44 The Rescuers

Part Four in which Peanut finally learns the truth

Chapter 44 The Rescuers PEANUT! LITTLE-BIT!' Peanut heard her name being shouted from somewhere above her. How could that be? she thought as she looked to the sky. All she could see was the massive, terrifying airship eclipsing the sun. No. Wait. There was something else. It was... a RAZER, and it was zooming across the lake straight towards them. The robot was carrying two people balancing on

a ladder attached to the underside. And it was one of those people who was shouting her name. Peanut squinted. The person looked familiar. They sounded familiar too. Could it really be him? she thought. 'IT'S ME! ROCKWELL!' he shouted, as the RAZER slowed down. They were just a couple of metres away now. Their eyes met. It was Rockwell! A wave of elation came over Peanut and tears sprang from nowhere. 'We've, er, we've come to rescue you,' he said, tentatively. 'That is... if you'll let us?' 'Oh, Rockwell,' she said. 'Thank goodness you're still here! I can honestly say that I've never been more pleased to see anyone in my whole life. Really?' he asked, relieved. 'Listen: I'm so sorry I left. I never should have gone. It was silly and childish of me to disappear like that. ' No. I'm the one who's sorry,' said Peanut. 'You were totally right about 67. I should have listened to you! I... I guess I just really wanted everything to be all right. It was all going so well—Mr White was captured, we'd found Dad—that I just didn't want to hear anything negative. And that was totally wrong of me. I'll never not listen to you again, I promise.

Rockwell smiled. 'Welcome back, Rocky,' said a gleeful Little-Bit, looking up at the boy on the ladder. 'For some reason, I just knew you'd come to help us! You too, Josephine! Hang on a second, she said, looking at the RAZER attached to the other end of the ladder. 'Is that...?" '72!?' shouted Peanut. 'Is that really you? You're alive! I thought you were...' 'They were!' said Rockwell. ' But Josephine fixed them!' 'We fixed them, actually,' said Josephine, nodding towards Rockwell. 'I CAN'T BELIEVE IT,' cried an ecstatic Little-Bit. '72, you've come back to us just when we need you the most. 'I am glad to be of service,' said the robot. And I must say that it is very nice to make your acquaintance again, Little-Bit Jones. Leo splashed through the plaster, running over from where he had been standing with his parents a few metres away. ' Rockwell, he said. Am I relieved to see you!' 'Me too,' added Gary, following close behind. 'I thought you were going back home to see your mum,' said Tracey. 'Did you change your mind, then?' 'Something like that,' replied the boy, smiling. The smile soon disappeared, however, when he saw

the large brown rat sitting on Dad's shoulder. ' Oh, and, er, hi, Woodhouse.' Good to see you again, laddie,' said the rat. 'You've really stepped up to the plate.' Er, thanks,' said Rockwell, a faint smile making its way to his lips. 'Listen,' said Peanut, her voice suddenly shifting tone from happy to urgent. 'Something terrible has happened. 67 has taken Nerys hostage.' 'I know,' replied Rockwell. 'We just saw her being carried away by two RAZERs.' Josephine frowned again. But that's not all,' continued Peanut. 'Nerys has got Little Tail in her handbag! I gave it to her for safekeeping, thinking that she would be the last person 67 would think to search. Does 67 know she has the pencil?' asked Josephine. ' No,' replied Peanut. ' But did you hear them mention persuasion"? What if they torture her or something!? Nerys is a strong woman, but I don't know if she can withstand 67's persuasion" techniques for long. 'I knew something was up with that robot,' replied Rockwell, 'but I didn't think that they would turn out to be