“So the experiment was a success?” Mate continued. “Yes, I was successful in creating a miniature fusion reactor. Un-limitless power whenever I need it, but something that could be perverted into an awful weapon in the wrong hands…” “or used to hold nations to ransom” added Mate.
“Well, you’re going to see for yourself” said Adam. “You’ve arrived in the nick of time. I’m pretty certain that a major foreign power was having me watched in Scotland. I don’t know how much they’ve been able to guess from recording what I was doing in the Lab. Of course, much was for show, to throw them off the scent, but I’d rather be certain”.
“But first I could do with a hand, fixing a satellite”. Adam laughed at the quizzical look on Mate’s face, as he led him further down the dim corridor.
“Here we are”, said Adam, opening a large heavy door into what looked suspiciously like a garage.
In the middle stood a gleaming silver BMW i8. “That’s an i8” stammered Mate. “They only built like a handful of these. Experimental electrically powered supercars… but range was their downfall. All that power & speed quickly used up the batteries”.
“Yes” replied Adam, “which is why this one has been modified to run on energy created by a small version of my fusion reactor. Range isn’t a problem anymore, plus I’ve more than enough for 1 or 2 extra modifications I’ve carried out myself, as you’ll discover”.
Mate looked again at the i8 and now noticed that both the front & rear of the car were even more aerodynamic than BMW had fashioned them.. almost rocket-like in their streamlined curves & creases. And the sporty side skirts looked slightly larger and more substantial than the polycarbonate body kit BMW had fashioned for the original car, which sat on large diamond cut wheels with ultra low profile, puncture proof tyres.
“Jump in” invited Adam, himself walking round to the drivers side door, swept upwards and open.
Mate climbed in to the passenger seat. The car ’s dash and central column was a maze of screens and polished touch surfaces. “No cup holders?” asked Mate grinning.
Adam smiled back and told him to “belt up” using the simple lap belt fitted. With a single press of the ‘Start engine’ button, the i8 came silently to life in a light-show of neon blues and violets, as screens activated, some displaying technical data, others more classical engine gauge representations.
The centre screen seemed to be some sort of navigation panel, into which Adam input some brief co-ordinates, by tapping quickly on the surface.
Adam spoke quietly to the car. “How are we looking AMIe?” “The road and air-space is clear. You can exit the garage” the car replied cooly. “It talks” said Mate. “I do”, replied the car.
“Amy”? Asked Mate. “A.M.I.e” replied Adam. “Advanced Machine Intelligence experiment”. A very capable learning AI program, that’s picked up some unique idiosyncrasies.
Adam slid the selector to ‘Drive’ and applied the accelerator. The i8 moved quickly and silently up a long tunnel, lined with metal panelled walls, quickly gathering pace. A small green light appeared in the tunnel ceiling ahead, as Adam said “final radar check”. “All clear” came the same, cool female reply.
They burst out into the semi-dusk of the hot day, on what appeared to have once been an old section of railway track, the rails and sleepers long since removed. “The local farmer had a passion for steam engines & locomotives” explained Adam, “and had over a mile of private track lain down to pursue his hobby with. The remaining flat gravel bed makes an ideal private runway”.
Now that they were clear of the tunnel, Adam touched one of the icons on the main screen in front of him, and Mate saw on the small monitor, Delta shaped wings folding out from the side skirts he had noticed earlier, small, shark like tail stabilisers folded out of the rear quarter-light panel between the rear window and rear hatch. The front of the car became more sleek & aerodynamic as the bumper elongated and stretched and twin apertures opened on the rear skirt to reveal two jet like engine cowlings. If you could have seen under the i8, you’d have noticed twin air intakes opening in the floorpan.
The wheel arches shimmered as an invisible polymer shield surrounded them, making them completely stream-lined.
The structural transformation made the car dart-like. “Wings locked” confirmed AMIe, as suddenly, Mate was thrown back into his seat by an enormous boost of speed as the car shot up into the air, leaving a faint bluish tinted trail behind, which quickly evaporated & disappeared.
“We’re, we’re, we’re flying” said Mate in disbelief. Adam laughed and said “I’ll explain everything later. Right now we have a satellite to catch”.
I hope you enjoyed that little excerpt from Chapter 5 of Price: World – my debut novel.
Price: World, the follow up adventure Price: Polestarr and the newest Dr Adam Price Adventure – Price: Dark Crater are all available to purchase from Amazon in e-book, paperback and Kindle Unlimited.
You’ll also find paperback versions on sale at Scriveners Book Shop (High St, Buxton, Derbyshire) and Bow Books (Angel Pavement, Royston, Herts).
#priceworld #actionadventure #bookrecommendation #bookexcerpt #youthfiction
