Benjamin felt sad. “Malcolm?” The raccoon awkwardly went to the boy’s feet and fell on them helplessly. Clementine and Roscoe looked at each other in confusion.

“I’m sorry!” Malcolm shouted. “I’m so sorry, King Benjamin!” The boy laid his hand on the raccoon’s furry head. “Why are you sorry?”

“I’m sorry about your dog!” His eyes stared into Benjamin’s smiling ones. “You are the nicest creature I’ve ever met. You saved my life even when I would betray you…”

“What are you talking about?” Roscoe asked.

Malcolm sighed. “My boss said some buzzards came by looking for four travelers, one a human boy. They said that any creatures caught helping you would be killed.”

“Killed!?” Clementine was shocked.

“The boss knew who was behind it and told me to lead you to Farangis’s hideout and turn you in.” The others gasped. “He figured he’d be rewarded for being loyal to the snake.” Malcolm’s hands patted Benjamin’s shoes and he sniffed. “Then you risked your life to save me. Your dog Pugsly was so lucky to have you for a friend, My King.”

Paco fought the pity coming over him. “Ahem! Malcolm–”

“I’m not going back, Paco. You need my help!”

“Does this mean if we run into any squirrels in debt to your boss you won’t chase after them?” Clementine joked.

Malcolm sighed. “I’m truly sorry I put you all through that.”

Paco sat thinking about the situation Malcolm presented. He looked at the boy.

“It’s your call, Paco,” Benjamin said, his eyebrows raised. Malcolm’s guilty conscience wouldn’t let him look Paco in the eye.

The dog breathed deeply through his nostrils. “Lead the way, Malcolm.” The two smiled at each other. Renewed energy flowed through the raccoon.

“Roscoe,” Paco said, “which way did your father–”

“Stinky,” Clementine smirked.

“Which way did he say Farangis’s hideout was once he reached this road?”

“I think he said he turned right.”

“Then right it is.”

Malcolm led them down the road, staying close to the trees on the left to conceal them from flying buzzards. He walked a short distance in front of them, then stopped and waved his hand for the others to join him behind the trunk of a large hedge tree. Benjamin knelt as they gathered and stared at the sky. Their eyes followed the direction of Malcolm’s pointed finger. A black buzzard screeched loudly as it flew over the trees far in the distance. They watched it slow down and gracefully land in a grassy meadow…next to an old, ivy-covered barn.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The Calm Before the Storm

THE HISSING LINGERED in the darkness as the snakes waited for the sun to set behind the western trees. The thought of killing made Farangis’s snakes anxious. “Hissssssss, patienccce my friendsss,” their master said quietly.