Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

73

So of course we had to get in there! I mean, why would we pass up a chance to break into a place where delusional mass murderers were targeting creatures just like us? What would be the fun of avoiding that situation?

"Do we really have to go in there?" Nudge asked. "'Cause, I mean, if we don't actually have to, then I'd rather not. I'd rather kick back somewhere."

I smiled at her and tried to smooth her unruly brown hair. "You and me both, kid. But I have this whole saving-the-world gig, and I kind of have to do this. You with me?"

She nodded, not looking happy, then put a fierce expression on. "I'm ready. Let's bust this place up!"

"Me too!" said Angel. "Those people are really evil. They shouldn't be allowed to hurt anyone else. We have to fix it so they can't."

"We have to end this now, here!" Ari said.

"That's right!" I said, holding my fist out to tap, like we did at bedtime. "We're gonna rain fire on this place! When we're done, there'll just be a greasy spot!"

Remember the Hydra, Max?

I almost jumped. Would I ever get used to an uninvited Voice inside my head? My guess at this point was no.

Hydra, Hydra, I thought. Sounds like a...sprinkler?

No. The Lernaean Hydra, one of the labors of Heracles. Every time Heracles cut off a head, two grew back in its place.

Oh. That. Yeah, I saw a cartoon about it once. What about it?

Think it through, Max, said the Voice. It'll come to you.

I frowned suspiciously. Is this one of those metaphor things? Would it kill you to just come out and tell me?

Silence.

Of course.

"Max?" Angel asked.

I held up a finger. "One sec. Voice imparting unnecessary knowledge."

Total flopped down in the grass and rested his head on his front paws.

Okay. Hydra, I thought. I remembered the cartoon I had seen, where a big muscular mouse dressed in a lion skin had been trying to lop catlike heads off this giant dragon thing.

But I wasn't getting the connection.

Oh, wait. A head got cut off, and two grew back in its place.

We were planning to destroy this Itex headquarters. Did that mean if we destroyed it, two would grow back in its place? Or, like, two others would become more powerful? Hmm.

The Hydra itself must be killed, Max. The whole thing at once. This is just one head. Find the body and kill it.

I thought. I remembered the map I had glimpsed through an open door back at the School, when Ari had been taking me around. It was a map of the world. Almost every country had had an Itex symbol somewhere on it, and many had had smaller stars as well.

Because I'm smarter than the average recombinant bear, I realized that we needed to check out some of the other Itex branches, in other countries, to find the heart of the beast. Thanks a lot, Voice, I thought a little sarcastically, to no reply. Will you make up your mind about just where the heck we're supposed to be going? God, I was so tired. A world saver's work is never done.

I hunkered down next to the hedge and motioned everyone closer.

"Guys, I do believe that France is calling our names."

Nudge frowned. "They're yelling for flying bird kids?"

"Yes." I stood up and held out my arms for Total. He jumped up, and I zipped him into my jacket. "Does anyone know any French?"

"I know how to ask for a spunky Chablis," said Total, his voice somewhat muffled. I unfolded my wings and stretched them out, ready to take off.

"I know some Spanish," said Nudge. "Cerrado and abierto. Stuff like that."

"That'll be good in Spain. In France, I guess we'll find out if Angel can read minds in French."

Angel shook out her wings, looking intrigued. "I don't know," she said. "But you know what? I want some pastry while we're there."

"Ooh, I second that emotion," said Total.

I stifled a response-had Madame Tussauds taught them nothing?-and took off into the chilly night, kind of feeling like Harry Potter escaping from the Dursleys. Except in our world, Dursleys were everywhere, were heavily funded, and had a strong scientific bent.