The front logs of the stable goes squeegeed, and from the rear comes the rattle of falling logs and a cloud of dust. We limps to the corner. Out of the cloud of dust comes Alcibiades and on his back is Bosco. The elephant skids to a stop, whirls and points straight into the desert.
“Bosco!” yelps Magpie. “Good-luck! Look out for snakes!”
Magpie stares at me and then at the ruined stable.
“I—I wonder if Bosco really did eat them snakes?” he asks foolish-like.
“He—he did,” states a voice, and out from the squeegeed doorway pokes the hairy head of Bosco. “He sure did, gents. I am the only original snakeeating——”
He stops and rubs his hand over his eyes. He looks all around and then whispers—
“Which way is the city of Piperock?”
Magpie points toward the town.
“Sure?”
“Sure. Why?”