Catalyst

fiction by michael werneburg

2001.12.09

"Driving! Well, that brings us to the difference in the bikes we're seeing here today. Dan, are we seeing a breakdown in path to the third marker based on bicycle technology?"

"We certainly are, Jim. The cycles we're seeing on the expressway are modern bikes, one and all. These are bikes with a great top speed, almost frictionless internal mechanisms, and good handling even at speeds up to 150 kph. These are expensive machines, and we're seeing a lot of sponsored teams out on the expressway, now."

"So Dan, perhaps Tilescu's decision to cut across the Old Town was made in part out of a recognition of his limited cycle technology?"

"I'd say so, Jim. He's riding what can best be described as a testament to the will of the people of Dusylin to make something from nothing. It's so heavy and has so much internal friction that he's putting four times the energy into moving the bike than he should be. He needed a huge, absolutely huge lead to pull off what he's doing today. I can't help but wonder if he thought he'd slip by that first marker undetected. Perhaps he underestimated the zeal that Dusy sports fans have for the game; the spectators who spotted him crossing that first marker were there an hour before they were expecting any action."

Grinding my teeth, I had to hand it to the man; he had me on that count. But Garland was proving every bit as good as the Doctor had suggested. All I'd had to contend with so far was the fire in my knees and the occasion honk of support from a passing motorist.

"Dan, what's Norris riding, that he decided to take the stairs?"

"He's got a hybrid racer, Jim. Nothing like what we're seeing on the expressway, but two hundred years ahead of what Tilescu's riding, for sure. Part street racer, part off-road, it's a solid choice if you're planning on cutting across a mixed bag of terrains."

"I see from the reports," said the anchor, "that he's a former off-road competitor."

"That's almost right, Jim. He's actually still riding off-road. In fact, he's entered into the upcoming South Island rally next month."

"Dan, let's talk about what we saw up at the second marker. We've got reports now of two deaths from the crowd that was covering the marker. Surely their behavior is not within the bounds of the race."

"Jim, I think the crowd has realized that when the race's organizers limited the rules to 'Pass the finish line with photos of the three markers', they too could play a part. And who better to draw the support of the Dusy than a local underdog!"

"Well said, Dan. Now let's look at the last entry we haven't heard from in a while. She's Larisa Kuan, and boy has she been making up for lost time."

"Yes, she's just reaching the second marker now, and it's worth noting that she did so in just about half the time it took our leader. And while she hasn't attacked anyone en route, she's certainly cleared the intersection."

"I'm not surprised, Dan. With that stunt she pulled at the first marker, the crowd is wise to pull back. And with clear sailing through the intersection, she's heading for the route that will take her to the expressway. Any surprise there, Dan?"

"Not at all. She's riding a custom Newnorth cycle, one of the top few bikes in this race. She'll want to make the most of it, and her only chance of opening it up is on that expressway."

"And right on her heels is Laurence Hirami, the rider that caused a bit of a stir with a stun grenade in the first minute of the race. Now we know that Hirami couldn't have taken a photo of the first marker, yet he's still riding. Any ideas as to his plans, Dan?"

"Well, if his performance in last year's race was any indication, he'll do what it takes. Perhaps he'll secure another racer's camera. As we saw in the final moments of that race, he collected the camera that a competitor lost during a tumble. It turned out his camera had failed to capture the third marker in that race, and he needed two cameras to cross the finish line!"

I frowned. That was bizarre news! I'd been working during last year's race, and had missed the final fifteen minutes of the race when we got a call. I'd been helping the survivors of a fire at a chop shop when that race had been won. I winced as something in my right knee began to twinge with every rotation.

"We're told that a situation is developing with Norris and Goss, the two riders who opted for the stairs. Taking you there now, we find that Norris and Goss, while riding neck-and-neck, have been ambushed. They've been jumped by four men with a mono-filament line stretched across their route, and Warren Goss has been knocked off his bike. The bike's destroyed, but he seems okay, wouldn't you say, Dan?"

"For sure. The suits these riders are wearing have enormous capacity for absorbing energy. He might not have felt much at all from that blow. As with the huge pile-up we saw at the beginning of the race, it's not the riders that are injured in these spills; it's the bikes. The bikes are strong and supremely light, but can't take certain stresses at all."

"Indeed. Well, with Norris it's a different case. He seems to have spotted the trap before he and Goss hit it, and slammed on his brakes. I don't know if it's the hybrid nature of the bike, but both rider and bike are intact. He's getting to his feet, but already the men who set the trap are closing in. Now Goss is on his feet. And Norris is off! He's running off on foot, and he's really moving. Dan, I think he took one look at the situation, and decided that he didn't want the aggravation."

"That's right, Jim, but it seems that Warren Goss does want the aggravation. Though the men that ambushed them are clearly armed, Goss is advancing. Now he's got his baton out, and if I'm not mistaken, he's armed the stun bolt!"

"Yes," said Tsemensis, "but the ambushers are circling, looks like they haven't been warned off. They're circling, now one of them closes—he's down! The first assailant is down, do we have another camera angle? No? Now the rest move in. Yes, another is falling, clutching his knee. Goss is swinging that thing like he's swatting at flies! And just like that, it's over. All four attackers are down. Warren Goss has defeated four men in close-quarters combat; Incredible!"

"Now he's moving to Norris's bike, pushes it under the mono-filament, and he's back in the race. Warren Goss survives an ambush in the wrong part of Dusylin, and gets right back into the race!"

"It's a remarkable effort, but I don't see what good it can do. Along with those who took the same route as Tilescu down into the Old Town, and who have since split to cross the city by a number of routes, there's just no way that Goss can catch Tilescu."

Shivering at the thought of Goss catching me, I stood on my pedals and checked out the terrain ahead. I could see the Prince's palace, now, and was moving at top speed. I'd have a final stretch on flat terrain after this, and was so glad for it. Even at only four kilometers, I thought it was maybe more than I could do! The light changed ahead of me, and I zipped into the intersection beside some motor vehicles that were just starting up. I crossed the wide street, and headed up the ramp onto the drive before the palace. The drive described a big 'U', and at its far end was the third marker. I let the bike slow, drew out the camera, and cruised by taking photos.

There was a small crowd present, but they were well back of the marker. Clearly, the city's security detail had called up all hands after the debacles at the first and second markers. They weren't going to let things get out of hand in front of the Prince's palace! Even so, the crowd was making a hell of a racket. They waved and shouted and took my photo.

"There's Tilescu, cruising past the third market with style in front of an adoring crowd."

"He's been incredibly lucky so far, Jim. But hauling that antique bicycle around must be reducing his legs to jelly."

"Quite so. It's amazing he's still going, it's possible that he's not as out of shape as his lack of athletic conditioning would suggest. Now, our camera crews have reported that Warren Goss has somehow eluded them. They've combed the possible routes between his last known location and the third marker, and he has just disappeared. Aside from that, things continue look good for the leader, wouldn't you say, Dan?"