Fang: A Maximum Ride Novel Read Online Free PDF

then his face hardened with determination. “Could I see your wings? I’ve never seen anyone else’s.”
    I thought about saying, You show me yours and I’ll show you mine, but I’d already seen his. I pushed a couple strawberries into my mouth and stood up. After making sure I had enough space — and I did, which shows you how big the Wonder Tent was — I shook my shoulders a little and unfolded my wings.
    Both Dylan and Dr. G-H stared.
    “They’re beautiful,” said Dylan, sounding kind of hoarse. “You really do have them … like me.”
    I folded my wings and sat down, feeling weird but not knowing why. “Actually, Dyl, you have them like me . I’ve had mine for fourteen years. Or so.”
    A smile played around Dylan’s symmetrical features. “Yes. I guess so. Either way, your wings are incredible. They’re perfect.”
    Now I was really uncomfortable, and slathered some butter onto my fourth croissant. Suddenly I just wanted to get out of there, to get back to the others. I’d been sneaking food into my pockets, and my jacket probably weighed several pounds by now. I took one last bite and stood up again.
    “Well, this has been fabulous,” I said, my mouth full. “But we better get going and perform more humanitarian aid.”
    “Please, stay,” begged Dylan.
    “Sorry, no can do,” I said briskly.
    “Max, we have so much more to talk about,” said Dr. Seersucker pleasantly.
    “Duty calls,” I said. “Ange?”
    In a smooth movement, the doctor stepped between me and the tent’s entrance. Reaching into his shirt pocket, he whipped out a syringe. “Just a minute, Max. It’s not that simple.”

15
    I SMILED MY EVIL itching-for-a-fight smile, wishing I hadn’t stuffed my pockets with bacon. This could get messy.
    “Max — wait,” Angel said. “He doesn’t mean us harm.”
    “And you know this beca —,” I began sarcastically, then realized that she probably did actually know that. Dylan had a familiar alertness, a tensing of muscles that made me wonder if he’d been trained for battle. I guessed I would find out.
    “Angel is right,” said Dr. G-H quickly. “This is my clumsy way of demonstrating.”
    “Demonstrating what?” I was barely able to keep a snarl out of my voice. “How to get yourself beat up in one easy step?”
    “No,” said Dr. G-H. “Demonstrating the wonders of modern science. Watch.”
    And with that he rolled up one sleeve and swiftly injected himself with the hypo. It was something new and different, to watch a scientist experiment on himself. I liked it.
    Within moments the doctor gasped, wide-eyed, sucking in breath. He groaned and staggered a bit, holding his throat, then sank down into a chair.
    Angel was eating a banana and watching him avidly. I sent her a question: What’s going on?
    She looked at me and shrugged. No clue.
    I sat down and snagged another cup of coffee and a muffin, since it looked like this might take a while.
    For several minutes the doctor hunched over, grimacing. Then he managed to speak in wheezy gasps. “I’ve injected … a rare strain of virus … that is … going to cause a rather … shocking reaction.”
    “What you science types do for fun,” I said with false cheer. Having grown up in a lab, I associated the words rare virus with hazmat suits. I wanted out of there.
    He frowned. “Clearly not for fun. But for progress. Sometimes progress is … painful. Now, watch.”
    Sweat broke out on his brow, and his face turned bright red. And get ready for this most horrific next part, kids: All at once, his skin erupted in grotesque pustules.
    I jumped up. “Outta here, dudes!”
    “No, wait, Max!” he gasped hoarsely. “The miracle is about to begin.”
    The only reasons I didn’t do an up-and-away were (a) it’s hard in a tent, and (b) when I did a double take, I saw that the doc’s pustules were already shrinking.
    Could I have imagined it? I sat back down shakily.
    “To explain it in very basic lay terms,” he went