Little darts of gold and silver light suddenly appeared in front of Samson’s beaming happy face. A kind of clattering noise, mixed in with a “Whoop whoop” sound, could be heard. And then, whirling round from out of the back of Samson’s big screen, came the strangest looking thing Dot had ever seen.

It was a tiny little engine – like an old steam train. It was bright red, with gold fittings and silver wheels which whirled round so fast you could hardly see them – they were just a kind of silvery blur. The “whoop whoop” noise seemed to be coming out of the funnel – which wasn’t pouring out steam but the showers and showers of the little darts of gold and silver light Dot had seen just before. It seemed to be running on little shiny rails like railway tracks – but there was never any track in front of it or behind it, just underneath its endlessly spinning wheels, all the time. It was as if it made its own track as it went along, just what it needed to ride on and nothing more!

But that wasn’t all.

It was being driven by – a squirrel!

A red squirrel too, with little golden tufts of fur on top of its ears and a big, bushy tail curved over its back. Perched on its head was a cap with its peak turned up, all striped in blue and white. The squirrel-driver also wore one of those sleeveless jackets with lots of pockets that you see photographers wearing sometimes – it was a kind of off-white colour and every pocket was filled with what looked like pens.

Wizzie let out a warning bark. Dot remembered how he loved chasing squirrels in the park, and gave him a quick pat on his head. But she was too amazed to do anything else, staring at the squirrel and his little train with her mouth wide open (her mum would have had something to say about that if she’ been there!)

She felt Mr Mouse hop up onto her shoulder and hide himself behind one of her bunches, his little nose and whiskers peeping out through her hair. “I’ll keep an eye on this kid!” came his voice, a bit muffled. “Stay loose – I got him covered!”

But the squirrel and his little train didn’t seem threatening at all to Dot – just rather sweet! She remembered her mouth was still wide open and blushed as she quickly closed it.

“Aha!” boomed Samson, as the little train came to a halt and hovered in the air next to Samson’s screen with a little whirring noise. “Just in time! I knew I could rely on you Squiffy!”

The big jolly screen beamed down at Dot. “There you are my dear! Just what you need to help your Dad sort out the Munchenmeat Awards! An internet search engine – and, what’s more, one driven by the BEST searcher in net-world!”

“Oh… thanks… ” said Dot, still a bit dazed. “Er… thank you for coming… er… ?”

“Adrienne. That is my real name. Samason, ’e likes to call me Squiffy, I don’t know why” said the little squirrel in a warm French accent. “It is his humour. But I am please to meet you, Dorothee! We girls must ‘elp each other on the Net, non?”

Dot nodded, trying to stop her mouth falling open again. A French squirrel!

The little creature took out a tiny silvery bottle and gave a little dab of perfume to each of her wrists. A sweet, mysterious scent drifted up into the air. Samson chuckled again and shook his head.

“It is the only way to start a net-search” said Adrienne firmly. “It puts you in – what do you English say? The good mood, c’est ca! And now Dorothee – what is it you would like me to do for you? Because if the Net ‘as it  – Adrienne will find it!”