrell up in traffic it would be a hold up for him and that would give Langham and Davis time to set up something for the check-in that night.
And the two black guys had been just the beginning. It was amazing what you could achieve if you found the right buttons to push.
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Charlie plied his cleaning cloth vigorously as he dried Car's windscreen. No streaks for her! As he polished away he glanced across at the next car along, a gleaming little bright red gem of a car, all aerodynamics and science and he grinned at the driver. "She's nice," he said, "what is she?"
The driver scowled at him and continued to check his oil.
"Oh - sorry," Charlie said and sighed and finished polishing then looked across at the car again. The hood was closed now and he could see a black and yellow badge so ... probably a Ferrari. The driver was still glaring contemptuously at him, though, so he didn't speak but went to the driver's side of Car. He'd drive the first bit today, they had decided, and Deacon would handle the trickier sections this afternoon and evening.
If Car would let him in. "Oh please," he said, tugging at the handle. Car just sat there looking smug. "I wish you wouldn't do this," he said. "It - it makes Deacon look bad!"
This time he was ready as the door swung open and he dived inside. "Hah!"
A few minutes later Deacon appeared with a box of goodies - coffee and donuts. Maybe not the best breakfast but it would do. The passenger door opened of it's own accord and Deacon slid in.
"Right," he said as the door shut once he was settled. "We got coffee and some sugary goodness and road ahead of us. All ready, Mouse?"
"Yes," Charlie said, all belted up and making a minute adjustment to the rear view mirror. "Not sure if madam is, but she might cooperate now you're here. This mirror keeps slipping to show the back seat! Ah, right. There we go."
He looked across the forecourt of the motel to where the unofficial officials had set up a small table with a clock and card punch on it. Today they would go to the table when called, have a card punched, be given their unique timelocked box and set out into the blue. In an hour the box would open and they would have their checkpoints for the day. At the end of the day their card would be punched again and whoever had done the distance in the least amount of time would be in poll position tomorrow.
Charlie turned the key, scowled as Car made an unpromising churring sound, then depressed the accelerator. She roared and settled down to idle.
"By the way," he said, glancing across at the Ferrari. "I have the feeling we aren't partiicularly well liked. I'm getting bad vibes."
"Bad vibes from who?" Deacon asked, sipping his coffee and looking the other cars and drivers over.
"I know I can be a bit over sensitive, D," Charlie said, "but the guy in that Ferrari was just most peculiar - wouldn't speak to me at all. But more worrying, those two nice black guys, Lee and Matty Newman, the ones with the Nissan. They were chatting away last night - all 'may the best man win' and everything, and obviously having the time of their lives, but this morning when I said hello Lee ignored me completely and Matty looked furious. I don't think I've said anything to offend anyone."
Deacon frowned and looked at the cars in question. Matty Newman was looking back and he didn't look happy.
"Far as I know neither of us have said anything to upset them," Deacon said. "Might need to keep a close eye out just in case today though. Dunno what stick is up their ass but if they are upset with us that could mean trouble."
The officials gave the signal and people began to get their lock boxes. "Be right back," Deacon said and got out to go fetch their box. When he returned he was frowning.
"I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure I heard Newman mumble 'redneck bastard' when I walked by."
"But that's ..." Charlie stopped and thought. "Oh - what if someone said, "Oh that big blond in the muscle car is a real racist. I'd keep out of the way if I was you?" that would do it wouldn't it? And the Farrari - dunno, maybe he thinks we don't like European cars or something. It would be easiily done."
He watched a red Lamborghini accelerate away and pulled forward ready for their turn. Car grumbled, her engine sounding for a moment like it might stall until Deacon stroked her dash board and as they were given the signal Car roar forward before Charlie even had a chance to push the accelerator down.
"Well if someone did tell 'em that then we're likely in trouble," Deacon said with a sigh.
"Even MORE trouble," Charlie corrected him, then took a deep breath and concentrated. Town driving at speed was hard enough in a car he trusted and he could feel Car trying to get away from him. He pushed hard but took a minimum of chances until they were back on the freeway then glanced across at the little ticking box in Deacon's lap. "Let's just hope we've guessed the right direction," he said.
A few minutes later the box clicked open and Deacon dug out the instructions. "Wichita Falls, Texas," he said. "Ok we need the I-10 North for right now. That should be about two exits up."
"Okie dokie," Charlie said, indicating to change lanes, then flinched as the red Ferarri cut him up on the inside. "Ooh you bastard," he growled as he saw a hand give the one fingered salute from the passenger window. "I'm so gonna make you swivel on that!"
Deacon snorted coffee then finally managed to swallow. "Damn, Charlie, don't do that while I'm drinkin'," he said with a laugh. "It'll be fine. We'll just keep an eye on them. He's not gonna want to mess up his fancy car to badly."
"No," Charlie said, with a little wicked mouse smile, "but that doesn't mean we can't mess it up a little. Any of those donuts got jello in them? One of those stuck in the middle of his windscreen would look just fine."
And he'd have to stop the car to wash the mess off.
Deacon smirked wickedly and opened the box, shorting through and pulling out the largest donut he had. "Red jam," he said and licked some off a finger. "Think you can get close enough to him?"
"Does a reindeer poo on the tundra?" Charlie asked and slotted Car neatly between two trucks and across to make a lie of the slow lane. He passed the truck on the inside, crossed sedately in front of it and gave chase.
"Oooooh kay," he said after a minute or two of manouvring. "I can see him ahead of us, just the other side of that truck. Traffic seems a bit thick but I think I can get past on the inside again. Got your ammo?"
Deacon put the box down and held up the large jelly donut. "You betcha," he said, grinning wickedly and rolled down the window. "Alright get along side him and once I throw this be ready to floor it."
Charlie just nodded, concentrating very hard. There was a station wagon and a pick up, but they were maintaining a steady speed and a steady distance. Charlie glanced at the mirror, swung out to pass the truck, overtook the pickup, cut in front of it and said, "Now!"
Split second timing, they were right alongside the Ferarri before the driver and passenger knew it and Deacon leaned slightly out the window and threw the donut. It landed with a splat right in the middle of the windshield and red jam spread out across it. The Ferarri swerved as the view was obscured, and Deacon laughed, ducking back inside Car and telling Charlie to, "Go! Go!"
Charlie floored it, whipping in front of the Ferrari and whooped as Car flashed past the stationwagon then swung back between the cars. They over took a truck on the inside, swung back across to the fast lane and there, ahead, was space and the long hot road.
"Wheeee!" Charlie said and the needle climbed steadily.
Deacon was laughing and looking behind them, just barely able to see the Ferarri pulling off onto the shoulder before Car had gotten to far ahead.
"That was great!" he said and settled back in his seat. "Teach those fuckers to cut us off. Ya did good, Charlie."
Charlie glanced at Deacon, laughing and scarlet with pride and pleasure. "What a team," he chuckled, facing front again. "And CAR! Car was brilliant! Such acceleration." The engine snarl didn't falter but grew perhaps a little louder.
"Okay," Charlie said, "how we doing for time? And radar and helicopters and crap like that?"
Deacon looked at his watch and began to fiddle with the various instruments they'd managed to equip Car with. "Doin' good. I think we can push it a little for the next few miles but we got a town comin' up about an hour from now. We'll have to slow down then."
"Okay, Kemosabe," Charlie said and settled down to drive.
Again a summary: more driving and ballistic donuts