59 The Cavalry

Chapter 59 The Cavalry Suddenly, the hatch in the floor that led to where Dad, Mum, Leo and Doodle were trapped flew open. This was the first of three unexpected events that took place in a very short space of time. The second involved Alan smashing his massive fist into the door of the illustrated cage that was holding Rockwell and Little-Bit. It instantly broke open, freeing them both. Peanut blinked. Did Alan really just rescue her sister and her best friend? Thirdly, the huge henchman dove underneath the chair and grabbed the brassy RAZER-disabling device that Rockwell had dropped. He pressed the button, turning the eyes of the gold robots in the room purple and swirly. Now paralysed, 005's metallic arms slackened, allowing Peanut to wriggle free.

A second later, Dad, Mum, Leo and Doodle came running up out of the hatch. 'Where is she?' yelled Dad, holding a walkie-talkie in his hand. 'Where's Mr Wh—er, I mean, Nerys? We heard everything she said through the walkie-talkie!' 'There she is,' shouted Little-Bit. 'Over in the corner, next to Monet's Water Lilies!' 'How could you, Nerys?' asked Mum, her face streaked with tears. 'I thought we were friends!' ALAN!' shouted Nerys, completely ignoring the Joneses. 'WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING?' 'Yes, Alan,' chimed the still incapacitated 67, 'please state your reason for liberating the enemy. 'Oh, don't worry about it,' he replied. 'I'm just being a big oaf, as usual. I guess I just accidentally freed your prisoners with my big, meaty hands.' 'TRAITOR!' Nerys bellowed. ' No, no, no,' Alan said with a grin. 'I'm no traitor. I'm just the necessary muscle. And I should have stood up to you a long time ago.' His freckles had turned an angry shade of purple. 'I can't believe I ever let you talk me into being your henchman. I was perfectly happy working in that coffee shop back in The Grid. None of the other baristas ever called me a meathead.' Even Alan is on our side now, Peanut thought, hardly believing it could be true. She didn't have much time to let this

sink in, as Nerys picked up what priceless artefacts she could and began to make a run for it. ' LEO!' shouted Dad. 'GET HER!' The boy made a grab for the woman as she ran towards a narrow staircase that spiralled up the tapered walls of the conical room, but he missed. Seconds later, Nerys was scrambling up the stairs with the frameless Mona Lisa, the Jinou Yonggu Cup of Emperor Qianlong and Little Tail in her hands. Leo, in hot pursuit, got to the first step quickly, but was immediately knocked over by the cup as it came flying down the steps. Apparently, the beautifully jewelled, solid gold work of art had been reduced to a mere missile by Nerys in order to help her escape. 'Are you all right, Leo?' asked Peanut, crouching down next to her fallen brother at the bottom of the staircase. Little- Bit and Rockwell were trying to help him up onto his feet. 'Don't worry about me, guys,' he replied, clutching his ankle in pain. Just go and get her!' Nerys was, by now, halfway up the stairs and heading to a small door at the top marked 'Mooring Mast 'Leo's right!' shouted Dad as he ran towards them. 'Go, Peanut! Whatever you do, don't let her escape with that pencil!'