The Wabbit responded to Lapinette's invitation to meet
him in a secret location near the railway station. "We’ve had alarming news," said
Lapinette. "Alarming," repeated the Wabbit, striking the fuselage of an old plane. "Yes it is!" sighed Lapinette." "I see," murmured the Wabbit, "so why did you invite me to
this draughty hangar?" Lapinette hopped
slightly. "An asteroid is on a collision course with earth and it's heading straight
for Turin." "Turin," mused the Wabbit and he silently continued to investigate the
plane. "You have to stop it," yelled Lapinette.
The Wabbit fidgeted. "I don’t do asteroids," he said. "You do now," said Lapinette, "because
no one else will." A silence fell. "This asteroid," said the Wabbit suddenly. "What’s its name?" "Fred!" snapped Lapinette. The Wabbit looked up. "That’s different, I changed my mind," he said. "How will I get to it?" Lapinette
drew herself up to her full height. "This," she stated firmly, "is your plane." The
Wabbit looked all round. He tapped the fuselage and it made a hollow, wooden sound. "I can’t go into space in this," he announced. "It’s all we could find at short notice," said Lapinette. The Wabbit kicked a tyre and pointed at the
plane. "I can’t remember its name," he said. "Susan!" yelled Lapinette. The Wabbit brightened. "Oh
all right," he decided. "But is Susan pressurised?" "I don’t know anything about her feelings," growled Lapinette.