Chapter 18

We waited on the roof for about an hour as the baggage handlers began to load the celebrity's luggage. As birds of prey, we could make out the label on every single item. It was fairly obvious that the passengers were rich and famous - the pile of suitcases and holdalls was practically an advertisement for every designer brand known to man.

--That lime green case is cool,-- I said. --I wonder who owns that?--

--I'm wondering which of those belongs to Madonna,-- Ferdie said. --I'd love to know what she carries around with her on her swanky jet sets.--

--You don't even know for sure if Madonna is on board,-- Philip pointed out. --It was just a rumour in a tabloid newspaper.--

--Got to be some famous faces on board though, right?-- he chirped. --Who else to infest but influential pop stars? Get every music follower on earth wanting to join The Sharing that way. I'm sure the Yeerks know their stuff.--

--The passengers are boarding,-- said Sam suddenly. --I can just about see a couple of people behind the windows. Can't tell who they are yet though. There is too much reflection from the sunlight on the glass.--

I peered in through the tiny windows of the Concorde. To my eyes, however, the reflection wasn't a problem. White tailed eagles eat a lot of fish, so I guess their eyes are specially adapted to see through the reflections on the surface of water. Glass, I suppose, was no problem for them.

--Oh my god!-- I cried , straining my eyes and peering through the glass. --It's Elton John! It's got to be!--

--Elton John?-- said Philip sceptically. --Are you sure?--

--I think so!-- I said. --I can't see that well, but it looks like it might be him. He's wearing those glasses he always has on, and is being served champagne.--

--Excellent,-- gushed Ferdie. --Travelling in the same plane as Elton John!--

--That's not good, Flawless,-- said Philip. --If they've got Elton John, who else to they have? Tony Blair? George W Bush?--

--Maybe it's a good thing if they infested Blair,-- I said. --It might stop him from acting as Bush's lapdog.--

--I can't stand either of them,-- said Philip, --but it would be a huge blow to mankind if they became Controllers. Two of the most powerful positions of Earth, ruled by the Yeerks?--

--That wouldn't be a good thing,-- Sam said sombrely. --There'd be very little hope for Earth then.--

--Are we going to get on this thing, or not?-- asked Ferdie, who had started fidgeting at the talk of politics. He was ruffling his wings noisily, eager to get moving.

--Yeah, we'd better demorph,-- Sam agreed. --I'll stay as falcon until you guys are flies though. Then I'll be able to guide you to the plane.--

--I think perhaps I should be the guide,-- Philip insisted. --I have a better sense of direction to find my way by myself.--

Sam cocked her head at him for a second, apparently a little annoyed at being questioned.

--Ok, sure,-- she said eventually. --You tell us the way. Everyone else: flies.--

I pictured my human body in my mind and swiftly demorphed. In a few minutes, Sam, Ferdie and I were three humans, not looking more out of place on the roof terminal in our leotards. I made the most of the adrenaline rush that morphing gives you, and went fly.

"This has got to be the worst looking morph we've done yet," said Ferdie, as sharp black hairs began to grow all over his body. "I know we did it last night, but it was dark then!" He stared at me for a second. I could feel my eyeballs popping out of my head, forming the huge compound eyes of the fly. "That is not something I enjoyed watching," he said matter-of-factly.

"You don't look much better yourself," I replied. I could see he was attempting to control his morph - I was too, without much success - but it still looked like some kind of hideous mutation.

"How come you get to look like a fairy?" Ferdie moaned at Sam, as silky gossamer wings popped out of her back. "You don't even know how to control morphing."

"Guess it's just luck of the draw," she smiled at him. "Morphing meant to be random, right?"

I concentrated harder on the image of the fly, forcing the morph to speed up and be over with as soon as possible. I began to shrink rapidly. My arms and legs became multi-jointed, my fingers and toes melting together and forming the ugly sticky pads at the ends of my legs. My facial features melted away, reforming the hideous but powerful mandibles of the fly. My human eyesight went dull, but was soon replaced by the dazzling compound vision of the fly. It was similar to the vision of my old beetle morph, but so much better at detecting movement! I could see all the way around me, in every direction. I watched as my own wings grew out of my back. I saw Ferdie and Sam complete the last of their changes. And I saw a third pair of legs suddenly pop out of my chest! I could feel them waving around autonomously, as my fly brain began to surface. I was fully fly.

--Whoa!-- I heard Ferdie exclaim. --Talk about the worst culinary tastes ever! This fly has a fetish for anything a month old and found at the bottom of a dust bin!--

I knew exactly what he meant. The fly brain adored anything that humans would find disgusting. Bird droppings, litter, even the smell of the dog dirt on the bottom of someone else's' shoe was fascinating to my fly brain! It took every ounce of brain power to keep the fly under control.

--Guys, I think I have a better idea than trying to guide you to the plane,-- said Philip suddenly. --Back in a second.--

--What are you doing?-- asked Sam.

--Don't tell Ferdie - he'll much never let me live this down - but I'm going to drop a little package on one of the passenger's suitcases.-- he told Sam and I privately.

--What?-- Sam laughed disbelievingly. --You're going to poo on Madonna's bag!--

--It will help you find your way more easily,-- he said. --Just follow the sweet smell of bird poo. Sweet to your fly noses, that is,-- he added hastily.

In a moment or so, I suddenly sensed a new smell. My fly brain was fascinated by it. It loved this new smell. I, however, knew what it was, and was repulsed by it.

--Ferdie,-- called Philip. --When I say, follow your fly nose.--

--What?-- he said. --What are you doing?--

--He'll tell you when you're older,-- Sam grinned. --For now, just get ready to follow whatever your fly thinks smells newest, freshest and most yummy.--

--I can tell your own fly brain influenced that last sentence, Sam,-- I said, smirking.

I felt a sudden movement beside me - Ferdie, wanting to set off.

--Don't go just yet!-- ordered Philip. --You need to wait until that bag is loaded!-- he paused. --Ok. Go! Go now!--

We released the control of our fly minds, and zoomed off towards the poo-covered suitcase. My aviation abilities were marvellous. Much better than a beetles, and totally different from a swan or eagles'. I was like a rocket! I could zoom forwards at what seemed like a million miles an hour! I could zoom backwards, sideways, even upside down!

--Yaah hah!-- I cried, enjoying the rush.

I could only see about a meter in front of me, but I could soon sense when we were inside the cargo area. I buzzed up to the ceiling and came to a rest in a small grove where the sheets of metal met. Ferdie and Sam zoomed up to meet me.

--Well done, guys,- said Philip. --Stay there, I'm going to follow you in.--

A few minutes later, a forth fly joined us up on the ceiling.

--I thought I was leader,-- muttered Sam. --I'm the one who gets to say 'well done'.--

--Good effort, people,-- Philip said. If he were human, I was sure he would be smirking at Sam.

--Yes, good effort,-- Sam agreed hastily. --Right then. This is it, guys! We're on our way to California!--