56 The Execution

Chapter 56 The Execution Nerys turned the handle. The door opened onto a long, leafy passageway, at the end of which was a small wooden door, about a metre high 'Recognise this place?' she asked Peanut as the RAZER forced her to peer through the opening. 'It's the Green Valleys portal,' said Peanut. ' The one that leads to the National Portrait Gallery' 'Indeed,' replied the woman. 'It's also the last remaining gateway between Chroma and the real world. Well, for anyone who doesn't have a pencil like this, that is...' Nerys pulled Little Tail from her pocket and twirled it between her fingers like a drummer in an eighties rock band. 'I thought it would be nice for you to personally witness me getting rid of the very

last portal in Chroma,' she said with a sneer in her voice. Every instinct in Peanut's body screamed at her to reach out to grab the pencil, but her arms were pinned tightly to her side by the RAZER. Do you remember when we first met, lovely?' asked Nerys. ' Which one of you are we talking about? Nerys or Mr White?' asked Peanut. She was having trouble keeping track of everything and was slightly dizzy from Nerys's long story. ' Mr White, of course,' said Nerys. 'My true self. I remember our first meeting very clearly. It was via a video screen. I was sitting in this very room—my control room and you were sitting in a cell just around the corner. 'How could I forget?' Peanut rolled her eyes. Nerys stepped through the illustrated door and started walking down the leafy passageway. The robot holding Peanut followed. 'Imagine my surprise,' continued Nerys, 'when my spies spotted you and your little friends making their way through the city with a small illustrated dog. Tracey and Gary Jones's annoying daughter, Pernilla!' Peanut didn't say anything but narrowed her eyes at Nerys. The Pernilla thing hurt every time. ' Then, after you'd been captured, and you and I had that video call, I was trying to find out if you knew where your

father was,' continued Nerys. 'I had no idea that you were concealing something much more important from me. 'You mean the pencil, don't you?' said Peanut, remembering how Alan had knocked Little Tail out of her hand, sending it flying through the window of the Spire, only for it to be returned to her by the gold-crested kaleidoscoppi. 'I do mean the pencil,' said Nerys, crouching down as they approached the end of the passageway. 'I couldn't believe it! Pencil Number One, Conté's prototype, right there in front of me! I had heard of it, of course, but I always thought it was a myth. At that moment, everything changed. Once I knew the pencil was real, I had to have it. I'd heard about its portal- creating powers, and I realised that if I owned the pencil I'd be able to get rid of all the other portals. Then no one but me would ever be able to travel between the two worlds!' They'd reached the end of the passageway and were standing a few metres from the little wooden door. Nerys knelt down, and at that moment it felt to Peanut like the RAZER's grip got a little tighter. 'I had also heard about the prophecy,' Nerys said. And what prophecy is that?' asked Peanut, feigning ignorance. ' The one saying that if Conté's true heir holds the pencil, all of Chroma's previously lost creativity would be restored. 'Oh,' said Peanut. 'That prophecy.'