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The Mercedesclose to 120 kilometers when it lifted off Ih sky for an incredible distance before curving earthward and striking the snowpack with a tremendous impact on its four wheels As if in slow motion, it bounced and sailed into a tall ponderosa pine, sled metal split the thin air as the chassis and body wrapped around the tree until the front and rear buainst a steel stake Glass exploded like confetti and the bodies inside were twisted and mashed like flies under a swatter

Giordino shook his head in wonder "That's the danht I've ever seen"

"More to cohtened out the Cord's wild slide, but there was no slowing its velocity The brakes had burned out halfway down the slope and the steering tie rod was bent and hanging by a thread The Cord's path was un stakable It was heading toward the large ski facility and restaurant building at the base of the chair lifts All Pitt could do was keep blowing the horns and struggle to avoid skiers too dumb to scramble out of the way

The women had watched the destruction of the last Mercedes with morbid curiosity and vast relief The relief was short-lived They turned and stared aghast at the rapidly approaching building

"Can't we do so?" Hala demanded

"I'estions," Pitt fired back tie beca children by careening up a snowbank and curling around them The main mass of skiers had either heard or witnessed the crash of the Mercedes and were galvanized into action at the sight and sound of the Cord They quickly moved to the side of the I and stared in utter incomprehension as the Cord rocketed by

Warnings of the runaway vehicles had been phoned from the upper end of the chair lift, and ski instructors had cleared most of the croay it-froht of the ski center Pitt hoped to angle in that direction and run onto the ice until it cracked open sinking the car to the running boards and bringing it to an abrupt halt The only proble to the restaurant

"I don't suppose there's a plan five," said Giordino, bracing himself for the collision

"Sorry," said Pitt "We're all sold out"

Lily and Hala watched, helpless and horror-stricken Then they dived behind the division behind the chauffeur's seat, closed their eyes and clutched each other

Pitt stiffened as they struck several long racks holding skis and poles

The skis seeh the air like toothpicks for an insta

nt the Cord seemed buried, but then it burst clear and bored up the concrete stairway, h the wooden wall of the cocktail lounge

The room had been emptied except for the piano player, who sat paralyzed at his keyboard, and a bartender, who elected discretion and frantically took refuge behind the bar just as the Cord exploded into the rooh a sea of chairs and tables

The Cord alh the far wall and down a two-story drop