You could see the Children of the Casement felt the same way – they were watching the party with their arms folded, their faces cold and angry.

For a moment Dot couldn’t think what it all reminded her of, but she remembered: the Doggydo’s staff party! Her Mum and Dad had taken her once, just for the start, and the sight of Mr Elms bopping round the dance floor – gross. Grosserama, in fact!

“PSSSSSSSSSST!”

It was Mr Mouse who saw what was happening – he leant in close to Dot’s ear, and whispered (she could just hear him above all the noise – the cyber rats were obviously settling in for a long party) “Look! Up THERE!”

Dot and Wiz looked up – it was lucky no-one was paying attention to them, because they’d have been spotted for sure – but there was little chance of that now, because someone had brought out a big crate of beer cans for the cyber rats, and there was already a lot of snarling and spitting going on as some of them tried to get more than their fair share. TYPICAL!

Just over poor Drindel’s head, in the slimy wall of the cavern, there w as a little crack in the stone. As they looked, a nose pointed out – a long, ratty nose.

That was all they could see at first – but then there was something else poking through the tiny crack.

A little bell. Hanging on the end of a wispy bit of beard.

Cruncher! None of the other cyber rats had a beard with bells on it like that!

What was he doing? Whatever it was, it looked like he was trying to help them. But why?

“Better not keep looking up!” whispered Mr Mouse – thought the partying and dancing was as noisy as ever. “Someone might see!”

Dot gulped – Mr Mouse was right! Even though Mr Fruity was now trying to do a limbo dance, bending over backwards to get under a stick held by two cyber rats. He was surrounded by a crowd of rats, all laughing and cheering – and waving their beer cans, so that the frothy, smelly stuff spayed all over the place, some of it even spattering on Dot. Yeurrck!

Drindel was watching too – but the Zildith still couldn’t move a muscle. His eyes were filled with pain and anger, poor Day of 23.

But just then –

“LOOK!” hissed Wizzie.

Dot looked, to where Mr Fruity had been doing his limbo dance. He was away now, doing a circular dance with the other rats, going round and round, chanting “Cyber Rats Rule!” to the sound of another oldie someone had put on. “Feels like” it went “Feels like I’m on love!”

Something caught Dot’s eye. A dull gleam…

Arcathon!

The little medallion had fallen out while Mr Fruity was showing off. He hadn’t noticed.

But in his hideaway up in the cavern wall, someone else had!

Suddenly, another shiny disc – silver this time – came floating down out of the crack in the wall – flipped by a scaly claw.

Down it came – like tiny flying saucer – spinning round and round. Straight towards where Arcathon was lying.

Still the cyber rats hadn’t noticed anything!

But the Children of the Casement had – and Dot was amazed to see a smile spread over their faces. A big, happy smile.

Next moment, the silver disc landed right on top of Arcathon!

FIZZSST!

AND EVERYTHING STOPPED!