'Try changing direction!' cried Nicola.
Greta lifted her feather high, hesitated, then softly touched it down. Her ShobGobble obligingly turned the other way.
'I did it!' said Greta.
'Well done,' said Nicola, as Greta managed to turn her ShobGobble in a circle and bring it back to her.
'Thanks,' said Greta. 'And, um, thanks for helping me. I guess I needed a push.'
Nicola was so surprised at th
is unexpected gratitude that she nearly fell off her ShobGobble and had to grab on to the edge of her saddle.
'Watch it,' said Greta sharply. 'Your balance isn't that great.'
It seemed it was a very short moment of gratitude.
'Okay, everybody! We'd better get going!' Nicola shouted. She was about to pull out her map but she noticed a sign.
25 VALLEY OF HIGH HOPES
She pointed to the sign. 'That's where we're heading.'
'Twenty-five what?' asked Tyler. 'Twenty-five miles? Twenty-five kilometres? What measurements do they use on Shobble, Shimlara?'
'You really can't expect me to remember everything I learned in class,' shrugged Shimlara.
'I'll guess we'll find out,' said Nicola. 'Let's go.'
She gave her ShobGobble a gentle stroke with the feather.
'You know,' said Shimlara as she trotted along beside Nicola. 'If it wasn't for the fact that Katie has been taken hostage and we're on a mission for a mad man who plans to burn our tongues and put us all in a mobile jail, this would be a lot of fun.'
18
'Look! It's all those crazy "hairity" fans again,' said Sean. They were heading past the massive iron gates at the entrance to Enrico's mansion.
'They'll wonder where Katie is,' said Tyler.
He was right.
As soon as the people recognised the Space Brigade, they came running.
'Where is your wonderful and amazing friend?' one called. 'Where is the beautiful and kind Katie Hobbs?' called another.
'They really love her,' observed Greta sourly.
'I bet it's because most hairities are really snooty and full of themselves,' said Shimlara.
Nicola pulled her ShobGobble to a stop and said to the crowd, 'Sorry. Katie isn't with us today.'
A rather handsome young boy carrying a single rose fell to his knees, sobbing.
'But where is she?' cried out an older woman plaintively. 'I've baked her a cake!'
'I'll have it,' offered Sean. 'No need to let it go to waste.' Nicola looked down at the pleading faces and thought, Why should I protect Enrico's good name?
She spoke up in a clear voice. 'Katie Hobbs has been taken hostage by the Commander-in-Chief.'