Free 52 - How I Learned to Fly by R.L. Stine - (ebook by Undead)

Then they stared at me some more.
    “Okay, Jack. We are going to perform a few tests. Are you ready?” one of the
scientists asked.
    “No!” I shouted. “I am not ready. I want to go home!”
    “Sorry, Jack,” the scientist said. “We can’t let you go just yet. Now—please come with us.”
    They led me outside to a wide courtyard. The courtyard was covered with
canvas. I felt as if I were in an enormous circus tent.
    As soon as we were closed in, the scientists began shouting commands at me:
    Fly on your back.
    Fly on your belly.
    Fly with your eyes closed.
    Fly with your legs crossed.
    Hold your breath and fly.
    Hold your ears and fly.
    Hold your thoughts and fly.
    They ordered me to fly a thousand different ways.
    They wouldn’t stop.
    They wouldn’t let me rest until I was panting like a dog.
    One scientist handed me a bottle of cold water. He motioned for me to sit
down on the ground. They formed a circle around me.
    “Okay, Jack,” another scientist said. “Time for some questions. First tell us—how long have you been flying?”
    Same questions—all over again.
    “Only for a few weeks,” I replied.
    All the scientists scribbled down my answer.
    “How did you learn to fly?” he asked.
    “Didn’t you guys read Time or Newsweek or TV Guide ?” I
asked.
    “Just answer the question, Jack,” the scientist said sternly.
    “I ate a special formula,” I answered, rolling my eyes impatiently.
    The scientists’heads jerked up from their clipboards. “What was in the
special formula?”
    “I don’t remember,” I replied.
    “Yes, you do, Jack.” The scientist stepped closer to me. He stared hard into
my eyes. “Now tell us.”
    I thought hard, trying to recall what was in the recipe. But I couldn’t. “I—I really don’t remember,” I stammered.
    “Think harder, Jack,” he demanded. “You know what was in it. Tell us.”
    My heart pounded in my chest. “I—I don’t remember. I’m telling you the
truth. I really don’t remember.”
    The scientists didn’t believe me. They waited. Stared at me with unblinking
eyes. Waiting for my answer.
    I peered down at my sneakers to escape their hard stares.
    Where were my parents? Did they know I was here?
    I could feel a bead of sweat trickle down my back.
    “Please, let me go!” I begged.
    “Sorry, Jack,” one of the scientists said. “First you have to answer the
question.”
    “But I can’t! I told you—I don’t remember!” I cried.
    “Okay. Then we’ll move on,” the scientist said. The others nodded in
agreement.
    I let out a sigh of relief.
    “Jack—we’re going back in there.” The scientist led me to the little room.
“Now—sit in that chair.”
    “Huh? What are you going to do to me?” I asked.

 
 
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    More questions.
    Then more flying demonstrations.
    Then they hooked me up to the suction cups on the chair. That was the worst.
    It measured how fast my heart beat. How fast my pulse raced. How fast my eyes
blinked. Hours and hours of measuring the slightest movements in my body. Down
to a slight twitch.
    Then they shut me up in a metal tank and took some kind of laser pictures of
me.
    Then they asked more questions.
    Ten hours later, Dad sat next to me on the living room couch, apologizing.
“I’m really sorry, Jack. They gave us no choice. They said you had to go with
them. But they didn’t tell us it would take so long.”
    Dad sighed. “I was so busy getting you flying jobs, I forgot to warn you they
were coming. But forget about all that, Jack. I have great news. I’ve set up the
race of a lifetime.”
    “Race? What kind of a race?” I demanded.
    “A race between you and Wilson!” Dad exclaimed. “The Amazing Flying Boy races
Wonder Wilson—your first appearance together! The winner will receive a
million dollars! Just think of it, Jack. ONE MILLION DOLLARS!”
    “A million dollars?” I couldn’t believe it.
    “The race will be on TV all around the world.” Dad stood and began