24 The Bunker

24 The Bunker Peanut, Rockwell and Little-Bit followed the woman and Doodle through the hatch and down a steep flight of stairs. They led to a large, circular room illuminated by a roaring fire at the far end and several flaming torches attached to the walls. Peanut felt as if she were standing in an oil painting. Everywhere she looked, she could see brush marks. In the grain of the floorboards, running through the patterns on the cushions, in the flickering light of the fire. The whole place was slightly ramshackle. It felt as though it had been built, or painted, by someone who was making it up as they went along, which gave the room a lived- in, cosy feel. Peanut loved it. ' Welcome to the Bunker. Please take a seat and make

yourselves comfortable.' Doodle ran over to a small bowl with his name painted on it and started drinking. 'Now then, I'm sure you could use a drop of hot chocolate to warm you up. Peanut noticed the lady's eyes flick to the bandolier before she disappeared through a triangular-shaped door. She returned a couple of minutes later holding a tray loaded with steaming mugs. 'Oh my goodness, I have totally forgotten my manners, she said as she handed out the drinks. 'I should introduce myself. My name is Millicent Markmaker, but that's a bit of a mouthful. You can call me "Mrs M". And it looks like you've already met my dog, Doodle.' Ah, so you're one of the Markmakers,' said Peanut. 'I'm so glad we found you. I'm Peanut Jones, and these two are

Rockwell and Little-Bit. We need your help. Really?' she said thoughtfully. 'That's a coincidence, because I could do with a bit of help too.' 'You need our help?' 'Yes, I think that maybe I do. But I'll get to that in a minute.' Mrs M sat down in a large, beautifully painted red leather armchair and took a sip of tea. ' First, tell me, how did three children find their way here?' 'We don't know,' said Rockwell. 'We're not even sure where "here" is. Hmmm, interesting.' Mrs M's eyes narrowed. 'So you don't actually know where you are?' 'I do! I do!' shouted Little-Bit who loved nothing more than answering questions. ' Chroma! I saw a sign by that door we came through. Mrs M frowned slightly. A sign by the, er, door, eh? Well, you are correct, Little-Bit. You are in Chroma. But do you know what Chroma is?' 'The weirdest place on Earth?' said Rockwell. 'Has Quite possibly,' said Mrs M. 'But it is more commonly known by another name. And what's that?' 'Why, the Illustrated City, of course.