…how an ordinary schoolgirl became an

INTERNET VOYAGER!

Dot looked at the squidglet.

The squidglet looked at Dot.

The funny thing was - once Dot had got over the shock of having a small black thing with one orange eyebrow and two green eyes, about the size of a large chocolate muffin, and a bit wriggly too, jump into her hands - she realized the squidglet wasn't at all like what she'd expected.

In the first place, he wasn't slippery or slimy like the blackdown he'd come from. He was kind of warm and soft. Holding him reminded Dot of the time she'd picked up a baby bird that had fallen out of its nest - all trembly but warm and soft, and so tiny and afraid. And his skin wasn't smooth and shiny like plastic or a snake's skin, though it seemed that way if you didn't look closely. In fact it was a kind of very short glossy fur - smooth and nice to hold.

But in one way the squidglet was VERY different from the little baby bird Dot had held once - she could tell he wasn't afraid. Not at all. In fact, he still seemed to be having fun.

"Yiiiip... Yaaaap.." said Wizzie, panting up to join Dot and Ron and Deirdre. "0oh" (pant, pant he went) "You've got him Dot..." (pant, pant) "Let me just... er... I'll..."

Just as I thought, Dot said to herself, smiling down at her doggy best friend. You haven't got a clue what to do with him now you've caught up with him, have you? 'Cos you don't really want to hurt him, do you? You just loved chasing him, that was all!

"Krrrp... birrrp" went the squidglet again, a kind of chirruping sound which was a bit like a baby bird too. Dot looked down at him. As he did, he closed one eye in a big, big wink - it looked all the bigger because he had enormous eyelashes, she noticed: shiny black and curling like a top fashion model's.

Then he noticed Wizzie standing down below him, still panting away with his pink tongue hanging out and looking up at them both with his big brown eyes.

The squidglet turned round and looked over the edge of Dot's hand.

"BRRRRRRRPPPPPPPP!" he went. It was that VERY rude noise again, which you make when you... no I'm not going there! You know and you know you shouldn't!!

Wiz tried to jump up but Dot moved her hand out of the way - I was going to say just in time but it was such a little jump because Wiz was so tired out that there was no danger of him grabbing the squidglet. None at all.

But the squidglet didn't like it. He jumped in Dot's hands and let out a very cross squeak - then looked up at her again with his big green eyes wide open.

"Don't worry" she said. "I'll take care of you!"

Now WHY, thought Dot, did I say that?? "Aaaahh" went Deirdre. "Isn't he a sweetie!"

Ron grunted. "Sweet 'e may be" he said. "But we've got 'im on our hands all right now!"

Dot stroked the squidglet gently. He went "Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" just like a cut purring and his big shiny green eyes closed. He really was rather sweet, she thought.

"So... what do we do with him?" she asked, looking at Ron.

Rob shook his head and went tut-tut. "Well... that's the question" he said, looking a bit unhappy. Dot wondered what was going on. She tried to think of something to say, but couldn't. She stroked the squidglet again, running her finger down the middle of his furry, shiny back. "Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" he went again.

Wizzie gave a snuffle, one of his "Oh Dot, come on!" noises, which meant he thought she was being a bit silly. I mean, he said to himself, a squidglet's just for chasing. We can't be thinking of keeping him, surely! Oh well... that's Dot for you...

He lay down on the soft, pillowy floor of the Search Zone, still panting a bit. Deirdre smiled at him and reached inside the van and fetched out a bottle. With a flick of her wing tip, she knocked down a little tray at the bottom of the bottle, which filled up with sparkling clear water - just enough, not too much, not too little. She put it down gently and Wiz came over and had a big drink.

"So... what do we do?" asked Dot again.

Ron coughed uncomfortable. Deirdre walked over and put her wing on Dot's shoulder. "It's for the best, really" she said gently.

"What do you mean?" said Dot. She never liked the sound of it when people said things were "for the best". It usually meant something nasty was going to happen...

"Well" said Ron gloomily. "We'll 'ave to, that's' all. " He sighed "Nice little feller though isn't he?"

The squidglet opened one eye and closed it again. ""Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" he went again, more softly.

"Ron, please tell me what you mean" said Dot. She was getting worried.

"Well" said Ron YET again. "Sorry Dot... but I'm afraid... we're gonna have to defragment him!"