– CHAPTER TWO –
Gomez
The day after the attack, Kako and Gomez would still have to participate in the race in São Paulo. Despite the damage to the warehouses, the organization of the International Circuit managed to reallocate resources and move forward with the competition. The media reported what had happened without mentioning the presence of the spiritual creature. For the general public, the tragedy was announced as a possible sabotage or terrorist act, which generated great worldwide repercussions.
On Saturday afternoon, the drivers had to resume training in order to define the starting order. Kako was able to retry his qualifying laps and ended up getting the third place in the starting grid, behind only Gomez and Japanese driver Matsuda. At the end of the training, Kako went after Gomez to ask more questions about the amulets.
The director of the organization came to Brazil for an extraordinary meeting with the teams. He wanted to guide them so that no information leaked and encourage them not to abandon the race despite the panic generated. At the end of the meeting, two members of the committee intercepted Gomez and asked him to accompany him to a room so he could talk to the director.
All the other pilots were curious about what the director would say to Gomez. Kako suspected that they would try to instruct him not to pass the information on to the press.
In the lodge's cafeteria, Kako was already halfway through his dinner. Some of his teammates sat around and tried to have small talk, but he didn't pay much attention to them. Matsuda was seated at the table in front of him and occasionally gave him curious looks. That was when Gomez appeared through the door, went to the central table and started to serve himself. Several heads turned in his direction, because his return from the meeting aroused their interest. Then Gomez went towards Kako and sat down next to him.
"A year ago, a woman named Clarice bumped into me in London to talk about the Bull Amulet. I didn't give a damn."
"I got this amulet from my mother. Did you also get yours from your family?"
"You know who my father was, don't you?"
"I know him by name but I never went beyond that."
Gomez's father was Spanish piloto Lorenzo Gomez, who had died in a huge pileup a decade earlier. When Gomez entered the main category of Formula 1, the newspapers reported the return of the Gomez family to the tracks.
"My father was Formula 1 world champion four times in a row".
"Just like Pietro".
"Just like Pietro. Pietro, however, is still alive".
Pietro was the current director of the World Formula 1 Organization. Despite having won the same amount of titles, it was Lorenzo who made history as the biggest racer in the category.
"My father died during the great pileup on the United States Circuit at the peak of his career. I was only six,” continued Gomez.
"So far I know."
"Before he died, he handed me this amulet that I carry today. He called it the Bull's Amulet."
"What does that mean?"
"He was its guardian. And he was waiting for me to grow up to trust it to me. However, he died before I was old enough."
"Did your father have abilities… you know"
"Yes, but not like mine. I was born with them, my father only had them when carrying the Bull's Amulet."
"What is this amulet capable of doing?"
"It depends, it can conjure attacks, but it is also able to strengthen the powers of those who have supernatural abilities."
"That's why that black bird wanted it..."
"Black birds are wandering spirits invoked by people who deal with dark magic".
"So that beast would take the amulet to someone who is still alive somewhre..."
"Yes, someone very important. That's why I need to teach you to fight back and protect yourself as soon as possible."
"Me, fight?"
"Yes, I reckon that you have some supernatural ability like me, since you received the amulet from your mother. We need to find out which exactly. Did you ever notice anything different about you?"
"Nunquinha", Kako said in portuguese, meaning never ever.
"Perhaps the time has not yet come. You are too young. But anyway, the wandering spirits will attack again, it is certain. I need you to be ready. Before…"
Kako feared for what Gomez would say next. He never imagined being in a situation like that, much less risking something so terrible to happen.
"Before what?
"Before it gets into the hands of someone wicked and the situation becomes irreversible," Gomez replied.
"What's the woman's name… The one from London?" continued Kako.
"Quiet, no one should know that we are going after her. Her name is Clarice - whispered Gomez, "She is one of the last people alive to know the side… say, my father's mystic side."
"Were there other people like him?"
"Yes, they are part of an ancient order or something, but they were executioned one by one. She is one of the few survivors."
It was all too much information for Kako. He forgot the details as soon as he heard it and felt like asking Gomez the same question over and over, but he knew that his colleague didn't have time to explain it to him all the time.
"Can I say something? I always thought you hated me" said Kako.
"Me, hate you?"
"Yes, you are always competing for the best position and several times took me off the podium. I thought I posed a threat to you, that's why I ignored you that day".
"My only competition is with myself".
Gomez finished his meal and got up without saying goodbye. Matsuda, the Japanese pilot, watched discreetly from the other table. Kako spent the rest of that day, reflecting on everything that had happened. In his bedroom, he couldn't do anything relaxing. He showered and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling for hours. The next day, there would be a race and he needed to be as calm as possible, as he would start in third position.
******
Enjoying so far? Thanks for reading chapter two. Can you help me with the translation? The original is in portuguese so if you find anything weird, let me know in the comments. Thank you!
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