Read Online The Impossible Race: Cragbridge Hall, Volume 3 by Chad Morris - Free Book Online Page B

to see if the Bridge can be used to see the future. If we’re able to know what’s coming, that could make all the difference in the world.” Abby looked at her brother, thoughts of what the girl from the future had said flooding her mind. Thoughts of her brother’s death.
    “And one more thing,” Derick said, not meeting his sister’s gaze. “There is a way we can control this situation.” He exhaled slowly. “We could control who learns the secret by making our own team and winning the competition.”
    “Oh, yeah!” Carol said, pumping her fists and jumping up and down. “Let’s do this!”
    “That could be exactly what Muns wants,” Abby said. “This is probably all a trap to get us to do just that.”
    “But even if it’s a trap,” Derick said, “I don’t think we have a choice. We have to try to protect the secret.”
    “I think he’s right,” Rafa said. “I don’t think sitting back and watching will do anyone any good. We have to actively try to stop this.”
    “But just the four of us couldn’t win,” Abby said. “There’s no way.” They would be going up against the brightest and most talented students in Cragbridge Hall.
    “You’re right,” Derick said. “But I happen to know a group of really talented students who have been asking for some answers for a long time, and they may even deserve to know the secret.”
    Rafa nodded.
    “The Crash,” Abby said.

 
    Stoop
     
    Derick gazed out over Cragbridge Hall from the top of a three-story building. It was still a few minutes before twilight. Perfect. He moved to the edge and stepped off.
    Falling only for a moment, Derick spread his four-foot wingspan and let it fill with air. His beak cut through the wind and his body glided through it, his wings moving with the currents. Usually, this was where he came for his peace, his time. He didn’t visit his parents or his grandfather often like Abby did. He didn’t like to see them helpless and pale. He soared over the school, letting the wind, the sheer joy of flying, calm him. This. This could quiet his mind. Even if students made noise below, it felt like they were a world away.
    Derick knew he could only fly so far; the airspace was monitored. To have real security for the school, they couldn’t have people able to simply skydive in. They also couldn’t have avatar birds flying out. Sophisticated software tracked the robot birds’ speed and altitude constantly; if their flight path neared the edge of campus, they received an instant warning. And if they continued, the avatar would shut down and drop from the sky before it could leave the walls. Because the school had realistic-looking animal robots, they had to protect them. If they didn’t, there were many groups willing to exploit their possible uses.
    The current shifted and Derick struggled to correct. His peregrine falcon dipped and bobbed for a moment before regaining full control. He was definitely still learning, but he loved to practice.
    “Good recovery, rapaz ,” Rafa complimented. Derick saw another falcon tip smoothly to one side and arc through the air toward him. It had a white underbelly with dark spots. With its wings open, it looked like it had brown stripes on the underside of its wings and tailfeathers. The top of its body was dark. His Brazilian friend was in another avatar suit controlling another peregrine falcon. Derick could hear his voice because their real bodies were only feet away from each other. “You’re improving fast.”
    “Thanks,” Derick said. “I’m nothing like you yet, but I’m trying.” No student was as good as Rafa. He grew up working with the avatars. They weaved back and forth on the currents, Rafa giving an occasional tip.
    Derick knew the science of it. That was all part of the learning process. Because of the shape of the wing, more air pressure pushed up against the bottom of the wing than on the top. That’s what gave him lift. And it was why engineers modeled airplane