37 The Lifeline

37 The Lifeline PEANUT?' Little-Bit's voice sounded as if it were coming from a long way above her. ' PEANUT? ARE YOU OK?' 'I THINK SO.' She was clinging on to something above her head and swaying slightly over the ravine. 'OK. NOW HOLD ON TIGHT' It was Rockwell this time. 'WE'RE GOING TO PULL YOU UP.' A few seconds later she started moving upwards. Her arm muscles were burning. She looked up to see that she was holding on to the can of spray paint from her bandolier which, in turn, was connected to the very top of the cliff face by a long, rubbery

jet of paint that was coming out of the nozzle. She had sprayed herself a lifeline as she fell. Strangely, she had no recollection of coming up with that plan. It must have been pure instinct. When she finally reached the top of the cliff, she clambered up and over the edge and fell back in the snow. She was immediately dived on by an excited Doodle and an even more excited Little-Bit. Rockwell was a few metres away, red-faced and sitting in the middle of a large coil of spray-paint 'rope'. 'OK. Final straw,' he panted. 'I've had enough. Peanut, can you draw a door, please. I want to go home.