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The Seeds of Victory

Louie¹s 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

Baloo¹s 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 Baloo¹s 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. ³I¹m 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 don¹t want everyone here to know we¹re 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 you¹re king of the pilots, ace? I¹m 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. ³I¹m taking this valuable antique to the Prince of Nose-and-Beak. They¹ll 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 isn¹t chicken feed again, is it?²

³Heavens no, Baloo! This cargo is so valuable an entire island is waiting for it. But it¹s top secret, so you get your tail section back here on the double. Over and out!²

³Well, that¹s 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 Baloo¹s secret cargo will be worth the most to my greedy self!²

Dumptruck threw off his wig. ³I don¹t know about you, Mad Dog, but I¹m glad my mother never saw me like this!²

Back at Higher for Hire, Rebecca Cunningham had a huge crate waiting. ³Now don¹t 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 what¹s in here? Jewels? Gold? Baseball cards?²

Rebecca grinned, ³Sorry, Baloo, but that¹s top secret.²

Hundreds of miles later, Baloo started dreaming about his special package. ³Y¹know, Kit, maybe old Beckers has finally found me a cargo worth delivering! I¹ll bet those islanders throw me a Best Pilot party or something!²

Kit just shook his head. ³Don¹t get too carried away, Papa Bear. This job is for the islanders, not us!²

³Oh, uh, yeah--I knew that, Li¹l 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 don¹t know how much longer I can hold them off, Li¹l Britches!²

³Then let me have a try, Baloo!² Kit grabbed one of Baloo¹s 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 Dog¹s plane and jammed the old boot over the pirate¹s 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

But when he emerged from the clouds, there was the gigantic Iron Vulture waiting for them. ³Oops! I guess I¹m 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

³How¹d 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 isn¹t valuable! Now no one will ever think I¹m a worthwhile, top-notch pilot! I¹ll never be able to show my face in Louie¹s Place again. Man, who would¹ve thought I¹d ever sink so low.²

Kit dug out two bottles of soda pop and handed one to his best buddy. ³Relax, Papa Bear. I¹m sure Miss Cunningham wouldn¹t have said the crate was important if it wasn¹t.²

But Baloo wouldn¹t have any of it. ³Forget it! I¹m 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, I¹ll be lucky if the assistant to the Chief¹s 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 islanders¹ 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 didn¹t 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 others¹ put together!²

Baloo winked. ³Yep, I should¹ve listened to you, Kit.²

Back in the Sea Duck, Baloo called Louie¹s Place on his radio. ³Say, Louie, it¹s Baloo! Guess who was just made Honorary Island Prince?²

Kit chimed in. ³ And given his weight in rubies!²

Louie couldn¹t believe his ears. ³So lay it on me, Cuz. What was that top secret cargo of yours, anyway?²

Baloo chuckled. ³You wouldn¹t believe me if I told you, Louie.²

Back at Louie¹s, a disguised Don Karnage heard Baloo¹s conversation and pounded the corner table in frustration. ³Phooey! This whole deal stinks!²

Louie scooped out some ice cream. ³Hurry back, Baloo! I¹m makin¹ 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

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