“That’s different.”
Cole stared.
Rachel laughed.
Transfer.
Support.
Vitals.
Helmet.
Final checks.
Dr. Shah crouched beside Ellie.
“Tell me the stop signal.”
Ellie raised her left hand.
“And if your hand gets tired?”
“Two taps here.”
She touched the rail.
“Good.”
Cole climbed onto the motorcycle.
The engine started.
Ellie’s eyes became enormous.
The vibration through the isolated frame had been measured.
Still, reality felt different from tests.
Dr. Shah watched her.
“How is that?”
Ellie smiled.
“Good.”
Breathing okay.
Heart rate elevated from excitement but acceptable.
Cole looked toward her.
“Ready?”
She nodded.
He did not move.
“Say it.”
“READY!”
Cole eased the motorcycle forward.
One mile per hour.
Then two.
The sidecar rolled beside him smoothly.
Ellie looked toward the ground.
Then ahead.
The first breeze touched her face.
Rachel immediately began crying.
Mark put an arm around her.
Cole reached three miles per hour.
Ellie’s ponytail moved slightly beneath the protective gear.
She laughed.
The sound rose above the engine.
Cole’s vision blurred.
He blinked hard.
Focus.
Five miles per hour.
No more.
They followed the closed loop.
Two minutes.
Ellie’s eyes stayed wide.
At three minutes, she shouted:
“Faster!”
Cole laughed.
“No.”
“Six!”
“No.”
“You’re boring!”
“Correct.”
At four minutes, they passed the far turn.
The Blue Ridge Riders stood silently outside the barrier.
No cheering.
No revving.
Because noise could overwhelm her.
They simply raised their hands.
Two fingers.
A salute.
Ellie saw them.
She lifted one hand carefully.
Waved.
At five minutes Cole began returning.
Ellie called:
“Doc!”
He slowed slightly.
“What?”
“This is the best day!”
Cole’s face twisted.
He could not answer.
Six minutes.
Exactly.
He rolled to a stop.
Engine off.
The medical team approached.
Vitals.
Questions.
Ellie looked tired.
Happy.