20 Into the Woods

Chapter 20 Into the Woods

The four of them walked deeper into the woods. If they were worried that they might not be able to find the portal, they needn't have been. When they got there, its location was blindingly obvious. After walking for a couple of minutes they came across a small clearing, in the middle of which was a large tree, drawn very roughly, like all the others, in charcoal. It was made up of jagged, short strokes and, to Peanut's eye at least, resembled' an upside-down lightning bolt with arms. These arms' were pointing to a large hollow, in the dead centre of its trunk. 'OK, so that's not creepy at all,' said Rockwell. 'I've just had an amazing idea, and it mainly involves running away really, really fast?' 'Look at it!' said Little-Bit. 'It's actually begging us to go through. Come on. She walked over to the trunk and started to climb the lower part. Peanut followed, and, eventually, so did a nervous

Rockwell. Doodle stayed where he was. He seemed to know what Peanut was about to say. 'I'm sorry, boy, but you can't come with us. We don't want you crumbling away to dust on the other side no, do we?' Doodle's tail drooped. 'Maybe you should go back to the Bunker and tell everyone how crazy Peanut is being.' said Rockwell, as he slowly made his way up the trunk towards the hollow. And if you could also let them know where they can find our dead bodies, that'd be great!' 'Ssshh!' said Peanut, putting an ear to the large opening in the trunk. Can you hear that? 'What?' said Little-Bit, hoisting herself up to sit on the edge of the hollow. 'Voices.' Actually, I can,' said Rockwell. 'Me too,' whispered Little-Bit; 'And I think they're speaking French!' Then the three friends slipped into the hollow, and went through the North Draw portal.