Zach should have kept his mouth closed. Instead, when he turned, something chewy fell from the rag to land on his tongue.

'Two,' interrupted Loftus with a clap of his hands. 'One!'

The lad tried to ignore the mysterious object's salty aftertaste and began to jog. Alas, he'd been facing the wrong way, and there were no tyres where he was going.

Before he could correct his course, though, he felt something ice-cold press against his chest and he tripped.

'Are you alright?'

Zach looked up, already removing the rag and blinking rapidly as if he'd been kept in a dark room for ages rather than having been blindfolded for a minute.

And as his senses returned, he spotted a lumpy puddle of blue ice cream on the ground. Then he examined his damp clothes.

The trickling trail led up the lad's leg to his chest, but before he could complain, he noticed someone staring straight at him, aghast.

'I'm so sorry.'

Zach frowned. 'I'm the one that bumped into you, and you're apologising?'

The lady brushed back stray strands of chestnut hair with her fingers and then focussed on the lad. 'How about you buy me another Bubblegum Cone and we'll call it even.'

'A what?'

'Ice cream.' The lady insisted pointing to a glorified camping freezer that had a handwritten sign above it.

The lad nodded and led the way, not so much as glancing back at the crowd still queuing to join the 'Bunny Hop'. Not that it mattered, the visitors had forgotten his earlier spectacle, even his parents would allow him to leave and reclaim his dignity it seemed.

'So, you been here before?'

Having only just pulled a handful of peanuts from her pocket, the lady looked at Zach with a pained expression.

Then she shrugged and wolfed them down whilst clicking her teeth like an annoyed hamster.

'Erm, are you alright?'

The lady appeared confused. 'Why wouldn't I be?'

'I thought you were choking.'

'Cheeky bugger.'

'No, I meant-'

The lady held up her palm to show she was joking. Then her smile vanished. 'What can you tell me about Hilton Flurbury?'

Zach was taken aback. 'Probably as much as you. Why?'

'Has he told you about the money his family owes in unpaid taxes? Or perhaps the loaned artefacts they've yet to pay for?'

'How do you know about their taxes?'

'I know a guy.'

It seemed Zach would only get vague answers, but he couldn't let that stop him. 'And the artefacts, how many have they yet to pay for?'

The lady laughed. 'Do you mean this year? Or how much the family has borrowed over the last five? My goal here is simple, Mr-'

'Zach.'

'Zach,' the lady's smile almost seemed genuine, perhaps it was, not that he could tell at this point. 'I'm here to take back our property.'

'Who's we? You never said?'

'I didn't, did I? Ever heard of Greypoint Museum?'

'I've seen their logo on several exhibition displays here.'

'Well, at least I know the snot hasn't tried to flog our collection yet. With the amount of money the family owes, it'll only be a matter of time.'

'I see. You're a debt collector?'

'Hardly,' she held out her hand. 'Maisie Lollings, Curator. So, are you going to help me or not?'

The lad was still brimming with questions. 'Why did you keep loaning artefacts to Flurbury's Museum knowing that Hilton likely wouldn't pay?'

Maisie bit her lip. 'I can see you won't be swayed.'

Zach shrugged. 'It's just a little above my pay grade is all.'

She puffed out her cheeks. 'Okay, the Director of Greypoint Museum, my employer is Hilton's Uncle. I guess family affords you certain privileges. Until it doesn't. Now, will you help me?'

'I will, but we've got a big event on, and my boss will see us for sure if we stroll through the main entrance.'

Maisie shook her head. 'There's no other way inside?'

Zach was about to respond when someone grabbed him from behind.

'Bunny Hop!'

The lad glanced at Amy, his face as white as a sheet. 'You scared the crap out of me.'

'It's not hard,' her attention turned to the newcomer. 'Friend of yours?'

'She's-'

'His girlfriend,' Maisie announced, locking her fingers into Zach's. 'He said he'd show me a good time, but I don't think the Bunny Hop will do it.'

The lad blushed. And Amy looked ready to tease him for it until thunderous applause sounded from nearby.

'What a strike!'

The uproar served as a distraction as Amy peered over her shoulder. 'I guess it's time kids! How would you two like to throw inflatable balls at our volunteers?'

'Why?'

Amy waved. 'Ten Pin bowling, only people are the pins.'

Maisie's eyes shot open. 'The Health and safety team must love you.'

'I'm sure they would if we had one.'

'You can't be serious?'

Amy pointed at her expressionless face and then laughed. 'Look, I don't care, but if you're interested, just follow all the screams and whimpering to the enclosure next to this one.'

Zach wanted to cover Maisie's ears, but the damage was done. Instead, he finally reached to open the tiny freezer. The lid wouldn't budge, so he found a spoon next to it and chiseled away. Inside sat no more Bubblegum Cones, only clumpy, brown ice cream in an old margarine tub.

The Curator stepped away. 'No thanks.'

'Yeah, it might be a bit risky.'

Masie chuckled. 'Driving a bicycle is risky, but eating that? That's suicide.'

'Let's just go check out the bowling.'

The Curator didn't need convincing. And sure enough, after only a few steps, they could hear Clifford wailing like a Walrus and Peggy telling someone to 'stop it' or she'd get the Manager involved.

Then they saw them. The volunteers were clad in white pin-padded armour with sparkling goggles to match. And the costumes were so top-heavy that they struggled to remain upright.

Everywhere Zach looked he saw children throwing massive inflatable balls, and each one was easy to hit its mark.

'You said we'd get a free cafe voucher!' Yelled Clifford mid-roll.

Amy wagged her finger. 'I said I'd talk to my sister, and I did. It's not my fault she doesn't listen.'

'Just wait until-' Peggy wobbled backwards before pinging forward to land face first in the grass.

'Always with the threats. Just do me a favour, for once in your life, stop talking and let these visitors have fun.'

Peggy snarled and chomped at the grass as she tried to climb to her feet, but it was in vain as a perfectly kicked ball took her legs out from under her.

'This isn't bowling!' Yelled Clifford, getting knocked over again himself.

It was Zach's turn, so he grabbed a rolling ball with both hands and turned away. 'I bet I can hit you all without looking.'

The lad missed. The wind caught the ball's side and before he could stop it, it landed in with the llamas.

'BANG!'

Like a gun going off, the popping ball sent the once idle herd charging in every direction. It had only taken a few seconds for the creatures to scatter, and with a stick in hand, Loftus was already on the hunt for the culprit.

Yes, the man was beet red, foaming at the mouth, and interrogating every person, plant, or thing he could find. Then he spotted Zach.