Maximum Ride Forever by James Patterson Read Free Book Online Page B

behind his eyes as if on a screen—images of art and scholarly assessments feeding into his thoughts—and the Horseman couldn’t help grinning as he got to the interpretations.
    He thought of the brooding doctor, his creator. Had his master understood the multiple meanings when he’d named A10103 his first Horseman? Did he know that the white horse could stand for both righteousness
and
evil?
    It was going to be fun finding out.

16
    YOU’D THINK DISCOVERING there were other people alive out there would leave us hopeful, revitalized, and closer than ever, right? Well, then you wouldn’t be taking into account what happens when a bunch of raging egos try to make decisions. Instead, it led to the worst knock-down, drag-out argument the flock had ever had.
    “So, I guess we go to Pennsylvania first,” Iggy said. We were rummaging through the claustrophobic little cabin, taking stock of the supplies. “From what that Tunnelratt kid said, it sounds like there are more survivors there.”
    “The survivors aren’t the issue,” Fang said. He was still holding the tablet, trying to get the thing turned back on. “The killers are. Why not try to find these H-men dudes first? Find out if they’re just random bots, or connectedto something bigger.” He was all action, which was how I usually operated, too. “I think we should head to the coasts and—”
    “We’re going to Russia,” Angel said out of the blue. She pulled her head out of a lower cupboard she had cleared out, and now sat among some rusted, battered pots and pans that wouldn’t even be of use to whack someone with.
    “That’s stupid.” Gazzy dismissed his little sister as he stood on a chair to reach the upper shelf of a closet. “Ooh, tea tree oil. Gotta be flammable. Why would we go to Russia? You saw those comments. People said all of Europe might be wrecked.”
    “It isn’t,” Angel said authoritatively. “And if you want to know the truth about what happened, you’ll follow me.”
    “Let me guess.
‘I’m the big-shot psychic and I know everything.’
” Gazzy mimicked Angel’s voice perfectly, and Nudge giggled, then winced in pain. “Okay, Ange, don’t hold out on us. Go on, tell us what
mysterious
future awaits us in Russia.” He wiggled his fingers and made his eyebrows jump.
    Gazzy had always been protective of Angel, but clearly some tension had been building between them. Angel was definitely not smiling. She crossed her arms over her chest but didn’t answer.
    “That’s what I thought.” Gazzy snickered as he jumped off the chair with his find.
    She stared at him evenly. “I know it’s hard when some of us are developing even more extraordinary powers andyou’re still trying to control your
hilarious
toxic farts, but don’t you think you should grow up,
Gas
man?”
    Gazzy looked at Angel in surprise. They were standing toe to toe now, blue-eyed mirrors of each other, and I was getting a little nervous—a threatened Angel is an unpredictable Angel. I looked at Iggy. He’d always been so good at neutralizing tension, but his jaw was set tight as he let it build and build.
    “
I’m
the one who needs to grow up?” Gazzy said. His cheeks were flushed with anger. “First you were just loooving being Max’s precious little baby, and now you pull this ‘I’m the Chosen One’ crap every time you don’t get your way.”
    “I know what I’m talking about!” Angel stamped her foot.
    “Oh, are we going to have a tantrum now?” Gazzy taunted.
    “Okayyy,” I said, and blew out a frustrated breath. “Let’s just all take a step back here. Ange, honey, I know you haven’t been sleeping. Maybe you just need some rest.”
    “We’re all going to Russia!” Angel shouted.
    “I’m going to the US!” her brother raged back.
    “
I’m
not going anywhere,” Nudge said. “Whatever’s out there…” She glanced toward the door and touched a hand to her cheek, where the blood had soaked through the cloth again.