“We’ll kill Farangis and his army with King Benjamin leading us. Is that the gist?”

Paco was amused. “Yes. Yes, that’s basically it. Will anyone else join us?” Blank faces stared at him.

“Do you know where Farangis’s hideout is, Paco?” someone asked.

“No, I don’t,” he admitted, and the crowd murmured and muttered.

“Hey!” Roscoe said in excitement. “I’ll bet my dad still remembers!”

“That blind old goat?” Clementine asked, unconvinced.

“Well, he never liked anyone asking him, but once he told me about an encounter he had with the great snake.”

“He did? When?”

“A lo-o-o-o-ng time ago.” Roscoe said in his best scary voice. “Long before I was born, my father was wandering through the wilderness and accidentally stumbled across his hideout.” Every eye was locked on Roscoe. A slight mischievous grin came over his face. “The old goat was never the same. You see, Farangis is the one who blinded my father’s left eye…” The silent audience leaned in. “…when he bit it! Bwoo-hahaa!” The animals jumped and shrieked.

“But that was when Farangis wasn’t very big. I’m guessing he’s enormous now!” Frightened paws, claws, and hooves shook against the floor of the cave.

Paco looked sternly at Roscoe. “Well, then. Who else will join us?”

Only a few clucks were heard in the otherwise quiet hall.

“Chickens…hmmph!” Clementine raised his snout at the fearful animals.

“So be it,” said Paco. “We four set out tomorrow to find and kill Farangis.”

Roscoe leaned over and spoke in Paco’s ear. “My dad’s usually awake in the afternoon. That would probably be a good time to pay a visit.”

“We’ll go see him then, Roscoe.” The rat-terrier looked up at the hole in the top of the cave. “Now all we need is the boy to return.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Pleading with the King

THE BIGGSES HAD A GOOD LUNCH at the Chinese buffet restaurant in town. Benjamin tried to join in the conversation but his mind kept wandering to the cave.

“Well, Ben?” his dad asked. “What do you think?”

Benjamin hopped up in his chair. “Oh! Now…what’s going on?”

His mom chuckled. “Son, haven’t you been listening? I’d think you’d be a little interested in getting another dog.”

“A dog? Why?” His parent’s looked surprised. “I mean, so soon? Pugsly just died and, well, I’m still…I can wait.”

“We’ll talk about it more next Friday when I get back home,” his dad said.

“I just hope that nasty little rat-terrier doesn’t come back around!” His mom had a disgusted look on her face.