Earthling Ambassador (Space Brigade 1)

"We've heard that Greta Gretch was a special friend of yours and you felt particularly bad that you beat her. Is that true?"

Nicola nearly choked. "That's not--"

"ENOUGH! This child has more important things to do than talk with you!"

Georgio reached down and smoothly scooped Nicola up into the air above the reporters and inside the helicopter.

"Hello, madam," said the pilot from the front seat. She had a long ponytail, sunglasses, and seemed to be about the same height as Georgio. "My name is Plum. It's a pleasure to meet you. Buckle up!"

Nicola buckled up her seat belt, while Georgio ran around to the other side of the helicopter, bending nearly in half so that the spinning propeller blades didn't chop off his head. He jumped in the other side and began doing up his own seat belt.

He smiled down at Nicola. "Ready, Ambassador?"

"Yep," said Nicola, pretending to be brave.

"Ready for liftoff, Plum!" said Georgio.

"Right you are, sir!"

The helicopter clattered noisily and Nicola felt a strange sensation in her stomach as it lifted off the ground and hovered in the air. She looked out the window at the people below becoming smaller and smaller as the helicopter rose higher into the sky.

There were the Wardbrobewhizonics climbing into their own hot-pink helicopter.

There were Katie and Tyler jumping up and down and waving.

There was Greta Gretch sobbing into a can of lemonade.

There were Sean and his friends, leaping around, falling dramatically to the ground as they pretended to shoot one another with imaginary guns.

There was Mrs. Zucchini, kicking and shouting as four burly policemen carried her away.

There was Mr. Nix, trying to talk into Georgio's megaphone and toppling over backward because it was too big for him.

And then Nicola couldn't recognize anyone anymore. They were just busy little ants all running back and forth on the rectangular patch of grass in the school yard.

Georgio bent down and spoke quietly in her ear. "And so the mission begins."

CHAPTER 6

"Georgio, may I ask a question?" asked Nicola as the helicopter skimmed fat cottonlike clouds.

"If it's an intelligent one. I have a policy of answering only intelligent questions."

"Well, I was just wondering, what is this mission I'm on? What exactly will I have to do? What if I can't do it? Are you sure I'm the best person for the job? Will anybody try to kill me?"

Nicola's voice came out funny on the last question. She felt breathless, as if she'd been running. Oh dear, she hoped she wasn't going to start hyperventilating like her cousin Ellie did when she got too nervous about something. She'd have to breathe into a paper bag.Would Georgio even have a paper bag? What sort of person starts a top secret mission by breathing into a paper bag? Her brother would say a cowardly custard one.

"I do believe you just asked five questions," said Georgio. "Fancy a lollipop?"

"I beg your pardon?" Nicola blinked.

"I find a lollipop always helps me concentrate and, as I'm about to answer at least some of those intelligent questions, I thought it might be nice if you enjoyed a Choc-Chip-Coconut-and-Cream Tropical Delight at the same time."

"Well, okay, thank you very much," said Nicola. Georgio rummaged around in his pocket and pulled out a gigantic lollipop, unwrapped it, and handed it to Nicola. It was as big as her face, and when she took her first lick, her tastebuds almost fainted with pleasure.

"This is . . . delectable," she said.

Georgio smiled. "Shall I begin?"