26 Mr M

26 Mr M WOOF! WOOF! ' Oh, I'm sorry, Doodle, I forgot to get you some food.' Mrs M went back into the kitchen. Peanut picked up a small, gilt-framed photograph from the table. 'Pardon me, Mrs M, but who's this standing next to you in the photo?' There was no reply. 'Mrs M? The old lady came back into the room

carrying a bowl of pastel dog biscuits, tears welling in her eyes. 'That's my husband, Malcolm.' She pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed her cheeks. Ah, yes. I was wondering if there was a Mr M,' said Rockwell. ' So where is he? Is he at work or is he... Oh.' His face fell. 'Is Malcolm...? I mean, did he...?' As far as I know, he's still alive.' She sniffed. Although we haven't had any news for a while.' 'Well, if he's not dead, then where is he?' said Little-Bit, who was kneeling on the floor stroking Doodle as he ate. 'He was taken. 'Taken?' gasped Peanut. 'Taken by who?' 'By whom,' said Rockwell. Peanut shot him daggers. A squadron of RAZERs came for him two months ago. On the orders of Mr White.' 'Whoa there, neddy! Let's back up a second, shall we?' said Rockwell, 'RAZERs? Mr White? This is getting confusing. You're going to have to explain. Mrs M shook her head as she picked up the photograph of her husband. ' Mr White is a tyrant who won't rest until he has completely destroyed every scrap of creativity and beauty in Chroma. And if he succeeds, it won't just affect us. Your world will completely lose its imaginative spark too. It's because of him that we had to build this bunker in the first place and

stay hidden away. Out of sight.' Mrs M's voice was trembling. 'He is the reason that we had to set up the Resistance. ' The Resistance?' 'Yes. A top secret organisation of people who aren't prepared to let Mr White get away with his terrible plan. We have members all across Chroma, secretly risking their freedom, risking their lives to stop him. But it's not easy. Malcolm is the leader of the Resistance and he was captured and imprisoned two months ago. White has the ability to track and monitor every single citizen of Chroma, which makes it almost impossible for anyone to get in and out of his stronghold to rescue Malcolm. 'I don't understand,' said Little-Bit. 'Who is this Mr White anyway? Why is he in charge? Is he your teacher or something?' 'No, little one. Mr White is the Mayor of Chroma.