James Patterson
The Final Warning
The fourth book in the Maximum Ride series
For Andrea and Lucy. The flock grows and prospers; all is well, all is good.
Many thanks to GabrielleCharbonnet, my conspirator, who flies high and cracks wise. And to Mary Jordan, for brave assistance and research at every twist and turn.
To the reader:
THE IDEA FOR the Maximum Ride series comes from earlier books of mine calledWhen the Wind Blows andThe Lake House, which also feature a character named Max who escapes from a quite despicable School. Most of the similarities end there. Max and the other kids in the Maximum Ride books are not the same Max and kids featured in those two books. Nor doFrannie and Kit play any part in the series. I hope you enjoy the ride anyway.
Prologue. CATCHING BIRD FREAKS: HAZARDOUS DUTY AT BEST
1
Windsor State Forest, Massachusetts
Ssssss.
The soldiers’ armor made an odd hissing noise. But besides the slight sound of metal plates sliding smoothly, flawlessly over one another, the troop was unnaturally quiet as it moved through the woods, getting closer to the prey.
The faintest of beeps caused the team leader to glance down at his wrist screen. Large red letters scrolled across it: ATTACK IN 12 SECONDS… 11… 10…
The team leader tapped a button, and the screen’s image changed: a tall, thin girl with dirt smears on her face and a tangle of brown hair, glaring out at him. TARGET 1 was superimposed on her face.
… 9… 8…
His wrist screen beeped again, and the image changed to that of a dark-haired, dark-eyed, scowling boy. TARGET 2.