Plastic Palace (9781743583555) by Danny Parker

‘Quick!’ hissed Buddy. ‘Hide!’
    â€˜Who’s coming?’ asked Lola as she rolled under the huge bed. ‘And where are we?’
    â€˜We’re in the Plastic Palace, of course!’ whispered Buddy.
    He sounded more scared than ever. ‘In Nevercalm !’
    Oh, thought Lola with a shiver.
    She knew that Nevercalm was the home of the evil Plastic Prince. She also knew that he had formed an army of Almost Toys.
    Lola tucked herself out of sight. Buddy ducked behind the throne.
    The marching was much louder now.
    Lola was quiet, but her mind was racing. She knew there was a battle going on in the Kingdom. A battle between the Great High Bear and the Plastic Prince.
    If Buddy was right, and they really were in Nevercalm, then the toy box had taken them to a very dangerous place.
    All the toys that Lola knew agreed on one thing: Nevercalm was the scariest land in the Kingdom.
    But then Lola had a comforting thought.
    â€˜They can’t be looking for us,’ she whispered. ‘No-one knows we’re here yet.’
    But before Buddy could answer, the marching stopped.
    Right outside the door.
    Lola gulped.
    The door handle turned. The door slowly squeaked open.
    Lola held her breath. She didn’t want to get caught. They’d only just arrived! Where was the fun in that?
    Lola peeped out from under the bed. She saw a large plastic soldier peering into the room.

    The toy didn’t look very well made. Lola reckoned she could have done a better job herself.
    It wasn’t very well painted, either.
    Lola was still holding her breath. But any moment now, she would have to gasp for air …
    Luckily, the toy soldier stepped back and closed the door behind him. As soon as the door clicked shut, the marching began again.
    â€˜Phew!’ said Buddy, standing up on his wobbly long legs. ‘By my buttons, that was close !’
    Lola rolled out and stood up too.
    â€˜That was an Almost Toy, wasn’t it?’ she asked softly, but she already knew the answer.
    Buddy nodded so hard his floppy hat bobbed up and down.
    â€˜I thought so,’ whispered Lola. ‘It’s just like the ones I’ve seen in other parts of the Kingdom.’
    Lola listened as the sound of marching feet faded away. ‘They’ve gone now,’ she said. ‘Let’s go and explore!’
    â€˜But it’s not safe!’ cried Buddy.
    â€˜Oh, Buddy!’ said Lola. ‘It’s never totally safe in the Kingdom. But it’s always fun. Come on!’
    And she flung open the door and bolted down the corridor.

The corridor was long and straight. And very yellow .
    Lola raced down it. Buddy chased after her as quickly as his big clompy clown shoes could carry him.
    He had just caught up with her when Lola noticed that one of Buddy’s buttons was flashing.
    She pointed. ‘Look, Buddy!’
    â€˜Well, twist my toggle!’ he said. ‘Someone’s trying to contact me.’
    Lola peered at the button. It looked ordinary, but a red light was flashing in the middle.
    â€˜How clever!’ said Lola. She didn’t know Buddy’s buttons could do that.

    â€˜How does it work?’ she asked.
    â€˜It’s a signal,’ Buddy replied. ‘It will lead us to whoever is calling.’
    â€˜Come on, then,’ Lola said. ‘You lead the way.’
    As they hurried on, Buddy kept checking his button. ‘We’re getting closer. I can feel it in my stuffing.’
    Lola raised her eyebrows. She knew buttons were really important in the Kingdom. But still, she was surprised.
    â€˜Useful things, buttons,’ Buddy said importantly. ‘What did you think they were for?’
    Lola nearly said, For keeping up your pants? But then she thought better of it.
    â€˜We’d better be quiet,’ said Buddy, as they got further down the corridor. ‘We mustn’t be seen by the Almost Toys.’
    Lola didn’t know much about