Out the way!' The group scattered, but the kid on the ground sat up and tried to crawl away, and I was forced to jump over him, losing my footing as I landed back on the pavement and stumbling forward onto my hands and knees. Behind me I heard laughter, but I didn't have time to worry about that as I ran on, my breathing getting heavier all the time as the full enormity of my unfitness finally became apparent. Up ahead twenty yards away at least, probably more -Fanner had stopped by a battered old BMW and was fishing round in his pocket for the key. I made a final burst, ignoring the pain in my lungs, knowing that I'd hardly have the strength to stand up, let alone nick him, by the time we were face to face, but knowing that I couldn't stop. Glory beckoned. He found the key, opened the door and jumped inside. I was ten yards away now. The engine coughed and roared into life, and he reversed straight into the car behind him, smashing its headlights. Eight yards, six, four ... He turned the wheel as far as it would go, at the same time moving forward, but a car coming the other way prevented him from pulling out.
