8 Saving the day

Chapter Eight SAVING THE DAY Ms. Lau looked up from Kiki's camera. "The GPS data speaks for itself," she said. "Clearly, this area is an orangutan habitat, and you have no right to tear it down. Switch off those bulldozers immediately!" "But my plans," spluttered the plantation boss. "My profits..."

"Your expansion plans are canceled as of now," said Ms. Lau. She took the papers from his clipboard and tore them in half. The boss and his henchmen turned angrily to Ollie, Kiki, and Jamal. "You meddling little brats!" he roared. "Do you have any idea what you've done?" "Of course they do. They've saved this rainforest!" Jamal grinned. He threw an arm over Ollie and Kiki's shoulders, and they walked back to the Beagle together, feeling like they were walking on air.

Ollie was glad he'd been able to keep his promise. Of course, the bigger fight was a long way from over. Human beings still threatened the rainforest and the animals that lived there, not just in Borneo but all over the world. But this area, at least, was safe for now. "Mission accomplished!" Kiki said, leaning back in her seat with a happy sigh. The Beagle gave a DING! of agreement. "Great work thinking of those photos with GPS coordinates," Ollie whispered. "The Exploration Station really does pick the right person every time!" Ollie and Kiki flew Jamal back to the wildlife preserve and said their goodbyes to him and all the other volunteers. "Thanks for showing us around," Ollie said.

"The animals were amazing!" added Kiki. "Any time!" Jamal said. "And thanks again, from all of us." "Especially from Fig!" said Doctor Faridah, holding the little orangutan by the hand. Fig held her other hand out, as if she was waving goodbye.

Ollie and Kiki waved back, and the Beagle started down the runway. As the Beagle roared up into the sky, they kept waving until the wildlife preserve was nothing but a speck in the far distance. The big button on the dashboard that had read "START" changed to "HOME." Ollie pressed it. The Beagle shot suddenly forward, accelerating to a blinding speed. The blue

sky changed to a tunnel of brilliant white light, flickering and roaring around them. The Beagle shuddered and shook, changing shape as it flew. The controls disappeared, the glass canopy folded away, and soon the Beagle was nothing more than a scruffy, battered old go-kart once again. The light faded away. Kiki and Ollie were back in the Exploration Station, as if they had never left. They unfastened their safety belts and climbed out.