Max (Maximum Ride 5)

"Do things just develop like that on you?" Dr. Akana sounded fascinated. How scientisty of her.

I nodded. "I mean, not all the time, you know," I said, feeling embarrassed by the crewman, who was obviously trying not to look shocked. "But every so often, something new happens or changes on one or more of us. Like we were programmed to keep evolving."

"That is so amazing," said Dr. Akana softly. "You are truly special and unique, Max."

I felt my cheeks grow warm, as the "circus sideshow freak" factor rose by the second.

A quick movement caught our eyes. I swiveled to see an enormous shark making its way toward us. Its tail was slicing back and forth, its head wagging as if looking for prey.

"Uh-oh," said the crewman. "You better get that little girl out of there."

"Yeah." Angel? Big shark alert. I thought hard. I can't actually send my own thoughts, but Angel usually monitors stuff going on around her.

We watched as she paused in midpirouette to look for the shark. They spotted each other at the same time. The shark took only a second to sum up Angel as being snackworthy and immediately began a fast, efficient approach.

"Crewman!" said Dr. Akana. "Put the Triton between Angel and the shark!"

The crewman immediately began to maneuver our small vehicle, even as he said, "Not sure the Triton can withstand an attack from a shark that size, ma'am."

Angel faced the shark, looking at it intently. She held up one hand as Dr. Akana winced, bracing for the worst. I sat frozen.

The shark paused. Angel swam up to it. I heard the crewman suck in a breath, heard Dr. Akana praying softly. The shark stayed still, and Angel ran her hand gently along its head. It rubbed against her like a huge, toothy dog. Angel turned to grin at us.

"Okay, folks. Show's over," I said. "Let's get back to the Minnesota."

54

YOU'VE GOT TO quit just thinking about yourself!" I said as Angel stuck out her bottom lip and crossed her arms over her chest.

And you've got to start paying more attention to her, said the Voice. And to what she's saying.

"Oh, like I don't already?" I snapped aloud, then saw Angel's look of confusion. I shook my head. "Never mind. But I was worried sick while you were out there!"

"You're worrying about the wrong things, Max," said Angel. "You should be trying to breathe under water and taking care of yourself. You don't have to worry about me."

"It's my job to worry about you!" I said, shocked. "It always has been!" Angel had been about two years old when Jeb kidnapped us from the School. He hadn't known what to do with her. Guess who took care of her night and day? And every day since then? Right. Moi.

Angel looked sad. "We're family, Max. I'm not a job."

"That's not what I mean, and you know it," I said.

"Okay, let's break it up," said Fang from behind me, making me jump. I hadn't heard him come in, as usual. "Angel, you're still a little kid, and Max is the leader. Don't forget that."

Angel looked chastised. "Well, I'm going to go get into some dry clothes. Come on, Total. Let me tell you about everything I saw out there."

"Could we talk about something else?" said Total, as he trotted after her, jumping over the door's threshold. "Like, modern art? Or my latest issue of Wine Spectator magazine? Fish and me—we don't mix. It really seems more like a feline thing."

I watched them go, thinking for the millionth time that things had been so much easier when it had been just the six of us, on our own.

"You handled that really well, Fang," said—you guessed it—Brigid. I tried not to gag as she patted his arm approvingly. Fang shot me a smug look over her shoulder, knowing it would make my blood pressure rise. I thought about the last time he'd made my blood pressure rise (in a completely different way) and felt a warm flush stain my cheeks.

I looked at Fang. "Can we have a meeting? With the flock?"

He nodded.

"That's a good idea," Brigid said. "I'd like to ask you—"

"This is flock business," I said abruptly.