‘Despair gas!’ choked out Enrico. ‘Spray . . . them . . . with . . . Despair . . . gas!’

‘Yes, sir!’ The Security Thugs reached behind their backs for their canisters.

‘Brace yourselves,’ said Topaz.

How bad could it be? thought Nicola, as the Thugs lifted long nozzles and sprayed the air with enormous thick black clouds. She could hear the Shobblings crying out, ‘Block your noses!’

A nasty smell filled Nicola’s nostrils. It was a sludgy, slimy smell that seemed to travel up her nostrils and straight into her brain.

I’m fine, thought Nicola. I’m –

Suddenly a feeling of terrible sadness ballooned through her chest. It’s pointless. It’s hopeless. We will never beat Enrico. We are children, for heaven’s sake. What were we thinking?

She looked behind her and saw that the Shobblings were bent backwards, like flowers in a breeze. Topaz sat limply in her saddle like a broken puppet. Sean had his face buried in his hands. Even Quicksilver slumped beneath Nicola.

Shimlara slowly rode her ShobGobble up next to Nicola. Her eyes were shiny with tears.

‘We can’t beat Enrico,’ she said dully. ‘We might as well accept it.’

‘Yes,’ said Nicola. ‘Yes, of course, you’re right.’

‘Remember what you said! Despair is just a feeling, Nicola!’ called out a voice from the crowd. Nicola recognised the quavery voice of Horatio Banks.

But I was wrong, Horatio. It’s not just a feeling. It’s crushed glass behind my eyes. It’s a weight pressing on my chest.

‘Don’t give up! Please don’t give up!’ This time it sounded like Joy.

Nicola pressed her face against Quicksilver’s feathery neck and remembered Joy’s sad, soft face as she sat in the bathroom at Enrico’s mansion, telling them about Silent Fred.

There was another voice trying to get her attention. A tiny, mouse-like voice.

Try.

It was Nicola’s own voice speaking from a corner of her mind, as if from very far away.

I’ve got to at least try.

But it’s too hard. The feeling is too big. It’s like a big black furry animal sitting on top of me, suffocating me.

So fight it.

FIGHT IT!

Nicola lifted her head.

40

Nicola whispered in Quicksilver’s ear, ‘I know you feel really bad right now but I need you to fly. Can you do that for me? Please?’

Quicksilver lifted his head slightly. He sighed, as if he was exhausted, but then he flapped his wings and carried Nicola into the air. The two hovered above the crowd, Quicksilver breathing heavily. Nicola lifted the macrophone Joshua had given her earlier and began to chant. Her voice trembled and cracked.

Enrico, Enrico, your day has come!
Enrico, Enrico, get ready to run!
We know all your phobias, every single one!
Enrico, Enrico, your day has come!