2 A meeting with Fig

Chapter Two A MEETING WITH FIG The Beagle coasted gently through the sky. Ollie and Kiki took in the incredible view. "Look at all those trees packed so close together," Kiki said, her eyes wide. "I've never seen so much green in my life!" Clouds floated over the green of the rainforest. "They're made by water evaporating from all those leaves," Ollie

said. He pointed out a long, straight gap in the canopy. "That looks like a landing strip." Kiki nodded. "We'd better touch down so we can get on with our mission. You'll need the engine's power to make a controlled landing." She reached over and switched it on. The propeller shuddered to life. Kiki showed Ollie where to push the joystick and when to work the pedals. He brought the motor glider around and lined the nose up with the landing strip. The Beagle made a happy little BEEP that sounded like "Good job!"

Ollie tilted the plane into a steady descent. Kiki held her breath as the landing pad approached. The wheels bumped the tarmac. Brakes squealed. Steadily, they came to a complete stop. "Phew!" Ollie gasped. "Great landing!" Kiki grinned. "Um… any idea where we are?" Ollie looked out. They had landed alongside a tall security fence. A sign read "HATALA ANIMAL SANCTUARY AND NATURE pRESERVE". "In exactly the right place, I think!" he said. Excitement growing, Ollie climbed out of the Beagle, Kiki close behind him. Bird and frog sounds echoed around them, and everything smelled damp and earthy. But most noticeable of all was how hot and

humid it was! Ollie felt as if he was walking through steam. "Whew," said Kiki. "I'm so sticky already!" They headed over to the double front gate. Through the wire Ollie spotted a boy around his own age, wearing shorts and a cap. "Come on in," the boy said brightly. "I'm Jamal." "I'm Kiki, and this is Ollie," said Kiki. "You actually get to work here? I'm jealous!" Jamal said, "I'm a volunteer. Want me to show you around?"

"Yes!" the two of them yelled together. A private tour of a Borneo nature preserve? Ollie could hardly wait to get inside! The nature preserve was much bigger than he was expecting. All the animals had plenty of space to move around. Jamal took them to an enclosure with a stream running through it, where elephants were bathing. The elephants had cute faces with big ears, and long tails that almost reached the ground. "What kind of elephants are they?" Kiki asked.

"Pygmy elephants," explained Jamal. "You only find them here in Borneo." One of the elephants wandered over to Kiki and sat down in front of her, looking at her with wide, trusting eyes. Kiki flapped her hands in pure delight. "Can I take pictures?" "Go for it!" Jamal laughed. Kiki pulled out her camera and took several shots of the little elephant. She'd modified the camera to have a constant internet connection, so all she and Ollie had to do was press a button to upload them onto his blog. "Your readers are going to love this!" she told him. "Readers?" asked Jamal. "My blog. Green Guy Goes Global," Ollie explained.