'They say that it's this particular species of tree.' Horatio pointed out a gnarled old tree with fat purple leaves. 'It's called the Hope Tree. Apparently it releases a particular chemical that triggers a feeling of hopefulness.'
'So it's not real,' said Greta, looking disappointed.
'Oh, hopes are always real,' said Horatio. 'It's just that most of the time we try to squish them down. In the valley, our hopes are allowed to grow and flourish - like they should!'
As they were packing up their picnic, Shimlara said to Horatio, 'May I ask you a question, Horatio?'
'Certainly.'
'Why do you live here in the valley all alone? Don't you have a family?'
'I had a falling out with my family many years ago,' said Horatio. 'There was a terrible argument over the merits of milk chocolate versus dark chocolate. Unforgivable things were said - mostly by me. I stormed off in a huff one stormy night and ended up here.'
Horatio's face filled with despair as he recalled that night. Then suddenly it cleared as though the sun had come out. 'But I know that one day my family will forgive me. Just when I least expect it, they'll turn up and tell me it's time to come home.'
'But Horatio, wouldn't it be better if you went and said sorry to your family?' said Nicola. 'They might not even know where you are!'
'Oh, if they'd forgiven me they would have found me by now.' Horatio settled himself back down on his log. 'I'm sure they'll be along any minute. Don't worry about me.'
Nicola couldn't think of anything further to say. She looked around at the others, who were climbing up on to their well-rested ShobGobbles. They shrugged slightly.
Quicksilver pawed at the ground. It was time for their journey to continue.
'Let's go,' Nicola said.
20
Nobody in the Space Brigade said anything as they once again followed the paved path through the Valley of High Hopes.
Ridiculously hopeful thoughts continued to creep into Nicola's head.
I expect I'll win a trip to Disneyland soon. Maybe in a raffle. Or I might find the winning ticket in a cereal box.
I bet they stop teaching maths in school soon. It's not as if anybody LIKES it - except for the people who are good at it, and they don't need to learn it anyway!
'I think we must have reached the bottom of the valley,' called out Tyler. 'We seem to be heading up again.'
He was right. Nicola could feel it was more of an effort for Quicksilver as the path ahead became steeper. She stroked the creature's feathery mane to show her appreciation.
An hour passed and the light was becoming brighter.
'I can smell chocolate again,' said Sean, sniffing deeply.
Nicola saw an archway ahead with a sign. As they got closer, she read:
THANK YOU FOR VISITING THE VALLEY OF HIGH HOPES
May your HOPES continue to fly high . . . COME AGAIN!
The ShobGobbles trotted under the archway and suddenly the Space Brigade were all squinting, blinking and reaching for their sunglasses as they came out into the sunlight and the blinding colours of the rainbows.
Nicola's sunglasses were looking a bit out-of-date compared to Greta's oversized movie-star pair. I'll have to get some new ones before I compete in the Olympic Games, she thought. After all, I'll have all those television cameras - wait a second! Suddenly she realised there was no way in the world she was going to be an Olympic athlete. She smiled at herself, as all those crazy hopes drifted away, but their memory lingered, like the taste of something delicious.
'Let me check the map,' she called out to the others.
Everyone pulled up their ShobGobbles, and Nicola took out the map.
'Next we cross the Raging River at the Safe Hands Bridge,' she said.