25 One Who Fell

25 One Who Fell 'That's right where it happened,' said Little-Bit, her eyes filling up. 'That's where 72 sacrificed themselves to help us.' She turned to hug Mum, unable to stop the tears tumbling down her cheeks. Josephine Engelberger, who was standing nearby, walked over to Peanut. ' Sorry to intrude, but did I hear you say that you think that might be the RAZER who helped you first get to the Spire?' she asked. ' Yes,' replied Peanut. 'That's 72. A proper Resistance hero. And to

think, they've just been lying there at the bottom of the Rainbow Lake all this time. They really should have got a proper send-off and been honoured by the city in some way. A special funeral, maybe.' 'I totally agree. They were a truly remarkable machine, by the sound of it,' said Josephine thoughtfully. 'I wonder...' 'You wonder what?' asked Peanut. Oh, er, nothing,' said the woman. 'But... but, yes. I think you're right, 72 should definitely get a proper send-off. I, er, I won't be long. Josephine walked around the edge of the lake towards the drawbridge. She stopped on the way to talk to a couple of the RAZERs who were helping to marshal the crowds— one of their first directives from 67, their new boss. After a brief conversation, the three of them continued to the drawbridge together. When they got to the other side of the lake, they turned left and walked to the point on the bank directly above 72. The two robots then floated down towards the lifeless, horizontal RAZER, picked them up and lifted them out. Once back on the bank with Josephine, all four figures went, in a solemn procession, across the bridge and

through the opening in the crayon fence, before disappearing into a door at the bottom of the Spire. 'What do you think she's going to do, Rockwell?' asked Peanut, forgetting that her friend wasn't with her in Chroma anymore. When she didn't get an answer, she felt a fresh pang of sadness.