****
It was Marge Williams who ended up buying an airline ticket to Africa. Johnny was grounded, and though Trent had at first insisted on making the trip he had no passport and there was no time for him to apply for one. Marge still had hers from a recent trip. Now she used it, despite Trent’s objections.
Outwardly, Marge was going to vacation in Cameroon. In reality, that was as close as she could get to Nigeria, as Nigeria was in a state of emergency. After she took her seat before takeoff, she sat fretting over a map of Africa that showed her flight destination in Cameroon to be nearly a thousand miles from her final destination in Nigeria.
“Big continent, isn’t it,” said the elderly gentleman that sat down beside her. The airplane was about half full, but no other passengers were seated nearby.
“Yes it is,” she answered politely, before gasping in surprise. “Why Mr. Smith! I haven’t seen you since buying the house! Are you still in the real estate business?”
“Never really was, Mrs. Williams. I’m better known as Ranger Rick to many, though Smith is actually my real name. You may have caught a glimpse or two of me over the years?”
“Of course. I’ve realized for years who you really are, and now realize why nobody else is seated near us. Are you here to arrest me?”
“No, I’m here to help you. I’m supposed to be retired, but I still have friends in the agency and access to public news sources. The Government team that includes your daughter is in very deep trouble.”
“What do you know about my Mary?” she demanded.
“The Government can’t contact her or anyone else on the transport plane.” He noted the shock that registered on her face. ”Didn’t they even tell you?”
“No. We aren’t exactly on speaking terms with the Government. They’re trying to arrest us as traitors, of all things!”
“I heard about that also. That’s one of the things that brought me out of retirement and put me on the warpath. I had to cash in most of my chips to keep you out of jail when you were detected at the airport. When they figure out where both of us are going we’ll both be in deep trouble. What, may I ask, are your plans?”
“We’re flying to Yaounde, Cameroon. From there, how can I get to Western Nigeria? That’s the part I don’t know.”
“I’ll use my connections, assuming there aren’t government agents at the airport to arrest us all first. What I don’t know is what you plan to do when you get to Nigeria. Mary’s plane in all likelihood will be gone by then. And there is something else you have a right to know. The Government thinks that a witch from Narma has control of that transport.”
“We had concluded that already, human,” said a tiny high-pitched voice.
“Your purse just talked,” noted Rick.
“I don’t know how he stayed silent this long,” said Marge.
“It didn’t sound like Kip or Belinda.”
“His name is Pip, and he’s a powerful elf mage,” said Marge. "Or at least he claims to be."
“Your help is welcomed, Mr. Rick,” said the small voice. “I have learned of you from Kip and Belinda. I will help the boy and the dragon, if they need it, and kill the Witch and save the girl. But I warn you not to betray us.”
“And I warn you to hush up, or you’ll be discovered,” said Rick.
“Ha!” responded the amused elf, though he then remained silent.
“We’ll talk over everything when we land,” Rick said. “Right now I plan to catch some shut-eye. I'm not as young as I used to be.”
Marge feared too much for her daughter to sleep, but Pip had no such problem. Just to be in this new universe was tiring for him.
Hours later, as they approached Africa, the dozing elf was startled to sense someone telepathically. It was George, alive but weak. In a few minutes they exchanged much information, which the elf was glad to relay immediately to Grog.
Then he attempted a much harder task: he tried to contact Freedom. At first it was a one way conversation, but after several minutes there was a barely detectable whisper of a response from the dragon of only several words.
“I LIVE, ELF,” Freedom said, “PERHAPS FOR ONLY HOURS, OR ONE MORE DAY, AT MOST. GEORGE MUST GATHER GREAT POWER FOR US.”
“UNDERSTOOD, GREAT ONE," Pip replied. "CONSERVE YOUR STRENGTH FOR SURVIVAL, WE’RE COMING.”
A half hour later, when their airplane performed an abrupt turn, passengers started to worry and talk to each other. Marge and Rick were as startled as everyone else when a high pitched voice spoke over the airplane intercom system. “Do not be alarmed, humans. At my request your flight has been diverted to Nigeria. You are going to help save your world through this minor inconvenience.”
“I thought that elves were dead set on not showing themselves to humans?” said Rick, when a minute later the tiny elf appeared on the armrest between Marge and himself.
“I am a mage and not a mere elf," said Pip. "And this is an emergency, though only you and the mother of Mary can see and hear me, Mr. Rick. And the pilots too, of course. You have all been privileged to each receive a tiny bit of elfin magic.”
“We are all honored, I'm sure, but this is a mistake,” said Rick. “American military planes will intercept this plane if it approaches Nigeria.”
“It is necessary,” said the elf. “The situation is very urgent, and I am beginning to understand how very far Cameroon is from our true goal.” He didn’t tell them of his conversations with George, Freedom and Grog, as he didn’t totally trust Rick. “As to being chased by other planes, I’ll attempt to divert them, and if necessary, I’ll leave this plane when we get closer.”
“Leave the airplane?” asked Marge. “That would be a good trick. Can you fly?”
“Of course. Not like at home, but I’ll make do. In my view, how this great metal carriage swiftly flies without magic is the more amazing trick.”