“RACERS TO YOUR MARK. TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE, AND YOUR OFF!”
The flag swiftly dropped and then the flagman hit the ground. The entire cluster of racers shot from off their mark like bullets fired out of a gun, passing over the flagman in one quick flash. Into the cavern they flew; ten, twenty, thirty, and sixty carpets, crowding the tunnel as racer after racer aimed to squeeze each other out of the race. The narrow tunnels and tight turns created aggressive maniacs, bumping, pushing, banging, and spitting on one another as they fought for position, attempting to ram their opponents out of their way. Carpets inflated curling up around the drivers as they hammered into the sides of the rocky caves. With his heightened senses Jacob could feel and see every turn, every opening and every peril. He knew and sensed the other racers as they shot forward or sideways attempting to knock him into a wall, and he found himself instinctively dodging them with natural grace. His speed matched the best and he discovered the course mapped perfectly with every turn he had memorized. Much more than he ever expected, the magic of the fairy seeds had endowed upon him with sufficient ability to pilot a DCR carpet. Up ahead he could see Emalynn experiencing the same fantastic results. Suddenly, they hit a straight long tunnel and he spotted four aggressive racers surrounding Emalynn, purposely targeting her with malicious intention to take her out. “They want to eliminate women pilots from the race,” he angrily thought, as he flew to the side to get a better view. “Even with her best moves she won’t be able dodge them all!”
Unexpectedly Emalynn shot ahead, just as the four dirty racers came slamming together in an attempt to crush her. Missing her completely they collided with each other, and the powerful force of their blows inflated and curled up their carpets. Their momentum carried them forward, spinning end over end, and in one simultaneous crash they all tumbled across the rocky floor.
“GOOD SAVE,” shouted Jacob, impressed with her skilled move.
The cave suddenly opened up to a wide cavern, and through the light from his head beam he was surprised to see the grotto teeming with millions of insects clustered together in massive swarms. Attracted by his bright torchlight the clouds lunged toward him, and in one big gutsy smash, scores of bugs splattered against the clear face guard of his helmet like a deluge of falling raindrops. A thick slimy batter of guts formed to coat over his visor, instantly robbing him of all visibility. In pure desperation he reached up with his hand and attempted to wipe the mess, but he could only smear it, making his visibility even worse. He thought of lifting his visor, but his face would then be pummeled with bugs. He had been forced into a real pickle barrel, flying totally blind with only his other senses left to guide him. If it had not been for the fairy seeds, his ill-fated luck he would have already sent him crashing into the walls of the cavern. He knew he couldn’t continue much longer without sight and would soon be forced to concede the race. From out of the darkness sudden droplets of water began to shower over him. Astonished and grateful for the miracle moisture, he rubbed at his visor again, successfully removing just enough of the guts to once more see again. Curiously he wondered where the lucky shower was coming from, when in only a flash of a second a bug flew under his visor into his partially open mouth, lodging deep in his throat. He closed his eyes and lifted his visor halfway, frantically spitting to rid his mouth of the horrible pungent savor. “Euuuk, that’s awful,” he thought as another impression flashed in his mind, and he understood where the miraculous moisture had come from. “Well I reckon one good turn deserves another,” he mumbled, thinking of the fortunate pilots behind him using his saliva to clean their visors.
He rounded a sudden twist and without warning smacked straight into a wall of pancake sized fluttering black mammals. Blending into the murky darkness he could make out their outline as they bounced off the top of his helmet like unseen rocks. The suddenness of the incident startled him, as he felt his heart skip several beats.
“BATS!” he cried, entering headlong into a mass of thousands of flying black fiends. “They must be feeding on the insects,” he thought, suspecting that they were planted in the course to test their skills.
“THWAMP!” a huge bat bashed into his visor and clung fast with its tiny claws clasping onto the small gaps between his helmet and visor. The bat’s round eyes savagely stared straight into Jacob’s face as it opened its mouth and threatened him with razor sharp teeth. In terror he vigorously shook his head until the clinging passenger was thrown off back into the darkness.
Ahead he could hear Emalynn screaming and he strained to see through the blur of bats. Her carpet was slowing and she was losing her valued position. Greedily the others racers zoomed past her and within seconds he found himself flying directly behind her, as she began to increase her speed and enter back into the race.
In an abrupt release they broke through the swarming cluster of bats and entered into open air. Jacob’s head beam was now shinning clearly ahead without obstruction. Several dark tunnels were immediately revealed, twisting and turning off into different directions within the mountain. To him the interchange seemed so simple, as it all matched perfectly with the course outlined in their maps, he knew precisely which tunnel to take and which turn to expect. But he also could see other pilots turning into mistaken tunnels, unable to maintain their proper navigation with the fast pace of the race. In single file they whizzed past a large boulder and turned a sharp bank right to follow the natural contour of the cave. Up, down, right and left they shot through the cave’s random turns, accelerating at unbelievable speeds. On occasion he caught a glimpse of dwarfs standing in nooks behind square boxes with attached round lenses, tucked safely back from the wild racers.
Their tunnel next took a sudden radical turn straight up, and the racers one by one seemed to disappear as they shot up into a vertical climb, culminating with a tight squeeze through a small hole barely large enough for a single carpet to slip through. The course then leveled off and immediately they dove down until tapering off in a long tunnel housing an underground river. Cruising only a foot above the water with six inches clearance from the jagged roof, they shot the river with a smooth speedy glide. Without warning, a fire ball suddenly exploded in front of them, flashing over the water like a bright flare. Unknown to Jacob, the lead carpet had collided against an unseen flotsam and started an immediate chain reaction. Racer after racer piled into each other, blocking all open lanes, and to avoid crashing into the growing mounds, many of the racers had spun out of control hurtling themselves into the jagged roof and rocky faces of the cave. Dwarf torches were being shattered against stones and boulders, and a fine mist of dwarf torch fuel soon coated the smooth surface of the water.
“KABLOOM!” another huge explosion echoed through the narrow cave, followed by several minor explosions fed by spilled torch fuel. Jacob and Emalynn were forced to come to a rapid halt as the racers ahead and to their rear packed the blocked the tunnel. The smoldering black smoke swiftly drifted their way, and through momentary holes in the haze Jacob could see floating in the water pilots rolled up tight in their carpets; all unhappily frowning, but still protected by their enchanted carpets they were safely shielded from the scolding flames.
With the race at a complete standstill, and the billowing smoke choking off their air, Jacob worried that the DCR was about to come to an abrupt and tragic end. Emalynn looked at him and hastily began pointing downward, and as if they shared the same thought at the same moment he nodded back to signal his approval. Then with an abrupt splash she brutally plunged her carpet into the icy river. He prepared himself for a shocking bath and took a deep breath. Without any further hesitation he followed her into the shadowy river, instantly feeling the freezing water surround his body. Through the murky darkness he could make out the light of her touch flickering on and off ahead of him, while above the flames burning across the water’s surface illuminated their way. Unscathed they glided their carpets under the crash sites and emerged on the other side, desperately gasping for air. The race was now on again, but they had not gone unnoticed as the remaining racers were now following their lead. Unchallenged Emalynn and Jacob battled each other for the lead, weaving in and out of the turns their wet torches were dimly flickering on the brink of losing flame. Then, with a sudden last lurch, they shot upward in a vertical climb exiting the mountain’s interior to emerge out over the lake. The caves were now behind them, and they leveled off to a high-speed cruise, pushing their carpets to their maximum limit.
Cameras mounted on boats were scattered evenly over the lake, following the rapid racers progress to broadcast the latest up to date details of the DCR’s events over every large screen throughout the course. Plastered across the wide screens the bottoms of two carpets appeared, and in vivid panorama they read like billboards, “EAT AT FROSTY MUG TAVERN!”’
Mr. and Mrs. Oubladew were standing at the finish line, looking up at their screen astonished. “I KNEW THEY COULD DO IT ALL ALOONG,” shouted an excited Mr. Oubladew. “THAT TIS WHY I EH SPONSORED THEM!”
“Sure ye knew!” replied Mrs. Oubladew, with a big happy grin.
And throughout all of Dallanbach, female fans were screaming at the top of their lungs.
“WE LOVE YE TOLIP DEGNIW!”
“IT TAKES EH REAL LADY TA EH PUT MEN EN’ THEIR PLACE!”
“IMAGINE IF THEE MEN COMPETED AGAINST US GIRLS ALL THEE TIME—THEY’D NEVER WIN EH RACE!”
Every male dwarf in Dallanbach watching the race had their hands clamped tight over their ears, blocking out the high-pitched screeching as they stubbornly cried, “THE RACE TIS NOT OVER YET!”
They zoomed over the lake and Jacob followed close behind Emalynn. Below watercraft crowded the water and he could see beckoning fans waving and pointing up at them. Within a matter of minutes they had cleared the shores and were now entering the outskirts of Sentinel Village. Here their skills as dwarf carpet racers were open for exhibit, and speedily they flashed by zigzagging around buildings to follow the tight course. As they banked around the rigid turns their carpets slanted vertically on their sides and spectators with gaping mouths oo’d and awed as they pointed upwards at them.
The course shortly turned to follow along the main street through the shopping district. Rooftops and entire streets were packed full with screaming fans. Suddenly Emalynn and Jacob broke from the crowds and veered off the street with a tight high-speed ninety-degree maneuver. The racers following way behind ignored their disappearance and continued to shoot straight down the street.
In the front yard of a small house, on a blanket spread over the grass, a Father and Mother sat with their two children. The front door to their house was set wide open and a whoosh of air blew by the family, as Emalynn shot past them into the house, followed by Jacob. Through the living room they sped, while a grandmother rocking in a chair waived at them with a smile. They banked a hard right into the kitchen and then flew out an open glass door, passing through the back yard. The magic from the fairy seeds had given Jacob and Emalynn the ability to sense every inch and every degree of each turn. And the course designers had built into the race one final deception to test the navigation skills of all the pilots. They only had a few miles of racecourse left before the finish line; the last leg was an easy straight shot over the housetops to Galgithia falls, and with their big lead Jacob’s confidence grew stronger. Soon they would be the victors!
Unpredictably, and with a surprising jolt, his senses turned coldly numb. His carpet began to slow and the enchanted power of the fairy seed suddenly came to a surprising end. In only an instance his chance to win the DCR was over. Emalynn’s carpet was also beginning to slow and he knew immediately that she too was experiencing the same abrupt end to her magic. With their sudden loss of skill Emalynn’s carpet fell into a steep descent and she smacked into clothes dangling from off a clothesline, followed closely by Jacob trailing behind. A red pair of men’s long johns now stuck to Jacob’s helmet, clinging and waving like a distress flag in the wind as his carpet skidded to a rest on the ground. Meanwhile up above, two DCR racers whizzed past. Instead of abandoning the battle and giving into feelings of disappointment and despair, an unyielding desire to win powerfully burned in Jacob’s heart, and he felt a strong determination that up until now he hadn’t felt before. He had to continue on with his race; he wouldn’t and couldn’t give up. Courageously he ripped the underwear from off his helmet and began to concentrate with all his effort on controlling his carpet. Emalynn appeared to be making a similar effort and her carpet launched in front of him. Slowly they both rose into an elevating cruise, and as their speed increased they bobbed up and down simultaneously rising above the housetops and entering back into the race.
Throughout Dallanbach on the large panoramic screens appeared two new leaders with an excited announcer shouting, “RECARTAF HAS NOW TAKEN THE LEAD FOLLOWED BY TESPEHT, TOLIP HAS DROPPED WAY BACK TO THIRD PLACE AND KAERTS IS NOW IN FORTH PLACE. WHAT AN UNEXPECTED CHANGE OF EVENTS! WHAT POSSESSED THE FROSTY MUG TEAM TO GIVE UP THEIR INCREDIBLE LEAD ON THE LAST STRETCH OF THE COURSE? WHATEVER THE REASON, IT’S NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR THE FROSTY MUG RACING TEAM.”
At once a large sigh of disappointment wailed from all dwarf women throughout Dallanbach, as the men excitedly broke out cheering and waving their fists in the air.
However high up above on the final stretch of the race course, the speed of Jacob’s and Emalynn’s carpet were slowly and steadily picking up, until at last they were cruising at a fast racing pace. Although Jacob’s senses were now dull, and his ability to navigate had completely disappeared, he still somehow maintained the straight flight of his carpet. He marveled at the incredible magic of the fairy seeds, not only had they helped him to fly like a fairy, but they also helped him to learn DCR piloting skills that otherwise would have taken months, and with their lighter weight, they were gradually gaining on the leaders. Emalynn was soaring only a few feet in front of him, increasing her speed equal to his. He recognized the terrain as Galgithia Falls drew closer, and he knew that the race would soon be over. Within only a matter of seconds they had miraculously managed to close the gap enough to be flying directly behind Tespeht. Jacob watched as Emalynn pulled to the right attempting to pass, but the crafty racer quickly countered by also shifting to the right and blocking her way. Instinctively Jacob pulled alongside Emalynn, and with coordinated teamwork, as if prior rehearsed, the two split apart several feet from one another. Tespeht could now only successfully block one of them, and he choose to swoop to the right in front of Emalynn, while Jacob cruised up to stay even with Tesspht on his left side. Emalynn then made a quick cut to the left with Jacob now obstructing Tespeht. Without any more interference Emalynn was free to smoothly pass by Jacob and surge ahead to second place behind Recartaf. The Finish line was now in sight and Jacob could hear the crowds screaming wildly for Recartaf and Tolip. The four pilots bunched together, flying only a few feet apart from each other. Steadily Emalynn edged up along the left side of Recartaf and continued to gain on him until they were even carpet-to-carpet. And suddenly “SWOOSH—” they all crossed over the finish line, and Jacob began to slow his carpet, peering up at a big screen flashing their images. The final moments of the race began to replay over and over, and curiously he watched, unable to make out the winner.
“NEVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF DWARF CARPET RACING HAVE WE EVER HAD SO CLOSE A RACE. THE LADY AGAINST THE MAN! WHO WILL BE OUR FINAL VICTOR? IT IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE JUDGES AS THEY STUDY THE REPLAYS OF THIS AMAZING FINISH!”
A loud roar echoed from the crowds.
“IT TWAS TOLIP! TOLIP WON THEE RACE! YEE MEN ARE NOOTHING!” screamed the ladies.
“YER FULL OF BLISTERING AIR! IT TWAS RECARTAF! WOMEN CAN’T RACE!” shouted back the men.
At last a short dwarf on a wooden stage stepped to the podium and leaned up to the microphone. “EUUMM,” the judge noisily cleared his throat while the racers piloted their carpets to a hover in front of the stand. A quiet hush fell over the crowd and everyone listened intently.
“IT TAS BEEN DECIDED BY UNANAMOUS VOTE OF ALL THEE JUDGES THAT THEE WINNER OF THIS YEAR’S DWARF CARPET RACE TIS——TOLIP DEGNIW——THEE FIRST FEMALE TA EBER ENTER THEE DCR ENN’ THEE FIRST FEMALE TA EH WIN THEE TITLE OF GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION OF DWARF CARPET RACING. THIS TIS EH DAY THAT TWILL GO DOOWN EN DWARF HISTORY!!!!”
High-pitched ear shattering screams erupted throughout Dallanbach, as Jacob curiously gazed down seeing dwarf women gleefully smacking and kicking the men.
The judge continued with his announcements over the noisy screaming.
“IN ORDER OF THEE FINISHING RACERS, THEE SECOND PLACE FINISHER TIS RECARTAF FOLLOWED BY THIRD PLACE KAERTS ENN’ FOURTH PLACE TESPEHT.”
As Emalynn glided her carpet next to Jacob, she waved to the crowds with a big grin, and together they headed to the winner’s circle. “Thanks Jacob for blocking that racer and letting me pull ahead. But I don’t get it? You could have won the race if you hadn’t held back to help me.”
“Emalynn, it was your race from the beginning, you planned it for us and you led and dominated everybody. You deserve it; you’re clearly the winner. Besides, we’re apprentices right? And sentinels always stick together don’t they? “You got my back, and I got yours!”
Emalynn nodded her head and they gently landed their carpets. Screams from the ladies echoed through the surrounding hills as tiny Emalynn dismounted and stepped up to the podium. The president of the DCR Association then vigorously shook her hand.
“Yer trophy enn’ prize, thee boones from thee barbary lamb, twill be delivered by armored courier ta thee Frosty Mug Tavern later today,” he said with a wide grin.
Two young men placed a trophy as tall as Emalynn next to her side, while an announcer stepped up beside her holding a microphone.
“THIS HISTORICAL DAY EN’ DWARF CARPET RACING TIS ONE THAT TWILL BE TOLD TA OUR CHILDREN ENN’ CHILDREN’S CHILDREN ON DOOWN THROUGH THEE GENERATIONS. IT TIS EH DAY THAT TWILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED. ENN’ NOW HERE SHE TIS, TOLIP DEGNIW THEE FIRST WOMAN RACER TA EH WIN THEE TITLE OF GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION OF DWARF CARPET RACING!”
The crowd opened up with tremendous cheers that seemed to go on with no end. Cameras flashed and reporters crowded in close to interview Tolip. Eventually somebody handed Jacob a teeny third place trophy offering him a hearty handshake, while adoring fans and reporters continued to beset themselves upon Emalynn. Lonely and by himself, Jacob pushed his way through the crowds and stood to the wayside waiting until Mr. Pitts finally managed to find him. They continued to wait for what seemed to be hours, until Emalynn finally finished off with the last hugs from lingering female fans. They then made their way through the thinning crowds to a secluded area where Loralmel raised his arms and magically restored them back to normal. No more recognizable as dwarfs, the two retired DCR pilots walked through the remaining crowds, never again to be recognized as famous Dwarf Carpet Racers.