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.He knew he was not handling the long, fast corners the way he should - and he was furious about blowing an engine the previous day.He came off the main straight on his tenth lap feeling more confident, pushing the Shadow hard into the curve.The corner was sharp but he was determined to get through it fast.Without warning, he overstepped the mark and lost control.The back of the Shadow shot round off the edge of the track.He saw the wall of tyres at the edge of the corner coming up fast.The next moment, he was into them and at a standstill.He eased himself out of the cockpit, surrounded by marshals with fire-extinguishers.To his horror, he saw that the front suspension was badly damaged.He threw his helmet onto the sand in anger.Bruce was on the scene in a matter of minutes.‘I don’t believe this!’‘The car - she does not handle well.’‘Bullshit! You lost it.’‘You dare to insult me?’Now de Villiers was right up close to him, squaring up to him.‘If you hadn’t been such a bloody stuck-up fool, you’d have been in on the development of the Shadow from day one.’Ricardo went puce.‘I will not drive for you!’He turned his back, and Bruce said steadily: ‘Chase will win this race.The press will say you lost your nerve, that you’re over the hill.And so will every other constructor.Drop out on me, and you’ll never be in the big money again.’It was true.Ricardo turned slowly round.‘You fix the Shadow, I race.’‘Remember we have a spare Shadow.’Ricardo knew what that meant - driving a car that had not been specifically set up for him.‘How can you do this to me?’‘You crashed the car, I didn’t.’Ricardo thought about this.It was a gamble that could go two ways.Either the car was better than the one he’d been driving, or she was worse.He saw the angry scowl on de Villiers’ face.De Villiers wanted to win; de Villiers was under pressure from his sponsors.If Ricardo didn’t drive, it would immediately put de Villiers in the losing seat as well.He hated de Villiers, but in the end, he also respected him.‘All right, I drive your fucking other car.’Ricardo began walking back to the pits.He had no wish to talk to de Villiers any further; he would have to devote all his energies to inspecting the new car.Back in the pits five minutes later, he saw that Phelps had arrived.Ricardo liked the big confident American, especially Phelps’s special aura of wealth and power.Phelps was talking to Suzie von Falkenhyn, and couldn’t resist touching her every so often; it was obvious that he wanted her.Good, thought Ricardo.That would upset Wyatt.‘Hi there, Ricardo - things are not going well today?’‘You judge correctly, Mr Phelps.’‘Jack, please.’They shook hands and Ricardo returned Phelps’s penetrating stare.Phelps averted his eyes and ran them over the pits, looking for Wyatt.‘Where’s Chase?’Suzie said, ‘He’s finished for today - now he’s doing some promotional work.’This pleased Ricardo.Such pointless activities would wear Wyatt down before the race.Ricardo had his own attitude to promotion - he would lend his name, but not his body.Jack put his arm around Ricardo, who was conscious of expensive after-shave and a surprisingly taut body beneath the businessman’s shirt.The grip was not kind, it was more an extension of Jack’s power over him.‘Ricardo.I can see you’re concerned about your performance here today.But you’ll have to drive faster tomorrow.I’m paying you a lot of money and I expect you to deliver.I want you and Wyatt in the number one and number two positions.Get it?’Jack’s words fanned the fire that burned within him.He was not a loser, and he hated being treated like that.He could see Jack was trying to belittle him in Suzie’s eyes, and he pulled away from Phelps and turned to face him squarely.‘I decide whether or not I drive tomorrow.No one else.I am not afraid.I am going to win.’‘Suit yourself, buster.Just remember who’s the boss.’Ricardo kissed Suzie on the lips, ignoring Phelps.His attractiveness to women had always given him the opportunity to rile other men, and as he had expected, he saw sparks of anger in Phelps’s eyes.‘Just make sure you don’t kill yourself, Ricardo.’ There was a distinct snarl in Phelps’s voice.‘I’ve heard that this isn’t your favourite circuit.’Several of the mechanics looked round, including Reg Tillson.It was unheard of to threaten a driver.De Villiers had also come into the pits, and Ricardo guessed that he must have heard the earlier part of their conversation: Bruce was obviously bristling.‘Ricardo,’ Bruce said, ‘why don’t you go and talk to Mickey about the new Shadow? He’s made plenty of modifications to her, based on what we’ve learnt already.’ Brushing beads of perspiration off his forehead, he turned to Phelps.‘Jack, let’s go over to the motorvan.’‘I’ve gotta leave,’ Phelps said.‘No,’ Bruce insisted.‘Come.’Phelps followed him to the Calibre-Shensu motorvan, an air-conditioned motor-home that the team used as a conference-centre at the track.Bruce closed the sliding door behind them as Phelps settled into one of the body-hugging chairs that were set into the floor.‘Bruce,’ Jack Phelps said easily, ‘just relax.’Bruce felt as if he was being treated like an over-strung adolescent, but he kept his rage under control.‘Jack,’ he said, ‘we made an agreement.You supply the money, I do the racing.Your wires are getting crossed.’Phelps stretched out and put his hands behind his head.He did not seem in the least put out.‘That doesn’t preclude me making casual conversation with Wyatt or Ricardo.’‘Oh ja it fucking well does, man.Especially when you threaten them!’‘You don’t need to shout, friend.I’m paying for results, not hot-headed behaviour.’‘Every goddam race counts.Every chance has to be taken.Of course I want two front-runners - just as much as you do.Even a fucking idiot would know that’d push your fag sales through the roof.’‘I’ve got the money.I don’t need losers.Chase is doing wonders for Calibre Lights in America, and if Ricardo can’t deliver, I’ll order you to cut him.’‘And what about Shensu? Does he agree with your shotgun management?’It was as if a cloud had passed over Phelps’s face and taken the sunshine from it.He appeared agitated.Sensing his advantage, Bruce pressed on.‘Shall I tell Shensu what you said just now?’He had Phelps now
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