13 The Princess and the Brain Zapper

CHAPTER THIRTEEN The Princess and the Brain Zapper The storm raged over Grimwood. The efficient- looking beavers were zooming around covering up the lights and props for the Big Show. Ingrid was telling the performers stories of opening night disasters from her past, while Tamara was lying face down in a puddle. 'Ooh, dear,' said Ted, peeking from behind a curtain. 'It's not looking good, is it?' Willow giggled and did a backflip. 'I love storms,' she said. 'It makes everything more dramatic.' Nancy, who was still stuck in a massive swamp, definitely did not like storms. In the Big City, storms meant

sneaking under cars and hiding out under bus stops. It didn't mean shaking and shivering and being covered in gloopy mud. 'HELP!' she yelled. It wasn't a word she was very used to saying. But there was no way she was going to be able to get out of this pickle by herself. Then Nancy noticed a strange flash of light on the trees above her. She sniffed the air. Petrol! And was that low rumble coming from an engine? It must be the badgers. Phew! thought Nancy. She was about to call out again… when she heard a horribly familiar voice. 'Is this it? Euw, what an absolute dump…' Nancy's blood froze. It was Princess Buttons. And, by the sound of it, she wasn't alone. She tried to crane her neck to see. 'Yep, this is it,' said another voice. 'Well, as near as I can get the car. See the red flashing dot over there? That's where Nancy is.' There was some murmuring and rustling. Nancy tried to work out how many cats there were, but it was impossible to tell. She heard a strange beeping sound and another cat's voice, one she didn't recognize. 'It's saying we need to go that way… towards that massive thing,' said the cat. 'It's an electricity pylon,' said someone else. 'Who's got the Brain Zapper 3000?' barked Princess Buttons.

Nancy gulped. The Brain Zapper 3000? That didn't sound good. 'It's in the boot' said another voice., And then Nancy saw her. Princess Buttons had trotted over to the other side of the car. 'Strap it to my head,' ordered Princess Buttons. 'I can't wait to zap those foxes into smithereens!' Nancy gulped again, watching as one of the cats attached a large, green metal helmet to Princess Buttons', small, angry head. Then Princess Buttons pressed a switch on the side of the helmet. It began to hum and whirr, and little lights flashed at the ends of three metal antennae. 'Three zaps!' hooted Princess Buttons. 'That should be enough to get rid of the pair of them.' Then something made her stop in her tracks. It was a poster nailed to a tree. 'Hang on. What's this?' she said, tearing it off. 'That's him!' she said. 'The fox! The little blighter who bit off my tail!'

'Oh yeah!' said another voice. 'He looks much smaller in real life, doesn't he?' Nancy's heart sank. 'Right,' said Princess Buttons, rubbing her paws together. 'Here's the plan. You lot head to this… "BIG SHOW". Grab the fox. Then bring him to me.' 'Where will you be?' asked a voice Nancy didn't recognize (it was Denise, though). Princess Buttons pointed to the Magic Tower. 'I'll be there. Bring him to me alive. I want his sister to watch me laser him to smithereens!' And she patted the Brain Zapper 3000. 'Righto!' said Denise, clapping her paws together. 'You heard her, everyone. Let's kidnap the cute little foxy.' It took every last bit of strength Nancy had to not shout 'NO!', but she knew she had to stay quiet. She heard the cats heading deeper into Grimwood, on their way to kidnap her brother. For the first time in her life, Nancy had no way to save him. After what had felt like an age, the wind died down and the rain slowed to a drip. With no time to lose, the very efficient beavers started to uncover the stage for the Big Show. Tamara had pulled herself together, and Ingrid was fluttering around backstage giving last-minute advice to the performers. 'Oh, doesn't it all look wonderful, Frank?' said Titus,

clapping his hooves together as the audience started to take their seats. 'Aye.' Frank nodded, though he preferred to listen to complicated jazz music in the privacy of his own living room. 'But where's Nancy?' said Titus. 'We had a very good chat earlier on. I think she's quite fabulous, you know.' 'Aye, she's a toughie,' said Frank. 'I know one when I see one.' Slowly the audience grew, until it seemed like all of Grimwood was there. Ted was pacing up and down behind the curtain. 'Calm down!' said Willow. 'You're making me nervous.' 'I've got butterflies in my tummy,' moaned Ted. 'Why did you eat butterflies?' gasped Willow. 'No, I just mean I'm nervous! Can you see the audience?' Willow poked her nose out and had a peek. 'Yup,' she said. 'Is Nancy there?' asked Ted. 'Nope,' said Willow. 'Oh.' Ted's tail drooped. 'But listen, Ted' said Willow. 'Titus is there. And so is, Frank. And so is Ingrid, and Tamara… all of the bunnies, and the rest of the Grimwood Players. And they're all looking forward to the show. They're all here to see us!' Ted smiled. His friend was right. Ingrid took to the stage to introduce the first act, and

the crowd began to clap and hoot in anticipation. First up was Emo Omar… I move soil with my paws As I dig Dig dig dig Dig down into the mysterious earth Will I ever find What I am looking for? In the darkness Oh, the darkness Oh yes there it is