Wisker was in a state of shock to see that someone had come to save him. I have waited so long, so very long, he sobbed. Wisker was a mess. He had been treated very badly, with little food and little water and no sunlight for his skin. Just as Wisker had grown old, so had his spirit. I am too old to fight, said Wisker. Im sorry, I would if I could, but I am just way too old.
Get up, said Sir Porcupine. You must fight. Too many people risked their lives to save yours. We need your help.
Wisker looked around and saw all of the people that were in prison. When he saw all the people that had cared enough for him to risk their lives, even though it meant prison, Wisker tearfully sobbed and at the same time he began to gain his strength and his composure.
You must go and find Benji, your old companion, said a lady in a nearby jail cell. Bring him back and the king will see that you are not lying.
If only I had my magic wand, said Wisker. It is my only way of getting out of Mayfair.
I have it right here, said Sir Porcupine, and so he did. He pulled out the magic wand that Wisker had not seen in months.
Wisker rubbed his hands almost reverently over his favorite wand and then began to kiss it. I will bring justice to you all, said Wisker. I promise you, I will bring justice to you all. Wisker ran off out of the prison yard and into the forest on the border of Mayfair, with Sir Porcupine close behind him. Will you be my companion? Wisker asked Sir Porcupine.
Anything for you, my old friend, said Sir Porcupine.
Suddenly there was a rumbling of the ground, suggesting that the royal soldiers were on their way. Quick, over here, said Sir Porcupine, pulling Wisker off the beaten pathway and into a shrub of trees, just as the soldiers came speeding in their carriages and on horses. Wisker and Sir Porcupine quietly stayed put, scarcely daring to breathe,
Look over in those bushes, ordered the captain of the soldiers. I think I just saw something move.
Wisker and Sir Porcupine stiffened, trying to hold as still as still could be. Suddenly a large rabbit jumped out of some nearby bushes and ran toward the soldiers. The soldiers started to pull their swords to do battle but then they saw that it was just a rabbit.
We arent here to fight battles with rabbits, said one of the officers. Spread out and look around. We need to find Wisker and Sir Porcupine. The soldiers looked and looked until they got tired of looking and decided that Wisker and Sir Porcupine were not in the area.
The soldiers put up wanted signs showing pictures of Wisker and Sir Porcupine. Wanted, dead or alive, by the king and queen of Mayfair, read one of the officers. There, that ought to do it. Come on men, they arent here; weve got other places to look. Lets go. You know the queen isnt going to be happy if we come back empty handed. The queen is as bad as Prince Harry when it comes to having her own way.
The soldiers rode off and both Wisker and Sir Porcupine let out deep sighs of relief. Come, we must hurry! said Wisker. Wisker and Porcupine began to follow the trail to the way out of Mayfair. As soon as they came to what they considered to be a safe spot, Wisker tried to use his magic wand, but it wouldnt work. Over and over he tried but still nothing happened.
Whats wrong? asked Sir Porcupine.
My wand is not working, said Wisker. He looked the wand over and over from one tip to the other. Heres the problem, he said at last. Someone has tampered with the magic seal and golden dust has either broken off or been smudged off.
Now what do we do? asked Sir Porcupine.
The only way to fix this is to find the master of all wizards, Jeronomo, answered Wisker, studying his wand carefully to see if he could possibly have missed something.
Who is he and where can we find him? asked Sir Porcupine.
In the Death Valley, answered Wisker, as he looked with disgust at his wand. Someone has really mistreated this wand. The queen probably let her spoiled son Harry play with it.
I am so sorry that has happened, said Sir Porcupine. Sir Porcupine was an ordinary human, not a magical one like Wisker, and he felt a personal responsibility when one of his own people did something that hurt others.
Its not your fault, said Wisker to his friend. But now getting out of Mayfair has just become much harder. There are wanted signs all around and bounties placed on our heads.
How come the people of Mayfair never come to this forest? asked Sir Porcupine curiously. It seems like such a nice place. to play and have picnics.
Because of the king, answered Wisker. The king is afraid hell lose his power of being ruler and forbade the people ever to leave the land of Marfair. There are many more lands out here and the king is so greedy that he has locked his people in Mayfair. He is afraid that if they see another world that they like better than Mayfair that they will decide to stay there and never come back.
But right now we have some serious business to attend to and a long task ahead of us. Even if we could get to the land of the Bots, we could not stay there. We have a responsibility to free the people of Mayfair from the tyranny of the king and queen.
But we are wanted by the entire land of Mayfair and beyond, said Sir Porcupine. The palace has put out a hefty reward for our capture and we have no choice but to try our best to escape. You know what will happen to us if were caught. Sir Porcupine put his hand up to his throat protectively as he thought of the guillotine that the queen was having set up in the public square in Mayfair.
We have no other choice but to try our best to escape, said Wisker. And to do this, we have to travel down the forbidden parts of the land. First we must go to the Wood of Berlington.
Wisker and Sir Porcupine began to walk. I can feel an evil aura over us, said Wisher, who, being a magical being, could sense magical things, even though his wand was broken.
You know the Woods of Berlington is haunted dont you? asked Sir Porcupine.
Yes I do, answered Wisker. Now keep your head down and pull your hood over head. He did the same thing himself as he spoke. We dont want people to recognize us from our wanted posters if we can help it.
The Burlington woods were very scary. The trees began to whisle and the rocks began to taunt the two passer bys by calling out, to them. You silly men, why do you come to Burlington woods? called one of the rocks.
Pay no attention to them, Wisker told Sir Porcupine. Sir Porcupine nodded, but Wisker could see that Sir Porcupine was very much afraid and he would comfort him by smiling now and again.
Soon the dirt began to move like a winding snake under their feet. Run, cried Wisker and the two men began to run, faster and faster. Suddenly Sir Porcupine tripped on his cape and fell to the ground. Before he could get up a gain, out of the dirt rose a large three headed dragon, with ivory horns coming out of its faces and heads. The dragon was an ash color, with the tip of his tail a bright fluorescent
orange. The dragons scale flaked off as it pounded on the dirt, trying to squash Sir Porcupine.
Wisker ran out in front of the dragon, trying to save his friend. Stop! he ordered,, in that tone of voice which only wizards are able to command. My wand isnt working, but the dragon doesnt know that, thought Wisker to himself.
He pulled out his wand and pointed it at the monster. I said stop! he thundered.
The dragon was so afraid that it ran back into the earth, leaving nothing more than a large hole. That was close, said Wisker, tucking his wand carefully away.
Why was it so afraid of your wand? asked sir Porcupine.
Many years ago wizards ruled the land and they had mighty powers, even greater than they have today. Dragons remember this and are fearful of the powers of wizards.
Sir Porcupine and Wisker hurried along the path. The forest was slowly coming alive. The trees and the e plants were beginning to change colors, their fangs and tongues smelled fresh blood. The plants sent out their roots
to gather the trespassers. Soon once again the dirt moved and the roots of the plants and trees were after Wisker and Sir Porcupine.
We must jump into the lake, Wisker told Sir Porcupine. The two men ran and took big leaps, first this way and then that as the roots of the plants began to chase them. With one push off, the two men flew into the air and made a big splash into the air. The trees and the plants cried out in anger and frustration; they had missed out on their food.
Little did Wisker and Sir Porcupine know that they were being watched as they hurried along. Behind a large rock was an unknown creature that stood about four feet high. The creature had red scales, big black eyes and a glowing halo above its head. Its hands and feet were webbed, sort of like a ducks and its tiny ears could hear the slightest movement. The creature watched for a little while, then slightly wiggled its right ear and disappeared into a green mist.
League of Extraordinary Robots Page 3