Earthling Ambassador Read Online Free PDF Page A

falling dramatically to the ground as they pretended to shoot one another with imaginary guns.
    There was Mrs. Zucchini, kicking and shouting as four burly policemen carried her away.
    There was Mr. Nix, trying to talk into Georgio’s megaphone and toppling over backward because it was too big for him.
    And then Nicola couldn’t recognize anyone anymore. They were just busy little ants all running back and forth on the rectangular patch of grass in the school yard.
    Georgio bent down and spoke quietly in her ear. “And so the mission begins.”

CHAPTER 6
    â€œGeorgio, may I ask a question?” asked Nicola as the helicopter skimmed fat cottonlike clouds.
    â€œIf it’s an intelligent one. I have a policy of answering only intelligent questions.”
    â€œWell, I was just wondering, what is this mission I’m on? What exactly will I have to do? What if I can’t do it? Are you sure I’m the best person for the job? Will anybody try to kill me?”
    Nicola’s voice came out funny on the last question. She felt breathless, as if she’d been running. Oh dear, she hoped she wasn’t going to start hyperventilating like her cousin Ellie did when she got too nervous about something. She’d have to breathe into a paper bag.Would Georgio even have a paper bag? What sort of person starts a top secret mission by breathing into a paper bag? Her brother would say a cowardly custard one.
    â€œI do believe you just asked five questions,” said Georgio. “Fancy a lollipop?”
    â€œI beg your pardon?” Nicola blinked.
    â€œI find a lollipop always helps me concentrate and, as I’m about to answer at least some of those intelligent questions, I thought it might be nice if you enjoyed a Choc-Chip-Coconut-and-Cream Tropical Delight at the same time.”
    â€œWell, okay, thank you very much,” said Nicola. Georgio rummaged around in his pocket and pulled out a gigantic lollipop, unwrapped it, and handed it to Nicola. It was as big as her face, and when she took her first lick, her tastebuds almost fainted with pleasure.
    â€œThis is . . . delectable ,” she said.
    Georgio smiled. “Shall I begin?”
    â€œYes, please.”
    Georgio took a breath. “Nicola,” he said solemnly, “you may have noticed that I am above average height.”
    Nicola managed to keep a straight face.
    â€œQuite obviously,” he continued, “I come from another planet.”
    Nicola had—quite obviously—never met anyone from another planet before, and she very nearly pulled a cross-eyed look and said “Yeah, right!” just like Sean did whenever he heard something he didn’t believe. But then Nicola remembered she’d left her school in a helicopter with the prime minister’s permission, so she kept quiet and sucked her lollipop.
    â€œBoth Plum and I—and this helicopter, in fact—are from the very famous and very beautiful planet of Globagaskar.We are proud Globagaskarians, just as you, no doubt, are a proud Earthling.” Georgio gave Nicola a rather pitying look before going on.
    â€œNow, the main difference between Globagaskar and your dear little planet is simply this—we’re approximately two million years ahead of you.That’s why we’re so much taller than you and our technology is two million times more advanced, our food is two million times more delicious, and so on and so forth.We’ve always known of your existence, but of course, one of the most adorable things about your planet is that most of you seem to believe you’re the only inhabited planet in the galaxy.We didn’t want to upset you by spoiling your sweet little illusions!”
    Nicola felt embarrassed for slow old Earth. “I’m sure we’re about to discover you any minute!” she said. “We do have spaceships, you know.”
    Georgio guffawed. “Those sweet toys? Oh, Nicola, please