Louieıs Place was a ramshackle, tumble-down restaurant with flimsy walls and hefty prices, but all the local cargo pilots loved it. Especially Baloo the Bear. ³Hey, Louie, slip me one of your famous Krakatoa Specials!²
Balooıs young partner, Kit Cloudkicker added, ³And throw in two spoons!²
Happy-go-lucky Louie slid a mountain of ice cream across the counter to Baloo. ³Here ya go, Cuz! A sundae fit for a king! Ha-ha!²
³Then this baby has got my name written all over it! Because I just happen to be the King of Cargo Pilots!² To prove his point, Baloo waved his arms royally, but as he did, ice cream from Balooıs spoon flew across the room and spattered the dresses of three very unusual ladies at a table nearby. ³Hey, watch it, you meatball!²
Baloo quickly apologized. ³Iım real sorry, ladies.²
³You will not be real sorry until I have shoved that spoon down your worthless throat!²
The strange-looking woman tried to lunge at Baloo, but she was held back by her two friends.
As the three women collected themselves, the largest lady whispered to her friend. ³Easy, Captain. We donıt want everyone here to know weıre pirates in disguise.²
Don Karnage adjusted his wig. ³I am my calm self again, Dumptruck. Now you and Mad Dog keep your ears peeled for a good cargo to steal, while I fix my stockings.²
Baloo leaned over to Kit. ³Did that lady sound familiar?²
Before Kit could answer, a burly pilot slapped Baloo on the back. ³What makes you think youıre king of the pilots, ace? Iım the one flying a load of expensive paintings to Jacshamasch Gallery!²
Dumptruck nearly fell out of his chair. He whispered, ³Did you hear that, Captain? Valuable art! Hoo boy!²
As Kit finished the ice cream and began to tune in the radio, another pilot sauntered up to the counter and held up a jeweled mask. ³Iım taking this valuable antique to the Prince of Nose-and-Beak. Theyıll treat me like a king!²
Don Karnage bit his knuckles. ³Am I believing my ears?! That is even more valuable than the paintings!²
Baloo shook his fist. ³I fly expensive stuff too, pal!²
The scruffy pilot burst into laughter. ³Yeah, like those sewer covers you delivered yesterday? Or how about that load of chicken feed last week?!² Baloo scowled.
Just then the radio crackled to life. ³Baloo this is your boss, Rebecca. I need you to fly back to Higher for Hire for another very important job!²
Baloo called back nervously. ³Uh, Becky, this isnıt chicken feed again, is it?²
³Heavens no, Baloo! This cargo is so valuable an entire island is waiting for it. But itıs top secret, so you get your tail section back here on the double. Over and out!²
³Well, thatıs more like it!² Baloo headed out the door, waving. ³I guess the best jobs always go to the best pilot!²
No sooner did Kit and Baloo leave when Don Karnage rushed to his plane. ³Hurry, men! Let us turn in our high heels for some high flying, yes-no? It sounds like Balooıs secret cargo will be worth the most to my greedy self!²
Dumptruck threw off his wig. ³I donıt know about you, Mad Dog, but Iım glad my mother never saw me like this!²
Back at Higher for Hire, Rebecca Cunningham had a huge crate waiting. ³Now donıt forget, Baloo, the people of Wacka-Wacka are counting on you to deliver this crate.²
Baloo helped Wildcat and Kit shove the big box into the Sea Duck. ³So whatıs in here? Jewels? Gold? Baseball cards?²
Rebecca grinned, ³Sorry, Baloo, but thatıs top secret.²
Hundreds of miles later, Baloo started dreaming about his special package. ³Yıknow, Kit, maybe old Beckers has finally found me a cargo worth delivering! Iıll bet those islanders throw me a Best Pilot party or something!²
Kit just shook his head. ³Donıt get too carried away, Papa Bear. This job is for the islanders, not us!²
³Oh, uh, yeah--I knew that, Liıl Britches. Sure.²
Suddenly machine gun bullets tore past Baloo. ³Pirates! That proves this crate is valuable! Hang on to your shinbones, Kit!² Baloo pushed the plane into a steep turn.
The pirate planes swooped and soared, trying to catch up with the Sea Duck, but Baloo was too good for them. Don Karnage shouted, ³Send more planes, you nincompirates!²
Soon Baloo was outnumbered ten to one. ³I donıt know how much longer I can hold them off, Liıl Britches!²
³Then let me have a try, Baloo!² Kit grabbed one of Balooıs old boots out of the cargo hold and then dived out of the back of the plane with his airfoil. He zipped over to Mad Dogıs plane and jammed the old boot over the pirateıs head. ³Try this on for size, you heel!²
As Kit crawled back to the Sea Duck he shouted, ³Look, Papa Bear! They left you an opening over in those clouds!²
Baloo turned quickly and lost the pirates in the thick, fluffy cloudbank. ³Ha-ha! Am I good or what ?²
But when he emerged from the clouds, there was the gigantic Iron Vulture waiting for them. ³Oops! I guess Iım what .² The huge pirate ship swallowed up the Sea Duck.
Don Karnage greeted Baloo at sword point! ³So, Baloo, you will now surrender your top secret knickity-knacks to me!²
³Howıd you know I had a secret cargo, Karny?²
³Because I was that attractive lady you threw ice cream upon! Now open the crate, my men!² But when the lid was lifted, all they discovered was--²Fertilizer?!²
Don Karnage doubled over with laughter. ³So, Oh Great and Mighty Pilot, this is your top secret cargo, eh? Truly, only you, Baloo, are worthy of delivering a plane full of bad smell!²
All Baloo could do was frown. ³Becky let me down again!²
³Aw, does that make you sad, Baloo? Good.² Karnage turned to leave. ³Let us let this famous pilot deliver his valuable cargo, yes-no? For now it is back to work for us!²
Set free to continue his delivery, Baloo spent the rest of the trip grumbling. ³How could Rebecca do this to me, Kit? Fertilizer isnıt valuable! Now no one will ever think Iım a worthwhile, top-notch pilot! Iıll never be able to show my face in Louieıs Place again. Man, who wouldıve thought Iıd ever sink so low.²
Kit dug out two bottles of soda pop and handed one to his best buddy. ³Relax, Papa Bear. Iım sure Miss Cunningham wouldnıt have said the crate was important if it wasnıt.²
But Baloo wouldnıt have any of it. ³Forget it! Iım tired of flying worthless cargo runs. When we get back, I quit!² The rest of the trip was finished in silence.
When Baloo landed on Wacka-Wacka, he was totally depressed. ³Nuts, Iıll be lucky if the assistant to the Chiefıs assistant turns out to greet me.²
Suddenly, everyone on the island rushed down to the beach to greet the plane. ³Welcome! Welcome!² The islanders happily lifted a confused Kit and Baloo onto their shoulders and carried them into their village.
Completely baffled, Baloo was honored with a crown of flowers. ³Whoa, what gives, folks? There must be some mistake. All I brought was a big box of smelly fertilizer.²
The islandersı chief motioned to Baloo to listen. ³Not long ago, our volcano, Mount Hotcha, erupted. Lava covered our farmlands, destroying all our crops and fields. Without good soil to grow food, it looked like we would have to leave our lovely Wacka-Wacka forever.²
The chief slapped Baloo on the back. ³But then you brought us this special fertilizer to help us s
tart again. You saved our future, Baloo! You are our hero!² Baloo was given dozens of large rubies as payment. ³Hang on, I didnıt think the fertilizer was that valuable!²
The chief shook his head. ³To us it is. And besides, we cannot eat rubies, can we?² (Ha-ha)
Kit toasted Baloo. ³See, Papa Bear, your cargo was valuable. More valuable than all the othersı put together!²
Baloo winked. ³Yep, I shouldıve listened to you, Kit.²
Back in the Sea Duck, Baloo called Louieıs Place on his radio. ³Say, Louie, itıs Baloo! Guess who was just made Honorary Island Prince?²
Kit chimed in. ³ And given his weight in rubies!²
Louie couldnıt believe his ears. ³So lay it on me, Cuz. What was that top secret cargo of yours, anyway?²
Baloo chuckled. ³You wouldnıt believe me if I told you, Louie.²
Back at Louieıs, a disguised Don Karnage heard Balooıs conversation and pounded the corner table in frustration. ³Phooey! This whole deal stinks!²
Louie scooped out some ice cream. ³Hurry back, Baloo! Iım makinı another Krakatoa Special for the King of the Pilots!²
Baloo smiled proudly. ³Great, Louie. Oh, and thank those three lovely ladies in the corner for turning up their noses at my cargo! They just made me a rich man!²
THE END
