Over the Edge Read Free Page A

it’s nothing more than a big hole in the ground.”
    Jack pressed his fingertips into his forehead.
    â€œWhat do you expect from an anarchist? The definition of my personality is to rebel. If the masses like it, I won’t,” Morgan answered.
    â€œI’m sure you’ll change your mind when you see the canyon,” Steven commented, trying to smooth things. “Olivia, why don’t you tell me more about your plan for the condors? What’s your first move?”
    Twisting back into her seat, Olivia allowed herself to get drawn into a conversation about the enormous, prehistoric birds that were dying in the Grand Canyon. Jack let out a breath. The immediate danger had passed.
    â€œWhat was that all about?” Jack hissed at Morgan.
    â€œYou mean just now? Nothing. I was just disagreeing.”
    â€œDid you have to be rude?”
    â€œHey, it’s free speech.”
    â€œIt’s stupid. You can’t say everything that pops into your mind. Besides, this is my family. You get my mom upset and the whole thing goes south. If you want to get along with me, you need to learn when to shut up!”
    Morgan’s defiance quickly changed to amusement and then settled into what might have been a glimmer of respect. “OK,” he said, nodding. Keeping his voice low enough that the others couldn’t hear, he whispered, “I guess it’s true that every once in a while, I do cross the verbal line. I didn’t think calling the Grand Canyon a hole in the ground was that big a deal, but I stand corrected.”
    â€œOne more thing,” Jack said pointedly, “Why don’t you at least ask my mom about the condors?”
    Morgan’s thin brows met. “Condors?”
    â€œYeah. The condors. You know, the reason we’re going.” Jack rotated his hand like a wheel, trying to get Morgan’s mind clicking, but nothing seemed to register. “Remember, she talked about it while we were buying your airline ticket? Weren’t you listening?” It seemed almost unbelievable that Morgan could have inhabited the same space as the Landons while they discussed the mystery of the condors and their strange deaths, and have blocked it out so completely.
    â€œTell me again,” he said, stretching his legs under the seat in front of him.
    â€œAsk my mom.”
    â€œNo, I don’t want her to know I wasn’t tracking. So, what’s the deal?”
    â€œWell, like my mom said, the condors are very, very rare. Almost extinct. They used to nest all through the Southwest and the Grand Canyon during the Ice Age, but they disappeared at the end of the Ice Age. Are you listening?”
    Morgan’s lids had drifted shut, but he quickly snapped them open. “Yeah. I’m just thinking with my eyes closed.”
    â€œSo then the condors made a comeback to the Southwest and the canyon at the same time the white settlers showed up. The settlers hunted and killed the condors. Now there are fewer than 200 of them in the whole world.”
    â€œRight. I remember that part. Aren’t they giant vultures or something? Their wingspan is, like, nine feet wide. Yeah, they’re these huge, extremely ugly birds that eat dead things.”
    Jack nodded. “Anyway, they’re dying, and nobody knows how to stop it. So the people at the Grand Canyon called in my mom to help solve the mystery. She’s a wildlife veterinarian, and my dad’s a professional photographer.”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œIt’s life or death for these birds, Morgan. Ask my mom, and she’ll tell you the whole thing. Say you want to know more about the condors, and the hole-in-the-ground stuff will be forgotten. Guaranteed.”
    â€œIf I ask her about the birds, do you think she’ll let me use her laptop?”
    â€œNo. Maybe. Probably not.” Sighing, Jack said, “Here—take this,” and handed over his own Game Boy and his new game