Sean turned around in his saddle to grin back at Nicola. 'Looks like Shimlara will be the only one who gets to use her Shock-Stick.'
'No need to be disappointed,' said Nicola.
'I'm not,' said Sean unconvincingly
. 'I'm just saying -' His eyes widened and suddenly he released his Shock-Stick at a point just above Nicola's head and yelled, 'GOTCHA!'
'No need to thank -' began Sean.
'GOTCHA!' screamed Nicola. She pressed the SHOCK button on her Shock-Stick just in time to stun the Biter that had been about to sink its teeth into Sean's leg.
Suddenly the air around them was filled with dark flying shapes. Nicola didn't even have time to feel frightened. She was ducking, weaving, twisting to the left then the right as she thrust her Shock-Stick this way and that like a sword fighter. As fast as one Biter fell back into the river, another one leapt into the air to take its place. Some of them got so close Nicola felt their clammy, fishy flesh brush against hers. She didn't need to look at her Shock-Stick to find the buttons. Her thumb automatically zipped back and forth between the two buttons. Shock. Retreat. Shock. Retreat.
'YES!'
It was a relieved shout from Shimlara. Nicola looked up and saw that she'd reached the other shore. Next was Greta, followed by Tyler and Sean.
Quicksilver surged forward impatiently.
'Nicola!' shouted someone.
Nicola had lost concentration. She swung her head and glimpsed the deadly shape of a determined Biter. It was too late for her Shock-Stick. Cruel teeth sank into the flesh of her arm. Nicola yelled out in pain and fear and tried to jerk her arm away, losing her balance.
She gripped desperately with her knees, trying to right herself, but it was too late. At that moment, the bridge swerved violently and she was flung straight off Quicksilver's back.
Arms and legs flailing, she fell straight into the icy waters below.
22
The river was so cold it was like being punched in the stomach. Nicola gasped for air and swallowed water instead.
Choking and spluttering, she tried to swim, but the pull of the water was too strong. She was being carried away like a helpless twig. She looked up and saw the shore in front of her rapidly disappearing.
Suddenly there was a frantic chirping sound.
Quicksilver!
He was flying down as low as he could alongside her, his wings splashing the water, his three eyes bright with concern. Nicola reached out and grabbed his feathery side.
With a grunt of pain, she somehow managed to haul herself out of the water and back into the saddle. She fell forward against his neck, exhausted by the effort, her arm aching, as Quicksilver flew back into the air.
There were shouts of encouragement from the Space Brigade standing on the shore near the bridge. Nicola lifted her chin wearily and saw that Quicksilver had rescued her from the very middle of the river.
'Can you fly this far?' she wondered aloud.
She saw that Quicksilver's wings were already flapping slowly.
'No, no, don't fall asleep!' she said.
Quicksilver's eyelids drooped.
Nicola looked down and saw they were losing height. What could she do? She did not want to end up in that river again.
She put her mouth close to Quicksilver's ear and made a sound like an alarm clock. 'Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!'
Quicksilver's head jerked and they rose back up into the air.
Desperate to keep him awake, Nicola began to sing the words to an annoying cat food commercial. (She was not a great singer.) Quicksilver's ears twitched irritably. He gave her a rather reproachful look, took a deep breath and flew her straight to the shore, landing clumsily with a flurry of snow. His legs folded beneath him, his head fell to one side and seconds later he was snoring: a loud, rumbling, very human sort of snore.