Magic World (working title): Chapter 9 part 7

Bernard looked forward again, and steadily and deliberately lowered his foot down on the gas pedal. He took a deep breath, and tuned out everything, while at the same time allowing his perception to expand. Suddenly there was nothing , not the police, not the halfling in the backseat practically frothing at the mouth, or the two humans huddling in their seats. It was just him, the vehicle as an extension of him, the traffic, the open dome of the sky, and his good friend the road.

In his life he had walked roads, biked roads, hitchhiked on roads, even slept on them. He worked construction on a road crew making concrete roads, blacktop asphalt, overpasses, bridges, cloverleaves, roads that went over hills, wound around mountains, and tunneled through mountains and earth, or under rivers. That was all in his younger days, during the wild years, when we was boosting cars, but couldn't always make ends meet.

But nothing beat driving on roads.

He took a quick inventory of the statistics. He had about 15 miles left to go. Police SUV top speed, 205 mph, acceleration 8/10, handling 8.5/10, braking 6/10, driver skill 8/10. Cadillac Escalade top speed 190 mph, acceleration 7/10, handling 8/10, braking 4.5/10, driver skill... well he didn't like to toot his own horn.

And the road opened before him, as the world slowed down. His mind showed him every path, every lane, every hazard he could encounter. He flowed down the highway, moving through openings and paths, riding the shoulder when necessary. As he passed on particularly wide semi trailer his driver’s side wing mirror scraped against the guard wall until the mirror eventually folded up and flew off. He barely noticed. Anyway he didn't need it now, only what lie ahead mattered. Except the police SUV, but didn't seem to be able to find the openings that Bernard could find.

And the whole time he knew- the slightest mistake, or misstep could kill them all. At this speed the airbags would be nearly useless, the impact would shatter bone, collapse their lungs. Race car drivers wore special suits, and secured themselves with special harnesses to prevent exactly those injuries. All they had was a 1/8 inch ribbon of woven nylon, that would be as likely to slice them in half as protect them at these speeds.

Occasionally he saw blue and red lights go past in the other direction. Or at least it seemed that way to him as he passed them, but soon even those went away, and he rode by at top speed, the tachometer riding the red line.

He saw a road sign and sighed inwardly. But the exit to Ross Bridge was at least 2 lanes, so he might not have to slow down too much.

Two exits later Bernard was driving serenely down a tree lined suburban road

"Now then," said Bernard. "We are approaching the Marina, so if everyone would please prepare their part of my cut, we can part ways amicably, and go on with our lives."

********************************** Chapter 9 part 8