8 Arrival

8 Arrival 'Rise and shine, sleepyheads!' Dad, with 67 by his side, walked back through the submarine, nudging Peanut, Little- Bit, Rockwell, Leo and Woodhouse to wake them from their slumbers. 'Welcome to the Green Valleys cleaning station,' he said. 'Now, let's get back onto dry land, shall we?' The children lined up behind Dad as he unlocked the round hatch, then they followed him through the airlock and into the lift. 67 pressed the up button and, with a jolt and a judder, they headed to ground level accompanied by the now familiar hissing sound of the pressure adjuster. 'So, Mr Jones, what's the plan?' said Rockwell as they

began the long walk down the corridor towards the Green Valleys cleaning station. 'Well, first we'll grab some refreshments— we still have some time before the sun rises in Milan— then we'll head out into the Green Valleys to the spot where Peanut is going to draw our door. And then we're off to Italy!' It sounded like Dad was about to take them all on holiday. 'Hang on,' said Leo, stopping. 'What do you mean we're off to Italy?' 'Well, Woodhouse and 67 can't come with us, obviously, replied Dad, mindful of the fact that illustrations made in Chroma crumble to dust as soon as they are touched by human hands in the real world. 'But the five of us should be able to handle Mr White.' 'No way,' replied Leo. 'You can't come with us, Dad. Last night, you claimed to be Conté's heir. You said yourself that you're one half of the Resistance's ultimate weapon against White! What was the point in staying hidden all of this time if you're then just going to walk straight up to him in broad daylight? I might be new to this world and all of its crazy rules, but even I can see that that's exactly what White wants you to do. Why else would he have taken Mum if not to draw you out of hiding? You have to stay in Chroma. It's too dangerous for you to go to Italy.' If you think for one second that I'm going to let the

four of you go to Milan without me, then you've got another thought coming. You can't capture that man on your own!' 'Daddy,' said Little-Bit, 'don't forget that Peanut, Rockwell and I have done pretty well by ourselves so far. And now we have Leo with us too. Even if we can't catch Mr White ourselves, I'm sure we can lure him back to Chroma. Then you, the Markmakers and the rest of the Resistance can capture him when we come through the portal.' 'Mr Jones,' said Rockwell, 'I'd be lying if I said that heading to Milan without a grown-up to confront one of the world's scariest people wasn't absolutely terrifying, but— bigger picture— there's no way you can be there with us. Anyway, Little-Bit's plans usually work, so I think we should trust her.' 'The humans are correct, Gary Jones,' said 67. 'You must remain in Chroma. We will travel, sub-aquatically, to the Spire via the eastbound cleaning channel and wait there for the children to return with Mr White and Tracey Jones. Everybody turned to look at Peanut, who had yet to say anything. The idea of leaving her father so soon after they had been reunited was awful, but deep down she knew that it was the right thing to do. He needed to be kept safe at all costs. After a moment or two, she finally spoke.

'Dad, it'll be OK. Rockwell, Leo, LB and I can get Mr White and Mum back to Chroma, I just know it. You have to trust us. We've come this far, and we won't let you down now. Remember, we also have this to help us.' She lifted a shaky hand and pulled Little Tail from her bandolier. As she pulled it from its slot, it slipped from her fingers, hitting the floor with a surprisingly loud thud before rolling to a stop at Leo's feet. He bent down to pick it up, but just as his hand was about to close around the pencil, Woodhouse swooped in and grabbed it.

'Oh my,' said the rat, holding it with two paws. 'I've always wanted to get my claws on Pencil Number One, ever since Mammy first told me about it when I was a wee pinkie. Och, I wish she could see me now. Dad watched as the rat handed Little Tail back to Peanut, who carefully put it back in her bandolier. 'OK,' he said with a sigh. 'I suppose you're right. I'll stay in Chroma with Woodhouse and 67. We'll head to the control room at the top of the Spire and meet the four of you, Mr White and Mum there. Peanut, remember what I said about you being in control of where that pencil takes you. You need to really want to come to the Spire.' Don't worry, Dad. We'll be there.' 'OK, well, I think it's time we headed out to Caravaggio's Folly, then. Let's get this show on the road.'