Read Online Cars 2 by Irene Trimble - Free Book Online Page B

cried out. “Where are we?”
    â€œWe’re in London, Mater.”
    Mater had heard of a famous old clock in London. Now he was trapped inside it. As the clock’s gears—and the cars’ life spans—ticked away, Mater told Finn and Holley, “This is all my fault.”
    â€œDon’t be a fool,” Finn replied.
    â€œBut I am,” Mater said. “Remember? You said so.”
    â€œNo,” Finn said, then tried to explain. “I was complimenting you on what a good spy you were.”
    â€œBut I’m not a spy,” Mater said. “Been trying to tell you that this whole time. I’m just a rusty tow truck.”
    Holley realized that Mater was telling the truth. “Finn, he’s not joking,” she said.
    But Finn didn’t need to be told. “I know,” he replied. He had finally realized that Mater was no secret agent. He really was just a regular truck.
    â€œYou were right, Finn,” Mater said sadly. “I’m just a fool. And what’s happened to Lightning is all my fault.”
    Finn was about to object when the doors of the clock tower opened. Grem and Acer rolled in. They pulled a sheet away from a window. The WGP camera was set up and aimed toward the streets of London.
    â€œProfessor Z wanted you to have a front-row seat for the death of Lightning McQueen,” Grem said to Mater.
    â€œHe’s still alive?” Mater asked hopefully.
    â€œNot for much longer,” Acer replied as he focused the camera on the street below—a street that was part of the racecourse where Lightning McQueen would soon be driving.

    Down in Lightning McQueen’s pit, the whole Radiator Springs gang was gathered. They had all traveled to London. Sally, Flo, Ramone, and Sarge were there. Even Red, the town’s fire truck, had shown up. They had all come for the same reason: to find and help their friend Mater. All they knew was that he had never made it home to Radiator Springs.
    â€œSarge is in touch with the British military,” Ramone told Lightning, hoping it would ease his mind. Lightning was seriously worried about his best friend, especially after thinking he had seen him at the track—and then lost him. Little did Lightning know that his own life was in danger, and that Mater was equally worried about him!
    â€œYou just need to focus,” Sally told Lightning. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
    He was about to drop out of the race when Sir Miles Axlerod approached the pit.
    â€œI just wanted to come down here and thank you,” Sir Miles said to Lightning. “After Italy, I was finished. And then you gave me one last shot. And I probably shouldn’t be saying this at all, but I hope you win today. You show the world that they’ve been wrong about Allinol.”
    Lightning looked at his friends. He couldn’t drop out of the race now.
    â€œIt’s what Mater would have wanted,” Sally said to Lightning.
    It was true. Mater would want him to race. Moments later, a very determined Lightning zoomed to the starting line. It was the only thing he could think to do for Mater. The race was on!
    From up in the clock tower, Grem grinned as he heard the roar of engines.
    The race had begun, and the cars in the lead were getting closer and closer to the giant clock. Soon they would race right by Professor Z’s two thugs and their deadly “camera.”
    â€œHere they come!” Grem suddenly shouted. He turned up the juice on the WGP camera—to its highest level—and aimed it at Lightning.

M ater closed his eyes. He couldn’t stand to see his friend hurt. Finn and Holley were helpless, too. They saw Grem pull the trigger.
    But Lightning zoomed right past the clock tower unharmed. He hadn’t even slowed down!
    Grem and Acer were shocked. Professor Z radioed them immediately.
    â€œWhat happened?” the Professor demanded.
    â€œYou broke it,” Acer said to