"Well, what's important is that you believe that," I said, and her eyes flickered.
"My name is Marian Janssen," she said calmly. "I'm the Director of Itex, and its research and development companies."
I kept my face very still. This was the Director? The Director was a woman? Oddly, it was disappointing that the person behind all of this destruction was a woman. This kind of schizo-steamroller behavior seemed more natural for a man, at least to me.
"Not only that," she continued, keeping her eyes on my face, "but I am your mother, Max."
Part 4
Frankly, it takes a lot to surprise me. I'm pretty unsurprisable. But I admit, that was pretty much the last thing I expected to hear. "Hoo, delusional much?" I said, proud that my voice was rock solid. Almost.
The Director walked to her big desk and set down several CD-ROMs.
"I know it's hard to believe, but look closely at me, Max. I'm an older version of you."
I stared at her blond hair, her dark brown eyes. I remembered that Nudge had said she reminded her of someone.
"Yeah?" I said. "Let's see your wings."
She gave me a smile. "I don't have any avian DNA. But you-you were the most brilliant success we ever had."
I was still reeling from shock, so I went on "smart retort" autopilot. "Then why do you and ter Borcht keep trying to kill us?"
"You're an older generation, Max," she explained. "You have no proven life span. There's no room for mistakes in the new world."
I was floored. "Here's a tip: Your protective maternal instinct sucks."
"I'm your mother, Max, but I'm also a scientist. Believe me, watching you grow up from afar, devising this entire game, this series of tests-there were times that I didn't think I could go through it."
"Funny, I felt the same way. For completely different reasons. But you had a choice," I pointed out, becoming more and more incredulous.
"I'm making the ultimate sacrifice to create a new world. I gave my only child to the cause."
"That's not the ultimate sacrifice!" I said, outraged. "Giving yourself would be the ultimate! Giving me up is like the second-to-ultimate! See the difference?"
She smiled somewhat sadly. "You're so smart, Max. I'm so proud of you."
"Which makes one of us," I said. "I mean, God! It's parents' career day at school. I stand up and say, 'My mother is an evil scientist who's planning a holocaust that will eliminate half the people on Earth.' How could I ever live that down?!"
She turned away and sat at her desk. "I blame Jeb for letting you be such a smart aleck."
I stared at her. "I blame you for altering my DNA! I mean, I have wings, lady! What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that the world's population is destroying itself," she said in a steely tone I recognized. (I have one just like it.) "I was thinking that someone had to stand up and take drastic action before this entire planet is incapable of supporting human life. Yes, you're my daughter, but you're still just part of the big picture, part of the equation. I was thinking I'd do anything to make sure the human race survives. Even if it seems awful in the short term. In future history books, I'll be heralded as the savior of humanity."
Perfect. I finally, after fourteen years, meet my mother, and she's a raving lunatic. This day just could not get better.
I swallowed. "You give good megalomania," I said.
The Director motioned to the Flyboys hovering around the edges of the room. "Take them to the place that I prepared," she said. "You know what to do once you get there."
89
"I don't want to make you feel even worse, Max," said Total. "But I can't stand your mother."
I looked at him. In the English/mad-scientist dictionary, you can translate "place I prepared" as "dank, ominous dungeon." Literally a freaking dungeon! Cinderella's castle had come complete with a real dungeon. And the "you know what to do" part translated to "chain them all to the walls like medieval prisoners."
"Well," I said, "at least with my parents, I don't have to look hard for something to rebel against."
Anyway, we seemed to be the only occupants in the dungeon, though it stretched on, out of sight. Loudspeakers were hung on the walls, and they were playing the Director's brainwashing messages, which in itself was enough to drive anyone starkers.
Like, if the whole "chained to a wall in a dungeon" thing wasn't enough to send you around the bend.
All of us were flying creatures, except for Total, and sort of halfway Ari. So chaining us to the wall, underground, was one of the worst things you could do.
My mother had done this to us.
I shook my head, unutterably depressed. "I mean, why couldn't she have been a nice hooker, or a crack addict, like Fang's mom?"
"Speaking of Fang," said Nudge, "maybe he's on his way here right now."
A gleam of hope flared and was just as quickly extinguished. "Yeah, if our message got through. If he's gotten over Ari, which I doubt. If they can somehow get to Europe, like, right away."
"Max?" said Angel. "You're kind of making things worse."
I was. I was being a jerk. Later, when I was alone, I would lie down and sob my guts out from the raw, acid disappointment about my mother. Right now I had to stop taking it out on everyone.
"You're right," I said, my throat feeling tight. "I'm sorry. Actually, I do think that our e-mail got through, because Nudge is brilliant at that stuff. And he's Fang. They're on their way. I know it."
Silence.
"You lie really well, Max," Nudge said approvingly.
I laughed. "I've had a lot of practice. But seriously, I do bet they're on their way."
"How could they cross the ocean?" Ari asked, not meanly, just wondering.
"Maybe they got tickets on a plane, like us," said Angel.
"Or maybe they stowed away on a plane," suggested Nudge.
"Or maybe they, like, flew up into the sky, waited for a jet to pass by, then dropped down onto it and held on," I said dramatically, and we all laughed. I imitated Fang hanging on to a jet, mouth open from the wind drag.
Their chuckles seemed to make the walls recede a bit and the darkness not quite so dark.
The loudspeakers were most annoying when they were in English because we couldn't help listening. The Director-or Crazy Old Mom, as I liked to think of her-was again spouting something about the future of flawlessness.
"She is a seriously negative woman," I said.
"I'm sorry, Max," said Nudge. "I know she wasn't what you were hoping for."
"Yeah." I smiled wryly. "'Delusional mass murderer' wasn't really on my list."
Again I wanted to wail with disappointment, but I swallowed it down. I had finally found my mother, and she was my worst nightmare. This was really just too bitter to bear. On top of that, Nudge was trying to comfort me. It was my job to comfort her. Usually the only person who comforted me was Fang. Who had deserted me.
A slight scratching sound in the shadows made us all prick up our ears.
"Rats," said Nudge nervously.
But it wasn't rats. A tall figure appeared in the distance. We all went on alert, ready for a fight, since flight was out of the question.
A voice spoke.
"Max," Jeb said.
And now my day of horror was complete.
90
"Well, well," I said, using every bit of strength I had to make my voice sound chipper. "Fancy meeting you. Come here often? How's the food?"
Jeb moved closer, till he stepped into the dim circle of light given off by the amber emergency fixture. He looked just the same-maybe more tired than usual. I guess torturing kids takes it out of you.
He gave me his trademark smile tinged with sadness. "Actually, no one knows I'm here."