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Chapter 15
The morning of the long-anticipated test arrived. Jana would finally see how her invention worked in the hands of a pro athlete. She was glad it was Coley, someone she trusted. She needed honest feedback and required that the tester be experienced and competent.
Thaddeus made sure that Jana arrived early. It was a very important day. As she walked toward the club, she felt a thrill. The biathlon combined the physical challenge of cross-country skiing with the psychological demands of rifle marksmanship. The origins dated back to hunting and military campaigns in snow-covered regions.
Jana considered it a heroic sport. It was the natural way people had skied long before downhill skiing came into vogue. She’d become close friends with Coley when they’d competed at a high level in their twenties. Even over the age of thirty, Coley was strong and fit. She was a good choice for testing the microchip.
The recent snow covered the mountain trails. The club had a snow-making machine, since skiing was offered year-round. But Jana preferred the real deal. It added to the atmosphere of the event that the snow-packed hills were due to nature.
“I stored a set of skis here,” Jana said. “That way, I don’t have to lug them around.”
Thaddeus nodded. “The shooting part of this event is what I’m not keen on, but I know it’s mandatory.”
“That’s what this whole thing is about.” Jana looked up at him. “The key is to see if Coley can better her time using my biofeedback device.” She paused. “And if it makes you feel better, she will be using an air rifle. A blast of air will hit the target, not a bullet.”
“I’m aware of that,” Thaddeus said. “But it doesn’t mean a regular .22 couldn’t be carried at the event. If it was custom made to look like the others, it would be difficult to spot.”
“I guess that’s possible,” Jana said. “If it was made to look like the biathlon rifles.” She pondered that.
The space-age-looking rifles used in the event were designed to perform in the most brutal course conditions at temperatures below zero. And the bolt action was unusual, allowing the competitor to pull the bolt back with the trigger finger to remain perfectly on target due to minimal hand and finger movement.
“Those rifles stand out, though. The bolt action doesn’t even look like a regular rifle.” Jana was about to say that Thaddeus was overly concerned, but she’d had enough close calls to know better. If he thought there was a chance that her enemy would smuggle a real rifle disguised as a biathlon rifle, then she had to believe it.
At the start line, Jana went over to Coley. “Are you all set?”
“I’m as ready as I can be.” Coley wore a harness; the backpack-like straps allowed her to carry her rifle on her shoulders.
Jana glanced at the hinge at the end of the rifle barrel with a metal flap over the muzzle. The cover would keep snow from entering the barrel, but could be flipped open prior to setting up on the range.
Then she saw Coley’s husband walk over. “Michael, good to see you,” Jana said, and gave him a hug. He was tall and handsome, also a skier. They’d been married for five years, and he’d been good for Coley.
Michael greeted everyone, then met Thaddeus. He hugged his wife. “I’ll be here for moral support.”
Coley beamed, and Jana looked up at Thaddeus. “She’s got one up on me,” she said, motioning toward Michael. “She found this great guy and married him.” Then she balked, realizing the comment might have made Thaddeus uncomfortable.
If it had, Thaddeus didn’t show any sign of it. “Glad to meet you,” he said, then guided Jana toward the lodge, so they could get their gear on.
“I can’t tell if I’m anxious or excited,” Jana said. “I just want this to happen already. It’s a big moment.”
“It’s a big deal,” Thaddeus said. “I know how hard it is to consistently hit small targets while under pressure. When your heart is thumping at a hundred and eighty beats per minute, it seems impossible to hit targets the size of silver dollars.”
“And from both standing and prone positions.” Jana had done it many times. She’d had to fire between heartbeats, as it wasn’t feasible to calm down quickly enough after a ski run. But what if it was?
That was what her invention was all about. Coley had practiced with it, learning to calm her heartbeat. But doing so in competition might be different; the stresses were different. To make it realistic, other skiers would compete, but only Coley would have the microchip to assist her.
At the lodge, Jana ran into Rakel. He had competed in the sport years ago. It was one thing they’d had in common. He was also a ski tech and had worked on her skis many times. After the divorce, she’d employed a different tech.
It was a nerve-racking day, so seeing her ex was annoying. “What are you doing here?”
Rakel smirked. “I ski at this club too, you know.” He glanced at Thaddeus then back at Jana. “I had to come and see the fun.” He shrugged. “It’s not every day that the entire morning is reserved. When I checked that out, I learned about your trial.”
“You seem to know a lot about my business.”
“I try to.”
Jana waved her hand. “Well, stay away from me. I need to focus.” She glanced back at Rakel, who hadn’t moved. “And don’t interfere…please.”
Once Jana picked up her skis and Thaddeus rented a pair, she headed back to the ski area. There weren’t many spectators, since it was a private event. But she saw Coley preparing at the start line. The run would be managed by a professional, since it was better if Jana wasn’t involved.
