Thirty-Eight:

"Hello, Spot the talking dog," said Princess Ariadne. "You've arrived in time to witness my rescue."

"Oui, Mademoiselle Princess, we have arrived to rescue you," said Spot. "Now is time to take you to the Cyclops."

"—ha, ha," said Ariadne. "This is no time for jokes, silly dog. My hero will be here any second."

"Your hero?" said Spot. Ariadne's room had another balcony.

"Feh, it is only the fake prince," said Spot. "At whom we laugh. From his pretending in the big top. And I suppose the fox he brings is the helper animal. To assist his rescue of Mademoiselle Princess. That is nothing. I have the helper animal also. He is Monsieur le Brian."

"—no arguing who the helper animal is," said Brian.

"Ok," said Spot as creatures filled the room. "So the Cyclops may have to wait a little after all."

"Do you all know each other?" said Brian.

"I'm Jack," said the climber. "I played the role of the prince in our circus act. After Spot disappeared, the rest of the circus fled from Tuffy's wrath. I was the only one who saw Ariadne led away by a Minotaur. I cried in despair of ever finding her again, and fox took pity on me. To gain the help of the birds and the mice, fox promised to never eat them again. After they learned of the island Ariadne was held, we stowed away on one of the ships traveling here, and now here we are."

"Yes, that sounds terribly fascinating," said Spot. "Speaking of the cries of despair, have you by chance heard the longing serenade in the night?"

"Do you mean that terrible hollering?" said Ariadne. "Sounds like a wildebeest under torture."

"Ah, yes, very terrible those wretched sounds," said Spot. "That is what I mean to say."

"Now that you mention it," said Ariadne, "the morning is almost here and the night has been almost entirely peaceful." Jack joined Ariadne at the window to welcome the dawn.

"...unnnhhhhhh..."

"Well, there it is now," said Ariadne.

"...uh oh," said Brian.

"And the birds and the mice have brought us more good news," said Ariadne. "They tell us the King of the World has quit. His crown is free. If Jack can win it, we can be a real prince and princess."

"Ah, yes," said Spot. "About the crown—" The peel of a banana sailed through the window.

"...unnnhhhhhh..."

"Well that's odd," said Ariadne. "I haven't had garbage fly in here like that before."

"—ow," said Brian. The empty can that struck him on the head was for tuna.

"...unnnhhhhhh..."

"I think we should go," said Brian. "Before that Cyclops finds heavy things to throw at us."

"Oh, dear," said Ariadne. "We're at least seven stories high. If any of us should slip and fall on the way down..."

"Mademoiselle Princess, as I was saying," said Spot, "I am also here as the — as the helper animal. The crown I bring is for the new King of the World."

"Mademoiselle Princess. Jack. Into the bag." The little dog sent them from the tower.

"Alas, Monsieur le Brian, I have lured the rain of destruction onto Mademoiselle Princess," said Spot. "I will fight for her. Jump the fire for her. Chase off the cow head for her. Bake the pie for her. All the dying I do, I die them for her." Brian stood ready to leave with Spot.

"Very well then," said Spot. "Certain death shall watch us walk again away. We shall leave of ourselves no trace. Against all the odds, no?"