“The quickest way out of here is to slide down the rope,” Velma decides.
Fred and Velma hop out of the basket and grip the mooring rope. It’s smooth, and they climb down down the line easily. They are near the ground when Velma suddenly stops. Fred bumps into her and almost knocks both of them off the rope.
“Uh-oh. It looks like we have a welcoming committee,” Velma says. Below her one of the robot clowns is waiting. Its eyes glow a fearsome red.
“Quick! Get back to the balloon,” Fred says.
The robot sees them climbing up the rope. It grabs the mooring line and tries to shake Fred and Velma off. They barely make it back into the basket.
“Well, I guess we have to use the grappling hook after all,” Velma says with a shrug.
Fred hacks at the tent canvas with the sharp points of the hook.
“Hurry, Fred! The clown is climbing the rope!” Velma hollers.
Fred slices as fast as he can. Velma pulls at the hole in the tent to help widen the opening. But as she’s pulling, she accidentally hits the balloon’s burner button.
FWHOOOOOOSH! The flame leaps high into the balloon. The balloon starts to rise.
RIIIIIP! The weakened tent canvas splits wide open, and the hot air balloon slips through the gap. The big top collapses behind them.
“Uh-oh, we’ve got a passenger,” Velma says. She points at the robot clown, still clinging halfway up the mooring line.
“We’ve also got backup,” Fred announces as he sees the rest of Mystery Inc. on the ground below. “Hi, guys! We could use some help!”
Scooby-Doo chomps onto the end of the mooring line with his teeth. Shaggy and Daphne grab the rope and dig in their heels. The balloon slows, but the drag from the rope causes it to turn toward the whirling Ferris wheel.