They flew off in opposite directions to the ends of the rainbow. Nicola looked over her shoulder and saw the rose-pink parchment unfurling between herself and Topaz like an endless party streamer.

She could see where the rainbow curved to the ground just in front of the Honey Sea Wharf. She urged Quicksilver on with a gentle touch of her feather.

They flew towards the ground and Nicola felt the petition pulling in her hand.

She glanced back and saw that Topaz had already reached the other end of the rainbow.

Nicola’s heart stopped as she looked down at the scroll of pink parchment.

It couldn’t be true.

There were no more names on the petition. There was only blank parchment in front of her. They needed about a dozen more signatures. If only everyone had written their names in big capital letters they would have been fine!

She tugged gently on the parchment and felt Topaz tugging it back at the other end. They couldn’t stretch it any further. The petition wasn’t long enough. They were very, very close – but not close enough.

‘HA HA HA HA HA!’

The awful sound echoed across the snowy plain.

Enrico had climbed back to his feet, put his hands on his hips and was laughing hysterically.

41

It was all over.

Nicola could see the pack of Security Thugs galloping on their black ShobGobbles over to get her, their long greasy hair flying behind them.

There was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

‘You’ve been a good friend,’ Nicola whispered in Quicksilver’s ear.

There were about fifty Thugs coming towards Nicola. In fact, it seemed every single one of them was on his way over to her.

Gosh, thought Nicola. If she hadn’t been terrified, she would have been flattered. They must really have believed she was an evil Earthling if they thought it would take that many of them to capture her.

‘It’s okay! I surrender! I surrender!’ she called out to the Thug leader as he got closer.

He shouted, ‘Give me that petition!’ and held out his hand.

Nicola handed over the scroll.

‘Can I trouble you for a pen?’

Nicola thought she must have misheard him. ‘I beg your pardon?’

‘It’s just that I don’t have one on me,’ said the leader, patting his shirt pockets.

Nicola blinked. A second ago this man’s face had seemed like something from a horror movie. Now he suddenly looked like a kindly bus driver.

‘You want to sign the petition?’ she said incredulously.

‘Yes! We’ve had it up to here!’ The leader indicated the top of his forehead. ‘Enrico is a terrible boss. Never says thank you. Never says please. I mean, I’ve got twenty years’ experience as a Thug, I deserve a bit more respect.’