74 Sacrifice

74 Sacrifice Peanut heaved the unconscious Rockwell over her shoulder and hauled him as fast as she could towards Mr and Mrs M and the opening in the netting. She heard heavy footsteps behind her. It was Alan. Suddenly, Doodle came racing out from inside the dome and ran straight for Mr White's henchman, barking as loudly as he could.

'Aaaargggh!' shrieked Alan, backing away. 'Nice doggy! Good doggy! Please don't hurt me!' He turned around and ran back towards the Big X. Peanut, still carrying Rockwell, stumbled through the opening into the dome, closely followed by Doodle. 'Well hello again, young lady,' said Jonathan Higginbottom. Allow me to help you with your friend. Let's get him some medical attention. Relieved, Peanut smiled as Mr and Mrs M helped her to lower Rockwell on to the alligator's back. 'Peanut!' beamed Mrs M. 'You did it, dear! You rescued Malcolm. Right! Let's get to the Bunker quickly, shall we? Cups of tea all round?' As they rushed towards the little wooden hatch next to the tree-stump chimney, slap bang in the middle of the dome, Peanut looked back over her shoulder. She saw Mr White bending down to pick the pencil up. He stood up straight, cradling it in both hands. And then he started to laugh. Quietly at first, but then louder. Much louder. 'IT'S MINE!' he bellowed. 'CONTÉ'S PENCIL IS MINE!' He turned around, seemingly oblivious to anything else, climbed the steps of the Big X, jumped into the cockpit and sat next to the trembling Alan. The terrible roar of the engine filled the valley before the vehicle turned around and drove away.

Peanut's eyes filled with tears. Yes, her friends were safe, for now, but her dad was still missing, and Little Tail was gone. And, with it, any chance they had of getting home.