Following Stubby’s advice, Bryony had found the grate simple enough to open. The problem was how to reach Saffy and Jaz without getting noticed.
Professor Schrunkopf hurried around the laboratory, flicking switches and turning dials on his many computers. Madame Voltaria glided anxiously behind her master, making notes on a clipboard as he read off numbers from a multitude of flashing screens.
After what seemed like hours, the Professor retreated to the other end of the laboratory, where Madame Voltaria helped him into a chair similar to those in which Saffy and Jaz were sitting. Once the Professor was seated, Madame Voltaria began connecting streams of wires to a metal band she fastened around his conical head.
“They should be busy for a few minutes,” said Stubby. “Now’s our chance.”
Bryony slipped through the vent and hurried to Saffy and Jaz. The girls seemed remarkably relaxed about their predicament, and sat chatting about the previous night’s episode of their favourite TV soap.
“It’s all right,” Bryony told her friends. “I’ll have you out of here in a second.”
Saffy and Jaz stopped chatting, and turned to stare at Bryony with a look of synchronised irritation.
“What are you doing here?” sneered Saffy.
“I’ve come to rescue you,” said Bryony.
“We don’t need rescuing,” snorted Jaz. “We’re having our hair done.”
“This isn’t a hairdressers.” Bryony wasn’t sure how she was going to explain, so she tried a different tack. “Don’t you remember how you got here?”
Jaz shrugged. “We were chatting to Edwin. He’s our new friend. He’s really cool, not like you.”
“He was doing his ventrillything act.” Saffy frowned. “Then somehow we ended up in this beauty salon.”
“But you can’t remember how?” said Bryony.
Saffy and Jaz looked blankly at each other.
“That’s a known side effect of unexpected magical transportation,” said Stubby. “Those inexperienced in such matters can suffer memory loss and confusion.”
“She’s got that mouse,” said Jaz. “She’s trying to do a ventrillythingy act like Edwin.”
“You’re not as good as your stepbrother,” Saffy told Bryony. “And don’t think you can be our friend by trying to copy him. Now go away and leave us alone.”
“I’m not going away,” said Bryony. “I’ve come here to rescue you.”
“We said we don’t need rescuing,” sniffed Jaz. “Except from dweeps like you.”
Saffy and Jaz screeched with laughter.
Bryony tried to ignore the mocking shrieks. She knew Saffy and Jaz didn’t really like her. But maybe, if she rescued them, they’d see her in a different light.
“I’m your friend,” vowed Bryony. “And I’ll prove it by saving your necks.”
Bryony grabbed a bundle of wires connected to Saffy’s head band, and was about to pull when Stubby emitted a warning squeak.
“I would advise against disconnecting any wires at this stage. It could trigger an alarm, or cause an electric shock to you and your friends.”
Bryony reluctantly let go of the wires. “So how do we save Saffy and Jaz from getting their brains fried?”
Another clap of thunder sounded, and the noise was greeted with an excited gasp from Professor Schrunkopf.
“The storm is reaching optimum intensity. You must hurry, Madame Voltaria!”
The Invigilator slid back from the Professor’s chair. “All wires have been connected, Master.”
“Excellent,” purred the Professor. “Now activate the conductor mast!”
Madame Voltaria pressed a button on another computer. There was a buzzing noise as a large metal needle, as thick as a drainpipe, rose from the centre of the laboratory floor.
Madame Voltaria pressed more buttons, and a round hole opened in the ceiling to admit the rising metal rod.
“We’re running out of time,” groaned Bryony, watching the rising mast from behind a workbench. “How are we going to free Saffy and Jaz?”
“We need to find a means of halting the experiment.” Stubby’s little head twitched from side to side as he examined the laboratory. “Somewhere around here there must be an Emergency Abort switch.”
“A what?” said Bryony.
“An Emergency Abort switch. A means of halting the experiment in case something goes wrong. All laboratories have to have them. Even mad scientists can’t ignore Health and Safety rules.”
Bryony nodded. “What would it look like?”
“A switch, with ‘Emergency Abort Switch’ written below it.”
“Like that?” Bryony spied the very thing on a control panel next to Madame Voltaria.
“Well spotted,” said Stubby. “Now all we have to do is hit that switch to stop the experiment. But we’ll have to wait until the experiment is underway. If we press it too early they’ll have time to recalibrate and start again.”
“But how are we going to get to it? The Professor or Voltaria are bound to spot us.”
“I’m small enough to reach the switch unnoticed,” said Stubby. “But it would help if you created a distraction. Now we’re running out of time. Put me down so I can get to the switch.”
Bryony scooped Stubby from her pocket and lowered him to the floor.
“What sort of distraction do you want?” she asked, watching Stubby alight from her palm.
“Anything will do. Just use your initiative. And remember, wait for the optimum moment. I suggest that will be when lightning strikes the conductor mast.”
Stubby scurried off behind a computer. Bryony lifted her head and peered over the workbench. She had to create a distraction, but how?
“The conductor mast has reached the first floor,” announced Madame Voltaria. “It will be at roof level in thirty seconds.”
“And then the experiment can begin,” rasped Professor Schrunkopf. “And I shall take my rightful place as ruler of the world!”