Gaby Book 26 On The Edge by Maddy Bell Copyright© 2021 Madeline Bell Seventeen - it's a birthday overshadowed by its predecessor and successor and Gaby's looks set to follow that pattern. There are however big decisions to be made, should she grab life by the horns and experience everything it has to offer or take the more conservative, safer route through life. This volume, the 26th in the Gaby series has all the elements of classic Gaby, bike riding, teenage angst, developing relationships, grist to the mill for our heroine as life in the Ahrtal ticks on.

 
There were a lot of jaded faces when I looked around, well I wasn't exactly full of energy myself. The gap up to the front group had eroded a bit but seemed to have stalled after we made the next turn, we didn't seem to be riding any slower so it was probably those ahead reacting to our approach. Unless we are pretty much up to them by the single track I think our race will be all but over.

I rescued a couple of gummi bears from my pocket, hmm the bears might not consider it a rescue given they were straight into my mouth. Some riders prefer jelly babies but I don't like the sort of floury texture, but that aside, a couple of Haribo® 'bears' provide a nice little sugar kick thats easily carried and handled. A couple of other 'girls' were taking on supplies, that indicates that they might be up for a bit of action, well Gab's, nothing ventured.

There was a slightly sheltered stretch of road coming up so I manouvered myself further forward to make use of the geography. Well they say great minds think alike, just as I commited to go, two others took off from behind me along the leeward side of the bunch. As I was already out of the saddle it didn't take me much effort to tag on the back, by the sounds behind, others were keen not to be left behind either.

This would never succeed if we left all the work to one person, our loose alliance quickly fell into a rotation, when I slid back after my turn I was happy to see we were seven in number. The added impetus saw us close the gap quite rapidly over the next kilo or so, enough that we were under a hundred metres adrift when we turned off for the single lane road. I couldn't identify individuals but I could see two, and only two cream Apollinaris shirts up there, so Roni and Manda must still be away.

One of the prime movers in this last assault was the girl from RSV Magdeburg, her more traditional white, blue and yellow strip easy to recognise amondt the trendy single colours and fades currently in favour. I guess it was a case of nothing to lose, everything to gain. We might be almost in touching distance but we could still fail in our mission, I dropped a gear and made a last big effort through the village. Magdeburg came through as we turned to cross the bridge over the dual carriageway, keeping our momentum going when those ahead eased to turn into the lane.

I was almost on fumes now, rubbery legs flapping around, well thats what it felt like but with just two of us we were quicker than the pack ahead on the narrow lane, the final few metres were crossed and I mentally sighed in relief. A look behind revealled the carnage of this last effort, our former companions were dangling, still about fifty metres in arrears, the rest of the group turned into the lane maybe a further two hundred behind. It had taken pretty much a full lap but I was back at the sharp end, well the tail end of it at any rate.
 

There were a couple of accelerations as we negotiated the narrow section, but each time things settled back to comfortable. It was difficult to see from the back but I'm guessing they were escape attempts, to be honest I was too tired to do anything other than follow the wheels in front. We popped out onto the main road for the last time, you could see the tension lifting from shoulders, the wider roadway allowing the double thickness string to become a tighter, wider group.

"Hey,” Nita greeted, "You made it.”
"Eventually,” I allowed, "I didn't think i'd end up quite so far back.”
"It happens, so you okay?”
"Apart from lead legs? Yeah, I'll get there, Ron and Mand are still away I guess?”
"Yeah, I think we closed a bit coming through the lane but the last time check was one fifty.”
"There's only ten to go.”
"Best not count our chickens.”
"Indeed,” I agreed, "Best keep a lid on this lot then.”

Ten kilometres, one last draggy ascent then its the fast drop into Hameln, the last half kilometre through the old town and then it'll be over. With three riders from the fourteen in the depleted peloton we were number strong, Trek and Aldi Sud each having two along with another outfit sponsored by Paulaner Bier, the rest being singletons like my 'friend' from Magdeburg. Gret was looking like I felt but she managed a grin when I joined her on escape watch.
 

"I've had it,” Mad gasped,
"Don't give up now, its nearly all downhill now,” Ron encouraged, truth be told she was running on reserve herself.

They'd worked well together, encouraging each other, Mand pacing them on the hills, Ron keeping the pace going on the more exposed roads. Its fair to say that most of their advantage was gained on this same climb last time around, then it was Ron struggling to hold Amanda's wheel. From a maximum of nearly four minutes, they'd been losing ground since that Springe place, at the bottom of the hill the board suggested it was under a minute and a half, they had to keep going.

"Seriously Ron, you go on, we don't want to both be caught.”
Roni made her decision, "Okay, look, hang on to my wheel as long as, it might give you enough to stay in front.”
"Maybe,” Manda allowed, mentally preparing for one last effort.
 

If it was me, i'd be looking at making any last gasp attack on the final climb, its not but looking around, others were working from the same game book. The three of us riding in cream can hopefully marshall some attacks but we're not superhuman, there's a chance someone could break free. I reached for more gummi bears, a mental boost more than a physical one, even Haribo doesn't work that quickly!

The first challenge came almost immediately, Gret supplied the anchor to the Trek rider, barely had that been contained and both the Aldi girls went. Neet chased after them, when Gret blocked by drifting across the carriageway they faltered. But it wasn't over yet, two more attempts were made, I sat on one and Nita thwarted the next but it was all for nought, neither one of us could answer when Magdeburg made her effort.

I think its fair to say that we were all running on fumes by the time up became down, the escapee was long gone, all we could do was cross our fingers and hope. Of course, as I'll be the first to point out, its never over until the fat lady sings (other size women are available!) so we hung in with the remains of the peloton on the descent. There's one long straight bit on the way down where we could see the assorted flashing lights at the head of things but of the three riders between us, there was no real clue to position.

Several girls had been tailed on that last climb which left just six of us, Gret was doing yo-yo off the back and my legs were somewhere between my hips and feet and still going around, more by momentum than my volition. We reached the valley floor and crossed the Ring into the Altstadt, it wasn't super technical but there were plenty of tight turns before we hit the pedestrian zone and our way became hedged by crowd barriers. The crowd were loud, the PA even more so, not that I was taking that much notice, just getting here was enough.

One last turn then the finish arch was in sight. Can you believe it, the remaining Trek rider started finessing, I mean come on, the podium is decided, we're looking at minor placings at the end of an attritional race and they're playing pat a cake? Well if you are going to muck about, on your heads it is.

I was at the back of the group so when, with a hundred metres to go I launched, they weren't expecting it. It felt like I was riding in quicksand, my legs complaining at this further abuse as I headed for the line. The red mist started to cloud my vision, I really am on the limit here, my senses shutting down, blocking out everything except the diminishing tunnel I was heading into.
 

"Gaby, can you hear me?”

Someone gently slapped my cheeks.

"Ungh.”
"Here,” a can of something was pressed to my lips.
I took a gulp and almost choked as the fizzy cola erupted in my mouth.

"Whoa, steady girl, sip.”

A deep breath then another try, better this time.

"She okay?” another voice, Nita maybe, enquired.
"I think so,” I think it was Kat replied, "I'll get the race doctor to check her out.”
 

Its a team Apollinaris tradition that we all eat together after a race, Dad says it builds team moral, I think its because its an extra hour or so before someone has to drive. Whatever the excuse, its a tradition I quite like, and today I am starving, well not in the literal sense but sat here with a plate of beef roulade, pommes and sauerkraut, I'm struggling to lift my fork. Yep, I really did empty the tank today, was it worth it? Hell yeah, two primes and fourth on the line.

Of course, you don't know the result do you? Well the girl from RSV Magdeburg, after dropping us on that last climb had descended like the devil herself, catching and dropping Mands just before they reached the ring. Ron had seen her coming, it was a good thing she had looked behind to see where Mand was, it meant she pushed on, crossing the line about ten lengths ahead of the chaser. Of course, Mand held on for third so whilst it wasn't a clean sweep, we did get three in the first four, Neet was sixth and Gret held on for ninth – I think George will be pleased.
 

"So what do you think about senior racing?” Nita asked as we headed back to the cars, stomachs replete.
"Interesting but a bit disapointing, I thought it would be more, I dunno, organised.”
"These domestic races are often like this, the big internationals are better.”
"Yeah it was like no one wanted to stick their neck out.”
"George calls it reactionary riding,” Ron, still on a high from her success,“ mentioned.
"Well I think you can safely say that they'll all remember this years Rattenfänger Grand Prix,” Neet opined.
"Wonder how they've got on in Me-hico?” Mand mused.
"Probably still racing,” Neet offered.
"What? At this time?” Gret exclaimed.
"Time difference, they're five or six hours behind Europe,” Kat supplied.

Its easy to lose track of time on race days, we finished the race a couple of hours ago but its only six now.
 

"Dave,” Ron called over to where Dad and Dieter were talking, "I spoke to mum, you want to stop off in Mettmann for coffee?”

Hmm, that probably means some of Angela's torte, please say yes Dad.

"If she doesn't mind an invasion, I'm sure the girls would appreciate a comfort stop.”
"I'll take that as a yes then,” Ron almost giggled, "Nine o'clock?”
"Maybe a bit before if its a clear road.”
"I'll let her know.”

Yes! If there's one thing i've missed since Ron moved up to the senior squad, its Angela's cake after the races.
 

Dad decided to take the more northerly route back, we'd pick up the autobahn network much quicker and on a Sunday evening, with no HGV traffic, even down through the Ruhrgebiet would be pretty quiet. Not that I got to see much of it, we bade our farewells with Gret and her father, we'll see them again next weekend of course. I elected to sit in the back with Mand and the luggage, by the time we'd followed the Weser out to the motorway my eyelids were drooping, I was in the land of the faeries shortly afterwards.
 

'Riding through dust clouds and barren wastes
Galloping hard on the plains
Chasing the redskins back to their holes
Fighting them at their own game
Murder for freedom the stab in the back
Women and children are cowards, attack

Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives'

I was belting out the Iron Maiden lyrics at the top of my voice, behind me Stefan and the guys were enthusiastically providing the musical accompaniment, the video wall had a manga style interpretation of the songs 'story' running and I was bathed in the light of two Super Trooper spotlights. I shook my mane of poppy red hair to the interlude beat as Stefan did his guitar solo, drops of sweat splashing onto the legs of my skin tight shiny PVC leggings, legs slightly askew for better balance in the stupidly high spike heeled ankle boots. The monitor at the edge of the stage was counting down, five, four, three, two, one and...

Soldier blue in the barren wastes
Hunting and killing's a game
Raping the women and wasting the men
The only good Indians are tame
Selling them whiskey and taking their gold
Enslaving the young and destroying the old

Yeah
Ah, ah, ah, ah

The crowd were singing as loud as the speakers were putting my voice across the arena, a wall of noise.

Run to the hills
Run for your lives
Run to the hills
Run for your lives

Animal went into his big drum finale, the other band members stopped playing, I nodded my head in time with the last two bars before the final beats ended our rendition. The lights went up, the crowd were going potty.

'BlauHase, Gaby, BlauHase, Gaby, BlauHase, Gaby, BlauHase, Gaby.”

The noise and stamping feet were sending vibrations through the stage, through the whole place, the tremors getting more violent as the seconds passed.
 
"Gaby, Gaby,” more shaking, I had to hang on to the Mic stand to stay on my feet, such was the shaking.
"Gaby!”
"What? Where?”
"Wake up, we're at Roni's.”

Roni's?

"Eh?” I mumbled.
"Come on,” Mand chivvied giving me another shake.

My brain finally engaged drive, allowing me to sit up and take in my surroundings, it was dark beyond the glass, the reflection from the Saab's interior preventing a view of anything beyond a couple of vague lumps of light. A cold breeze rushed in as Manda opened her door causing me to involuntarily succumb to a deep shiver with associated 'brrrr!'. Dad and Kat were already out of the car, seems like I'm last – again.

I searched the pile of clothing I was nested in for my jacket, you know, the nice warm down ski jacket from Austria, scrabbled on the floor for my bag then braved the cool March evening of the Düssel valley. It was actually not as inky black as it looked from inside the car, the tinted glass cuts out most of the streetlights output and even the glow from Düsseldorf that lights the sky to the west. I quickly shrugged into my coat and shut the door before heading towards the Grönberg's tidy home.

There was a chirp behind me as the remote locked the car, "Come on kiddo,” Dad called from the doorway, "Good sleep?”
"Er yeah,” I allowed, shielding my eyes from the bright interior.
"Here she is,” Angela stated having spotted my arrival, "Go on through, coffee's nearly ready.”

The mere mention of coffee alerted my bladder, I headed for the downstairs facility rather than the noise of the family room.

 
"I didn't think I was gonna make it, that Stevens woman was coming up like a Panzer,” Ron regaled to her audience.

Of course, her and Mand had relived their adventures to the rest of us over 'dinner' earlier, this telling was for Angela and Marcus, her parents. She was still on a high, after all its the biggest win of her career and her first in the salaried ranks, yeah she's got every right to be bouncing. By the look on Nita's face, their shared journey to Mettmann had been heavily laced with the 'telling' of the race in every minutae.

"We should make a move,” Dad hinted.
"I guess,” I sighed, "College in the morning, no rest for the wicked eh?”
"Thank's for feeding us Angela,” Kat mentioned.

Well you didn't think we'd escape with coffee and cake did you? I didn't see anyone turning down the Gulaschsuppe even if we did eat a good meal back in Hameln. We bade our farewells, Neet was staying with the Grönberg's for the night rather than driving home to Venlo, the four of us reluctantly returning to our transport for the last leg back to the Ahrtal.

Despite two cups of coffee at the Grönberg's, I was still a bit drowsy and I joined the already gentley snoring de Vreen in the land of slumber before we reached Köln. This time it was the slumber of the exhausted, no dreaming, no half measures, one minute I was looking at the strobe from us passing streetlighting, the next, nothing. We obviously made good time on the quiet roads as I was prodded back into consciousness in time to see the car clock roll from 23:59 to 00.00.

 
Maddy Bell © 10.05.2021