Flight of the Hawk Read Online Free

held out his bloody finger. In seconds it healed itself. Not even a faint scar was left.
    “It’s a miracle!” Henry exclaimed. “How on earth did you do it?”
    “It was Grandfather’s potion. During the fight I accidentally injected myself with it. Just now I fell from the terrace outside my bedroom, and I don’t even have a scratch. Don’t you see, Henry? They did shoot me thatday, just like I said. Grandfather’s mixture saved my life.”
    Henry lowered himself onto a chair. “He actually did it. If only he could have lived to see it. He would have been so proud.”
    There was a soft knock on the kitchen door. Leslie Diamond poked her head in. “I hate to disturb you gentlemen, but I just remembered another appointment. Henry, if you’ll sign those papers we talked about, everything will be legal. I’ll be back to check on Andy in a couple of weeks.”
    “Check on me?” Andy asked.
    Henry stood and straightened his lapels. “Yes, Master Hawkes. I didn’t get the chance to explain. Ms. Diamond is a social worker for the state. Since you are a minor with no known relatives, she thought it best that you remain here with me for the time being. When I sign the paperwork, I will become your temporary guardian.”

C HAPTER 9
    Andy stood looking anxiously over Henry’s shoulder. “What do you mean, he made it a practice never to list the whole set of ingredients?”
    Henry punched up the Fountain of Youth formula on the computer. “Mr. Hawkes was very worried about his experiments falling into the wrong hands. He would record only a partial listing and leave out one or two elements known only to himself.”
    “Then how are we ever going to figure out what’s in the stuff or what the side effects are?”
    “Here’s something.” Henry enlarged the letters on the screen. “Apparently he’d done a small amount of testing. He’s listed a few results.”
    Andy read them aloud. “ ‘Gray whiskers turn dark. Older specimens seem to act half their age. Young mice show no signs of aging.’ … Uh-oh.”
    “What is it, Master Hawkes?”
    Andy sat on a nearby stool. “If my grandfather’s data is correct and we can’t find any way to counteract the potion, it says that I’m never going to grow up. I’ll be fourteen forever.”
    Henry frowned. “Oh, dear. That would be a problem.”
    “I’ll say. I’ll never get to graduate from high school or take my driver’s test. And who’s going to pay attention to me when I’m supposedly old enough to run Grandfather’s companies? I’ll still look like a kid.”
    “Rest assured, Master Hawkes, I’ll stay on this problem day and night until I come up with a solution.”
    “Thanks, Henry. But let’s face it. You’re nota scientist, and we can’t take a chance on involving anyone else. I’m stuck.”
    Andy’s shoulders slumped as he walked across the room. “I wish Grandfather was here to get me out of this.”
    “You know, Master Hawkes, there is another way of looking at this.”
    “Yeah, I’ll get to watch all my friends get old and die.”
    “I was thinking more along the lines of how your grandfather viewed his work. He always invented things for the good of humankind. You could use your unique situation to help people.”
    “Right. What could I do? Help little old ladies cross the street and not have to worry about getting run over?”
    Henry shut down the computer. Then he turned to face Andy. “You are forgetting one thing. You are a Hawkes. I’m sure if you put your mind to it, you’ll come up with something. And remember, I’m here to help you.”

C HAPTER 10
    Henry tapped on Andy’s door. “This package just came for you. Would you like me to bring it in?”
    Andy yanked the door open. “You didn’t open it, did you?”
    Henry’s chin went up. “Certainly not.”
    “Good. Wait downstairs. I have something to show you.”
    “Is all this secrecy really necessary?”
    Andy pushed him out the door. “You told me to think up