They began to run to escape the spaceship looming above, but it was hopeless. From above there came the sound of hundreds of clicks. Holes had opened in spaceship’s underside, and clouds of black powder sprayed out. Carrie couldn’t make out what the black stuff was. She sped over the hillside with Notos, but they were in open with nowhere to run to escape the squashpumps’ weapon. As the powder hit they hunkered down, and the dandrobian covered her with his body to protect her.
But though black was all around them, it seemed to have little effect. Carrie felt no pain and she could breathe normally. Was the black material only a shower of dust? She covered her mouth and nose. “Is this stuff poisonous? What are the squashpumps doing?”
“I don’t know, but I’m sure it can’t be good. Quick, let
