…how an ordinary schoolgirl became an

INTERNET VOYAGER!

"Er... " went Dot.

It was really EMBARRASSING. Here she was, in the middle of what looked like it was going to be the best party she'd ever been to, a guest of the Mopples, and she was already in trouble! She felt herself go red and hot and cold all over.

"Um... " she went again.

Florence the King Charles Cavalier Spaniel leant towards her. Dot could smell her lovely perfume but it just made her feel more uncomfortable than ever. "Now listen, sweetheart" said Florence in a cold, quiet voice. "We're not having any virus come in here and spoil the party. And apart from that, do you know what one of those foul things could do to Mopple Towers? It's all virtual reality you know, and it's right on the edge of what everyone knows about the Net. One virus and it'll go like the morning dew when the sun comes up. And we'll have one HECK of a job to sort it and get it back. So - where is it? I can smell 'em you know!"

"Now wait a minute Flossie - " started Ron. "Dot's a good sort, you know! One of the best! She - "

"Yeah, maybe" said Florence, still gazing straight at Dot. "But even the best can go bad. Like Marius Mopple - remember? Everyone thought he was one of the best, too!"

It was a strange feeling - all around was the happy noise of hundreds of Mopples chatting away, glad to see each other again, but it was like she was in a little bubble with Ron and Deirdre and Wiz. It felt like the steely eyes of Florence were all that she could see. And the worst of it was Dot hadn't a CLUE what she was talking about!

Then the squidglet stirred in her pocket - she thought she could even hear a faint "prrrp" - and she knew. Oh... no...

"Oh you mean him" she said, reaching down into her jeans pocket and bringing out the squidglet - the movement woke the little creature up and he opened his big green eyes and looked around him with interest, smacking his red lips and going "Zibble!" (didn't tell you... that's squidglet for hello... ) "Oh he's all right - wouldn't hurt anyone. He's called Callum. We just want to ask Old Hieronymus if - "

But she didn't get any further. A parrot Mopple with a big sailor's hat and a silver ring through his beak just happened to turn round as Dot took Callum out of her pocket - and the next minute, everything went crazy!!

"Crikey!" the parrot squawked in a very posh accent - which reminded Dot of that funny MP with the very blond spiky hair, Boris something. "It's a squidglet! Here in Mopple Towers!! VIRUS ALERT! VIRUS ALERT!" He banged a button on a chain round his neck - Dot suddenly noticed that all the Mopples were wearing them, even Ron and Deirdre - and THEN -

BLARP-BLARP-BLARP-BLARP-BLARP-BLARP-BLARP-BLARP! WEEE-OOO! WEEE-OOO! WEEE-OOO!

It was like all the ambulance and police car sirens you've ever heard, in one! Wizzie yapped in alarm and Dot put her hands over her ears. Deirdre went "Oh dear! There was no need for that!"

Florence went "Ah-HA!! THOUGHT so!" and tried to snatch Callum - but Wiz was there first, snarling, teeth bared. "Back off Florence!" he said. "We may both be Cavaliers, but don't you dare touch Dot!"

But everywhere now there was chaos - a crazy scene, with Mopples running for their vans, the lights going dim, what looked like steel shutters sliding down over the fantastic changing colours that glittered between the arches - and up in front of the eight towers, Old Hieronymus was surrounded by a shiny glass tube that had dropped down over him and his throne. And still the sirens went on BLARP-BLARP-BLARP-BLARP-BLARP-BLARP-BLARP-BLARP! WEEE-OOO! WEEE-OOO! WEEE-OOO!

Then Old Hieronymus spoke.

"WHO BRINGS TROUBLE TO OUR GATHERING?" he called. It was scary - it was still the same voice that had welcomed them to Mopple Hall, but now it sounded different; harder and colder.

Dot gulped and looked at Deirdre. Deirdre shook her head. "Why didn't you tell us you were bringing Callum out, dear?" she whispered. "It's not allowed you know - not when we're at a gathering like this!"

Oh well, thought Dot. I'd better own up. So she held Callum up in her right hand and said - as loud as she could - though it was so quiet now you could have heard a feather fall, as her Gran would say.

"It was ME" she said. "I brought the squidglet... but I think he can really help you all!"

"Say... "We Claim Permission To Remain" whispered Ron. Like Deirdre he was standing quite still looking at Old Hieronymus on the throne inside his glass tube. All the other Mopples were back inside their vans now, with the windows tight shut - Dot could see one of the penguins looking at her from a van shaped like a big flying fish. He was shaking his head slowly from side to side, like he was seeing something really bad.

Well, you're NOT, thought Dot. Callum is on our side. I know he is!

Prrrp! went the squidglet, with his head on one side and his big green eyes wide open. He didn't seem worried at all by what was going on.

So why should I be, thought Dot. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth. "I CLAIM - PERMISSION TO REMAIN" she said, as loud as she could.

There was no reply. Everything seemed frozen in time. Then Old Hieronymus spoke again, loud and clear.

"APPROACH THE TOWERS AND BE RECOGNIZED!"