Free Race to Witch Mountain by James Ponti

Understand?”
    â€œNegative,” Seth protested. “Sara and I will be going with you. It is our mission. It is our ship.”
    â€œHold on,” Alex interrupted. “I’m the one with all the maps. So, I’m not staying back here alone.”
    Sara looked Jack in the eye, once again reading his mind. She smiled. “It’s okay, Jack Bruno,” Sara said. “I know you are worried for our safety.”
    â€œIf you can read my mind, then you already know—we can’t win,” he said.
    Sara nodded. “But we can try. If not, our parents will be dead.”
    Jack took a deep breath. This was news to him.
    â€œWithout proof of their results,” Sara explained, “they were sentenced to death.”
    â€œWe have very little time left to get back home before our parents are executed,” Seth added.
    Jack and Alex exchanged looks.
    â€œThe fate of our parents and our two worlds are locked away inside Witch Mountain. Please, Jack Bruno, help us,” Sara pleaded.
    Jack looked at Alex. “Chaos theory, huh?”

CHAPTER 16
    T he terrain surrounding Witch Mountain made it difficult enough to reach, and the security made it practically impossible to enter.
    They had to climb over rocky crags and through a fast-moving stream while evading surveillance cameras and a high-voltage fence.
    Much to Jack’s amazement, they made it all the way to a bluff overlooking the entrance—a giant archway carved right into a granite cliff. Military vehicles passed in and out through the heavily guarded entrance. It looked like there was no way the four of them could go through it.
    â€œThat’s depressing,” Alex said, looking over the situation. “Now what?”
    Jack tried to think of something. “I was hoping chaos theory would deliver us a big tank or a battleship,” he said.“Okay, new plan. We abandon the old plan.”
    Sara looked at him glumly. “You don’t have a plan, do you?”
    â€œI thought you could read minds,” Jack said.
    â€œI can,” Sara said with a shrug. “I was just hoping I was wrong.”
    Alex pulled out one of the schematics from her backpack.“According to Harlan’s intel there are several service tunnels spreading outward. Might be worth looking for.”
    Jack considered this for a moment. It was certainly better than trying to bust through the heavily guarded entrance. “That’s what we call Plan B,” he said. “Let’s go.”
    But just as they started off, Sara began to wobble.
    â€œJack,” she called out to him.
    He rushed forward to keep her from falling. Her eyes were rolling backward and her eyelids were fluttering.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Alex asked, coming up beside Jack.
    Jack grabbed hold of Sara, and when he did, she turned to the side, revealing the plastic tip of a dart sticking out of her neck.
    Alarmed, Jack spun around.“Seth!” he called out. But it was too late.
    Seth grabbed at his neck as he, too, started to stagger. Jack laid Sara down and rushed over to catch Seth before he fell.
    Suddenly, twenty special operations soldiers emerged from the surrounding woods, as if by magic. Their camouflage had been perfect. Seconds earlier, they had blended in perfectly with the foliage. Burke led the team, a triumphant smile on his face. His mission had finally been accomplished.
    â€œWhat did you do to them?” Alex demanded, her face ashen.
    Burke gave her a disdainful look. “Consider yourself lucky. I could have you both shot on sight for trespassing and violation of U.S. government property.”
    Several soldiers approached carrying stretchers to take Seth and Sara away. Jack lunged to protect them, but another soldier took him out with two quick blows from the butt of his rifle. He fell to the ground. Jack tried to get up, but he was quickly knocked down again.
    â€œMr. Bruno,” Burke said unsympathetically.