Pegasus and the New Olympians by Kate O'Hearn Read Free Book Online Page A

she introduced quickly. ‘She is the Sphinx of Olympus.’
    Agent T groaned. ‘More damn Olympians? Not again.’
    A second man charged into the room. ‘What’s going on in here?’
    Emily turned and saw Earl standing in the doorway. Like Agent T, he had changed since the last time she saw him. His light hair was dyed black and his beard was gone. They were obviously trying to disguise themselves to hide from the CRU. But there was no mistaking the sparkle in his eyes. There were no traces of the severe burns he’d received at the destruction of the Red Apple rest stop.
    ‘Earl! I’m so glad to see you!’
    Earl’s eyes flew open at the sight of Pegasus and the others crammed into his small lounge. ‘Emily!’ He ran over and scooped her up in his arms. ‘I’ve been so darn worried about you!’ His eyes went to everyone in the room. ‘About all of you.’
    ‘We’re doing good,’ Joel answered. ‘But we really need your help.’
    ‘Help?’ Earl said as he crossed to Pegasus and patted the stallion’s neck. ‘Hiya, big fella.’ He turned back to Joel. ‘What’s wrong?’
    Emily looked from Earl to Agent T. ‘Actually, I’m glad you are here too because we think the CRU are involved with something horrific.’
    Agent T stepped away from the Sphinx and approached Emily. ‘Whatever it is, I don’t want to know about it. I haven’t been with the agency since you started that mess up in Tuxedo, New York. The CRU have been searching for us ever since. Earl and I are in hiding. We’ve changed our names countless times and had to take awful jobs just to survive. Look at this dump. I’ve got multiple degrees and was a high-ranking CRU agent. What am I doing now? Because of you, I’m a janitor.’
    Emily bristled. ‘Don’t go blaming us. We didn’t start that mess in Tuxedo – you did, when you took my father!’
    Agent T stood defiantly erect. Despite his messy long hair, tattered robe and bare feet, he was still an imposing sight. ‘We wouldn’t have taken your father if you hadn’t caused all that trouble in New York. Do you have any idea how much chaos those Nirads caused us? We had to buy off most of the city officials and threaten the newspapers.’
    ‘That wasn’t our fault either!’ Emily cried.
    Pegasus nickered softly. Paelen came forward and put his hand on her shoulder. ‘Emily, calm down. That is in the past. Pegasus says we must focus on our mission.’
    Emily looked back at the stallion and nodded. She took a deep, steadying breath. ‘You’re right.’
    ‘So why are you here?’ Earl asked. ‘What have the CRU done now?’
    Joel answered. ‘We think they may have created a clone from Pegasus. It’s that racehorse who won the Triple Crown?’
    ‘Tornado Warning?’ Earl asked. ‘You think that there horse was created by the CRU?’
    Emily nodded. ‘He’s too much like Pegasus.’
    ‘But cloning ain’t possible,’ Earl insisted. ‘I know he’s broken records and all, but it can’t be. Besides, Tornado is grey.’
    Agent T stood beside Earl. ‘A horse can be dyed,’ he said. ‘Look at what these kids did to Pegasus last year. And I’m afraid to say, cloning is very possible. The CRU scientists have been doing it on a small scale for years. If they had enough genetic material from Pegasus it would be the obvious thing to do.’
    Earl’s eyes flashed open and he snapped his fingers. ‘Hey, do you think them others could be—’
    Agent T shook his head and flashed Earl a quick warning. ‘Later …’
    Emily studied Agent T’s face and Earl’s reaction. Something was going on between them. Just as she was about to ask, Chrysaor came forward and knocked Agent T backwards as he made several loud and angry squeals.
    ‘Don’t you squeal at me, pig!’ Agent T fumed as he recovered. ‘I’m not the one doing it. I told you, I left the CRU.’
    ‘Chrysaor, please,’ Joel said. ‘Losing your temper isn’t helping.’ He concentrated on Agent T. ‘Why would they