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Ladies and gentle our delayed departure fro at Bahrain International Airport‘ The captain‘s voice over the speakers was indolent to the point of boredomIf you look out of youryou‘ll see the Bahrain International Circuit, where the Grand Prix is due to start approximately forty minutes frorees at the ht breeze…‘

A ripple of interest ran through the plane and everyone craned to look below The scene rerey, winding in a series of ih a landscape of arid sand

Sunlight glittered off s rippled in the war rasses

She felt sick

Forty et there in time, she prayed

If anything, it was the absence of nerves that worried hi last- interviews, hopping froression, like boxers about to go into the ring

Cristiano felt removed from all the frenzy and exciteht next to his heart, was the fossil Alexander had given hies into the rid he put his hand up to touch the hardness of it It was ht fire and he was stuck inside the wreck it would absorb the furnace-like heat instantly, burning through his skin

The Careen colours standing out vividly like an oasis The desert lay all around…an endless vista of sand which re across the beach in Yorkshire…

Dio He needed to focus

Suki turned round, her catlike eyes lighting up as she saw hiain inside his head She ca up to kiss his cheek…

Where was Kate?

The question appeared in his head from nowhere, and he felt a sensation like a small electric shock in his brain He pulled away fro around, suddenly filled with an inexplicable conviction that Kate was here—that she was looking for him too

Around the other side of the car, Silvio was talking to a cluster of reporters ere all pointing theirspears

Cristiano‘s heart was pounding Without thinking he turned and headed back in the direction of the garages, ignoring the TV reporters who held microphones out to him and shouted questions as he passed Desperately he raked the croith his eyes Kate was here He was certain of it He broke into a run, feeling the sweat start to pool in the s his hydration levels for later in the race, but soe into physical reality

He was breathing hard as he reached the garages He stopped, looking around, expecting to see her

She had to be there

She had to…He was so sure…

Raking his sweat-da softly under his breath

‘Please…Please…’

Cristiano!‘

It was Suki‘s voice behind hi over her shoulders like soo!‘

Despair knifed him between his ribs He cast one an to walk back to his car

The roads ide and fringed with pale and unfinished-looking, contrasting with the clean perfection of the streets and buildings

How long will it take to get there?‘ Kate asked from between clenched teeth

In the rearview mirror the taxi driver‘s currant-like eyes were sharp with curiosity

Not long I drive fast—like the racing drivers‘ The eyes crinkled with aet you there for start of the race‘

Kate stifled aout of theat the pristine buildingsThat‘s too late There‘s so I have to say to someone before the race‘

OK‘ He glanced at her uncertainly, as if she was erousNearly there now Which stand are you in?‘

Kate looked down at the laminated pass Cristiano had left for her and read out the information The eyes in the mirror widened

VIP area,‘ the taxi driver said in a tone of renewed respectDon‘t worry—nearly there now‘

A bright red banner stretched above the road, welco visitors to the Bahrain International Circuit Kate‘s blood throbbed painfully through her veins as if it had been thickened with treacle Through the front windscreen she could see an i up over the rest of the stands and buildings, doate uards the taxi driver slowed, and she handed over her pass for scanning