Nicola looked around at the other members of the Space Brigade. All their faces were slightly flushed as if they too had felt that tremendous sense of greed when they saw the contents of the treasure chest, but she didn’t need to ask them if they wanted to take on the mission.

‘No,’ she said. ‘No thank you. This mission is not for us.’

‘Oh, what’s wrong with these people?’ sighed Josie.

‘They’re obviously just stupid,’ said Joseph.

‘Shhh.’ Their mother waggled a finger at them.

Nicola was waiting for Enrico to yell at them but he didn’t say a word. He pressed his lips together so they made a thin line and carried the treasure chest back over to the wall and put it away in the alcove.

He turned back to them. ‘Well then,’ he said, and clicked his fingers twice.

Nicola! whispered Shimlara desperately in her head. He’s going to –

At that moment there was a sound of heavy thudding boots and suddenly the room was filled with large, muscular men dressed in black. Their long brown hair was slicked down in oily strands against their potato-like heads. They folded their arms across their barrel chests and stood with their legs apart looking straight ahead.

‘These are my Security Thugs,’ said Enrico. ‘They’re the finest Thugs in the galaxy.’

The Thugs nodded and puffed out their massive chests even further.

‘Now, if you won’t cooperate,’ said Enrico to the Space Brigade, ‘I’m obviously going to need to take one of you as a hostage.’

He pointed his finger at the end of the table. ‘That one will do nicely.’

13

Enrico was pointing his finger straight at Katie.

The Security Thugs went directly to her, lifted her by the elbows and dragged her to her feet. Katie’s face had turned as white as an envelope.

‘What are you doing?’ demanded Nicola, both terrified and furious.

‘Get your hands off her!’ shouted Sean. He went to stand up but one of the Thugs put big meaty hands on his shoulders and easily pressed him back down in his seat.

‘Hey! This is against the law! I know the law!’ said Greta, obviously forgetting that the laws on Shobble were probably very different from those on Earth.

‘Take me,’ offered Tyler. ‘Take me instead!’

‘It seems I need to give you a little encouragement to complete this mission,’ said Enrico. ‘Obviously, your hairity is the most valuable member of your Brigade, so she will make the perfect hostage. Once you’ve completed the mission you may have her back. By the way, we’ll also keep your little spaceship somewhere safe for you.’

One of the Thugs lifted his hand. He was holding Tyler’s silver briefcase.

‘Careful with that!’ said Tyler in a panic.

‘Take her away,’ said Enrico to the men.