31 Cages

Part Three ...in which Peanut goes on a quest

31 Cages Doodle led the three children east across the deserted plains of the North Draw towards the Ink District. In the distance, they could see mountains rising from the snow, painted black against the pale sky. As per Mrs M's dotted blue line, the group stuck close to the city limits and headed for the forested area known as Sketchwood. 'I've been thinking,' said Rockwell as they walked. 'What happens if you lose that pencil? We would have absolutely no way of getting back home again, would we?' Didn't Mrs M say something about a portal?' replied Peanut. ' No. She said there were rumours of a portal, but that no actual evidence of one has ever been found. 'Oh well, in that case, I guess we'd be stuck here until we

found another way home,' said Peanut, trying to sound cheerful. After all, Dad must have got here by other means. He can't have used Little Tail cos it was hidden in the box in my room. ' Well, I don't want to be stuck here, thank you very much. Rockwell scratched the back of his head. 'If I'm late handing in my differentiation homework I'll be in such trouble.' 'Do you always follow the rules?' Peanut asked as they trooped along as quickly as they could. ' Well, yes. If I didn't, I'd lose my scholarship and they'd kick me out. Immediately. No second chances. Absolutely none! You know St Hubert's. I do.' Peanut gave him a quick, sympathetic smile. 'In that case I'd better make sure I don't lose the pencil. We can't have you getting in trouble, can we?' Peanut was keen to reach the shelter of the trees as soon as possible, given what she'd heard about Mr White and his RAZERs. If he discovered they were in Chroma, they would definitely be in a fix. After more slow trudging, they finally reached the edge of the woods. 'We made it,' whispered Rockwell. ' Which way now, Doodle?' The dog wagged his tail and started winding his way through the black tree trunks. The children followed. All of a sudden, Doodle stopped walking and cocked his

head to one side. Up ahead was a small clearing, in the middle of which stood a solitary, slim figure holding a walking stick. He was looking straight up into the canopy of a particularly tall tree. Instinctively, Peanut crouched down and put her hand over Little-Bit's mouth. She knew that her little sister would find calling out hard to resist. 'What do we do?' she whispered to Rockwell. 'I don't know. He doesn't look like a robot, but maybe they're masters of disguise.' Doodle sniffed noisily at the ground. After a few seconds his tail started to wag and he trotted out into the clearing. ' Hello, little fella,' said the man. 'What are you doing all the way out here on your own?' Doodle allowed him to stroke his back, before turning to face the children. 'Woof! woof!' 'I think he's saying that it's OK,' said Peanut as she removed her hand from Little-Bit's mouth. ' Hello there!' shouted the little girl immediately, before running out into the clearing. The man looked startled as Peanut, Rockwell and Little-Bit emerged from the trees. swell, bless my soul. Children!' He looked down at Peanut's bandolier. 'And children carrying contraband. Just about the last thing

I expected to find on my little walk. I'm guessing that you're not from these parts. ' No. We're not,' said Peanut. ' Well, if I were you I wouldn't risk being out in the open carrying pencils and pens like that. Ooh, are those watercolours? I haven't seen a set of watercolours for such a long time.' He looked wistful. 'Excuse me for asking,' said Little-Bit, 'but what were you looking at just now? In the tree?' The man glanced upwards. 'I was looking at those.' The children followed his gaze and saw, hanging in the branches, three ornate black cages. Inside each one was a large bird, about the size of a peacock. They had crests on