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the hills. ‘Come on or we’ll be late!’
    â€˜Oops,’ said the Spirit of the Rainbow, looking at his watch. ‘I’ve gotta go or my Mum’llkill me. We’re visting my Aunt.’
    And he chucked them a handful of fruit chews and off he ran.

    It was a long walk back to Lamonic Bibber but it was a happy one. Friday got out his favourite flute and played a march called ‘The Captain of theAnts’ and Alan Taylor surprised everyone by pointing out features of the landscape and teaching them about the natural world as they went.
    â€˜See that?’ he said, pointing to a rock. ‘That is a rock. And those colourful things over there? They are known as flowers.’
    â€˜Why, you’re a changed man,’ said Friday in wonder.
    â€˜Yes, I love learning and education,’ said Alan Taylor. ‘All that money made me forget howmuch I REALLY have to offer the world.’

    But here’s the thing. In all the fun and learning Mr Gum and Billy William were forgotten and they managed to escape by sawing through the ropes with their sharp fingernails.
    â€˜Let’s get out of here, Caterpillar Joe,’ whispered Mr Gum and off they tiptoed in their hobnail boots. And where they went nobody knows but the wind.

Chapter 11
The Festival of the Leaves
    I t was nearly sunset when the heroes finally reached Lamonic Bibber once more.
    â€˜Look,’ said Polly happily. All the good people of the town were out on the streets, rejoicing and waving flags and playing kiss chase.And the town square was full of long wooden benches laden with food.
    â€˜There seems to be a feast going on,’ said Alan Taylor.
    â€˜Not just any feast,’ remarked Friday. ‘Today must be the first day of autumn. It’s the Festival of the Leaves!’
    â€˜Oh, I forgot all about the Festival of the Leaves!’ said Polly. ‘I loves it so!’
    â€˜It’s true,’ announced the warm voice of David Casserole, the town mayor. ‘Look, the first leaf fell today. Who shall be this year’s King of Autumn?’ he challenged, holding up the little golden leaf.
    â€˜The Biscuit Billionaire!’ responded the crowd. ‘The Biscuit Billionaire! Now that he’s got his money back we can have funfairs again!’
    â€˜No,’ said Alan Taylor, climbing on to Friday’s head for more speech action. ‘I’m no longer a rich man,’ he told the crowd. ‘But if you can find it in your hearts to love me for who I am, I will turn mymansion into a school called Saint Pterodactyl’s School For The Poor and I will teach all the poor children and orphans about education and learning. And no one will tease anyone there or call each other bad names,’ he added firmly.
    â€˜Fair enough!’ shouted the crowd.
    â€˜You are truly our King of Autumn!’ boomed David Casserole, pinning the leaf on to Alan Taylor’s chest whilst pretty ladies crowned him with acorns and conkers. And Alan Taylor grinned happily as he led the townsfolk in a merry jig, for finally he had been accepted.

    Well, there wasn’t much to say after all that. It was a time for feasts and rejoicing. Friday played the piano that stood in the town square and Old Granny fell over from too much sherry and everyone saw the weird veins in her old legs, andJonathan Ripples found a red notebook a-lying on the ground. He turned to the front page and read:

That fatty Ripples thinks he’s so clever but I’ll have the last laugh!
    â€˜Hmm,’ he frowned, chewing on a roast ox leg, ‘I recognise this handwriting.’
    He found Martin Launderette cowering behind a lamp post and took him to one side.
    â€˜Martin,’ he said, holding up the notebook, ‘this isn’t very nice.’
    â€˜I know,’ said Martin Launderette, with a sigh. ‘I’m ashamed of myself.’
    â€˜I’m afraid I’m going to have to sit on you now to