Chapter 1 The Ancient Canister It’s the third morning in a row I’ve woken up at 7 35 a m and I’m not happy Most people think that’s a reasonable time to wake up but for me and my beagle-bot Oscar it’s really quite early That’s because we’re always up so late going through boxes in the Bluggsville City Museum storeroom searching for ancient treasure I’m sitting up trying to shake some sense into my brain when I realize Oscar isn’t lying on the floor beside me I poke my head out of the old 1
packing case we sleep in and look around the storeroom for any sign of him Oscar are you out there somewhere I don’t get a reply This is very unusual for Oscar or at least it was until a few nights ago The last 2
two nights he’s suddenly started sleepwalking I can only guess that’s what’s happened this morning I crawl out of the case and hop to my feet looking around with sleepy eyes All I can see is the huge storeroom we live in full of junk piles and stacks of boxes So far there’s no sign of Oscar I start walking around to the back of the case and suddenly I hear a loud thump As I move around a little further I see Oscar with his eyes closed and his nose pressed against the back of the case All four of his paws are trying to walk but he isn’t going anywhere I tap him on his back just above his main control pad 3
Oscar I groan sleepwalking again One day you’ll walk yourself into some big trouble I might have to start switching you off at night Oscar suddenly rocks back onto his bottom and shakes his head dazed I hear a voice behind us What on earth is going on here I turn around and see my best friend Jessie watching us with a quizzical look on her face Jessie is the supervisor of the storeroom We’re very lucky that she lets Oscar and me live in here Otherwise 4
