"All we've got is the Breakfast Special--bacon, eggs, sausages, toast, and waffles--sound okay? I'm only meant to serve it to Volcomanians but I'll make an exception. You all look so hungry."
They ordered seven breakfast specials.
"How much?" asked Nicola, hoping they had enough Whimsian currency.
"It's free." Poppy waved away their money.
She looked them up and down. "You're Earthlings, aren't you?"
"We're a news crew--" began Nicola uncertainly, wondering if their cover was now totally blown.
"Sure you are." Poppy grinned broadly and winked. She had obviously read the "Wanted" notice that Georgio had shown them. "And I'm the president of Whimsy."
"Actually, I'm the president of Whimsy," said Henry.
"Oh, are you?" said Poppy. "I didn't even know we had one."
A short time later she was back carrying a tray piled high with wonderful smelling food.
"Do you deliver meals to the Volcomanian soldiers in the prison camp?" asked Nicola.
"Yes," said Poppy. "Why?"
"You might be able to help us," said Nicola, although she wasn't sure how.
"Just let me know what I can do," said Poppy.
She left, and they all settled down to enjoy crispy bacon, succulent sausages, fluffy eggs, and featherlight waffles.
Thank goodness for food,thought Nicola. Then she remembered all those prisoners cleaning the barbed wire fence without breakfast and felt guilty. As soon as they were all released she would make sure to arrange all the food they could eat.
They all sat in deep silence for a while, either looking at their empty plates or watching the movement of the butterflies fluttering around them.
Sean stretched his arms above his head. "All that food has made me sleepy."
Sleepy. Somebody had been talking about something that caused sleepiness just recently. Who was it?
"Aha! " Nicola jerked up her head and pointed at Sean.
"What?" Sean looked over his shoulders with alarm. "Spider? Snake?"
"I've got an idea."
"So do I!" said Katie. "It has to do with that waitress."
"And me too!" said Tyler. "It's about using Whimsy's strengths."
"Actually I think I've got an idea to do with that, too!" cried Sean.
The food had done the trick. Now that they all had full stomachs, their minds were sharp again. Suddenly everyone was on their feet, talking at the same time, ideas sparking off other ideas, and even the butterflies seemed energized by the electric new atmosphere.
CHAPTER 29
It was eight AM the next morning and the Space Brigade and Henry Sweet were hiding behind a rosebush outside the prison gates.
They were all tired and a bit snappy. They hadn't slept at all the night before. Instead, they had spent the whole night in the tree trunk working out a plan to win the war against Volcomania.
If it worked,Volcomania would be defeated by nightfall.