Robot Warriors by Zac Harrison Read Free Book Online Page B

almost invisible against the black tunnel wall. John crossed his fingers even tighter. But it did no good. John watched the tracker-cam screen, which showed a view of Cammy from behind. Emmie was struggling to move her robot around even the gentle starting bends. It was just too hard to see where she was.
    “Only one working feature on that stupid robot, and it’s making it harder for her,” sniggered Mordant. “What a genius.”
    Emmie tried to steer Cammy around a U-bend turn. Instantly, a warning siren blared. One of Cammy’s tail fins was sticking through the wall.
    “Oh, shooting stars!” Emmie said disgustedly.
    The tunnel dissolved into a flurry of black pixels. Cammy appeared at Emmie’s feet.
    “Bad luck,” John said. He felt sorry for Emmie, but a little bit relieved. At least Emmie’s humiliation was over quickly.
    “Oh, it’s OK,” she said, with a smile John didn’t really believe. “It’s only a game, isn’t it? Just a bit of fun. It’s not about winning − not really.”
    But her knuckles were still white where she had gripped the remote control, and with her other hand she was bending the antenna as if she wanted to break it.
    “I’ll go next,” Mordant said, pushing to the front. “Watch and learn.”
    A new version of the twisting tunnel appeared, resized to fit IFI. Mordant pulled the goggles on without waiting for permission and sent IFI humming into the tunnel mouth.
    John watched the cone-shaped robot on the tracker-cam. It was zooming through the tunnel almost as quickly as it had raced through the Sonic Sports Hall. Mordant took even the tightest corners at high speed, without so much as breaking a sweat.
    Something about his self-assured arrogance made John wonder. He thought back to how G-Vez had bounced off IFI’s protective force field. Was it even possible for Mordant’s robot to touch the walls, with that force field surrounding it?
    After only a few minutes, IFI emerged through the other end of the tunnel. “Yes!” Mordant yelled. “That’s how it’s done. Smooth as!”
    There was an awkward silence. Mordant looked around, obviously waiting for applause.
    “Amazing performance, sir!” G-Vez crooned. “The prize is as good as yours!”
    “Who’s the robot master?” Mordant shouted, hopping up and down on the spot in an absurd little victory dance. “I said , who’s the robot master?”
    John wondered if Mordant had any idea how ridiculous he looked. Not one single student said a word to him.
    John was glad he hadn’t rushed to go first. He was getting a little familiar with the tunnel, just by watching the other two go through it on the tracker-cam. The real killer was the U-bend about halfway through. He’d have to be extra careful when Super-Rover reached it.
    Some older students had their turns, and then Kaal was up. Like John, he’d been studying the tunnel carefully. As he activated Laserdon and sent him flapping into the air, John felt anxious on his behalf. It would be very tricky to keep a flying robot from bumping into the ceiling. It was funny how what helped you in one round could work against you in the next. That must be the point , John thought. The winning robot would have to be an all-rounder.
    “Here we go,” Kaal said nervously. Laserdon flew into the whirling tunnel like a hawk plunging into the mouth of a cave. At least Kaal knows what it’s like to fly. He has wings of his own. That’s got to help, surely...
    Kaal flew his robot cautiously, negotiating the tangled tunnel metre by metre. He was past the deadly U-bend now and heading down the slope towards the exit.
    Mordant coughed loudly.
    John saw Kaal frown, distracted by the noise. It was only a split-second distraction, but it was enough. Laserdon was still flying level – and the tunnel was about to slope down.
    John held his breath.
    Kaal quickly nudged the controls. Laserdon swooped down, avoiding the sloping ceiling by half a centimetre. The robot flew gracefully down the