The Great Plan

by Chase Wheeler

  “And then, when I became a professional racer, I raced against Kabala,” Racer X continued. “Suddenly, before he had a chance to avoid it, there was a landslide and his car fell into the valley below. I searched for him, but I never saw him again.”

  RacerX reached down and picked up Kabala’s mask. He put it back on his face.

  “To return his kindness, I disguised myself as Kabala so I could protect the treasure of the Kapetopeks,” Racer X explained.

  “And to protect the island’s borders?” Speed asked.

  “That’s right,” Racer X said. “If you win this race, the borders of Kapetopek will be open to any country in the world. Kapetopek will be ruined.”

  “That doesn’t make sense!” Speed replied. “Kapetopek can’t stay isolated from the world forever. It’s a beautiful island. The world should see it.”

  “Please, Speed,” said Racer X. “Drop out of the race. Do it for the people of Kapetopek.”

  Speed felt a little angry now. He wasn’t a quitter. And he wasn’t about to drop out of a race just because Racer X wanted him to.

  “I’m racing to win,” Speed said, walking away. “That’s all. There’s nothing you can say that will stop me.”

  “Speed! Come back here!” Racer X called out.

  But Speed didn’t listen. He ran to the Mach 5 and jumped in. As he sped off, he heard Racer X behind him.

  Speed zoomed through the tunnel. He checked his odometer. The finish line was only a mile away. He stepped on the gas.

  Then he saw what looked like a pile-up ahead. He reluctantly slowed down. The tunnel was blocked by another boiling river of lava. Red race cars stuck out of the lava, and they were sinking fast. Mr. Kadar’s henchmen climbed up the walls of the cave, watching their cars sink. Mr. Kadar stood on the hood of his car, stuffing treasure into his pockets.

  “My beautiful treasure! Gone!” he wailed.

  Speed grinned. It served that villain right. He hit the A button on his controls. Then he used his hydraulic jacks to jump clear over the lava lake.

  “See you later, Mr. Kadar!” he called out, waving.

  Racer X was right behind him. He used one of the sinking cars as a ramp and cleared the lava in one jump.

  The tunnel widened as the end of the course came into sight. Racer X sped up until he was right next to Speed.

  Speed tried to speed up, but there just wasn’t enough time. The two cars zipped through the tunnel exit at exactly the same time!

  “It’s a tie!” Chief Zuma cried.

  The head of the League of Countries stood next to him. “Well, then Kapetopek must open its borders.”

  “Never!” cried Chief Zuma. “Our racer was not defeated.”

  Racer X climbed out of his car. He took off Kabala’s mask. Everyone gasped.

  “I risked my life to save your treasure,” he told Chief Zuma. “You two must come to some agreement. ”

  Chief Zuma nodded. “I see that you are right. Perhaps Kapetopek can open its borders some of the time.”

  Everyone cheered. Speed smiled.

  He liked to win. But if he had to tie with any driver, he was glad it was Racer X!