Debutant. Chapter 17. Nerves of iron. Part 1

This novel is fictional; there is no need to look for intersections with historical events. This is a continuation of “Debutant” by Nikita Savelyev, the first readers of which were readers of F1News.ru…

Chapter 17. Nerves of iron. Part One

In the morning, the sleepy waiters, cursing their fate for the morning shift, were quite surprised when the first guest arrived right at the opening of the restaurant. Moreover, he mechanically devoured the freshest pastries in a matter of minutes, drank excellent coffee in record time and did not touch the delectable sweets. Why is there such a rush at such an early hour? And if you can’t sleep, at least enjoy breakfast. One word: foreigner.

However, Henry was little concerned about the prejudices of the hotel staff. He was fresh, cheerful and ready for active action, like a grenade with the pin out. Unlike the measured Italians, there should already be working people thousands of kilometers away. Today is a weekday. And educational institutions open their doors early.

Henry’s path led to the telephone point. He parted with his last money without regret; if everything went well, the costs would be recouped, and it was better not to think about what would happen otherwise. It took a few phone calls to find out the necessary numbers for the venerable educational institution. The technology is of course far from perfect and sometimes I had to strain my vocal cords, luckily the cramped room was empty and the operator was dozing. Now the task is more difficult. Lucas could not study at an easier university.

– Good afternoon, this is the secretary of Senor Lucas Bernardi. He is extremely busy today during the races. You know, he’s a professional driver. That’s right. But he is very concerned about his studies. Can you…

Henry was constantly redirected to other telephone numbers and the awkward names of faculties and departments could be heard. It was rare to get through on the first try. Meanwhile, an invisible stopwatch clicked above my ear. Every time there were short beeps on the phone, Henry bit his lips and danced with impatience. I was also incredibly irritated by the unhurried conversation partners, who occasionally checked lists and asked the same thing multiple times. But Henry patiently followed the chain until the polite girl finally told him everything he wanted to know. Yes, Senor Bernardi has several student debts, but nothing critical, everyone is sympathetic to his serious hobby and wishes him luck. Thank you, unknown beauty. If only you knew that you hold the fate of several people in your hands.

Henry wiped the sweat from his brow. We still have one final push left, but it is the most important one. If only she were at home, they wouldn’t visit friends. And the call must definitely come from England, otherwise it becomes too suspicious. Hope – the last races turned out to be so intense that the break had to be spent in the silence of the hearth.

Today fortune was on Henry’s side, not only did he get through on the first try, but Sandra also answered the phone. And I didn’t have to explain myself to Mr. Baker again.

– Say it again. What do you want? – Sandra’s disgruntled voice sounded with a morning hoarseness as she listened to Henry’s chatter, “Where should I call?”

– To the hotel. “I’ll tell you the number,” Henry replied patiently.

– Why should I introduce myself as an employee of a certain faculty?

– Not just any kind, but economical. You need to report that Señor Bernardi is having trouble with one of his exams. A decision is made on the issue of his expulsion from the university. Tomorrow they’ll wait for him to take the test again, with no options.

-What nonsense, Henry? Are you joking?

– Yeah, it’s just a joke, but not for you.

– Bernardi, a well-known surname…

– Just do as I ask.

– But there’s a catch.

– Sandra, do you wish me the best?

– But this student, what does this threaten him with?

– Nothing. In fact, no one sends him away.

– But you didn’t come up with this for nothing. I feel something is wrong.

“I’ve never asked you anything before, but now I’m asking you.” Trust me, I’m not hurting anyone by doing this. And for me this is very important,” Henry gave his voice maximum firmness and seriousness. It usually works in women. And held my breath. Now or never.

“Okay,” Sandra admitted with a sigh. – What should I say? I do not know anymore.

– Write it down. And say it word for word.

Senor Bruno reasoned wisely: instead of having the pilots, mechanics and engineers come to the circuit randomly, they could load centrally onto the bus and arrive at the circuit at the same time. Especially considering the inherent laxity of Italians.

Henry was one of the first to leave and stood on the street near the bus doors. While recently the minutes ran as if urged, the second hand is now like the slowest turtle. It is time for departure, but not all seats inside are occupied yet. The driver, who was no different from his brothers all over the world, personified detachment from everything and assumed the most imposing posture on the seat, and the chief engineer, who, like a mother hen, counted those present and gave the order to leave, also didn’t show much concern and chatted casually with a colleague. But Henry couldn’t find a place for himself. The lesson is already over. Now they were three minutes late. At five. At seven o’clock. Isn’t it time to go and not wait for those left behind?

Henry looked closer at the hotel doors, familiar silhouettes emerged from them, will the nervous morning be rewarded or will it all be in vain? Henry looked hungrily at his competitors. It seems that Francois managed to stop at some point: he looked quite bearable – if you don’t know how his evening went, you might not notice the bruises under his eyes and his melancholic look. However, Francois was not the main target, but suffered for the company.

What about Joseph? And when I saw Joseph, I desperately wanted a beer. It seems the famous rake has risen to the occasion. He slept for a few hours at best, his fingers trembling noticeably, his red eyes trying to close up, and as he walked past Henry he smelled a choking wave of fumes mixed with the scent of deodorant. Apparently, in an attempt to give the appearance of decency, Joseph poured half the bottle on himself in one go. Didn’t help. In this condition it’s not like driving a race car; you are not allowed to get behind the wheel of a scooter. The girls worked conscientiously with their generous fees. It is a pleasure to deal with professionals, even in such a dubious field. Of course, Joseph will try to sleep on the way to the track, and even there to gain time before sitting in the car, but this is unlikely to help him. Either way, in Bruno’s eyes he has been hopelessly discredited.

Where is Lucas? Henry deliberately made sure that Sandra would call the receptionist just before the man left for the bus. So that he does not have time to call back to the university and clarify something there, if such a whim arises. Where did he go? Yes. Here comes Lucas. At first glance, it is clear that Henry’s maneuver hit the mark. The young man was disheveled, pale, and biting his lips. But you won’t find an international connection anywhere on the highway, and he doesn’t care.

Henry nodded to the hapless student and threw his body on the stairs. Everyone is here. Henry listened to himself – was he tormented by remorse? Hardly. After all, he didn’t put sugar in his opponents’ gas tanks. No one forced Joseph not to observe the measure before such an important day, and Lucas, if he wants to become a real racer, should have a thicker skin. Neither Murphy nor Rinaldo would fall for such tricks.

Besides, isn’t it too early to sing praises? Let’s see how the races go. Even though Henry’s military trickery, let’s call it that, weakened both competitors, but no one canceled the need to show the best time on the track. And this is where Henry’s professional qualities come to the fore. What he is like on this field will soon become clear.

== To be continued…