When she looked back on what happened, as the huge book tree crashed down, the first thing Dot remembered was the smell.
Just as the bushes had given off a sweet smell as you brushed past them, so did the book tree as it smashed into the ground - only much, much stronger.
It was a funny smell because you felt it as much as you smelt it - and now it made you feel sad, like when you lose something you really treasure.
Cambor had lifted Dot, Wiz and Mr Mouse out of trouble just in time, the little jets on the heels of his 'Deputy Dawg' slippers hissing and crackling as it shot them all up into the sky.
Only just in time though - because as they could see, looking down from high above the book forest, the falling tree had caused great damage. It had smashed down other trees and bushes as it fell, and everywhere you looked were the books of memory, scattered about the book forest about in their millions.
"Holy Maloley!" said Mr Mouse peering down as they hovered in the great sky inside the black mountain of Phargon. "What a mega-mess!"
Looking up at Cambor as he cradled them in his arms, Dot was surprised to see a big tear in the corner of the Zildith's eye. As she watched, it grew bigger and then rolled down his cheek. (It was blue by the way!)
"My friend... " he said. "My friend! Where is Poolbear Zildith?"
It was true - Poolbear was nowhere to be seen. Even the moving picture dragons on Cambor's coat seemed upset - they'd all crowded together at the front of it to look down too, and were hissing and clucking away and chattering to each other in dragon language.
But then from far below them, they heard a whistle - just like the whistle you make to call a dog.
Cambor jumped and grinned, wiping the blue tear away. (It left no mark!)
"Trust him!" he said. "Won't walk anywhere!" As he spoke, there was a rustling in the bushes below them. Cambor started to swoop down again towards the ground.
"You'll like this!" he said, smiling at Dot.
They touched down, with Cambor swinging his body forward so they landed gently on his feet. The rustling was quite loud now - it seemed to be coming out of the bushes to their left.
Then out came - a penny-farthing bicycle!
It was all shiny and glowing with a kind of bluey-green light, its huge front wheel with the little saddle above it sparkling as it turned. The little wheel behind flashed as it turned too.
And the wheels were singing to each other - the front wheel in a very deep voice, like an opera singer, the little wheel make a tweeting noise like a blackbird.
(Want to see a picture? OK, go to http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue10_4/brent/pennyfarthing.gif )
Dot was sure she'd hear the tune before but she couldn't remember where.
She had no time to think though, because suddenly one of the heaps of books scattered everywhere started to move!
Wizzie bark-barked, his tail wagging furiously. "Stand back Dot!" he growled. "I'll fix it!"
But it was all right - because the penny-farthing bike had stopped right next to the pile of books, and with a huge huff and a puff out of it came - Poolbear!
"Ah!" he said, brushing a hundred or so books off his coat and beaming all over his jolly face. He smoothed down his stripey black and white beard. "There you are! Good boy, Snaffkins!" (What a name to give a bike!)
The penny-farthing twirled round and round, scattering more books and leaves from the bushes that had been crushed by the tree as it did so, the two wheels singing in harmony. It reminded Dot of a Jack Russell in her local park who did just he same when he wanted a titbit. (Not the singing, I mean - just the twirling round!)
Well I couldn't be sure you'd know what I meant, could I? Anyway...
"Honestly Poolbear" grumbled Cambor, shaking his head. "You scared the life out of me!"
"Oh, I was all right" grinned Poolbear. "Plenty for our poor old tree to land on, you know!"
He patted his big tummy, Then his face fell as he looked round. "Oh dear!" he said sadly. "Oh dear, oh dear! This is going to take some putting right!"
"No problem!" said a squeaky little voice. "No problem at all-y-o!"
