“Why a private aircraft?”
“The Mleptra would not have been allowed on a commercial flight. And we could not risk further … contamination.”
“Contamination? But I thought they were … friendly?”
Now it was his turn to smile. “Director, do I have your permission to take Michael to the artifact room?”
The Bulldog rumbled like his namesake animal and pinched a flap of loose skin under his chin. “How badly do you want your father back, boy?”
“I’d do anything. You know I would.”
“Anything? Even risk your own life? How do you think your mother would cope with that?”
“She’d be proud of me.”
“No, boy, she wouldn’t. She’d hate you for potentially doubling her loss. Just like Alexander’s mother resented me for making him a part of UNICORNE. He was one of our best. Our very best. So good that I allowed him to experience the DNA program. You saw what it did. It enhanced his powers and drove him insane. It made him commit a terrible act. One day, when you’ve hardened your queasy little stomach, I’ll let Klimt give you all the details. Even then, I’d lay a dollar you’ll lose your lunch. So when I ask if you’re willing to risk your life, consider what you’ve seen these past few days, then give your answer.” He leaned forward, hardening his gaze. “Any more threats or petulant mistakes and you’ll wake up one morning with a head full of cotton candy. Do I make myself clear?”
If I haven’t buried you first, I thought.
“I need to hear you say it, Michael.”
“Yes,” I said, biting my tongue.
He paused for a moment and swung his chair. “What Klimt will show you is highly classified. As is this.” He unlocked a drawer and dropped a folder marked THOMAS MALONE on his desk. “Bedtime reading. Strictly under the covers. Klimt, take him to the artifact room. Then begin his preparation.”
“Preparation?” I said. “For what?”
“Your brush with dragons,” he said.
And he nodded at the door to say we were done — as if it was the last time he would ever see me.
As always, I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone involved in the production of this book, both home and abroad. It doesn’t matter how many times you’re published, the thrill remains the same, and you can’t achieve anything without a dedicated team. But two people do deserve particular mention. First, Lisa Sandell, who fought my corner at what could have been a difficult moment. And also Jay d’Lacey, who gave me the initial idea of the army. Read it with the lights on. Enjoy.
CHRIS D’LACEY is the author of several highly acclaimed books, including the New York Times bestselling Last Dragon Chronicles: The Fire Within, Icefire, Fire Star, The Fire Eternal, Dark Fire, Fire World, and The Fire Ascending. Additionally, he is the author of the middle grade series The Dragons of Wayward Crescent. He lives in Devon, England, with his wife, where he is at work on his next book. You can visit Chris online at www.theunicornefiles.wordpress.com.
ALSO BY
CHRIS D’LACEY
UNICORNE FILES
A DARK INHERITANCE
THE LAST DRAGON CHRONICLES
THE FIRE WITHIN
ICEFIRE
FIRE STAR
THE FIRE ETERNAL
DARK FIRE
FIRE WORLD
THE FIRE ASCENDING
RAIN & FIRE
THE DRAGONS OF WAYWARD CRESCENT
GRUFFEN
GAUGE
Copyright © 2015 by Chris d’Lacey and Jay d’Lacey
All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., Publishers since 1920. SCHOLASTIC, SCHOLASTIC PRESS, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Available
First edition, June 2015
Cover art & design © 2015 by Christopher Stengel
e-ISBN 978-0-545-60881-7
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., Attention: Permissions Department, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.
Chris D'Lacey, Alexander's Army
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