"ZIVISSSSSSSSH!"
"Oh no, oh no I wanna go home!" whimpered Mr Mouse under the collar of Dot's T-shirt.
But it was too late for that. Much too late!!
Because a crack had started to appear in the side of the huge black mountain - that was what the ZIVISSSSSSSSH! noise was. It was only little at first but as Dot watched, too scared to move, it got bigger and bigger- growing up from the bottom of the mountain in a straight line, as if it were being unzipped!
And out of the crack came the most brilliant golden light that Dot had ever seen, like a ray of sunshine suddenly pouring out of the heart of the mountain. On and on the crack went, running up and up till, just as suddenly as it had started it stopped.
But the light didn't - it started to move, like someone slowly shining a torch around in the dark. It reminded Dot of something, she couldn't think what. It was as if it was searching for something, going up and down, side to side, a narrow beam of golden light moving in the murky dimness that had taken over the net-plain...
Then, with a jump, Dot remembered. Last Guy Fawkes night, it had been all foggy. Her Dad had got his big torch out and was shining it round the garden while he did the fireworks for a special party. Genie and Slam and Pearl had all been there. It had been fun, and they'd had a barbecue afterwards with some yummy jerk chicken Slam and Pearl had brought.
But she could especially remember how the misty air kind of shone the light from the torch back, with the drops of dew in the air showing up in the bright light from the torch.
That's what this was like. Only much bigger and brighter.
"Dot... " said Wizzie, whining a bit. "I don't like this... "
"It's all right guys" said Dot, though she was still scared herself. "If Cursor says it's OK - it's OK!"
You have to say stuff like that when you're the leader - even when you don't really feel it. Perhaps specially when you don't really feel it!
Now the light stared to move towards them - still going up and down, side to side, like a sliver of gold cutting through the murky air. Dot swallowed. What would happen next?
What happened next was - the light found them! And when it did, it stopped! They were right in the heart of its golden glow. Mr Mouse peeked out again from his T-shirt hiding place, gave a squeak of despair, and went straight back to his hiding place.
Dot swallowed again, hard. Her mouth was really dry. She wished she'd got a big bottle of her fave fruit-flavoured water with her!
But the funny thing was, now they were in the middle of the light, it didn't seem so bright. And it felt... nice, like a warm sunny day in autumn.
Then the music started. It was hard to say what it was like, but it
was gentle, sort of kindly music - that was the only way to describe it. It made you feel good - just like the warm light, which was all they could see all around them now.
Suddenly, Wizzie barked. They always say dogs can sense things before they actually happen. And it was true this time too.
Because in the next moment, the floor started to move under their feet - and it was taking them straight towards the giant crack, right into the heart of the huge black mountain!
