Nicola explained the whole story to Serena and Joshua.
When she'd finished, Serena and Joshua were shaking their heads.
'Every time I think Enrico couldn't get any more evil, he does,' said Joshua. 'And you say he's planning to burn all your tongues like he did to Silent Fred? How did you find that out?'
'I read his mind,' explained Shimlara. 'I'm from Globagaskar. We can read minds there.'
'Oh sure!' said Joshua. 'You can read minds. What am I thinking right now?'
He crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
Shimlara looked at him and Nicola saw her cheeks go pink.
'You're ummm . . .'
'I knew you couldn't do it!'
Shimlara looked down at her lap with a little half-smile. She said, 'You're wondering if all the girls on Globagaskar are as pretty as me.'
Sean guffawed and Joshua's face turned scarlet. 'How did you do that? Don't do that again! I won't be able to think anything
private!'
'I only read your mind because you asked me to,' said Shimlara. 'I won't do it again. It's bad manners to read people's minds.' Nicola had never seen her look so flustered.
'So anyway,' said Nicola, deciding it was a good time to change the subject. 'On our way here we met an interesting old man named Horatio. He told us about a clause in Shobble's Constitution that says if you get enough people to sign a petition the length of a rainbow, the Commander-in-Chief has to resign.'
'Really?' Serena looked interested, but then her face dropped. 'All Enrico would have to do is get his Thugs to tear up the petition.'
'Horatio also told us that Enrico used to have all these phobias when he was a boy,' said Nicola. 'I was thinking maybe we could use those phobias in some way.'
'He was frightened of the colour yellow, music, buttons and peanut butter sticking to the roof of his mouth,' said Tyler, counting them off on his fingers.
'That was when he was a little boy. He might have grown out of those phobias by now,' said Greta.
'I don't think so,' said Serena slowly. 'When Enrico first came into power he introduced the Quiet-Please decree. It bans music of all forms - singing, musical instruments, even humming!'
'And he brought in the Anti-Yellow legislation,' said Joshua. 'The penalty for wearing yellow on Shobble is life imprisonment.'
'And then there's the Button-Free regulation,' said Serena. 'All clothes have to be made without buttons - only zippers allowed.'
'And we're a Peanut-Butter-Free planet,' said Joshua. 'I thought Enrico had a peanut allergy but he's just scared of it sticking to the roof of his mouth!'
'So the question is,' said Nicola, 'could we use all those phobias in some way to help overthrow Enrico?'
'We could organise a big protest march,' began Tyler slowly.
'And everyone could wear yellow clothes,' said Sean.
'And we could all be singing or playing musical instruments,' said Joshua.
'And eating peanut butter sandwiches!' said Serena.
'I'm allergic,' said Greta.
'Okay, well not everyone,' said Serena.
'Don't forget the buttons,' said Nicola.