…how an ordinary schoolgirl became an

INTERNET VOYAGER!

So sleepy thought Dot... want to go to bed...

DIRRILLIRRILLIRILLLRINGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!

Then came Adrienne's voice, the loudest Dot had ever heard her, filled with fear.

"TAKE YOUR 'AND AWAY FROM LUIS DOROTHEE! Right NOW!"

DIRRILLIRRILLIRILLLRINGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!! It was an alarm, like a VERY LOUD old fashioned alarm clock, coming from the bracelet on Dot's wrist. As well as ringing, it was vibrating too, jumping up and down and buzzing on her skin.

With a gasp, Dot pulled her hand away from the comforting warmth of Luis' back. It was so hard to do it - it reminded her of the time she'd touched the wires on a light switch when her dad was fitting a new one in her bedroom. Even though he'd told her in his strictest voice not even to come into the room! She'd only been little, but she could still remember the funny feeling - which had a kind of sound to it, even though it made no noise! - and the "burrzzz" it made against her finger, as if she had pins and needles, only much worse. ...

BUMPFFF!

Dot had pulled her hand away from Luis so fast she lost her balance, and fell over - only like everything in Void, it was different... she didn't just fall down - she kind of sat down very slowly, as if she was falling through treacle. A big choking cloud of Void dust came up round her and she couldn't see anything - but she was trying too hard not to breathe it in to be bothered by that.

Something was digging into the back pocket of her jeans and she felt down into the yukky dust underneath her to find out what it was - and pulled out a little doll of a man with a cap, big eyes and a droopy moustache. She knew she'd seen that somewhere before but... where?

The little doll looked up at her - and spoke! "Hey bambino!" it said. "You gonna give me a lift outta thees place? Please! Be nice to Mario!"

Dot blinked. Weirder and weirder, she thought!

Just then, the last of the cloud of dust fell back onto the grey sands of Void (as usual, for some reason it wouldn't stick to her - thank YOU for that, Dot thought) - and she could see again.

But where was Luis? Dot could see a space in the huge dusty mound of magnetic tape where he'd been - but - no Borzoi dog!

"Pleease?" went the little doll with the moustache again, wriggling in her hand. "Get me away, I show you the besta games you ever see!"

But Dot was too worried to pay any attention to the little doll just then. WHERE in the name of the Net could Luis have gone??? She was just starting to panic when she felt a nudge in her back. She recognized that all right - it was just what Wizzie did when he wanted to be taken for a walk.

She turned round - it was Luis! What a relief!V He smiled at her - still looking tired and dusty, the Void muck doesn't come off fur like it does off clothes and skin - and spoke.

"I am sorry to make you - what do you say? Ah yes, to make you chump" (he means jump, thought Dot) "I just 'ad to get as far away from zat 'ORRIBLE stuff as fast as I could." He gave himself a shake so another cloud of Void dust rose up around him in a kind of mushroom shape.

DIRRILLIRRILLIRILLLRINGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!! went the alarm from the bracelet again. Dot turned it so she could shine the little TV picture from it onto the back of her hand again. There were all her friends, gathered round behind Adrienne. Luis looked too and gave a bark of excitement that made Dot jump.

"Louise D! Louise D!" the Borzoi went, his face full of excitement and hope. "It's me! Luis! I'm coming out chiqita! I will be with you VER' soon honey!"

"You won't if Dot doesn't move, RIGHT NOW!" came Adrienne's worried reply. "She 'as only five data lines left! QUICKLY Dot! You must 'urry! Or we will lose you to VOID!!"

"Oh no!" went the little doll, wriggling in her hand again. "We are doomeda! DOOMED-DA!"