63 The Heir and the Pencil

Chapter 63 The Heir and the Pencil Nerys was several metres above them, climbing the ladder housed inside the framework of the mooring mast. She was holding something large and black. It looked like a slightly wonky drawing of a jetpack. 'What's she doing?' asked Rockwell. 'I'm guessing she tried to draw a jetpack, like the ones I drew for us on top of the Empire State Building in New York, said Peanut. 'But it looks like she couldn't quite get it right. 'Ha!' laughed Rockwell. 'Typical. All the gear, no idea! Just cos you have the world's best pencil, it doesn't mean that you know how to use it!'

Little-Bit and Peanut giggled too, and the children's laughter drifted up to Nerys's ears. 'That's utter rubbish!' she shouted from high above them. She was almost at the top of the ladder now, just below the tip of the mast. 'If you must know, I, er, decided that drawing a door would be a much easier way for me to get out of here! And, as we all know, I am great at drawing doors! Nerys leaned back against the framework and dropped her useless jetpack illustration. They all watched as it caught the breeze and tumbled down through the sky, disappearing into the thin clouds that surrounded the Spire. Mum let out a little squeal. Peanut gulped. They were all suddenly very aware of the fact that they were really high up! While most of the group was distracted by the falling jetpack, Nerys pulled Little Tail from her pocket and started to draw. Dad, however, was keeping a close eye on her and immediately leapt into action, determined to grab the pencil. He scrambled up the steps that led to the mast and began to climb the ladder as fast as he could. Peanut followed close behind, despite Mum's loud protests. Nerys looked down at the two Joneses as they climbed up towards her, and she began to draw in super-speed mode. The doorframe... the door...

But Dad was gaining fast. It made Nerys nervous. Conté's heir was getting far too close to the pencil for her liking. The bottom hinge... the top hinge... Nerys whipped Little Tail through the air as quickly as she could. 'And now the final part she said out loud. But just as she was finishing off the door handle, Dad grabbed Nerys's ankle and pulled. She jerked backwards, completely shocked, and slipped down several rungs of the ladder. ' Well, well, well,' she said in a mocking tone while finding her footing

again. 'I didn't know you had it in you, Gary!' Then she kicked out at Dad, hitting him just below the ribcage. He let out a sharp cry of pain. 'Dad!' screamed Peanut. Are you OK?' She knew how ruthless Nerys, or Mr White, could be, and that she wouldn't hesitate to push Dad from the building. Peanut was terrified of losing him again, having only just got him back. 'Don't worry about me,' he wheezed, before managing to reach up and grab Nerys's other ankle. He pulled and, again, she slipped. But somehow she managed to keep drawing. That said, the desperation on her face was clear for all to see. 'Now you're just being annoying,' Nerys said. She only needed to complete the bottom part of the door handle, then she'd be able to open the door and dive through it. Dad still had hold of her ankle, but if she had to take him with her, she would—a fact that was not lost on a nervous Peanut. Dad knew that time was running out, and that this was his last chance to get the pencil. Summoning all his strength, he let go of Nerys, placed his hands on either side of the ladder, and propelled himself rapidly upwards. The top of his head hit Nerys's right elbow hard, forcing her hand to open. Little Tail flew straight up into the air. Nerys snatched at it but missed completely. Dad, on the

other hand, maintained a laser focus. As the spinning pencil fell back down through the air, he reached out. And then, for the very first time, Gary Jones's fingers closed around Pencil Number One.