23 The North Draw

23 The North Draw

Welcome... trumpeted Peanut, '...to The North Draw, Chroma!' They stood looking out over the undulating, snowy plains. 'It's so beautiful,' said Rockwell. 'It certainly is,' agreed Peanut. It looks just like She was interrupted by the sound of the door behind them opening and closing. They spun around to see Little-Bit standing there in her school uniform. 'PEEEEEEAüAAANNNNNNNNUUUUTTTTTTTT!' She ran up to her sister and threw her arms around her. 'Little-Bit! What are you doing here?' 'I heard you talking about another world and that Daddy might be in it and I wanted to see it. To see him. Let me come With you. Pleeeeease. 'We should take her back,' said Rockwell. Little-Bit fixed Rockwell with a steely look over Peanut's shoulder. 'Is he your boyfriend?' 'No!' snapped Peanut. 'He's my... He's my... study buddy.' 'I bet he wants to be your boyfriend.

'I do not!' squeaked Rockwell, his voice at least three octaves higher than usual. 'Peanut, I really think we should take her back right now. 'I WANT TO STAY!' 'He's right, LB.' ' Pleeeeease, Peanut. I won't stay for long. Just let me explore with you for a little while.' 'She might actually be able to help,' said Peanut, looking at Rockwell. 'She's the smartest five-year-old I've ever met. Of course she is.' He shook his head slowly. 'OK, Little-Bit,' said Peanut, 'You can stay for now. But only till we find Doodle's owners, then you have to go straight home. Rockwell looked heavenwards. Little-Bit stuck her tongue out at him over Peanut's shoulder. 'So,' said the little girl, 'who's Doodle?' At that moment, a small dog exploded out of the group of trees just ahead of them and bounded towards Peanut. ' This—' Peanut laughed—'is Doodle.' He jumped into her arms and started licking her face. Aw, he's so cute!' Little-Bit giggled. 'He is rather adorable,' agreed Rockwell. And he appears a drawing. A living, breathing drawing. tobe... Before they had a chance to stroke him, he jumped from Peanut's arms, barked twice and

turned several circles in front of her. He then sprinted off past the copse before stopping, looking back and barking again. 'I think he wants us to follow him,' said Rockwell. Hang on a second,' said Peanut. I'm just going to rub the door out. We don't want anybody else following us, do we?' 'Wait!' shouted Rockwell. 'How can you be sure that a new door will take us back to your room and not some other kid's?' Peanut paused. He was right. 'OK. Time for another one of your controlled tests,' she said, before quickly drawing a new door next to the existing one. When she'd finished, she opened it and peeked through. ' Yup. It's definitely my room. Rockwell nodded as she shut the door and proceeded to rub them both out with the pencil's eraser. When Peanut had finished, they started to walk towards the dog and, sure enough, when they got to within five metres of him, he ran ahead, turned to face them again, and barked. 'Where are you taking us?' whispered Peanut. The dog led them across the valley, up the other Side, and around a small peak. As they turned the corner, they saw a thin plume of pencil-dust smoke coming from a tree stump on the side of the hill. Doodle ran towards it. As they got closer, they realised that the stump was actually

a small chimney. Next to it was a large, heavy- looking metal ring attached to a small backplate embedded in the snow. Doodle stood above it and barked three times. They heard the sound of approaching footsteps beneath the ground and then, to their surprise, a giant trapdoor opened in the snow. A woman's head appeared, her white hair piled up into a neat bun with two very old-looking pencils, one pink and one blue, sticking out of it. She smiled broadly. 'Hello, young strangers!' she beamed. 'What are you doing all the way out here? Quick! Come in, before they see you.