Throw another Quack on the Barbie-Part II

The next day, Webb decided to bring NOT along with him on a trip to the Great Barrier Reef. So they flew north to Cairns and boarded their transportation.

While checking his snorkeling gear, NOT found a small hole in his hose. Nothing that would be noticeable upon the start of a dive, but one which would quickly become critical as depth was achieved.  The only ones aboard were the captain, and Webb. 

"He must be on to me!" realized NOT. 

So he quickly repaired the damaged hose and went on the dive, keeping an eye on Dr. Webb the entire time. The dive went uneventfully, until suddenly NOT found himself separated from the Doctor, and surrounded by sea creatures, and they were looking at the Secret Agent with malice in their eyes.  Quickly the creatures began to pummel him from all sides, ramming into him from the front and back, and from below. In his confusion, NOT lost his mask, and became disoriented. A small shark came up from behind and tried to attack the flailing duck, but missed; instead his razor sharp teeth sliced open NOT's air hose. 

NOT had been hanging upside down in the water when this happened, so the released air shot him towards the surface like a rocket engine. He came up bobbing in the water, gasping for air. Luckily another dive boat saw him and rescued him. 

As NOT headed back to land, he began to assess what had happened. "It was almost as if the sea creatures were following some command," he noted. "No matter what, Dr. Webb knew who I was and tried to eliminate me, just as he eliminated Kasey."

NOT had to find Webb, and fast. It was time to talk to more local contacts and find out what he was up to. In Queensland, he looked up an Australian operative he knew. Hiking in Granite Gorge, he met his old friend the Rock Wallaby. Rock had not seen NOT for some time, and was curious about him, despite being a wild animal. 

He did not know of anything strange but suggested he speak to another operative known as the Termite. 

The Termite lived in the Atherton Tablelands. NOT figured he might know what was going on since he literally kept his ear to the ground in his mound. 

"I've heard talk that something strange is happening off the coast. It seems that the marine animals have been acting strangely and the number of attacks on the swimmers has gone up.  There is fear of the collapse of the tourist trade if the tourists stay away, afraid of the ocean." explained the Termite. 

"Thank you," said NOT. "Now it all starts to make sense."

"Many of the attacks have been centered around the Marine Conservation Park at Fitzroy Island, you might start there." suggested the Termite

"Of course, it's right near Cairns, where I myself was attacked. It's got to be where he's working." 

NOT thanked the Termite and was off to the coast once again to stop Dr. Webb and save Australia's economy. 

NOT decided to go undercover once again. But when he arrived at Fitzroy Island, he found out to his chagrin, there was a Nudey beach. 

"How can I go undercover on a nude beach?" he thought. Not a modest duck, NOT still was trying to go undercover. So he approached the beach with caution. 

He quickly realized that Nudey was the name of the beach, not an indicator of the dress code. Still nothing unusual appeared to him, so he decided to go up and find a better view. 

At the summit of Fitzroy Island, NOT could look back upon the mainland. Once this was part of the Australian mainland until the glaciers melted up north and the oceans rose again. But still no sign of Webb. Down below he saw the nature preserve. "What a perfect place for his operations," NOT thought. 

Upon spying the crocodile warning, NOT knew he had found the place. He slowly made his way up the river, always watchful of the crocodiles in case they attacked.  

Soon NOT came to the research station. Webb was in there, he knew it. Using his short flight skills, he flapped from the boat to the roof of the center, avoiding crocodiles and other marine animals. Looking through a skylight, he saw Webb working at a machine. Crocodiles stood staring at him, but made no move towards him. The were under his control. NOT had found his lair. 

Quietly, NOT cut a small hole from the skylight and attached his rappelling equipment to a vent above. It was time to lower himself into the lair. A couple of the crocodiles looked up, but Webb never noticed him. Slowly and quietly he slid down the rope till he landed right behind Dr. Webb, who was busy at his machine. 

"The plan is up Webb. You're through!" exclaimed NOT. Webb turned around in horror and just smiled. "These crocodile are under my control. I'll have them tear you to small appetizers." he threatened. 

Webb turned a dial on his machine and the crocodiles moved towards Double-O-Quack. Quickly, NOT tossed an explosive device at the machine and hit the button on his harness so his rope reeled him up towards the ceiling. As the machine exploded, the Webb's control over the crocodiles advanced upon Dr. Webb. NOT was up and out the skylight before he heard the anguished screams and snaps of crocodile jaws.  NOT passed out on the roof out of exhaustion. 

 When he came to, he found himself with a representative of Her Majesty's Government, who congratulated  Double-O-Quack on his accomplishments. 

"The economy of Australia is saved, thanks to you.  V sends word that you are to take a long vacation to recover from this mission."  

NOT thanked him and left to find some calm in his life once again. 

After wandering the country, he found himself in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.  At Australia's version of the Grand Canyon, he stopped to look over the view, not really enjoying the majesty of it at all. His heart still thought about his lost Kasey; NOT could never enjoy Australia again without thinking of the native girl who showed him the beauty of the continent. 

Photos  courtesy of Laurie Brennan

Photos courtesy of Laurie Brennan

Last Updated October 2003