“Marlon, sir,” Paco said. “The journey is far too dangerous for this little one.”

“Little?” Malcolm said, offended. “Little dog, you haven’t seen my fighting skills! Nor my speed!” He looked at Benjamin. “Human–”

“That’s King Benjamin, raccoon,” Roscoe butted in.

“When I say ‘go’, reach into your left pocket and pull out what’s in it before I do.” Benjamin nodded. Malcolm stared in his eyes. “Go!”

Benjamin thrust his hand in the front pocket of his shorts but felt nothing. “What in the world? Where’s my lighter?”

“D’you mean this lighter?” Malcolm held it up. The other raccoons laughed.

“Give me that!” Benjamin grabbed it back.

Paco sighed. “I see you’re very talented, little raccoon–”

“It’s Malcolm.”

“Malcolm. I apologize, but we’re not here to involve other animals in this. If you join us, you’ll be our guide and nothing else.” Malcolm nodded. “And there will be a time when we tell you to turn around and go home. You must promise that you will.”

“I will,” Malcolm said innocently.

“Alright.” Paco looked at his companions. “Does anyone disagree with our little Malcolm joining us for a while?”

“Nope,” said Benjamin. As long as he doesn’t steal anything else!

“We could definitely use this guy,” Clementine added in welcome.

“I want to see him do more tricks,” Roscoe said gleefully.

“It’s settled, then,” Paco said. “King Benjamin, are you ready?”

Marlon stepped in. “Can you give me a minute with my boy?”

“Please hurry,” Paco said as they stepped away. “Keep your eyes on him. I don’t trust him one bit!” The dog snapped.

“But he can help us find the way up the creek, Paco,” Benjamin said.

“Let’s just hope it’s the right way.”

Marlon put his arm around Malcolm. Isaac stood behind his brother. “My boy, I was paid a visit by some ugly buzzards while you two were gone.”

Malcolm’s eyes got bigger. “Buzzards? You mean spies for–”

“That’s right, my boy.”

“What were they doing here?” Isaac interrupted.

Marlon winked at them. “It seems that he is on the lookout for four travelers coming through our land. One of them is human.” They glanced at Benjamin.

“What did they say, boss?”

“That anyone caught helping them…will be killed.” The brothers gasped.

“Then why are you sending Malcolm? That dumb pig almost let it slip that they’re going to his barn!”

Marlon clasped his hands together. “Malcolm, you take them to his barn. When they’re not expecting it, turn ‘em in!”

“Turn them in?”

“Yes, my boy. Think about it. He’ll get those four handed to him personally from his new friends,” he pointed at himself and Malcolm, “and then we’ll get the reward!”

“Is that what the buzzards told you? You’d get a reward?” Isaac asked.