11.
"What…?" Gazzy could barely say the word.
Iggy froze, and his mouth dropped open, slightly.
"That's where they took Angel," Max explained. "And that's where we have to go to get her back."
Nudge started speaking, but I droned her out. You'd be surprised how easy it was at that moment. We had to go there, I agreed with Max, but what was our plan? Storm the castle? Sneak in and take Angel before anyone noticed? Take down everyone in there?
I shook my head, No, none of those ideas sound too great, or successful.
"Uh, how far is it?" Nudge asked.
"Six hundred miles, more or less," I said. Which basically meant that I had no idea how far. "At least a seven hour flight, not including breaks." Well that sounded about right.
"Can we discuss this?" Iggy asked, a little more than exasperated, and sounding a little frightened. We all were. "I mean, we're way outnumbered."
"No." Max's answer was clear and firm. Her eyes drank in the map, searching for, unless I was mistaken, a plan.
"Can we take a vote?" Iggy really didn't want to do this. You might be in luck, Iggy. Max wants to get there as fast as possible… "They had guns. And a chopper." My Thank you, Captain Obvious was stuck in my throat. As always. Why do I never speak my mind? I have no idea. Words just don't make it out.
"Iggy, this is not a democracy. It's a Maxocracy. We have to go after Angel…" Max went on talking, I started packing up the papers and maps. No use in listening to Max, I knew what she was saying, and would rather not be a part of it. But her words still reached my brain.
"…Nudge, Fang and I are going after Angel. You and Gazzy need to stay here," At this, I put my hand on Gazzy's shoulder as he tensed, ready to fight back. You've done enough fighting for the day, kid. There's no swaying Max. I wanted to tell him that it would be okay, I really did. But everything remained in my head. "I need you here, to hold down the fort. On the off chance that Angel escapes and returns home."
Her words were like magic; both Iggy and Gazzy clenched their fists.
Iggy's words were bitter, "You're so full of it. That's not why you want us here. Why don't you tell us the real reason?"
"Okay," she said, her voice showing no feeling. "It's true. I don't want you to come. The fact is, you're blind, and while you're a great flier around here where you know everything, I can't be worrying about you while we're in the middle of a fight with the Erasers."
You go, Max. I thought bitterly. Tear the flock apart, will you? I tried to remain impassive, and I'm not sure if my face showed it, but I dearly wanted to punch Max for this. Iggy had a hard enough time as it was. And Gazzy, well he was only eight years old.
"What about me?" Gazzy tried to sound brave, and uncaring, but his voice barely came out. "I don't care if there are guns and choppers and Erasers. She's my sister."
I patted his shoulder, then I up and left. Tearing down Iggy was bad enough, but Gazzy? I couldn't stand this. I walked back into my room, and climbed out the window. It was the perfect time to sit on the roof, and not have to see Max breaking the hearts of our already broken flock.
I rested my head on my good hand. I spread myself out on the roof, lying down on my stomach, wings splayed out. I needed time to collect myself and my thoughts. So Max just wanted the three of us. Nudge, her and I. I sighed, there was no way I'd miss this trip, but three mutant freak kids against who-knows-how-many Erasers and evil scientists.
Idly I drew a wing in the dust. I added tiny feathers, and then smacked my hand down on it, stirring the dust and erasing the wing. How ironic.