AFTER LEAVING MARLON, the three buzzards neared the eastern edge of Persly’s Woods. They skimmed the towering treetops, shouting their master’s warnings. “Inhabitants of the land, beware! Creatures found helping the human boy and his three friends will be killed! You are all under the rule of Farangis, Lord over the beasts and the mightiest, most powerf–”

Except for the whoosh of wings, all was silent. No animals emerged from their homes. One of the buzzards looked back to see why the other had stopped talking. He was gone. “Hey, where’s Cain?!” They looked down. “Cain?!” There was no response. A few of Cain’s black tail feathers slowly floated down.

“Let’s get out of here!”

Panicked, the two turned back toward the old barn as one of the trees below slightly bowed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

That Crunchy, Gooey Feeling

THE FOUR TRAVELERS followed their new guide, Roscoe and Clementine at the rear.

“Paco,” Clementine shouted to the front of the brigade. “I can’t help thinking that once we’ve finished this job I’ll be famous. I could be carried everywhere I go!”

“It’s the walking thing, isn’t it?” Roscoe feigned sympathy. “Like I always said, if pigs were meant to walk and think, they would’ve been born with brains.”

Clementine snorted and charged full steam at Roscoe, who moved out of the way and called “Ole!”

The pig ran past, then fell to the ground, heaving and panting. He lay on his back, eyes bulging. “Hrrmmmpphh! Hrrrrmmphh!”

Roscoe’s smile faded as he looked at his friend. “Pig! Why are you doing that?”

“Hrrmmmpphh! Hrrrmmphh!”

The three others ran back to Clementine, who shook convulsively, his head jerking back and forth. “Hrrrmmpph! Hrrmmmppph!

“Clementine!” Roscoe cried helplessly.

“What’s wrong, Clementine? How can we help?!” Paco asked frantically.

“Is he having a heart attack?” Benjamin leaned over the heaving pig.

Roscoe lay his head on Clementine’s fat chest to listen and felt a sharp, stinging pain in his hind end. “Yowwww!” He whirled around, only to see it in Clementine’s teeth.

The pig released his friend’s hindquarters and jumped up. “Gotcha!” He took off laughing through the grass. The surprise on the others’ faces turned to laughter.

“Ha, ha, ha! I’ve seen a lot in my day, but that tops it all,” Paco chuckled.

“Pure genius, pig! Well done.” Malcolm applauded.

The proud pig stood on an old log and bowed his head. “I thank you. I thank you very much.”

Roscoe stood with a frozen smile. “That’s right, fellas. Yuk it up. But remember who saved you from those crazy goats back in the pasture.”

Malcolm looked amazed. “Are you talking about Zebulon and his clan?”

“As a matter of fact, I am.” The goat tried to look macho.