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Fifty Six: Like father, like son

Fifty Six: Like father, like son

Hiccup's hands tightened on the steering wheel as they sped onto the road, a hand reaching down and playing with the preset and traction settings. Astrid was glaring into the wing mirror and seeing the lorries skid onto the road and roar after them.

"Are they serious?" she asked angrily. "This isn't the wild west or one of those bad thriller movies! They can't just chase you around like they own the place!"

"I suspect technically, he does...well, the land we were on," Hiccup said grimly. "And as for thinking they can do this...well, I believe he did this to the Senior Priest of Odin, who opposed his development here...and before that, to my parents."

She stared at him.

"Like father, like son," he added grimly. "I am meant to die in a tragic car accident-no doubt due to my recklessness in driving a performance SUV in the snow and showing off to my girlfriend...and the mangled wreckage will hide any signs we were shoved off the highway by two huge Thor-damned trucks!"

"Except you know what they are after-and you have me," she said and frowned, then extended her hand. "Give me your phone!" He flicked a surprised look at her.

"Um...hands kinda full right now," he said, accelerating. She frowned then unfastened her safety belt and leaned across him. "Hey!"

"Eyes on the road, mister!" she said firmly, hand dipping into his coat pocket and freeing the smartphone. "Look-yours has a better camera and...well, everything than mine! So let's use it!"

"For what? Calling for help?" he asked, glancing in the rear view mirror. Against reason, the trucks were closing. She straightened up.

"You're right," she said determinedly. "Viggo doesn't like being put under the spotlight. He works in secrecy and manipulates from the shadows. But you are casting the harsh light of scrutiny on him and it's exposing his actions!"

"Not that you're not incredibly poetic, Astrid, but what are you planning?" he asked her as she crawled out of the front and into the back, determinedly peering through the back window.

"What's the code for your phone?" she asked.

"Um...what do you...?" he began.

"HICCUP!"

"00-02-29," he said automatically and she put the number in, accessing the camera and filming the chase. She carefully photographed the license plates, any livery and got images of the drivers as they careened down the hill, speeding through intersections and narrowly missing a tractor and a whole trailer load full of dung. "I'd feel happier if you were strapped in," he told her as she thumbed in the passcode and uploaded the photos to BerkBook.

"You'll just have to make sure that you don't crash us," she said tartly, watching the images slowly upload. Out here in the countryside, there was only one bar and the internet speed was really slow.

"May not have much of a say, to be honest," he admitted as they slowed for a corner-and there were a huge crunch and a jolt as the nearest lorry slammed into their rear fender, Hiccup panicked and floored the gas, the wheels skidding and car slewing on the slippy road. Astrid gasped and Toothless whined in fear as he calmed himself.

Easy, Hiccup. They're relying on you. They've got bulk and momentum and though we're faster, we can't use it as much because the road is slippery. But we do have better roadholding and we can take them where they shouldn't be able to follow.

He glanced in the rear view mirror at the anxious blonde on the back seat.

"Hold onto your ass!" he warned her.