Favourite. chapter 5 part two

This novel is fictional, you should not look for intersections with historical events. This is a continuation of Nikita Savelyev’s Racing Action Movie, first published on F1News.ru…

chapter 5 part two

Marcel didn’t know how much time had passed, he shook his partner, whispered prayers and then cursed. And then Sidney opened his remaining eye and said in a flat voice:

– Card. It’s all about the map. She was not accurate.

The ominous clear landscape immediately dissolved and Neville plunged into the darkness. He jumped up abruptly and immediately realized he was sitting on the bed, and the silhouettes of a hotel room faded into the darkness. Neville adjusted his heart rate and finally bonded to reality. In reality, two years ago, everything was like that, except for Sidney’s words, of course. Their map only took into account the distance to settlements, and dangerous turns were, of course, not marked on it. And they were too fast. Yes, still this fog. Neville tried to drive the terrible memory to the depths of his consciousness, at first wasting the morning’s events each day, then less and less, but still, no, no, yes, it broke through. Usually in nightmares.

Neville shook his head, pushed away the last remnants of sleep, and stood quietly. Evie’s blond head moved under the covers. Marcel went to the window and drew the thick curtain, the dawn was already gray outside. The morning was in no hurry to please the sun, but nothing, it will part, this is not England.

Why did you get up so early? said a sleepy voice.

‘A habit,’ said Neville. – Rider training starts before sunrise. When I go to bed, I still get up early.

Did I mention you’re boring? – added playfulness in the voice.

Neville ignored the question, walked over to the table, clattering his neck on the edge, and gargled himself a glass of water.

“Give it to me too, right?” Evie stretched.

– Wait a second.

– No champagne by any chance?

– Without getting out of bed? Well, you have habits! Neville chuckled.

“What do you want from a whimsical rich heiress?”

“But your awakening with alcohol is too much even for you!”

– Do you think swimmers started training with lunch? asked Evie. “Getting up before dawn is worse than torture for me. And you know, when I stopped working out, I said to myself: I sleep as much as I want.

– I would sleep like this.

‘In the meantime you would have melted like a fog, I know you men.

Neville winced intuitively at the mention of the fog.

“Well, why are you standing like a pillar, come here,” Evie waved her hand.

There was very little furniture in his small room, sitting on a chair would have been foolish, and Neville plopped back onto the bed.

– You seduced the girl, brave Mr. Reed, – Evie stretched sweetly. – And walk in the morning with an embarrassed face.

– Who corrupted whom? Marcel was furious. And my face is normal.

The local shopkeeper, whom the carabinieri had ordered to look after the negligent gentlemen, safely drove them to the hotel in a shabby car, still remembering the depression. Fortunately, in the dark they managed to slip unnoticed by the general public, only the porter, who was vigilant at the post, rolled his eyes when he saw his worthy guest in this guise. Once in the room, Neville actually thought for a while about how to get clothes for Evie and how to send her home, but then things suddenly turned around, took a completely different turn, and there was no time for clothes.

– Should I take you to your friends? suggested Neville.

“I’m in no hurry,” Evie smoothed her tousled blonde hair. – I agree to breakfast, you still don’t get enough sleep. My clothes are probably dry. Granted, I’ll look like a scarecrow. Can’t we go anywhere? Interestingly, in this rooming house, do they order food to the room?

– Remember we left your car somewhere? Marcel asked curiously. ‘And the key is at the bottom of the river.

– Think! Evie waved her hand casually. – It stays. In the company where I rented it, I helplessly flutter my eyelashes, they will somehow open it. I myself saw a craftsman, so he opened the door with an iron ruler. Like nuts.

– And how do you know everything? grumbled Neville. – Here comes the same villain, and your typewriter howled. The company will not appreciate it.

“Daddy’ll buy a new one,” Evie shrugged.

‘Listen, you can’t be so careless with money.

– I immediately thought you couldn’t buy an extra bearing for your green rattlesnake? Evie looked at Neville’s expression. – What kind of person are you?

– A man unaffected by wealth. Besides, I’m meeting your father soon,’ Neville said carefully.

“Did you tactfully hint that you can’t spend the morning with me?” Evie pursed her lips.

“I’ll think of something,” Neville said.

I can hear the uncertainty in my voice.

“It’s time to go, and Mr Carragher and I haven’t really discussed the race yet…

“Don’t you want to talk to your father about me?” Evie asked suddenly. “Hey, you even changed your face. I’m kidding!

“And how would my father react to our…relationship?” asked Neville with genuine interest.

“For some reason my father doesn’t like my gentlemen,” Evie thought. “Besides, you’re his subordinate.”

But not a factory worker.

“So who knows if he thinks you are different from a worker. He keeps talking, they say he would pass me off as a worthy candidate. And he wouldn’t be stingy with a dowry. Only, it seems to me, he himself has no idea what a worthy person is in his eyes.

“Well, Father always wants the best,” Neville said carefully.

“I don’t think it’s worth checking,” Evie said. – Breathe easy, one less problem. And you know what else?

– What?

You said relationship. Does that mean we’re in a relationship? Truth? Eve smiled. – And you will not leave me, having satisfied the passion of hunting?

“Yes, how can you imagine…”

“I thought you were an old-fashioned gentleman.”

– What’s already…

“Maybe you’ll ask my father for my hand then?” – Ivy asked a question in the forehead.

Neville instinctively backed away.

“Just another joke,” Evie said. I wanted to see the reaction. Don’t worry, I haven’t decided if I need you yet.

“Do you want to ask my opinion?”

– For what?

And really, why am I asking this? Neville got out of bed and went to the window. For a while he stared thoughtlessly at the uninteresting streetscape. Passers-by walked slowly through their businesses, rare cars seemed in no hurry, and street shops were shuttered tightly, vendors not chasing customers. The city was briefly rocked by the wave of the motor racing festival and began to live a measured provincial life again.

But Neville exists in another world, where everything is determined by speed. Everywhere, not just on the track. After dinner he wanted to drive back to England, to the team’s factory, putting all his strength into analyzing breakdowns and increasing reliability. Wow, but for the past twelve hours he didn’t even remember, he was, as if in a whirlpool, sucked into such an unusual, how pleasant adventure with the whimsical Evie.

– Start the match. The season is gaining momentum – games every weekend, or even more often.

– And what does that mean?

Unfortunately we won’t be able to see each other often.

“And great,” Evie said. “You must be taken in moderation. What if I miss you – I will find you, our old Europe, if you think about it, is terribly cramped.

Neville looked back at the bed – the girl, who had drawn her knees up and covered herself with a sheet up to her chin, was staring at him intently. And an invisible stopwatch was already ticking above his ear. There is very little time. Breakfast. Fees. Meetings. Departure. Nearly 1500 miles home. Light should have time to do as much of the path as possible. Marcel encountered a sly look of charming blue eyes. But what if he turns up a little later in the harsh reality? No one will judge him, right?

== To be continued…