The Clockwork Princess

6. The Escape

'Don't bother' said the rat after the Princess had translated.

'Why?' said the Princess disappointedly.

'If he could escape wouldn't he have escaped already?' the rat said

'I can get us out of the dungeon, but I don't know how to get us out of the castle' the boy signed.

'Oh Its that all?' said the Princess 'Don't worry, if you can get us out of this dungeon I can get us out of the castle' said the princess both talking and signing at the same time.

'Excuse me highness but beyond the dungeon door is a prison. Beyond the prison is the castle, then the inner keep, then the outer keep and finally a deepest darkest moat in Albion. Once you escape you will have all the beef eaters in the castle after you. Then you will have to get out of the city filled with all the Kings's horses and all the Kings me. Its all very escape proof'

'That Mr rat is not a problem' said the Princess 'but I will need some paper and a pen'.

Fortunately the rat had access to both and soon the Princess had written a short letter. She then carefully folded it up put it into an envelope. Then she took the envelope addressed it.

'Please flush this down your toilet' said the Princess handing it to flying boy.

He then dropped it down the toilet and flushed it away.

'Oh no' said the rat 'I was afraid of this. My repair was all wrong. The Princess has a cog loose'

'Just wait and you will see' said the Princess, 'now lets get the flying boy loose'.

It didn't take long for the rat to take a pin from the Princess. He reached into the lock with one paw. After a moment open the door to flying boy's prison cell flew open.

Flying boy now quickly climbed up the wall. Like all wire monkeys he was clearly an expert climber and was able to use the slightest hint of a ledge to climb up.

'Why, he is the most stickyish boy I've ever seen' said the Princess.

Soon the flying boy was balancing on a light just above the door. It was like watching a monkey balancing on the top of a mop, balancing on top a roller skate, sitting on top of the middle of a see saw.

'Now you call the guard' flying boy signed without falling off.

'Why?' signed the Princess back 'How?'

'Pretend something' he signed.

The Princess shut the bars to flying boys cell.

'Hay guards' shouted the Princess to the window of the cell 'come quickly the flying boy is fading, he's disappearing'

Eventually a familiar face appeared at the tiny window in the door. It was Sergeant Mumble looking in.

'What do you want?' he asked

'You missed him!' said the Princess

'Who?'

'That Flying boy he disappeared. Vanished in the corner over there'

'What's, lets have look' said Sergeant Mumble unlocking the door.

The door squeaked loudly as he opened. Sergeant Mumble walked in.

At this point the rat past the Sergeant's feet. Behind the guard was the quantum mechanical cat. The rat instantly ran up the clockwork princess and hid behind her collar.

'Hello dinner' said the cat with a savage smile.

Sergeant Mumble walked into the room and looked round.