High Risk

by H. I. Larry

  Zac could see black clouds approaching from his left. He knew a storm was coming. I need a lift . . . and storm clouds often have strong updrafts!

  Zac shifted direction and flew straight into the storm cloud. He was suddenly surrounded by a thick grey mist. He couldn’t see a metre in front of him!

  Zac knew that if his plan failed, he would hit the mountain in seconds.

  WHOOOOOOOOSHHH!

  Suddenly, the Dragonfly was sucked up, like a leaf in a vacuum cleaner. Zac felt his stomach drop as he soared upwards, spinning dizzily. The roaring winds ripped at his wings.

  Zac was blown out into clear air, passing just above the mountains.

  Phew! I made it! grinned Zac, his heart still thumping in his chest.

  He knew he had just missed the jagged mountain top by about 20 centimetres.

  The Hidden Kingdom came into view, just as the sun was rising. Zac headed north, looking for the Royal Forest.

  The storm cloud had ripped holes in the Dragonfly’s delicate wings, and Zac was feeling exhausted. He started to shiver.

  Zac locked his wings to ‘glide’ position and searched through his backpack.

  It was still quite dark, and Zac had no idea how he was going to find and meet the local GIB agent.

  He felt a small metal box in his bag. Zac opened it and white light blasted his eyes. Quickly shutting the box, Zac checked the label on the side.

  SIGNAL LANTERN

  Contains Solarite,

  a naturally glowing mineral

  Aiming the lantern north, Zac signalled ‘A-G-E-N-T R-I-N-G-O’.

  Just as Zac was wondering if a Hidden Kingdom agent would know Morse code, a faint light flashed up ahead.

  It read ‘A-G-E-N-T R-O-C-K S-T-A-R’ in Morse code!

  Zac glided towards the light. As he got closer, he saw a hot-air balloon up ahead. It was hovering above the forest. There was someone in the basket underneath, waving to him.

  Riiiip!

  But just then the Dragonfly’s damaged wings tore wide open. Zac was so close, but he wasn’t going to make it!

  He unzipped his body cover and dived desperately towards the balloon’s basket.

  But Zac was too far away, and he plummeted towards the ground!

  CHAPTER

  FIVE

  As Zac fell, he glimpsed a rope hanging under the balloon. He reached out for it, and . . . Got it! Zac jolted to a stop and, gripping the rope tightly, started to climb upwards.

  A dark-haired young man helped him into the basket.

  ‘Agent Rock Star,’ Zac said, holding out his hand. ‘You can call me Zac.’

  ‘I am Agent Ringo,’ grinned the youth. ‘As in, Ringo Starr? I chose my name so I would be just like you. A rock star!’

  Zac was confused. Ringo Starr? Wasn’t he one of the Beatles – that old band his grandpa used to listen to? When Zac thought about how remote the Hidden Kingdom was, it made sense that Ringo might like the same bands as his grandpa!

  The local GIB agent handed him a steaming mug. Zac pulled off his oxygen mask, and took the mug gratefully.

  ‘It’s yak milk,’ Ringo explained.

  Zac hesitated, and then gulped down the warm, creamy liquid. Not bad, he thought. It’s actually quite tasty.

  Ringo began talking about the mission. ‘Most people believe the yeti took the Prince,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘But I do not. Next in line to the throne is Kah, the Prince’s great uncle. Kah has been away for many years, but he mysteriously returned very soon after the kidnapping. He’s saying the crown is now his.’

  ‘Could he be the kidnapper?’ Zac asked.

  ‘I cannot prove it,’ said Ringo. ‘But Kah is cruel, and wants to change everything in our land. He will be a bad king.’

  Zac’s mind raced as he considered this new information. The words white ninjas suddenly popped into Zac’s head.

  Where did that thought come from? Zac wondered. Then he remembered the Sleep Learning he’d done on the flight. It was freaky to think Zac might know things he didn’t even know he knew!

  Ringo started pulling on the anchor rope, and the balloon began descending gently towards the ground.

  Zac was just going to ask Ringo about the white ninjas when he heard something whizzing towards them.

  WHIZZ-SNAP!

  Suddenly the balloon lurched violently as the anchor rope snapped in two. They were under attack! The two agents held on to the side of the balloon’s basket.

  WHIZZ-SNAP!

  The balloon was hit again!

  This time Zac was thrown sideways out of the basket. Zac tucked into a ball to soften the impact of his fall, but luckily they weren’t too far from the ground. He hit the snow and rolled.

  Looking up, he saw Ringo clinging to the spinning basket as the balloon blew off into the mist. He was calling out to Zac. ‘Find a white yak at the Golden Palace!’

  Then Ringo was gone and Zac was alone on the slopes of the mountain.

  He checked his watch.

  SPY CHRONOMETER

  TIME: 7:06 AM & 12 SECONDS

  MISSION TIME LEFT:

  11 HOURS,

  53 MINUTES

  AND 48 SECONDS

  Zac’s spy senses tingled as he heard a sound behind him. He ducked down. had hissed past and buried itself deep in the tree trunk behind him. If Zac hadn’t moved, it would have hit him right in the head!

  WHIZZ-THUNK!

  Zac faked right, and then dived left for the cover of a thick tree trunk.

  Zac knew he needed an escape route. Otherwise he wouldn’t stand a chance in the snow against a white ninja! Thinking quickly, he dug his boots into the snow.

  With his big toes, Zac pressed the buttons hidden inside his boots. He could feel the Tele-Skis shoot out the front of his boots – underneath the snow.

  Just then a white shape cart-wheeled past Zac. The figure leapt into the air.

  This guy’s FAST, thought Zac. And huge!

  The ninja landed in front of Zac. Two dark eyes glared at him through a slit in the white mask. The ninja held another glittering ice-disc in his hand.

  The ninja crouched.

  Zac realised his Sleep Learning must have included white ninja fighting moves, because somehow he knew exactly what he had to do.

  The ninja raised his leg for a split-second before attacking. But Zac was ready. He kicked his Tele-Skis up out of the snow, and knocked the ninja onto his white butt!

  Then Zac skied off down the slope, releasing Tele-Ski poles from his sleeves as he sped down the hill.

  Looking over his shoulder, Zac saw the white ninja was up and following him. He looked like a whirling explosion of snow! Zac was a great skier, but the ninja was gaining on him. He was moving across the snow at an incredible speed! Zac swerved wildly, dodging the ninja and ducking the ice-discs that whizzed through the air.

  Up ahead, Zac could see a cliff looming. Gulp! He was heading straight for it! Zac’s mind raced as he went through his options. But the ninja was right behind him, and it was too late to avoid the cliff.

  If I have to ski jump, Zac thought, I may as well try to break my personal best distance!

  With a deep breath, Zac skied right off the cliff!

  CHAPTER

  SIX

  Zac tilted his body forward as he flew though the air – just like he had been taught in his GIB extreme skiing course.

  Looking back over his shoulder, Zac saw that the ninja had stopped at the cliff’s edge above him.

  Zac could see the Hidden Kingdom far below – it looked amazing. But now is not the time for sight-seeing, he reminded himself.

  He had a crash-landing to prepare for!

  Zac let his Tele-Ski poles fall from his hands, and grabbed a pack of ParaGum from his pocket.

  This ParaGum had better work! thought Zac, as he crammed the gum into his mouth and chewed hard.

  Zac pushed his tongue into the gum, and blew a bubble. The ground was getting closer and closer! Zac blew and blew, ma
king the bubble bigger and bigger and . . .

  WHOOF!

  Zac’s body jolted as he slowed to a drift. The ParaGum was working!

  Moments later, Zac splashed into a field and managed to perform a muddy commando roll. As the bubble dissolved into the mud, Zac set off towards the city. It looked about three kilometres away.

  He hoped Ringo was OK, and had managed to land the balloon safely.

  As Zac walked, he passed a few locals riding donkeys. He got a few funny looks, but no-one stopped him.

  He was feeling uneasy, but couldn’t put his finger on why.

  Of course! he realised suddenly. With no cars, phones or music, it was eerily quiet in the Hidden Kingdom.

  Zac studied the Golden Palace as he approached. It looked like a giant golden jewel box. It had five curved roofs, each roof smaller than the one below. Guards with sharp-looking bronze axes blocked the golden gates.

  Zac watched from a distance as a tourist approached the guards. One of the guards tried to speak to the tourist in English.

  ‘Lucky Starbuck?’ the guard asked, in a very strong accent.

  The tourist looked confused, and was turned away.

  Zac knew who Lucky Starbuck was! He was the mop-haired star of the show Lucky’s World. Lucky travelled the world, showing off and interviewing famous people.

  Someone is expecting Lucky, Zac realised, as an idea started to form. He must be coming to interview Kah!

  Zac was busting to get on with the mission, but he knew he should find Ringo first. Zac remembered Ringo’s last words – something about finding a white yak.

  Zac soon spotted a white cow-like thing under a tree, not far from the gates. Zac didn’t really know what a yak looked like, but he decided to check it out.

  As he got closer, Zac was sure he heard it whispering, ‘Zac Power! Follow, please!’

  For a moment, Zac thought he was going crazy. Maybe I hit my head when I fell? he thought, rubbing his temples.

  Then he realised it was actually Agent Ringo, in a yak suit!

  Zac followed Ringo at a distance. They reached a small, round hut with a pointy thatched roof, and went inside.

  Agent Ringo struggled out of his disguise, grinning. He explained that he had dropped safely from the balloon into the Royal Forest, and hiked back.

  Zac told Ringo about his encounter with the very scary white ninja.

  ‘Attacked by a white ninja!’ said Ringo, amazed. ‘They normally keep to themselves.’

  Zac checked his watch.

  SPY CHRONOMETER

  TIME: 9:40 AM & 6 SECONDS

  MISSION TIME LEFT:

  9 HOURS,

  19 MINUTES

  AND 54 SECONDS

  ‘The clock’s ticking! I am going to sneak into the palace,’ said Zac, picking up his backpack and getting ready to set off. ‘I need to know if Kah is involved.’

  ‘You’ll never get into the palace without an appointment!’ cried Ringo.

  ‘I have one!’ Zac said, winking at the confused agent.

  The royal guards stared in shock as a boy rode up to the palace gates on the back of a white yak.

  ‘Whoa, Snowball!’ called the boy in a loud voice. ‘I’m Lucky Starbuck! Kah is waiting for me, dudes! Open sesame!’

  The guards immediately lowered their axes and opened the gates. The boy and his yak started walking up the impressive flight of golden steps.

  ‘Too heavy!’ the yak complained in a muffled voice.

  Zac checked that no-one was watching, and then jumped off. Ringo went off to explore the palace and Zac marched through a huge golden entrance.

  ‘Your majesty! Interview time!’ called Zac in his most annoying Lucky Starbuck voice.

  He hoped Kah hadn’t seen too many episodes of Lucky’s World. Zac knew his yak-hair wig looked pretty fake.

  A hooded white figure led Zac into a huge room draped with colourful fabric and lamps. A fat man lounged on cushions, being fed grapes and chocolates by servants.

  He stared coldly at Zac. ‘Mr Starbuck!’ Kah rumbled. ‘I thought you were older.’

  ‘Ah, the camera adds on years, your highness!’ Zac laughed.

  Kah didn’t look convinced. Zac decided to get on with the interview before Kah threw him out of the palace.

  ‘Now,’ said Zac, pretending to look at a list of questions. ‘The Prince has been kidnapped, I hear. Where did this happen?’

  ‘Kidnapped?’ roared Kah. ‘No! Yetis took the Prince! It was near the Blue C – ’ Kah stopped himself suddenly. ‘It was not a kidnapping!’ He spluttered, and threw down his chocolate. ‘GUARDS!’

  ‘Apologies, your highness,’ Zac said quickly. He needed more time! ‘It is so noble of you to accept the crown!’ Zac added.

  Kah seemed pleased enough by this comment to have another chocolate.

  Zac decided to keep up with the flattery. ‘What will you be wearing at the crowning tonight, your highness? Any hints?’

  ‘Well,’ Kah said, patting his huge belly, ‘the traditional royal robes won’t fit my, err, manly frame. So I shall change tradition, and wear white robes!’ He smirked.

  ‘WOW!’ gushed Zac. ‘New king, new ideas! I bet you have some great plans?’

  Kah was enjoying himself. ‘Yes,’ he nodded. ‘I will modernise my country. My lazy people will work.’ Then Kah broke off. ‘Enough! I will reveal all when I am King.’ He looked suspiciously at Zac. ‘Your hair looks . . . strange, Mr Starbuck.’

  Kah signalled to a guard standing nearby. The guard moved towards Zac.

  Zac jumped back, screaming, ‘Don’t touch the hair! Don’t you know I’m on the cover of Hair Affair magazine this month?’

  Zac turned on his heel and stomped out of the palace. He wasn’t sure if his tantrum had convinced Kah he was Lucky Starbuck, but he didn’t plan on waiting to find out!

  Outside the gates, Zac saw the real Lucky arrive in an armchair carried by assistants. Lucky was screaming, ‘Where is my hair brush?’

  Zac grinned as he headed back to meet Agent Ringo.

  CHAPTER

  SEVEN

  Ringo returned to the hut soon after Zac. He jumped out of the suit, looking upset.

  ‘I overheard Kah’s guards talking about their master’s plans. It is awful! Once he is King, Kah will melt down the Golden Palace . . . and sell it! And Kah wants to flood the Kingdom to make a huge artificial lake – ’

  ‘A lake?’ Zac asked, puzzled. ‘Why would Kah want to build a huge lake? Did the guards say anything about that?’

  ‘Yes! Kah is going to build lakeside mansions – to sell to the world’s richest buyers! We local people will be homeless. We will be Kah’s slave labour.’

  ‘Well, I may know where the Prince is,’ said Zac. ‘Kah let something slip in the interview. He said the kidnapping happened near the Blue C – but then he stopped himself. Any ideas?’

  Ringo thought for a moment. ‘I know!’ he cried. ‘Maybe he was talking about the Blue Caves! They are high onYeti Mountain. It’s a long, deadly climb!’

  Zac wasn’t so worried about this. He was a very good spy and an experienced rock-climber, after all. ‘Well, I’d better get climbing!’ he said, pulling off his yak-hair wig.

  ‘Err . . . yes . . . me too!’ Ringo muttered nervously, as he followed Zac.

  Zac wasn’t sure he wanted another spy on his heels – he was used to spying solo! But he could hardly say that to Ringo. So together they set off for Yeti Mountain.

  They kept to wooded paths to avoid being spotted. Soon Zac could see Yeti Mountain looming up ahead. Zac had to admit it did look really difficult to climb.

  As they neared the Royal Forest, Zac’s spy senses tingled. He gave the GIB stop hand-signal, and crouched down. He pulled on his white hood and looked around.

  But Ringo completely missed Zac’s signal, and strolled into the forest clearing. He was whistling loudly!

  Has this guy done any GIB training? Zac wondered.

  Snowballs sped throu
gh the air, hitting Ringo’s temples at high speed. They were so perfectly aimed, they knocked him out!

  Deadly speed and accuracy? thought Zac. This must be the work of white ninjas!

  Zac dropped to the ground as three ninjas leapt down silently from the trees. He lay still and hoped his all-white suit would blend into the snow! Sure enough, the ninjas ran right past him, and tied Ringo’s wrists behind his back.

  ‘No visitors for the Prince, after all!’ joked one of the ninjas.

  So the white ninjas do have the Prince! Zac thought. I’m on the right track!

  He looked at his watch.

  SPY CHRONOMETER

  TIME: 12:15 PM & 6 SECONDS

  MISSION TIME LEFT:

  6 HOURS,

  44 MINUTES

  AND 54 SECONDS

  Zac wanted to help his fellow agent, but he was sure the ninjas wouldn’t hurt Ringo. Plus, rescuing him would almost certainly mean failing the mission.

  Zac had to keep going. After a half-hour’s running, Zac had reached the snowline. He was sweating, but there was no time to rest. He climbed higher and higher.

  As the hours dragged past, the ice became incredibly steep and slippery. Zac released his Ice Claws – now he could even climb vertical ice!

  Zac fought to catch his breath. His leg muscles were burning.

  The climb was taking longer than Zac had expected. He was very fit, but this was crazy! He could see the mountain’s peak up ahead, but it was still far above him

  Zac dropped to a ledge of snow as a helicopter passed high overhead.

  Hey, helicopters are illegal here! thought Zac. That could be Kah, he realised, heading for the Blue Caves the easy way!

  After two more hours of climbing, Zac could hardly feel his fingers and toes. The weather was getting worse and worse.

  Soon a snowstorm blew in, pushing Zac against the side of the mountain. He was lost in whiteness! Even Zac’s excellent sense of direction couldn’t help him out this time.