Run into Trouble

feet. That slowed them down, but speed was the least of his worries.
    Soon they were passing a row of houses that were right on the beach. Piles of dark rocks formed a wall in front of them—a breakwater, evidently to ward off extra-high tides. Casey was sitting on one of the rocks. Had he given up already?
    He rose as they approached and fell into stride beside Drake. He didn’t look winded at all. He was wearing dark glasses against the August sun.
    “I’m worried about you.”
    “Nothing to worry about. Either I can do it or I can’t. I figure today’s run is the equivalent of perhaps half a marathon. Challenging but not conclusive since we’re going to be running daily marathons soon. We put a man on the moon in July. This can’t be any harder than that.”
    Casey laughed. “Giganticorp helped create the technology for the space program. Fred is setting up an appointment with a chiropractor for you after you cross the bridge. We should be able to get you one every day as long as we’re in the populated area of Southern California.”
    “Thanks, but it’s going to take more than a chiropractor, I’m afraid. Like rest.”
    “Rest is the one thing I can’t promise you, although you’ll get a day off from time to time.” Casey grinned at Drake. “But I know you’ll stick it out. You’ve done harder things in your life.”
    From the other side of Drake, Melody said, “Why should we stick it out if we have no chance of winning the money?”
    Casey’s face had a look of surprise, whether real or feigned Drake didn’t know. “I don’t believe that for a minute. You’ve got the experience and persistence the others don’t have. They can run a single marathon, but can they run a marathon day after day without burning out? Do they know how to pace themselves? I figure you two should know how to do that. When they start to fade, you’ll eat them up.”
    Right. What did he mean about experience and persistence? That Drake was the oldest entrant and thus had more life experience? Age wasn’t a plus here. He had other questions. “Why teams? Running is an individual sport.”
    “Practical considerations. A lot of the California coast is pretty desolate, and we don’t have the manpower to keep track of every runner all the time. We figured that you have an incentive to stay with your teammate and make sure he’s okay.”
    “I understand that all the runners are from California, except Melody. Why did you pick her?”
    “Don’t you like having Melody as a teammate?”
    That was a non-answer. Drake and Melody glanced at each other.
    Casey must have seen the look. He turned on his ingratiating smile.
    “I heard somewhere that you two already knew each other and figured that you might like to run together.”
    Drake and Melody exchanged another look. Casey was in effect admitting that he had access to classified information. Either that or he knew somebody who had known them in England. Whatever the truth, they couldn’t probe without being in danger of violating their personal secrecy prohibitions. They couldn’t even admit they had known each other before yesterday.
    Drake pulled a canteen from a small pouch strapped to his waist and took a couple of swallows of water without slowing down. He decided to change the subject. “I’m concerned that whoever hit the taxi yesterday—”
    “May try again. Don’t sweat it. As long as you’re part of Running California you’re under the protection of Giganticorp. You’re safe.”
    It was the second time he’d said that. Melody moved over so that she was on the other side of Casey. “You just said yourself that parts of the California coast are desolate, and you don’t have enough Peaches clones to patrol them.”
    “I’ll tell you what. If either of you gets injured in any kind of attack, I’ll give you a million dollars. How’s that for a guarantee?”
    Drake smiled. “My sister will love it. But it won’t do me any good if I’m six feet under.”
    “You’re not chickening out, are you? After the firefights you survived in Korea?”
    Giganticorp had investigated his military career. Found out about Melody. Now Casey was appealing to his manhood. He really wanted Drake on this run. Why? Something to think about. He changed the subject again.
    “I wonder if a really high tide ever reaches those houses we passed.”
    Casey took in the entire beach around them with a sweep of his hand. “This belongs to everyone. Nobody should be