70 The Chase, Part II

70 The Chase, Part II The Exocetia shot out of the shoal at such a speed that Peanut didn't even have a chance to react. The supersonic fish flew through the air like an arrow, almost knocking the pencil from Peanut's hand, before arcing around in a semi-circle and returning to Mr White. The whole thing took about three seconds.

The children blinked. Doodle barked. Mr M leaped into action. 'LET'S GO!' He jumped on to one of the scooters with Doodle and Little-Bit. Rockwell and Peanut took the other one. ' There's a button on the jet!' shouted Peanut. She and Mr M bent down, pressed the small, round knobs, and the two vehicles shot forwards. Peanut was surprised at the acceleration. 'WHOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOO!' screamed Little-Bit.

Mr M steered his scooter in front of Peanut's and yelled 'FOLLOW ME!' over his shoulder. He immediately veered to the left towards a wooded area as yet untouched by the Big X. Suddenly, they were surrounded by lots of flying fish that appeared next to them out of thin air, as if they were X-wing fighters exiting hyperspace. Peanut realised with terror that she was still holding Little Tail and gripped it as tightly as she could. 'INTO THE TREES!' yelled Mr M. They swooped down a slope and flew into the woods. As the two jet-powered scooters weaved between the trunks, one fish after another flew at Peanut. They were tracking her. A few of them clattered into tree trunks with metallic thunks before exploding into balls of flame. Rockwell's eyes widened.

'OMG! I forgot about that!' A he shouted. ' Forgot about what?' yelled Peanut. ' Er, don't worry. You just concentrate on avoiding the trees!' He pulled his rucksack from his back and desperately rifled through the front pocket. Meanwhile, Mr M was zigging and zagging with astonishing accuracy. Lots of short, sharp turns, dipping under branches, flying over roots, 180-degree spins, neck-whipping chicanes at breakneck speeds. Both he and Little-Bit looked like they were having the time of their lives. Peanut was doing her best to keep up with him, but she wasn't enjoying it as much. Mainly because she was having to deal with the Exocetia, whose sole aim appeared to be staying as close to her and the pencil as possible. 'Keep holding them off!' shouted Rockwell. 'It must be here somewhere!' 'What must?' 'That device that Jonathan Higginbottom gave me! The one that blows up the fish!' Suddenly, the two scooters were out of the woods and

back on the open plains. As they flew across the hills and valleys of the North Draw, Mr M shouted across to Peanut. ' WE'RE NEARLY THERE! WE NEED TO SHAKE THEM OFF BEFORE WE GET TO THE BUNKER, IF WE CAN!' 'OK!' she replied. 'Rockwell, we're running out of time! Hurry.' As they crested a particularly large hill, Peanut suddenly noticed a touch of colour in the distance. It was hard to miss because everything else in the North Draw was so monochrome. And then she spotted some movement. It looked like... people. Yes. There were lots of people and they were building something. Something big. Something... pink and blue. 'WHAT'S GOING ON?' yelled Peanut. 'I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON,' replied Mr M. 'MY WIFE, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON!' Peanut batted away yet another Exocetia as it got dangerously close. 'WHAT DO YOU MEAN?' 'I KNEW SHE WOULDN'T LET US DOWN!' beamed Mr M. 'SHE'S MOBILISED THE RESISTANCE!'