Anakin checked the nav computer. In a glance he saw the route ahead.
Down a long underground canyon, then through a series of dips and rolls.
Then he needed to take a sharp left down a narrow passage. After that he would receive the next stage of the course.
The cave walls were a blur of dusty red and the screaming engines were just a backdrop of constant sound as Anakin raced through the canyon.
Hekula pulled ahead, the double engines of Anakin's old pod bobbing on the air current created by his speed. Anakin stayed close on Hekula's tail, avoiding the flying engines. The other Podracers were reluctant to get too close. Anakin knew from experience how the engines would move as Hekula maneuvered. He dared to race snug against the back of Hekula's Podracer, knowing he was making Hekula angry and nervous.
The dips were ahead. Anakin pulled back suddenly, and Hekula shot in front. Anakin dived, timing his movement so that he was able to barely scoot underneath Hekula's Podracer and then rise up before the dip rose into a small hill.
He was in the lead. But Hekula had the next part of the course by now.
He was most likely already planning his strategy for the next round of challenges. Anakin would have to rely on his instincts to keep him in the lead Behind him, Ody Mandrell couldn't make the sharp turn into the passage. Anakin heard the shriek of metal and the crash. Smoke rolled toward him and he pushed the engines as hard as he dared, trying to outrun the smoke before it blinded him.
Hekula was pulling slightly to the left. Anakin didn't know why but guessed he was preparing to pass him on the next segment… whatever it was. Just then the nav computer blinked, showing him the next part of the course. He just had time to register the details, but it was as though he had already seen the track.
He turned sharply on the first corner, then turned again to the left, then the right. Hekula kept up with his every move. Anakin could see his face when he glanced behind, could almost hear Hekula's cackling laugh.
Behind them, Elan and Aldar Beedo collided, after Elan made a move to cut off Aldar. The others had to scramble to avoid hitting them or the drivers, who had crawled from the wreckage to accuse each other. The sight was gone in a moment as Anakin whipped around another corner.
The controls shook in his hand at the constant turns. Hekula was gaining. He needed all his concentration for the next segment…
His comlink signaled.
Anakin considered not answering it, but he knew he must. It could be his Master.
He released the control for an instant and pressed the activation key.
He strained to hear his Master over the noise.
"… nav computer… accident… prepare for…"
Anakin kept one hand on the controls and snatched the comlink. He held it tight against his ear. "Repeat!" he shouted into the comlink.
Now Obi-Wan's voice was clearer, but he still lost some words over the noise rebounding off the cave walls. "One of the Podracers is booby- trapped… nav computer will lead… Eusebus… the lead Podracer's steering mechanism will blow. It will be made to crash into a crowd… hear me, Anakin?"
"Copy that!" Anakin shouted. He threw the comlink back down.
The lapse in concentration had cost him. As his Podracer burst out of the maze, Hekula passed him on the inside and took the lead.
His nav computer flashed. The course now would wind through a series of turns, then open out into a large tunnel. Then the five remaining Podracers would burst out of the tunnel onto the city streets. So Obi-Wan's prediction was right.
Anakin quickly turned to the left before the cave wall curved. He was able to pass Hekula easily. Obviously, Hekula was not as adept a racer as his father. With advance knowledge of that turn, he should have hugged the wall to prevent Anakin's maneuver. Hekula tried to bump him from behind, but Anakin pulled ahead.
He raced through the tunnel, wondering what to do when he reached the city streets. If he slowed, the others would pass him, and there would be more danger to the pedestrians. The best he could do was stay ahead to lead the pack away from pedestrians and hope he could master the Podracer when its steering blew.
As Anakin zoomed onto the streets, he saw astonished faces and beings quickly running to get out of the way. He slowed slightly, but not enough to let Hekula pass him.
Suddenly Hekula pulled up next to him. He tried to use an old trick of his father's, flashing Anakin's engine with side vents so that he'd overheat. Anakin pulled ahead slightly to avoid the steam.
The next segment flashed onscreen. Down a boulevard, then up a steep hill and down the other side. The boulevard would then narrow into an alley, then open up once again.
The turn onto the boulevard would be tricky, a near180-degree maneuver. Anakin eased to the right so he would be able to make the turn.
Hekula kept going straight. When the turn appeared, Anakin took it easily, but Hekula had to struggle to keep his Podracer on course.
Engines screaming, they raced up the hill. Speeders accelerated to get out of their way, and pedestrians scattered. Anakin's hands began to shake, and he realized that his controls were vibrating. His warning light suddenly flashed red.
The steering mechanism was failing.
Chapter Twenty
Obi-Wan had run off the edge of the platform and made a midair leap into the box of surprised VIP spectators. Then he dashed out into the stadium hall and was met by Siri.
"Not much excitement at the bowcaster skill event, so I thought I'd see how you were doing," she said. "I didn't realize you'd be competing."
Obi-Wan made the call to Anakin warning him about the steering mechanism.
"We have to get down there."
"Where?" Siri pointed out. "We don't know where the Podracers will emerge from the caves. Nobody knows the track."
"Maxo Vista does."
They raced down to the exiting area, where Maxo Vista was hurrying off in disgrace. When he saw the Jedi he tried to flee, but Siri took three strides forward and pinned him to a wall.
"Not so fast," she said. "We have some questions for you."
"I don't have anything to say." Maxo Vista's eyes burned with hatred for Obi-Wan.
Siri reached into Vista's tunic pocket. "We'll let your datapad do the talking."
She tossed the datapad to Obi-Wan and he quickly accessed Vista's files. Obi-Wan felt the urgency as he called up holofile after holofile, but his hands were steady and his eyes never stopped moving.
"Here," he said. "Here is the route. The steering mechanism will fail after the hill."
"Does it say which Podracer will be affected?" Siri asked.
"No." Even as he was speaking, he was contacting Anakin. "After the steep hill," he said quickly into his comlink, "the steering mech — "
"I know!" Anakin shouted. "It's mine! I can't — " Anakin's words were drowned out by a loud crash and the comlink went dead.