Nicola despised this girl with her whole heart. "So, that's when the Committee came up with the idea of selecting an Earthling Ambassador to visit the princess. At first, the obvious choice was someone in a position of authority, like a prime minister or a king or queen. However, my wife cleverly suggested that an Earthling the same age as the princess might be more persuasive. Of course, that Earthling couldn't be just anyone. It needed to be someone with very special qualities. So, the Committee came up with a list of questions that would help us identify exactly the right person."
It was as if a giant hand was squeezing Nicola's stomach. "But I don't think I am the right person at all! I think you should pick someone else! And those questions were so . . . unusual." She had been about to say wacky, but she didn't want to offend Georgio.
"We've made an appointment for you with Princess Petronella at the Rainbow Palace tomorrow morning at ten."
She had an appointment at a palace with a princess. Nicola felt a moment of giddy excitement, before remembering the particular princess she was meeting.
"So that's your mission in a nutshell: to convince the princess not to destroy your planet.Think you can handle it?"
"No!" said Nicola. "I don't think I can handle it at all."
Oh, why hadn't she just sat down when Georgio asked the first question? Someone bossy and confident like Greta Gretch would have been a much better choice!
"Good!" said Georgio. "I like that self-doubt; it will make you work even harder. I dislike nothing more than overly confident people! I expect you're feeling extremely nervous right now. Heart racing, stomach churning, hands trembling, head pounding--that sort of thing?"
"Uh, yes." Nicola smoothed the blue satin fabric of her dress across her knees.That was exactly how she was feeling.
Georgio looked at his watch and glanced out the window of the helicopter.
> "Well, I don't know what my esteemed colleagues would think about this, but really, what difference will a few minutes make now that I've tracked you down?! So, how about a quick dip? I find nothing relaxes me more than a refreshing swim.What do you say?"
Nicola didn't quite know what to say. Swimming was actually the very last thing on her mind at the moment. Georgio was certainly very odd.
"Come on!" He unbuckled his seat belt. "Last one in is a rotten egg!"
To Nicola's horror, Georgio threw open the door of the helicopter and flung himself out into the cold air.
CHAPTER 7
In Nicola's house nobody was allowed to swear, except in times of great stress, when they were allowed to say the word frizzle.This was their own private Berry family swear word, which didn't upset anyone.
"FRIZZLE!" exclaimed Nicola. "FRIZZLE, FRIZZLE!"
She tapped Plum on the shoulder. "Georgio just jumped out of the helicopter!"
She waited for a suitably horrified reaction.
"Oh, has he?" Plum turned her head slightly. "Typical! Well, why don't you have a quick dip, too? It will do you good before your mission."
"I beg your pardon?" said Nicola faintly.
"What's taking you so long?" Nicola looked down and saw Georgio gazing up at her. He was leaning on the floor of the helicopter with both arms, just like it was the edge of a swimming pool, his long legs dangling behind him in the air.
"You must come in! The temperature is perfect."
"Are you crazy?" Nicola felt quite petrified. She was trapped in a helicopter with two lunatics.
Georgio looked at her blankly. "Have you never been cloud-swimming before?"
"No. I have never been cloud-swimming before," Nicola spoke slowly and distinctly, like she spoke to Great-Aunt Annie, who was very deaf and a little bit crazy.
"Why didn't you say so?" cried Georgio. "Everyone needs a little push the first time."
He hauled himself back into the helicopter, unbuckled Nicola's seat belt, lifted her up under the arms, and held her outside the helicopter.
"Have fun, Nicola!" cried Georgio--and he let her go.
"AAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!"