Chapter 17

--Ok guys, there's our baby,-- said Sam. It was an hour or so later, and we were raptors, circling a few thousand meters above the airport just outside of Manhattan, our brilliant hawk vision picking up the slightest details below us. Philip had told us that we probably wouldn't look too out of place - apparently some airports used hawks to keep other birds off the runway. It was a hot day, and the concrete below was creating some nice thermals - pillars of warm air you can just glide up in the air, barely flapping your wings. However, we needed to get a bit closer to the ground, so we swooped down a little lower to get a better look at the Concorde. The huge, streamlined machine was being held at the back of one of the smaller terminals, alongside a group of other, smaller aeroplanes. Most of these other planes did not possess logos, and I assumed they were private jets, and that this terminal catered for wealthy clients. The Concorde was gleaming white with an enormous 'Visser Enterprises' logo scrawled in silver print down the side of the plane. The boarding corridor was hooked up from the first story of the terminal to the planes' left-hand side, enabling the passengers to board the plane without having to step foot on the runway. There was a bustle of activity with baggage handlers efficiently loading the passengers' bags. Even from this height, I could tell that most of the bags were designer names, and expensive looking.

--I guess that's where we have to board,-- I said. --We should be ok going as flies, right?--

--Should be fine,-- said Sam. --I expect those guys down there are so stressed out - baggage handlers usually are! - that the last thing they'll be worrying about is a few insects getting aboard.--

--What if any of them are Controllers, looking out for animals and insects?--

--Then they'd need good timing and even better eyesight,-- she replied. --We'll fly over the top of the plane, then enter the cargo compartment from the top of the hatch, over their heads, rather than just flying past them into the plane.--

--Maybe we should find out what time this thing leaves,-- said Philip. --I expect the timings will be displayed on television screens inside the terminal, like normal.--

--We can't go as human though,-- said Sam. --There might be Yeerks who would recognise us.--

--Well, we might not be able to get inside as hawks,-- Philip said. --And birds would attract attention indoors.--

--What morphs do we have that have good eyesight and are small and unnoticeable?-- I asked.

--I have a mouse and a ferret morph,-- said Ferdie. --I think the ferret has better eyesight, and anyway, loads of rich people carry ferrets on holiday with them. If I do get seen, people might just think I'm someone's escaped pet. A mouse might be harder to spot, but someone might start screaming at me.--

--That might work, actually,-- said Sam. --Good thinking.-- She flapped off in the direction of the entrance to the terminal, and the rest of us followed her.

--Ok, Ferdie, there's a bit of a problem, but not one that can't be solved,-- Sam said. --It's all roads and car parks out here. There's very little cover for you to demorph on the ground without being seen. I think what you're going to have to do is morph to ferret on the roof, and one of us will have to carry you down as raptors.--

--That won't look too weird, then,-- I said. --A hawk carrying a ferret over a car park.--

--Better than being seen morphing,-- she replied. --Which one of us has the strongest bird morph?--

--That would probably be me,-- I said. --White tailed eagles are one of the largest birds around. They easily hunt prey bigger than ferrets, so it should be no problem to carry Ferdie.--

Sam circled downwards towards the terminal building, landing on the roof. Ferdie went next, then me, then Philip. It would have looked odd to see four birds of prey all flying together.

--Right then,-- said Sam. --Ferdie, you're going to morph ferret and find out what time the plane departs. We'll wait up here and Maggie will pick you up and bring you back up with the rest of us once you know the time. We'll stay up here until it's time to leave, then fly nearer to the plane. Morph flies, and board the plane. Everyone ok with that?--

--How are we going to find the plane when we're flies?-- Philip asked. --Flies don't have particularly good eyesight.--

--We'll just have to morph with our bodies facing in the right direction and estimate how far we need to go. Actually,-- she paused, --one of us can morph back to hawk and guide the others which way to go. That person will have to find their own way to the plane, but it will be better than all four of us getting lost.--

--Alright, then,-- said Philip. --Ferdie, are you ready to demorph?--

--Already on it,-- he replied. His little falcon body was growing rapidly. His wings narrowed and became arms, his legs grew and formed human legs and feet. Shaggy strawberry-blond hair sprouted from his head. His piercing black and golden eyes became glittery green, his hooked beak softened and became his own nose and mouth. Last to disappear wear his feathers, so for a moment he looked like a person wearing a feathery Halloween costume. Eventually, the feathers melted away and were replaced by his tanned skin and morphing outfit.

"I think that was one of my fastest morphs yet," he said. "Nearly catching up with you, Philip. You should time me next time. We would have a race."

--I think we've got more pressing matters to attend to, Flawless,-- replied Philip haughtily. --Come on, morph to ferret.--

Ferdie went still for a moment as he concentrated on the image of the ferret. "This is only the second time I've done this morph," he said, as thick, sandy coloured fur covered his body. "It's always good fun though. It loves to play."

"We're not here to play, Flawless," scolded Philip.

Ferdie began to shrink. He was quite tall to begin with, especially compared to me as I'm rather short, but in a matter of seconds he was smaller than a shoe. His body was stretching out, his spine elongating to form the supple curve of the ferret's spine. A fluffy tail popped out from his behind. His face bulged outwards, his eyes became black and beady, and long whiskers grew from his face. Suddenly, he started running around and around in circles, before looking up at me and darting across the roof in a panic.

--Oh, god, he's lost control of his morph!-- I said. --Ferdie! Ferdie - get back here!--

--Typical,-- sighed Philip. --This has got to be the third time he's gone off like that.--

--It's us, Flawless!-- called Sam. --You've lost control of your morph. You need to concentrate. Picture yourself in your head. Think about who you are, and what you've got to do.--

Eventually, Ferdie the ferret stopped running. He sat still for a second, sniffing the air with his little nose, then turned around sheepishly and scampered back to us.

--Sorry guys!-- he laughed. --But you'd be terrified too if you were eight inches long and surrounded by three huge birds.--

--Alright,-- said Sam. --Well, I guess we'd better get on with this. Maggie, you ready to go? Just pick him up- --

--Gently!-- interrupted Ferdie.

--Ok, yeah, just pick him up gently in your talons, swoop down to the ground, let him go and get back up here as soon as you can. Try to land somewhere where there aren't too many people around - you're an eagle and eagles often attract attention.--

--Sure then,-- I replied. --Come on, Ferdie. Try not to wriggle too much, I don't want to drop you!--

Ferdie scampered over to me and I gently picked him up in my talons. I flapped my wings labouriously, flew down towards the ground, and dropped him swiftly on the pavement. I joined the others back up on the roof, and waited for Ferdie's thought-speak.

After a few minutes, my acute eagle ears suddenly picked up a loud scream, followed by Ferdie' voice.

--Er - guys!-- he called. --A little help!--

--What now!-- cried Sam. --Ferdie, what's going on?--

--Some stupid woman's chasing me!-- he cried. --And now a load of other people have joined in!--

--Good grief, Flawless,-- said Sam, flapping into the air and making her way over to the entrance of the terminal for a better look. --Can't you manage to get anything to go to plan?--

--It's not my fault she hates rodents!-- he cried.

--Well - stop running around her legs like that!-- Sam called. --You're getting everyone's attention!--

--Oh, god,-- I laughed. --I've got to see this. I powered up my wings and soared up into the air, flapping in Sam's direction, but higher and further out than her so as not to look too suspicious. Philip was apparently refusing to get involved in such silliness, and sat as he was own the roof, grooming his feathers.

I soon caught sight of Ferdie. He was trying to make his way to the main entrance, but a fat, middle aged woman was attempting to whack him with her crocodile-skin handbag. Ferdie was running in circles round and round her legs, trying to avoid the bag. Several onlookers were standing watching - some looking amused, others trying to catch him themselves. A couple of kids in matching designer clothes were laughing hysterically, shrieking at Ferdie and throwing peppermints at him. It was a hilarious sight.

--Flawless,-- Sam giggled. --I don't think you've got any Controllers among you! Just run straight towards the entrance, and Maggie will pick you up from there.--

Ferdie escaped the rumpus and darted out into the car park. I swooped down from the sky and gathered him up in my talons, flapping madly back to our hiding place on the roof. Below me, I could hear the cries of the little kids - they'd obviously assumed I'd caught Ferdie to eat for lunch.

--What a kafuffle!-- I laughed, dropping Ferdie back down where he started to demorph. --Did you managed to get the departure time?--

--Yeah, before that old bag started chasing me,-- he breathed. --Leaves at ten o clock. We've got about an hour and a half before it sets off.--

--Well done, Flawless,-- smiled Sam. --At least that's over! Right, well, I think we should get a bit nearer to the plane, and wait there for a while. When they open the cargo compartment and load the luggage, we morph flies and hop aboard.--