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Chapters (83)
  1. Copyright Page
  2. Prologue
  3. Part One
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. Part Two
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. 64
  69. 65
  70. 66
  71. 67
  72. 68
  73. 69
  74. 70
  75. 71
  76. 72
  77. 73
  78. 74
  79. 75
  80. 76
  81. Epilogue
  82. A Preview of "Witch & Wizard"
  83. 1

“You do not know what they are really up to,” he went on. “They are just using you to promote their own agenda.”

“They’re paying us in doughnuts,” I felt compelled to point out.

“I represent a group of very powerful, very wealthy businessmen from around the world,” said Mr. Chu.

“Of course you do,” I said soothingly, trying to look for an exit without being too obvious.

“We are the only ones who really know what is going on.”

“Of course you are.”

There was a tiny skylight. Could I — oh. Max no fly. Bummer.

“There is an apocalypse coming,” said Mr. Chu, seeming to grow more and more agitated.

“You’re not the first person who’s told me that.”

“It is true! My group will survive the apocalypse. We are the only ones who will not become extinct after the world leaders succeed in their quest to destroy one another.”

“Kinda makes you wish you were a world leader yourself, huh,” I said sympathetically.

Smack!

My lightning-fast reflexes had let me whip my head to one side as he lunged forward, but he still gave me a good clip on the cheek. Slowly I straightened, feeling my cheek burn, my rage growing.

“You stupid, arrogant girl.” He almost spit. “If you and your flock will join our group, then you will not be hunted down and destroyed. We can use you on our team. But if you keep up with the wisecracks and your stupidity, you will soon be eliminated. There will be no room for you in the new world.”

“Again, not new information,” I snarled, my fists clenched at my side. “The flock and I aren’t for sale, Chuey. So all I can say is, Bring it!”

I braced for all of them to leap on me, steel-hard fists adding to Mr. Chu’s unconvincing argument. Instead, the man leaned closer. He smelled of cigarettes.

“I am sorry that you and the flock will be dead soon. But my scientists will enjoy taking you apart to find out what makes you tick.”

“If your scientists take me apart,” I said solemnly, “clearly, I won’t be ticking anymore.”

Mr. Chu was practically steaming with anger, but he stuck to his script. “You may think I am dreaming, but I am not. What I say is true. It is as real as the pain in your wing and on your face. And speaking of pain, Maximum… you should know that we are experts in the art of persuasion.”

“Pain fades,” I said slowly. “But being a nutcase seems to stick around. Guess who got the better deal here?”

The last thing I remember is Mr. Chu’s face blazing with fury.

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