'Um, sir, what would you like us to do?' asked the largest Security Thug.
'Des-' began Enrico, but he couldn't get the word out. He wiped a hand across his sweaty forehead.
'Dessert?' guessed the Security Thug. 'You feel like dessert? I don't know if now is the time, sir.'
Enrico shook his head in frustration. 'Desp-'
'Despicable!' said the Security Thug. 'Yes, sir, I agree. What they've done is quite despicable. That's a good point.'
'Desp-' tried Enrico again, before retching.
It was so obvious that Enrico was trying to say the words 'despair gas' that Nicola nearly said it for him. Instead, she said, 'Start the music, boys.'
Sean and Joshua nodded.
Seconds later the rhythmic sound of the Screaming Puppies singing their number one hit, 'Snake Bite', filled the air.
The people of Shobble, who hadn't heard music for over twenty years, lifted their heads in confused delight and began to move to the beat, their arms still linked.
Enrico clapped his hands over his ears and fell forward over his ShobGobble's neck.
'Well, really, darling, whatever is the matter?' his wife called out from the sleigh.
'Music!' Enrico spoke through clenched teeth. 'Mucky music! It hurts my ears! Stop that music! You are disobeying the Quiet-Please decree!'
'Although it's actually quite catchy, sir,' said the lead Security Thug, nodding his head in time to the music.
'Mucky music and yucky yellow! It's too much!' moaned Enrico.
Sean grinned at Nicola. 'Told you that Screaming Puppies CD would come in handy.'
'Despair gas!' choked out Enrico. 'Spray . . . them . . . with . . . Despair . . . gas!'
'Yes, sir!' The Security Thugs reached behind their backs for their canisters.
'Brace yourselves,' said Topaz.
How bad could it be? thought Nicola, as the Thugs lifted long nozzles and sprayed the air with enormous thick black clouds. She could hear the Shobblings crying out, 'Block your noses!'
A nasty smell filled Nicola's nostrils. It was a sludgy, slimy smell that seemed to travel up her nostrils and straight into her brain.
I'm fine, thought Nicola. I'm -
Suddenly a feeling of terrible sadness ballooned through her chest. It's pointless. It's hopeless. We will never beat Enrico. We are children, for heaven's sake. What were we thinking?
She looked behind her and saw that the Shobblings were bent backwards, like flowers in a breeze. Topaz sat limply in her saddle like a broken puppet. Sean had his face buried in his hands. Even Quicksilver slumped beneath Nicola.
Shimlara slowly rode her ShobGobble up next to Nicola. Her eyes were shiny with tears.
'We can't beat Enrico,' she said dully. 'We might as well accept it.'
'Yes,' said Nicola. 'Yes, of course, you're right.'
'Remember what you said! Despair is just a feeling, Nicola!' called out a voice from the crowd. Nicola recognised the quavery voice of Horatio Banks.
But I was wrong, Horatio. It's not just a feeling. It's crushed glass behind my eyes. It's a weight pressing on my chest.
'Don't give up! Please don't give up!' This time it sounded like Joy.