Chapter 500 – I’m Back! (1/2)

Morning.

It’s dawn, and the sky is slowly turning bright.

Dong Xuebing stood outside of Tokyo International Airport and straightened his collar. He walked around slowly to observe the departure hall. The airport’s security was tightened, and lots of armed officers are patrolling. Dong Xuebing purposely walks past a few patrolling Officers.

Those Officers took a glance at Dong Xuebing and continued with their way.

Dong Xuebing knew those officers had not seen his face.

Alright! It’s safe now.

Dong Xuebing had worked in Public Security for over a year and knows about the Police procedures and how they operate. The more secretive you behave, the more they will notice you. He walks towards the flight information display to check the flights. BEIJING… BEIJING… Yes! J311. Boarding at 6 is from Tokyo to Beijing!

Dong Xuebing looks at the time. It’s 5.50 am!

That’s it!

Dong Xuebing does not have any identification or an air ticket, and it’s impossible to go through the normal boarding process.

Dong Xuebing looked around and stepped into a secluded corner.

STOP!

Time stopped.

Dong Xuebing looked at the people in the departure hall and ran towards the escalator. There are too many people on the escalator, and he could not squeeze through them. He had to step on the handrails to get upstairs. He almost fell several times. He did not stop as he got near the immigration counters. He got past the immigration and security checks and went into a nearby toilet.

STOP! Time resume.

A few young men are speaking in mandarin with a Northeast accent.

“I heard more than 200 people had died in the air crash. No passengers survived.”

“That’s right. I am afraid of flying after I heard it. That flight was supposed to fly from Tokyo to Beijing.”

“I heard the crash is due to a flock of birds hitting the plane’s engine. I think we will not be so unlucky this time.”

“Who knows? We just need to be careful. If we encounter the same situation, just jump off the plane.”

“Haha… Stop talking nonsenses.”

Dong Xuebing hid in the cubicle and rubbed his chin. He had gotten past the immigrations and checks. But how is he going to get the ticket?

Dong Xuebing can use STOP to get onto the plane. He only needs to get through the second security check at the boarding gate, and he can get onto the plane without an air ticket. But what about the seat? Where can he hide on the plane? Most flights will not have empty seats, and he cannot hide in the toilet for a few hours. The aircrew will notice him.

Steal an air ticket?

Knock someone out and steal his ticket?

That will not work. The person will report to the Police, and Dong Xuebing will be discovered. He will be arrested before the plane touchdown.

That’s right! The cargo hold!

No one will be checking the cargo hold, and there will be nothing other than luggage!

Dong Xuebing stepped out of the toilet and started looking for the boarding gate. Although there’s still time for the passengers to board, the check-in luggage will be transported into the cargo hold first. He needs to get into the cargo hold before they close it.

J311 boarding gate….

J311 boarding gate….

Found!

The passengers are starting to enter the holding room, and someone is checking their tickets.

Dong Xuebing avoided the CCTV and mumbled STOP. He got through the checks and hides behind a corner before resuming time. After that, he followed other passengers towards the plane. One minute later, he saw the stairs to the plane. There is another round of air ticket checks, and he does not want to go over. He looks around and saw the cargo hold is opened. The airport staff is loading the luggage onto a conveyer belt into the cargo hold.

Dong Xuebing squats down and pretends to tie his shoelaces.

After the passengers walked past, and no one is noticing him, Dong Xuebing mumbled STOP again. He quickly runs towards the cargo hold.

Five meters….

Ten meters….

Twenty meters….

Dong Xuebing jumped onto the conveyer belt and ran up into the cargo hold.

This is the first time Dong Xuebing saw the interior of the cargo hold. There are rollers and locks in it, and staff is working. There are no seats, toilets, or carpet. The windows are much higher than the passenger compartment, and it looks like a big warehouse. Luggage is being loaded into the cargo hold, and it’s about one-third full when he enters.

Dong Xuebing doesn’t have much time remaining.

He quickly jumps over a stack of suitcases, covered by a net, into the gap between two stacks of luggage.