“How are you, son?”
“I’m good. I’m really good.”
“I have missed you so much. They say you’re coming back now. I can’t wait to see you.”
“Me too.”
“I have so much to tell you. Things I can’t tell you over the radio.” She paused. “Oh, Michael. I’m so proud of you. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
“They’re telling me I need to go, but is Ostin there?”
“He’s right here,” I said.
“I’m here, Mrs. Vey,” Ostin said.
“There’s someone here who would like to say hello.”
Another woman’s voice came on. “Hello? How does this work? Can he hear me?”
“Just talk, Ruth.”
“Are you sure? Ostin? Are you there?”
“Mom! Dad!” Ostin shouted.
“You’re there,” Mrs. Liss said.
“How are you, son?” Mr. Liss asked.
“I’m good. We’re all good.”
“We’re so relieved,” Mrs. Liss said. “You know how I worry.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“They’re saying we need to go,” Mr. Liss said. “We’re proud of you, son. And we’ll see you soon.”
“We don’t know where in the world you are,” Mrs. Liss said. “But you be careful. And don’t forget to brush. Gingivitis is the silent killer.”
“Gingivitis?” McKenna mouthed.
Ostin blushed. “Okay. I’ll see you soon.”
For a moment the radio went dead. Then another voice came on. The voice.
“Congratulations, Electroclan. Well done. You never cease to amaze. We are all looking forward to seeing you again.” He paused. “I would like to share with you some developments in our cause.
“There is a nine-year-old girl from the province of Guangdong, China. Her name is Lin YuLong. In English that means jade dragon. She is a child prodigy. Her IQ is 182, higher than Einstein’s.”
“That’s higher than mine,” Ostin mumbled.
“Two weeks ago she started posting a thesis on her blog about an experiment she was working on. In English, her thesis was called ‘The Theoretical Transference and Electrification of the Human Nervous System.’ ”
“Whatever that means,” Taylor said.
“What it means,” the voice said, “is that she figured out how the MEI works and why it made you electric but not the other children.”
“That’s what Hatch has been looking for,” Ostin said.
“Exactly,” the voice said. “And apparently he’s found it. By the time we discovered the blog, the posting was nine days old. YuLong was kidnapped three days ago.”
“I see where this is going,” Ostin said.
“I’m sure you do,” the voice said. “This has always been Hatch’s master plan. If he can produce hundreds of thousands of electric children, all under his control, it’s over.”
“So now what?” I asked.
“We believe that the Elgen are holding YuLong in their Taiwan Starxource plant, waiting for their science ship, the Volta, to arrive in the South Pacific, where they can put her to work. We can’t let that happen.”
“You want us to go to Taiwan and rescue her?” I said.
“After all you’ve just come through, I know that’s asking a lot. But you’re our best hope.”
I looked around the room. No one spoke for a moment, then Jack said, “I’m in.”
“I’m not leaving you again,” Abigail said. “I’m going.”
“YOLO,” Zeus said. “In.”
“I’m there,” Ian said.
“All right,” Tessa said. “You guys are crazy, but I’m in.”
“Of course,” McKenna said. “You need me. I’m Chinese. I’ve got the perfect cover.”
“Ostin?” I said.
“No-brainer,” he replied. “You know how I love Chinese food.”
I looked at Taylor. She just looked at me for a moment, then shook her head and groaned. “I’m in. It’s been at least an hour since my life was in mortal danger. I was already getting bored.”
I kissed her on the cheek. “All right,” I said. “Looks like we’re in. Let’s find Jade Dragon.”
Are you a Veyniac?
For Michael Vey trivia, sneak peeks, and events in your area,
follow Michael and the rest of the Electroclan at:
WWW.MICHAELVEY.COM.
RICHARD PAUL EVANS
is the #1 bestselling author of the Michael Vey series, The Christmas Box, and the Walk series, as well as more than twenty other books. All his novels have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, and there are more than seventeen million copies in print. His books have been translated into more than twenty-four languages and several have been international bestsellers. He is the winner of the American Mothers Book Award, and two first-place Storytelling World Awards for his children’s books.
Join the Electroclan! Follow Michael Vey and the entire Electroclan at: MICHAELVEY.COM.
Follow Michael Vey on Facebook and on Twitter @MICHAELVEY.
SIMON PULSE • SIMON & SCHUSTER, NEW YORK
MERCURY INK, NEW YORK
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ALSO BY RICHARD PAUL EVANS
MICHAEL VEY
THE PRISONER OF CELL 25
MICHAEL VEY
RISE OF THE ELGEN
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
SIMON PULSE / MERCURY INK
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
First Simon Pulse/Mercury Ink hardcover edition September 2013
Simon Pulse and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Mercury Ink is a trademark of Mercury Radio Arts, Inc.
The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.
Interior designed by Mike Rosamilia The text of this book was set in Berling LT std.
This book has been cataloged with the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978-1-4424-7511-3
ISBN 978-1-4424-7513-7 (eBook)
Author photo by Debra MacFarlane
Jacket design by Jessica Handelman Jacket illustration copyright © 2013 by Owen Richardson
Contents
Prologue
Part 1
Chapter 1: A Bad Dream
Chapter 2: Number Fifteen
Chapter 3: A Rushed Departure
Chapter 4: A Surprise Reunion
Chapter 5: Into the Darkness
Chapter 6: A Wet Day
Part 2
Chapter 7: The Surrender of the Magicians
Chapter 8: Interrogations
Chapter 9: A Clever Distraction
Chapter 10: Out of the Frying Pan
Part 3
Chapter 11: An Electrical Storm
Chapter 12: The Takeover
Chapter 13: Mutiny
Chapter 14: C10 Information
Chapter 15: The Dragon and Its Beast
Part 4
Chapter 16: Against the Current
Chapter 17: Rock Slide
Chapter 18: On the Move
Chapter 19: Bounty Hunter
Chapter 20: Ele
Chapter 21: The Loss
Chapter 22: The Next Step
Chapter 23: Final Salute
Chapter 24: An Ugly Mob
Chapter 25: The Blue Door
Chapter 26: Miraflores
Chapter 27: The Calm Before the Storm
Chapter 28: Two Paths
Chapter 29: Another Farewell
Chapter 30: Mind Reading
Chapter 31: Sinking the Ampere
Chapter 32: Waffles and Dodds
Chapter 33: Silo Practice
Chapter 34: Yachts and Fishing Boats
Chapter 35: Time
Chapter 36: A Change in Plans
Chapter 37: You Call This Trust?
Chapter 38: Seventeen, Seventeen
Chapter 39: Fishin’ Impossible
Chapter 40: The Shadow of the Ampere
Chapter 41: My Enemy’s Enemy
Chapter 42: Surprise Inspection
Chapter 43: Sixty Seconds
Chapter 44: The Good-Bye
Chapter 45: Shock Waves
Chapter 46: Revelations and Reunions
Chapter 47: A Final Fiesta
Chapter 48: Voices and the Jade Dragon
About Richard Paul Evans