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It had been a while. Too long if anyone cared to ask him...but no one had. The allegorical kick to the head by being within reach of his own holy grail only to have it be a sheep in grail clothing had done nothing to alleviate his competitive thirst. His thick boots sounded out in muffled thumps as he strode across the carpeted floor towards the door. What would lay beyond that door this time? More disappointments? More almost could have been opportunities? These thoughts gave him no pause, it would be whatever it would be.
Light spilled into the darkened space beyond the door as he breached the doorway between the carpeted comfort behind him and the metallic unknown ahead. Light played off the polished surface of the machine. Light danced across the pearls of her fiery heart juxtaposed in not so vivid symbolism across her hood. They served as subtle warning of what lay deep in her soul. The white of her skin reflected the light in dazzling arrays muted only by the closing of the door behind him. He raised his hand up to the wall depressing the button that would allow this beast before him to be un-caged and let loose on the world once more.
Slowly the larger door beyond the machine arose in protest with a calipee of clanks, squeaks, and moans as though it new no good will would come out of the ride today. Desperately with gravity aiding its cause, the door swayed to maintain it’s capture of the beast within but to no avail. As light now flooded the lair and the pearls again danced with a renewed vengeance in the light of the sun.
He advanced to her door and opened it with a measure of respect demanded by the machine before him. The relationship between them had been forged through oil and sweat, grease and blood. Each had a part of them reflected by the other. They were different sides to the same coin.
The door closed solidly behind him, the hard steel of her flanks securing him inside as a mother’s womb secures her child. Many times she had taken care of him in dire situations and many times more would she be there as well, just as he had been there for her. He strapped himself in to her confines. He turned the key and electrical power surged through her copper veins gently nudging her to consciousness.
He turned it one more notch and the juices in those veins surged forward igniting the power that now lay in front of him. She arose slowly at first, a stumbling start. Lethargically the engine turned, a cough, a surge, but never falling. Then she caught her stride and the awkward gait of her being smoothed into a low, menacing lope.
He released the last of the binds that held her still and let her slowly roll out of her hiding. Not until she was fully clear of her cavern did he once again allow the door to fall amidst further protest on him allowing her out to prowl once more. She stretched her rubber paws out on the black pavement she craved and allowed her claws to gently probe against its surface.
A deep, guttural growl grew in her belly as he eased into the throttle setting her on her course. Her lights, always diligent, swept the area already looking for her next victim. Outside the tight confines of her territory he allowed her to stretch a bit more. The growl grew louder, more animated, almost gleeful for the chance to play once more. His hands wrapped the leather around her wheel as one would grip the reigns of a horse to guide her and direct her knowing the control he had could only be maintained with quick reactions and confident action.
She purred on passing commoners that did not share her lust for the hunt. Those more weak in desire than the one who now sat in her saddle. His foot firmly planted on her throttle and his eyes sharp the two became one in mind, body, and thought. Metal became a living, breathing thing and man became machine.
Ahead a light turned from green to red and he released his hold upon her feeding her more throttle and letting her stretch her legs. Her tires clawed the asphalt as she easily launched forward chewing up the distance between them and the light in minimal time.
It was then when they spotted it. There, it’s blue paint glistening in the waning light of the afternoon sun. They had tangled with this kind before but this one was different. It was more flamboyant in its appearance. It’s wheels were not natural to the species and the sound from its bowls most certainly not what it was born with. It too was turning, going along the same path they were destined to follow this day.
He gave her more throttle to spirit her up beside this glittering blue animal who’s body flowed in seductive curves and masculine angles. Every part of this creature’s form dripped with performance and speed as though it sought to taunt her all the more. He looked over at the rider commanding this animal clad in blue.
He gazed upon her rider and the rider returned his gaze. He gave the beast a gentle stab to the throttle and was greeted with a surprised but brief roar from under her skin. It was nothing more than a small measure of her roar. But the rider in blue turned away his gaze and with a smug shake of his head dismissed the threat mere feet beyond his reach.
The fancy lines of the rider’s seductress had lulled him as though he were a baby secure in the arms of his father. The rider looked down upon the white beast beside him as though he were to be insignificant prey than an alpha predator.
At long last a red light appeared in the distance and both handlers slowed their vicious machines to a standstill. Here, he felt certain, the rider could not resist the thrill of the pursuit and surely he would attempt to show dominance. Yet as the fiery red of the light gave way to the inevitable green, the rider chose instead to keep a tight reign on the blue machine.
He tried to entice the rider all the more by allowing her to lash out a bit more and take the lead but only enough to attempt to make the rider envious enough to try and take that lead away. The rider kept back however refusing to allow his machine to take the bait. The rider continued along with his face set to smug indifference to the white machine ahead of him with the deep and ominous growl.
Four more lights came and went. Four more times he slacked the hold he kept over her and let her stride out forcefully in front. Four more times the Rider kept his distance and controlled the beast underneath him taming her in the most unnatural of ways.
They were confident this animal swathed in blue would hold them no concern and was but a smaller predator in a much larger jungle. The large Z in the blue animal’s grill teased her and mocked her. It called out to her about its perceived superiority in soft tones trying to undermine them into believing what her Rider seemed to believe completely that the white beast was no match for her sleek lines and powerful engine.
One more red light loomed up causing both machines to halt their travels once again side by side. The great white beast, its pearl fire now alight in the setting sun, pawed and chomped in frustrated anticipation. Too long it had been. Too many disappointments since. Too many could-have-beens along the way. It needed to feast…and it needed to feast here, now!
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03-29-2007, 03:42 PM
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