60 The Rescue

60 The Rescue The drawings took her a long time. Peanut was determined to get them just right— after all, every detail had to be accurate for this to work. But it was hard when you were relying on memory. ' No, they're definitely taller than that,' said Little-Bit. 'She's right,' agreed Rockwell. And the glowing eyes are a bit bigger. Peanut was using every item in the bandolier to draw the two RAZERs. The main body was made up of several layers of watercolour, the arms were sketched with charcoal and the details were all added with Little Tail. 'Make sure you paint the eyes green,' said Little-Bit. 'I liked it best when 72's eyes were green.

Eventually, she finished and stepped back to admire her work. Peanut, you're so clever,' said Rockwell. 'You're the best artist ever!' agreed Little-Bit. 'They're so good!' Peanut nodded. 'They're not bad, are they? Let's hope they do the trick. Peanut and Rockwell stepped into the bottom halves of their RAZER costumes, picked up Doodle and Little-Bit, put them on their shoulders and then put the top halves on.

'I hope nobody notices our feet,' said Rockwell anxiously. 'I'm sure it'll be fine. As long as we move quickly and efficiently. Peanut shuffled over towards the lift door and pressed the button. When it arrived, Little-Bit reached out through an armhole and pressed the button marked '6'. The doors slid shut and the lift started moving upwards. Seconds later, it stopped and the doors opened to reveal a long, arcing corridor with identical doors on either side every two metres or so. It reminded Peanut of her mother's office. Each door had a number stencilled on it in black, odd numbers on the left, even on the right. Peanut and Rockwell started to walk as smoothly as possible down the corridor— easier said than done when (a) you have a small child/ dog on your shoulders, and (b) the eyeholes in your costume don't quite line up with your eyes. 'Little-Bit,' whispered Rockwell. 'Can you read the numbers on the doors?' 'Yes,' she replied. 'Keep going. We're up to number four. A minute or so later they arrived at their destination. Here it is,' said Little-Bit. 'And the coast is clear. Quickly, Little-Bit lifted the head from her costume and jumped down from Rockwell's shoulders. Rockwell helped Peanut and Doodle out of theirs. Peanut grabbed a marker pen from her bandolier and drew a small keyhole on the door.

Then, in the air in front of her and using the same pen, she drew a key. She picked up the key, put it in the keyhole and turned it. The door sprang open. Sure enough, standing inside cell twenty-two was the man that she recognised from the gilt-framed photograph in Mrs M's sitting room. It was Malcolm Markmaker. But, unfortunately for Peanut and her friends, he wasn't alone.