The Rightful Heir by Jefferson Knapp Page A

with curiosity. “He’s a fainting goat,” the pig added, “and sometimes it helps!”
    â€œOh,” Mac said courteously, though he didn’t understand.
    â€œSo, I guess we just have to wait.” The pig exhaled loudly and looked around the quiet room.
    For the rest of that morning they told the pug with the black foot stories about his dad, the kingdom, and a little rat terrier named Paco the Brave.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
A Strange Stranger in the Stall

    R OSCOE WALKED ALONG THE ROAD as the late-September sun rose higher in the sky. With no breeze to stir the humid air, it started to get warm. The last time he’d visited the old goat was shortly after his amazing journey to kill Farangis. Stinky had listened in awe to every detail, feeling he had played a part in saving the kingdom. After all, he’d directed them to the hideout of the gigantic python. Roscoe smiled at how proud his dad was of him. He thought of all his friends, especially Paco—the little rat terrier who’d made sure the kingdom would carry on in peace.
    But what is this “it”? What could be a bigger threat than Farangis?
    Roscoe trotted along in the warmth of the sun and soon heard the mooing and clucking of animals from the barnyard.

    J ONAH AND M ALCOLM had grown tired of hopping through the pastures, and nearly walking blind because of the tall grass.
    â€œUgh, it doesn’t seem like the trees are getting any scarcer,” Jonah panted.
    â€œNo, and I’m getting thirsty.”
    â€œMe, too. I hope they have lots of water in this kingdom.”
    â€œIf not, then that can be your first demand as the king.” Malcolm smiled.
    â€œOh yeah! There’s gonna be a gigantic pool once I’m the king!” Jonah licked his lips at the thought.
    â€œLet’s pick up the pace. The sooner we get there the better.”
    Their little feetraced under a cloudless sky and a rising sun.

    R OSCOE STOOD ON THE FARM’S GRAVEL DRIVEWAY, squinting to find the old brown barn—and make sure the two old ladies weren’t around. It looked safe. The fainting goat cautiously walked in clover to deaden his steps along the fence. Daisy, the milk cow, spotted him and gasped. He nodded and she nodded back, looking concerned. None of the animals talked to him. In silence they watched him walk along the barn.
    Roscoe reached the back corner and peeked through some cracks where his dad’s stall was. It was dark inside and he couldn’t see anything. “Hey, Dad, I’m here.” Stinky didn’t come to the crack to meet him. “Dad, it’s Roscoe. Are you awake?” he whispered loudly.
    Roscoe found the hole under the wall he’d used over and over to get into the stall. Squatting, he slipped under theboards and came out the other side. There was the pile of hay his dad always sat on, but his dad was not there.
    Roscoe walked around the large pile. “Dad, are you here?” Then something cast a dark shadow on the hay. The startled little goat almost fainted as the hay rustled. “Dad?”
    â€œYou’ve come to see Stinky, have you not?” a strange voice asked.
    Roscoe squinted in confusion, “Who…who are you?”
    The head of a dirty white llama poked out from the shadow. “I am myself. Who else would I be?”
    Roscoe stooped to get a good look at the new resident, mesmerized by the long black eyelashes fluttering above the creature’s big blue eyes. The llama instantly leaned back and spit in Roscoe’s face. “Oh, geez! What was that for?!”
    â€œYou question the wrong thing.”
    â€œWhat?” Roscoe was agitated. “Look…where’s my dad?”

    â€œAhhh. Thecorrect question.” The llama smiled with its giant front teeth.
    â€œGreat. Now will you
correctly
answer it?”
    The llama got eye level with the goat. “Your father is not here,” he said matter of