Phoenix Read Online Free

moment, sir,” Dr. V said to Grandfather. “Please excuse my rudeness. Greetings to you. I trust you recall we met at my brother’s wake. Allow me to assist.” He raised his arms to take my bike from Grandfather’s shoulder, but I rushed forward to take it.
    Dr. V stepped aside and grinned. “I would never let anyone touch my bike as a boy, either. I see that you ride a rigid aluminum frame, Phoenix. How … traditional. Have you ever tried full suspension?”
    “You mean like Ryan’s five-thousand-dollar carbon bike with more shocks than wheels?” I asked, unable tostop my sarcasm. Dr. V was really bugging me. “I don’t think so.”
    I walked to the bike rack attached to our pickup truck’s trailer hitch and began to secure my four-hundred-dollar bicycle. I could never afford a bike like Ryan’s.
    Dr. V stepped around the truck. “Actually, Ryan’s bike frame is made of magnesium, not carbon fiber, and it cost twelve thousand dollars. It’s state-of-the-art featherweight technology. Nothing but the best for my team members. You could ride one, too, if you play your cards right.”
    I stopped. “Huh?”
    “Have you ever heard of cyclocross?”
    I tried not to roll my eyes. Of course I’d heard of cyclocross. People race road bikes outfitted with mountain bike–type knobby tires over manmade courses that contain obstacles such as wooden barriers and sand pits. Sometimes they even race in snow. It’s ridiculous.
    “Cyclocross is essentially steeplechase on bicycles,” I said.
    “That’s right,” Dr. V replied. “I formed a European cyclocross team last year, Team Vanderhausen. Our slogan is ‘V equals Victory.’ To be honest, we didn’t do so well, so I’ve built a cutting-edge training facility here in the United States in Texas Hill Country, just outside of Austin. I’m recruiting new talent to try our luck on the American circuit. Ryan and I are flying down there tomorrow and we’ll be there all summer, preparing for the autumn cyclocross season. Would you be interested in coming down to train with us for a month or two? I amcurious to see if you’re as good as everyone says. They say you are as fast as an adult. I will pay all of your expenses, of course.”
    “What?” Ryan said indignantly, pushing himself away from the truck. “You never told me this. You want me to ride with
him
? No way!”
    Dr. V looked at Ryan. “Afraid of a little competition? I would have thought those vitamins you’ve been taking lately had grown some hair on your chest, along with all of those muscles.”
    Ryan looked as though he’d been slapped in the face. He stormed off. I saw a large woman climb out of an expensive sedan and begin to hurry after him. It was his mother. She caught up with Ryan and tried to put an arm around him, but he shoved her away, a look of disgust in his eyes.
    Ryan was being a total jerk. His mom had always been nice to Jake and me. I’d never seen Ryan act like this before, to her or anyone else.
    Dr. V looked at Grandfather and shrugged. “Irritable teens,” Dr. V said. “What can you do?”
    Grandfather said nothing. He removed the truck keys from the pants pocket of his sweat suit and opened the driver’s-side door. I finished securing my bike to the rack and headed for the passenger side.
    “Well?” Dr. V asked me. “Are you interested?”
    Part of me was flattered that he’d given me an invitation, but I had no interest in riding cyclocross. It was a silly sport. Even worse, Dr. V was creepy.
    “No, thanks,” I said, climbing into the truck.
    Dr. V reached into one of the water bottle pockets sewn into the back of his riding jersey and pulled out a business card. He handed the card to Grandfather and said, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
    Grandfather glanced at the card, then handed it to me. I could tell that he already sensed how I felt about the offer.
    “Would you like to go to Texas this summer, Phoenix?” Grandfather asked.
    “Nope,” I