Benjamin smiled deviously. “No, I plan to use this.” He picked up a red ball half the size of his hand with a thick green fuse sticking out of the top. “It’s called a cherry–”

“Oh, a cherry!” Clementine squealed, hopping up to nab it with his mouth.

“No!” Benjamin jerked it back. “It’s a cherry bomb. It explodes!” The pig’s eyes widened. “My cousin made it for me. They’re powerful to start with, but he crammed more gun powder in it to make a much bigger explosion.” They stared in confusion. “It can blow up a huge snake.”

“Oh! Oh, I see!” Paco said with delight.

Benjamin pulled the yellow lighter from his pocket. “And I set it off with this.” He flicked the button and a flame shot up.

“Baaah!”

“Oink, oink!”

“Ruff!”

“Baah!” All three jumped up and started to run.

Benjamin released the button. “It’s okay. I didn’t mean to scare you. This flame won’t hurt you.” They approached nervously. “It’s a lighter. It makes fire.”

“Fire? In that little thing?” Clementine asked.

“It’s hard to explain. But it comes in pretty handy.”

Benjamin shoved it back in his pocket. “Especially if we need to keep warm tonight. We can build a fire and sleep beside it.”

Benjamin grabbed a granola bar. “Well, should we get going?” He took a bite.

“Good idea, Sire.” Paco took a relaxing stretch while Benjamin repacked his bag. They set out, the goat and pig trailing them.

“Do you really think Paco would eat us?” Clementine whispered to Roscoe. The goat sneered, but he did wonder.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The Sparkler and the Snake

THEY PASSED THE TIME TALKING. Benjamin and Paco shared stories about Pugsly. Roscoe and Clementine argued over who was smarter.

Through the pads of his paws Paco felt something hard–a flat, half-broken square of gray concrete. He circled it. “Hey, look at this, Your Majesty!”

Benjamin stepped on it and looked around. “Whoa! There’s a lot of junk around here!” Torn roof shingles, old tires, cans, rusted metal, and other trash was scattered across the area. Traces of an old driveway wound into the pasture.

“I’ll bet this is where ol’ Widow Moore used to live!” Paco exclaimed.

“Yeah,” Clementine said. “I’ve heard about this place from some of my friends.”

The goat jerked back and forth, half coughing and half laughing. “Harrummph! I’m sorry…ahem…but did you say you had friends?”

“I never knew this was out here!” Benjamin said in amazement.

“Yes, Sire. I believe she…sniff, sniff….What’s that smell?” Paco faced into the southern breeze. “Sniff. Do you smell that?”

“Smells like something dead!” Clementine put his long snout in the air.

The goat looked serious. “Do you remember where that field mouse said he was the night King Pugsly was assassinated?”

Paco and Clementine exchanged a concerned look.

“Where, Roscoe?” Benjamin asked.