Junior and Lwazi were walking in silence. Partly to conserve energy, partly because neither felt like talking.
The desert sun was scorching them more and more at every step they took. They were still on Irina's tail, never allowing her to pull away from them, but never catching up to her either. They could see her periodically turning around and checking up on them. If she thought they were getting too close she would speed up, only to slow down once she had put a safe distance between herself and them.
LWAZI
I may have thought of a way to beat her...
Said Lwazi abruptly.
JUNIOR
What do you mean?
Answered Junior, sincerely confused.
JUNIOR
We don't have to beat her. We have to persuade her to join us!
LWAZI
Mph. You are so clueless sometimes... do you really think she will join us if we don't force her?
JUNIOR
And exactly how are we supposed to force her to join us?
Lwazi looked at him as if Junior had said the dumbest thing he could possibly have said.
LWAZI
We have reach every single checkpoint before her! If we take all the food and water for ourselves we can control her...
Junior found the thought of controlling her disgusting.
R-328 and X-466 had set up quite the test for them. The rules encouraged conflict within the teams; the weapons they could use were thirst and hunger. A truly malicious task, designed to push the candidates to the limit.
JUNIOR
What do you propose?
In need for a solution he did not have, Junior agreed to at least listen to Lwazi's idea.
LWAZI
One of us should tackle her to the ground while the other races past her to the checkpoint.
JUNIOR
Seems quite straightforward to me.
LWAZI
The simpler the better.
JUNIOR
There's such a thing as too simple though...
LWAZI
What?
JUNIOR
You really think we can like, sneak up on her? We are in the middle of the desert! She will see us coming and just run away. I don't think I can catch up to her anyway...
LWAZI
Well, didn't they give us maps? Lets take a look at the course and see if we can take a shortcut or something...
JUNIOR
Hmm... let's not get lost though.
LWAZI
Let's not!
Junior reached into his backpack and pulled out the map. They studied it in silence for a few moments.
JUNIOR
So this is the first checkpoint, right at the bottom of this slope.
Junior pointed at a small red circle with the number 1 written beside it.
JUNIOR
And, if I'm reading the map right, this is about where we are, heading...
He looked up at the sun.
JUNIOR
...south, just after the massive cliff we have walked past.
Even though at the time he had thought it a waste, in this moment Junior was thankful for his father's orienteering teachings.
LWAZI
So, just before the checkpoint the track climbs up, and then it goes back down by doing this long left hand bend...
JUNIOR
And?
LWAZI
If instead of following the track we hurry straight down the slope we can cut Irina off and be right upon her before the checkpoint!
Junior took a few moments to ponder Lwazi's words.
JUNIOR
I guess that could work... But we have to be very quick, otherwise she will see us coming and beat us to the checkpoint.
LWAZI
Good! I'd say we run as fast as we can. First one to get to her tackles her to the ground, while the other one keeps running toward the checkpoint.
Having agreed on their plan, they quietly walked on, and waited for Irina to disappear behind the bend.
LWAZI
Let's go!
They both rushed headlong down the slope, trying to catch up up to Irina. Several times, Junior was just about to slip and collapse on the ground, only to find his balance at the very last moment.
Irina must have thought something was up, as when she got around the bend and in sight of them, she was already running. Still, Junior and Lwazi had managed to shrink the gap considerably.
LWAZI
Go faster!
Throwing all caution to the wind, Junior sped up down the slope and managed to get to Irina before Lwazi.
JUNIOR
Keep running Lwazi!
Shouted Junior, as he lunged for Irina.
All of a sudden, Junior felt swept away. Fast as lightning, Irina had turned around, grabbed Junior by his extended arm, flipped him over her shoulders and properly flung him. Junior hit the ground hard, so hard he had his breath knocked out from him.
He was still lying face up, gasping for air when Lwazi came back.
JUNIOR
Water...
Begged Junior.
LWAZI
No dice... she made it to the checkpoint before me...
Junior could feel the tone of defeat in Lwazi's voice.
JUNIOR
Don't worry... We'll get her next time...
Said Junior with a forced smile.
