Episode 3

3

By dusk, we'd crossed over a chunk of Pennsylvania, and a thin spit of ocean twined below us, between New Jersey and Delaware. "Look at this, kids, were learning geography!" Fang called out with mock excitement. Since we'd never been to school, most of what we'd learned was from television or the Internet. And, these days, from the little-know-it-all Voice in my head.

Soon, we'd be over Washington DC. Which was pretty much where my plan stopped. For tonight, all I worried about was food and a place to sleep. Tommorow I would have time to study the info we'd forgotten from the Institute. I'd been so thrilled when we'd hacked to the Institute's computers. Pages of information about our actual had scrolled across the screen. I'd manage to print out a bunch of it before we'd been interrupted.

Who knew - by this time, tomorrow we might be on someone's doorstep, about to come face-to-face with the parents who had lost us so long ago. It sent shivers down my spine.

I was tired, we were all tired, So when I did an automatic 360 and saw a weird dark cloud heading toward us, my groan was deep and sincere.

"Fang, what's that? Behind us, at ten o'clock."

He frowned, checking it out, "Too fast for a storm cloud. Too small, too quiet for choppers. Not birds, too lumpy." He looked at me. " I give up, what is it?"

"Trouble." I said grimly, "Angel gat out of the way, guys heads up! We've got company!"

We swung around to face whatever is coming. Fast!

"Flying monkeys?" the Gasman called out a guess. "Like the Wizard of Oz?"

It dawned on me then. "No," I said tersely. "Worse, flying Erasers."

4

Yep, flying Erasers. These Erasers had wings, which was a new and revolting development on the Eraser front. Half-wolf, half-human, and now half-avian? That couldn't be a happy mix! and they were headed at our way about eighty-miles an hour.

" Erasers, version 6.5." Fang said.

Split up Max! Think 3-D. Said my Voice.

"Split up!" I ordered. " Nudge, Gazzy! Nine o'clock! Angel, up to top! Move it! Iggy and Fang, flank me from below! Fang, ditch the dog!"

"Nooo, Fang! " screeched Angel.

The Erasers slowed as soon as we fanned out. they're huge, heavy, looking wings backbeating the air. It was almost pitch-black now, with no moon and no city lights below. I was still able to see they're teeth, they're pointed fangs, they're smiles of excitement. They were on a hunt, it was party time..

Here we go, I thought, feeling andrenaline speeding up my heart. I launched myself at the biggest one, swinging my feet under me to smash against it's chest. He rolled back but righted himself and came at me again, claws slashing the air.

I bobbed, feeling his paws whip past right my face. I turned sharply just in time to have a hard hairy fist crash into my head.

I dropped ten feet quickly, then surged back up on the offensive.

On my peripheral vision, I saw Fang clapped both hands hard against an Eraser's furry ears. The Eraser screamed, holding his head, and started to lose altitude. Fang had Total on his backpack. He rolled out of harm's way, and I took his place , catching another Eraser in the mouth with a hard side kick.

I grabbed one of his arms, twisting it violently in back of him. It was harder in the air, but then I heard a loud pop.

The Eraser screamed and dropped, careening down hard until he caught himself and flew clumsily away, one arm dangling.

Above me an Eraser lashed out at Nudge, but dhe dodged out of the way.

Max? Size isn't everything. Said the Voice.

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