Undercover - In China - Book 7

Part 3 - Fragrant Harbour

I looked out the window. There was a commotion just beyond the rotor blades and two or three people were sprawled on the roof near a large rotund figure dressed in a black jerkin over a pink jumpsuit. The helicopter began to lift off slowly as the large black and pink shape sprinted ponderously toward us and grabbed the door handle . . . just as we took off. 

 The helicopter lurched and touched down briefly as the door swung open. The co-pilot stood up when the man hauled himself into the cabin. It was Time Agent Onderdonk  known to his friends as Ondy or Triple Oh.

'About time you got here, Ondy!' I shouted but I don't think he heard me. 

 'A thousand pardons for my tardiness,' Triple Oh bellowed as he ducked a punch from the co-pilot. I don't know how he did it but the co-pilot was sliding over Triple Oh's back and head first out the open door. Fortunately, the addition of Triple Oh's weight had pulled the helicopter down. We were touching the roof but precariously near the edge. The pilot was gaping at Triple Oh in horror and suddenly he threw open his door and stepped out. With one less person on board the helicopter leapt into the air. We were flying over the edge of the building roof without a pilot! And I was handcuffed to my seat! 

 Triple Oh squeezed into the co-pilots seat and jammed ear phones over his head. 'You know how to fly this thing?' I shouted anxiously. 'No,' Triple Oh shouted, 'but if these poltroons can fly it, it can't be more difficult than riding a horse. Now, let me see, this must be the control stick.'

 We tilted at a crazy angle as he managed to get his seat belt on just before we hit the ground and we zoomed across Hong Kong harbour two metres above sea level dodging around the ferries.

'Ondy!' I screamed, 'quit fooling around!'

 'I have the measure of it,' he shouted. 'Thou art safe with me.' I closed my eyes as we flew into Hong Kong island down a street lined with high rise office towers, skimming the tops of the double-deck, trolley cars, and heading straight for the tallest building in town. 

 I felt the floor tilt back sharply and I opened my eyes as we stopped metres away from the face of the office tower. People were staring out of the windows. Ondy shouted, 'I do not know how to back up, so we will go straight up.' 

 The gas turbine noise went up several decibels and we shot up. Ondy managed to turn sideways so I didn't have to face the horrified office workers.

'Ondy!' The helicopter was dancing down the street narrowly missing the taller buildings as we oscillated around one skyscraper to the next and then Triple Oh answered his cell phone. He dropped the phone barely averting a collision with a building and started singing a jaunty tune as he taught himself how to fly. It seemed like an eternity but was probably only a few minutes before he started bellowing a mad melody and playing with the control column. We were bouncing up and down and swinging from side to side with the occasional pirouette as Triple Oh waltzed around the colourful light displays on the buildings of Hong Kong.

The helicopter was not going to clear the top of the next building. 'Triple Oh!' I whispered but he didn't hear me. I squeezed down into my seat and, when there was no impact, I opened my eyes. The helicopter was flying a straight and level course.

'Weeeee! This is so cool!' The voice came through my earphones. It sounded like Yonnie.

 'Yonnie,' I yelled through a dry mouth, 'are you flying this helicopter.'