“So don’t blow it! Understand?” They hopped across the grass toward the dying fire.

“That’s my corn. Mrrrrhhmmm.” Clementine mumbled, his face in the dirt.

Bardo put his wings over his beak to stifle a laugh. Clack hopped behind the boy’s head, resting on the backpack.

He sighed in frustration, then stepped on something hard. “Ouch!” He bent over and picked up the collar and shiny sparkling tag in his beak.

Bardo was watching Paco’s hind leg involuntarily lift to scratch his belly but never make it. When he looked up he saw the collar and glittering tag in Clack’s mouth. “Wow! Oops! I mean caw!”

“I’m not a sow. Muhmuhmuh.” Clementine rolled back over.

Clack flew over Bardo’s head, trying to hit him with his legs. Bardo followed and the two crows disappeared over the treetops.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Marlon’s Tree-Limb Removal Service

PACO WAS FIRST TO AWAKEN. The sun was almost ready to start its ascent in the east as the stars extinguished. The insects were awake, singing in the cool air.

Clementine yawned and snorted. “Oh my! Haven’t slept this good in a long time!” He stretched and hung his big behind over the rocks near the still-glowing coals in the fire pit. “Mmm, Paco, how did you sleep?”

“Not bad,” the groggy dog said. “Must’ve been dreaming. Heard a lot of talking.”

“Oh, sorry. That was probably–oh!” A wild spark from the coals popped up and hit his bottom. He jumped. Roscoe’s legs stuck straight up in the air as he stretched and groaned. The pig put his face over the goat’s and snorted. “Good morning, sleepyhead!”

Roscoe’s face contorted. “Oh, geez! Do you have to open your mouth with breath like that? You could’ve just grabbed a skunk and squeezed it in my face!”

Paco laughed. “We’d better have something to eat. I’ll wake the king.” He hopped onto the boy’s legs. “Sire, it’s time for breakfast.” Benjamin opened his eyes and yawned. “Oh good, you’re up! Would you mind getting some food out of your bag?”

All Benjamin heard was “Ruff, ruff, rrrrruff!” He laughed. “Okay, I’m awake. I’ve never heard you bark so much before, Paco. It sounds funny.”

Paco looked confused. “I’m not barking, Sire. I was asking you about breakfast.” But again Benjamin heard “Ruff! Ruff, rrrrrrrruff! Ruff!”

“Why are you doing that, Paco?” Benjamin asked, a little irritated.

“Uh-oh,” Clementine said. “Something’s not right here.”

“Well, of course it’s not right, pig! When has a dog ever been known to bark?” the goat asked sarcastically. Benjamin heard “Oink, weeee oink!” and “Baaaah buh baaaah!”