Sorry for the wait, I hope you enjoy chapter! :)
This really...
Really..
REALLY...
Long...
Chapter...
Maria screamed as she felt herself slip into the chasm below, falling faster, down into the blackness of a great abyss. She could see nothing but twisted shapes, black shadows of dark spiritual beings writhing like worms in damp earth. As she fell, she heard the voice again.
"Hurry! Don't look back! You gotta keep going down ya hear?!" Maria tried desperately to cling to any piece of crumbling rock, any stray stalagtites as she dropped endlessly downwards.
"Kid, ya gotta head straight down don't look back up don't look back, just keep going!"
She took a deep breath, and then plunged deeper...
Maria awoke with a start, her head swimming a little. She realised she was lying in her shelter, in her bed of soft hay, her black hair strewn across her face. She raised herself slowly, brushing off her dress, which was now more maroon than red. She went to check to see if it was still nighttime. Thankfully, it wasn't.
The morning sun had appeared and already animals were out wandering the streets, tending to their daily duties. Hopefully she listened carefully amongst the sounds of clanking glass bottles and wind chimes.
No sound of a rattle.
Sighing she stretched and sat absorbing the warm sunlight, when suddenly she heard the strangest sound. It was the sound of splashing, and laughing. Maria's thoughts instantly turned to the ocean, the sensation of being in clear crisp liquid. She hadn't bathed in days and she wanted badly to experience what it felt to be cold again.
From afar she heard Waffles cry out "CANNONBAALLL!" and ten the sound of a tidal wave and many groans of annoyance.
Slowly she crawled over to investigate, keeping her head low as to not startle anyone but managing just to peer over the roof of the old town house. Her eyes met a glorious sight.
It was an oasis, a with a large beach and huge pools of water. Desert palms stood proud as peacocks on the edge of a large mud hole and many animals were out enjoying it. They were all dressed in swimsuits, sunbathing or running in the sand. She saw Priscilla, running in a summer dress with her friends Benjamin, Mordecai and Cletus, stifling a giggle as she saw them dump a bucket of pill bugs onto a half buried sleeping Doc, who stirred in his sleep but did not much else . Waffles was in a stripy bathing suit, building sandcastles along the edge of the water. She saw Elgin retrieve cool drinks from a blue icebox, and Sgt Turley attempting to woo some ladies- with unsavoury results.
Maria peered over the tower of the town house a little more to crane and get a better look, when she was suddenly hit in the face with a stream of cold water. The sensation was cool and refreshing on her skin, soaking it's minerals into her cells. As she wiped it from her eye, she couldn't help but giggle-then she heard it.
A rattle.
Whirling round, she saw the curvy shape of a snake winding under the porch of the General Store, his black hat pulled right over his eyes.
Jake slithered into the dark rotting undercarriage, the sound of rotating metal piercing Maria's ears. Bravely she decided to have a word with the snake-surely he couldn't snap at someone who had been injured twice in two days-although, the last time she had tried to use her words, it had nearly cost her her life. Maria bent down and let one eye through the damp rotting wood-damp from the humidity of the lake she presumed-casting her eyes to the shadow of Jake, who's eyes were shut tightly, his hat shielding him from any stray rays of sunlight.
"Excuse me, Jake."
The snake's fiery eyes instantly shot open and his raised his head, the lead in his gun turning like a mill.
"What the hell you want?"
"I-Forgive me Jake I just came to converse with you."
Jake's black forked tongue flicked but he never shifted from his position, as though he wasn't in the mood for a conflict. "Go converse some'ere
else." he huffed, lowering back into his sleeping state, edging away from her. Maria was still determined to get some words or at least an explanation for his hostile behaviour.
"I know you don't like me very much Jake," she said slowly.
"Damn right!"
"But please, just let me talk a few minutes," she almost struggled to release the English phrasing from her lips. It was strange, but she was amazed at how quickly she had caught her English fish, a language she had never been taught at school, or by her parents. Now, her tongue was shedding itself, not unlike Jake's coils.
"Listen here human!" Jake growled his rattle leaving the ground, "I don't know what kinda game yer playin' but it ain't gonna work on me, ya hear?!" Revealing only one ember from underneath his hat, he lowered the bullet-mill again. "Now leave me alone!"
Desperate to try something else, Maria bent down further on her hands and knees searching for the shape of the sharp serpent. "It seems Rattlesnake Jake, that you are not made of the strongest stone after all."
The snake lifted his head dangerously. "What chu talkin' about?"
"Why are you hiding?"
"Who says I was hidin'?"
"Well, why aren't you over there enjoying the sunshine?" she nodded in the direction of the pool? Aren't you hiding from something?"
Jake's tongue continued to taste the air, and his eyes read fury, but for whatever reason he decided to answer her. "Hawks," he simply replied.
"Hawks?" Maria couldn't help but feel a rush of delight. He waa scared of something! The grim reaper was afraid of something! A wide grin spread across her face as she tried pressing further. "Aah, so you are afraid!"
Instantly, Jake's eyes flashed from the rim of black, "Who says I was afraid?!" he spat furiously, "It's daylight. Hawks come out in the daylight. If protectin' myself and shieldin' my coils is a crime darlin, then why don' you go run t' the sherrif?!"
Maria sighed, "Jake, I want you know I mean no harm. Isn't there anything I can do for you?"
"Yea, ya can start by leavin' me the hell alone!"
Maria sighed, knowing he was deadly serious. She didn't want to risk another strike, Jake had already proved himself capable on their first encounter. Instead she turned towards the tower, and was instantly greeted with a yell of "Heads Up!" and another splash in the eye.
As she wiped it away laughing. Why couldn't the outlaw put his falcon fears aside-everyone else was enjoying the weather. Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by a flying beach-ball which bounced like small rainbow frog off her head.
As she looked over, she saw Priscilla, Benjamin Mordecai and Cletus running over, dressed in their smart summer clothes.
"Hey Giant!" Benjamin called up at her, "Can we have our ball back please?!"
Maria looked at the beach-ball which sat in her hand like a plum.
"We're waitin!" the boy called impatiently.
Maria, being extremely careful as to not hurt them, threw the inflatable toy with little force, so it fell down to them. It was caught by Mordecai, who stumbled a little, causing Cletus' mouth to fall open in juvenile wonderment. Priscilla beamed and punched the air, her black braids swinging. "See. Told ya she'd do it!"
"That don't prove nothin'!"
"Proves enough to get me my five swigs!"
As she watched them run away, kicking the ball across the islands, it gave her the confidence to stand up and walk, a statue amongst the old buildings. Immediately many looked up, some of the men, Waffles, Elgin, Spoons and Buford looked happy to see her, cheering as her head appeared from the rooftops, but the women who were bathing on a separate island didn't do much to hide their disdain.
Maria strolled across the sand, before placing herself onto the water's bank, where she hitched up her dress to dip both legs into the blue puddle.
"Wha-What she doin'?" Sgt Turley said watching from the other island.
"She's a swimmin'!" Snuggles the porcupine observed,
"Either that or it's some kinda weird human bathin' ritual," remarked Buford.
"Maybe she thirsty?" suggested Waffles.
"You goons! Ain't it obvious she feelin' the heat like ev'rybody else?"
"Ohhhh," said Waffles, his sandcastle immediately disintegrating, "that makes more sense."
From the other island, the bathing women watched the girl, paddle her legs from a far, their lips pursed.
"Lettin' a human in here-where's the sherrif?!" complained one of the rats.
"Probably asleep in a chair in that office of his," agreed her friend.
From the sand, Melonee and Angelique stood staring disapprovingly as the child splashed slightly.
"Mm-hm. Let a human in here and she's just gonna drink up all our water." the toad pouted.
"Maybe if she lost a couple of inches and sshrunk down to 'er excusable height, she could swim like a fish," the fox agreed.
Maria was very aware of those watching her and could make a fairly accurate assessment of what they were whispering and nudging about.
"Give it back you guys!"
"Yer gonna have to catch it first, Boo-Hoo Cletus!"
"I'm serious!" yelled the racoon boy, "that's MA hat an my mama's gon' be mad at me if I get it wet!"
As he chased after his peers, Benjamin threw the headpiece to Mordecai who then tossed it to Priscilla, making Cletus falter.
"Hey! No fair! You know I can't tackle a girl!"
As Priscilla giggled and spun around, Cletus blushed at the sight of her pink nose and golden eyes-until the cactus mouse slung the beret over her shoulder where it landed with a plop in the lake.
"Oh Shoot! Now I'm gonna get in trouble cuza you guys!"
"Well next time, no stupid hats to the beach!" Benjamin teased him.
"Yeah," snorted Mordecai, "No more stupid hats!"
Priscilla watched the two boys pick up a pillbug and run in the opposite direction, but she didn't follow them. Instead she put a paw on Cletus' shoulder.
"I wuz just funnin'. We'll get yer hat back. Promise."
Cletus sniffed, before he noticed Maria, her giant calves half submerged.
"Woah."
"Oh hey! It's you!" called Priscilla looking up, "You do like water! I knew it! Benny owns me five more swigs!" She made a hike up to the girl's knee, dangling her legs over to copy her. "Hey, s'it alright if ya reach over there an grab ma friend's hat?"
Maria nodded, "Of course," she let Priscilla into her hand and lowered her on the bank and waded in, the water reaching her thighs. She still couldn't quite believe how a town in the middle of such a dry desert could have so much water to spare. She had to hitch up her dress to try and find the bottom, before reaching out to grab the boy's hat. Those on land had already sat up from their sunbeds and were watching her very intently.
She managed to grab it-but the victory was fleeting as she landed in the blue with a Splash!
Priscilla who had luckily used her own hat as a shield laughed delightedly as her companion was soaked.
"Here, this is yours Yes?" said Maria holding the sackcloth object to which Cletus nervously took out of her tubed shaped appendages.
"What's gon' on over there?" questioned Willie Furgus.
"I think she done gived that kid a peace offerin," guessed Buford.
"Whazzat?" said Waffles.
"Well, it's an offerin, of peace," Buford broke down.
"Ohhhh."
Beans marched briskly through the door of the Bank of Dirt, the old brass bell sounding.
"Mornin' Mr Merrimack." the lizard greeted.
Joseph sat up, leaning against the mahogany desk, "Good day Beans."
"How'r ya injuries?"
Joseph limped forward, his left side bandaged, arm in a sling, carrying wooden crutches. "Better than yesterday, but still I ain't feelin' the bees knees! I suppose you're looking to make a deposit?"
"I'm withdrawin' actually," she said, reaching into her dress pocket and taking out a black key.
"You know this is only my first day Miss Beans," he said taking it, "It's lucky for you I got some banking experience, otherwise I'd get the whole thing jumbled up!" He called to Angelique who strolled in through the door still in her summer shorts. "Oh excuse me! Angelique is it? ! Could you prepare some tea for me and Beans please?"
"Qui" the fox said snapped into her secretarial mode, giving nothing but a glance to Beans who scoffed and rolled her eyes in return.
He hopped forward to one of the tiny drawers in the bureau behind him, pulling out assorted black bottles.
"Mr Merrimack?"
"Mm?"
"Sorry-I just never thought I'd say that name again, not after your brother...well, you heard how it happened."
"Drowned in the desert-I know."
"He was like an uncle to me, always helpin' out on the ranch up intil my mama died o' natural causes. My daddy done left us alone when I was a girl."
Mr Merrimack began sorting the bottles out on the counter, "Well, I'd be more than happy to help assist ya on that ranch of yours Miss Beans, maybe help ya raise a few profits."
"Ya'd do that for me?" Beans beamed brightly, "you're just as kind as our last banker. Heaven rest his soul."
Suddenly Joseph's grin faded and he looked around making sure the other bankers weren't listening. "Listen Miss Beans, I-I found somethin' you should see. Now I don't know if this belonged to my dear brother however I found it here today while I was clearin' space-" he reached under the desk and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper which he then unfolded into an enormous sheet of parchment, inked with black, green, blue, red and yellow illustrations. Beans slowly stepped forwards peering at the sepia paper. "Mr Merrimack where did ya find this?"
"I was cleanin' up my brother's old office-wanted to keep the place nice 'n tidy for him ya know, and I managed to knock over a safe which fell and unlocked without any combination an' I found this here thing. Looks like a map of some kind."
"That don't make no sense," muttered Beans, "Mr Merrimack never kept anythin' he thought too precious or too private jus' lyin' around willy nilly. An' this looks over a hundred years old at least!"
"Well, here's the thing that was puzzling me," stated the squirrel, "I began dustin' an' rollin' the thing out and that's where I found this,"
he used a small magnifying glass kept for gemstones, and hovered it over a signature in the bottom left corner. "Does the name Sanchez mean anything to you Beans?"
"That was my Daddy's name!" Beans said eyes wide in amazement "M JR Sanchez! Mr Merrimack, you're brother must've been sure bout this being private! This belonged to my daddy, and after his death, he took care of me an my mama's troubles! If this has my daddy's initials on it I think we should look into it, maybe it's worth some water!"
Joseph scratched his head. "Well uh-I suppose-"
CRASH!
A sudden noise from outside caused the two of them to whip round startled. It was the sound of heavy machinery hitting splintering wood. Joseph fell from his safe position of leaning against the desk, his crutches landing with a clatter with him.
Beans wearing a look of shock, worry and anger bolted outside to see the damage. A wagon studded with aluminum silver and bolts had crashed into the side of the Bank of Dirt, it's roadrunner looking dazed and ruffled and it's owner no where to be found.
"Mr Merrimack! There's been an accident!" the lizard hollered.
"Wha What?" Joseph called meekly.
"A head-on Collision!"
The wagon suddenly burst into flames and the roadrunner panicked breaking from it's reigns and fleeing, leaving nothing but a few brown feathers.
"Ya better get out here quick!"
"Alright Excalibur, ready for your daily nutrients?"
Sheriff Rango stood on an island near the oasis with his deputy Wounded Bird who was watching the citizens in case of casualty, opening a sack full of feed with an excited roadrunner of his own pecking at the seams. "Woah-ho-ho! Patience my winged familiar!"
Noticing the lizard's struggle, Wounded Bird slashed his staff quickly across the feed where it burst apart.
"Thanks Deputy."
As Excalibur eagerly feasted on his seeds and corn, Rango stared at all those out kicking sticks, building castles, climbing the palms and doing breast strokes , and smiled. For an entire year there had been no trouble in Mud and no indication of it starting up. Things had been so peaceful.
Yet, he knew it couldn't last forever, not with Bad Bill and his cronies gaining more and more confidence every time they entered the town, there would need to be changes made to the law office.
"Psst!"
Rango dug some wax out of his ear.
"Psst! Hey, you there!"
He jumped to attention and turned to his deputy. "W.B? Uh, did you hear somethin' right this minute?"
"Nothing but the wind Sheriff."
His suspicions aroused, he used his webbed fingers as binoculars to scan the area, but noticed nothing out of the ordinary, there was Waffles, Elgin, Spoons, Sgt, Little Sister's posse, mysterious figure in a mask-
"Mysterious figure in a mask?!" he mounted Excalibur, "Come on Deputy let's go ask this new comer just what he's up to!"
With Wounded Bird following close behind, Rango searched the place beside the water where he had fight sighted this masked crusader.
"Where'd he go I saw him right here!" the sheriff protested.
"May be using camouflage," said Wounded Bird.
Suddenly another "Psst!" prompted Rango to draw his gun from it's holder, and a shuffle caused him to pull another. "Who'sere?"
There was no reply. "I mean it, if ya don't show yourself right now, I'll be forced to do somethin' I don't wish to do!"
His throat closed, but his breathing somehow sped up; he looked cowardly compared to his deputy who stood holding his staff very calmly. Suddenly quick as a flash, an orange paw reached out from behind a rock and pulled Rango behind it.
"Gaaah!" He tried fireing his gun but realised his bullets had been taken out. "What the-"
"I knew you would try to fire friend," said a British accented voice from under the mask. He pulled the white fox shaped prop away to reveal a real one underneath. "I mean no threat, I have been traveling for days, no food or water."
"Well-uh. Don't sneak up on people like that!"
The fox chuckled. "Listen, I am here in searh of a round fellow with a bushy tail, I need to address a very important issue with him. It is crucial that he gets this message. A kindly armadillo directed me here saying I would find hospitable residents and purified water."
Armadillo? Could it be? Rango hadn't spoken to his old friend Roadkill in a while-but how had this fox come to mert him?
"Alright. Well, this fellar, ya mean Joseph Merrimack?"
"You have heard of him?"
"Sure he just arrived here yesterday."
The fox gave a bright grin, "Oh Marvellous! Simply divine! I must speak with him immediately. Is there a mayor of I can be acquainted with?"
"Due to a-dispute-between him and a fellow reptilian our dear old tortoise John has been long dead."
"Sorry to hear friend, is there anyone else I could contact?"
Rango dusted himself off, "As a matter of fact there is!" he called to Wounded Bird who kept a respectful distance from them, "Deputy! Everything's fine! This poor fella's just in a bit of a predicament. He requires wholesome food, clean hydration and a visit to the mayor's office. The fox brushed himself down. He was wearing a long emerald green jacket with gold lining and coattails, and wore a golden wristwatch on his paw, as well as many trinkets around his neck. He had amber fur and hazel eyes, and looked far too groomed to belong in a place such as Dirt.
"Thank you kind Sirs," he bowed, his old Anglican accent shining through "my wagon crashed not far from here and I was hoping there was someone in the town here who might be handy in repairing it. It's carrying some valuable cargo."
"Sure thing Mr-Uh?"
The fox bowed again, "Baron Fiero Basil von Hempstead. I arrived here from the land across the far side of the equator."
"Well, you sure don't look like you're from around here," said Rango, his own accent fading, "this place is crawling with bandits, outlaws-why we have a rattlesnake living with us at the moment."
"A snake you say? Well, that will be interesting."
"What will?" chorused a group of male voices.
Unnoticed, the men from the beach had gotten dressed and wandered down to question the sheriff about the masked man near the shore.
"Folks, this here is Baron Ferrari Sit-Still on Hothead. He's a little lost an' I was gonna set him up with some supplies."
"Whazzat on his neck?" whispered Turley.
"Looks like a yellow rock!" said Buford.
"Gentlemen! I come here in search of an old mine-do you hear of it?"
"Why we sure have!" chimed in Waffles, "Mr Rango's lady friend Beans had a daddy who fell down that thing on the cactus juice once-MMMMPHH!" Elgin and Willy Furgus each put a paw and a feather over the horned toad's mouth.
"Ahh brilliant! Mr Rango is it? I shall need only a few assortments. Bottles of fresh aqua and some new wheels for my transport."
"Well, yer in luck, Willy Furgus here just happens to be one of the best mechanical engineers I ever known."
"I am?!"
"Yes-ser-ee, come with me Baron, I'll take ya to yer rodent friend an we'll get everything sorted for ya including a room for the night and a full continental breakfast."
"Thank you Sheriff, I'm sure our companionship together shall be rich and fruitful!"
Joseph sat sipping tea with Beans who merely stirred hers. "I just don't believe it-Why would my Daddy leave such an old shriveled thing in Mr Merrimack's care 'nless it was somethin' real important?"
"Well, perhaps it wasn't even supposed to be here," said Joseph, putting his cup on the saucer, "after all it's not surprising the things my brother used to misplace."
Suddenly the door opened and Beans spun round to see a figure in a white mask, with fox features drawn on it. He held it up, masquerading himself, tugging at his green coat sleeves. Beans folded her arms and stared down the gentleman.
"Hey Mister! I'll have ya know it's very rude to interrupt a man on his break!"
The masked stranger bowed his head, a bushed tail appearing. "My dear lady, I have not come to cause alarm, I merely ask for a Mr Joseph Merrimack, Banker and Retailer."
"T-That is me-me," piped a cowering Joseph from his chair.
The stranger removed his mask, revealing his fox ears and snout, his amber fur and hazel eyes. To Beans' surprise Joseph began laughing heartily. "Ohh Fiero! It's been an eternity! You're looking well! Still carrying around your masks I see?"
Fiero tugged at his cufflinks, "Whatever gave me away?"
"Well, there 's only one fox I know who dresses like that-joing a theatre group I presume?"
At this Rango's head appeared from the doorway, ,"Someone mention a theatre group?"
"Rango! Thank God!" said Beans, running over and kissing him, "we have a problem that needs solving."
"Well Well Well Sheriff, you never told me you were such a womanizer," said Fiero, whiskers raised.
"Uh-only on the stage," said Rango flushing pink.
"That's my job," the fox chuckled, ,"I have been with so many women I cannot even begin to count all their names, those I could remember were either ladies of the night, or nurse maids or work colleagues. There was Alanna, Emily, Victoria, Sharia, Elizabeth, Rhiannon, Gretel, Nettle, Ivy..."
The other men began flooding into the bank, getting dirt on the polished floor much to the dismay of Joseph.
"Who is this fellow?" Ambrose asked the squirrel.
"That?! Him?! He's only Baron Fiero Basil von Hempstead! He's the one who drove the Boar Brothers up river and protected an entire native village from a rival gang! He's a legend of the North he is!"
"...Mandy, Meredith, Saffron, Petunia, Violet, Rose-" said Fiero who was still rocketing through his list of women, "Oh, and I met a beautiful Arctic fox once whilst I was on my travels up in the Norwegian isles in the settlement of Florø-I think her name was Skyeira? Oh it was so long ago, anyway I bore myself, how are you Joseph my friend, you're on crutches dear boy."
"Oh, just an accident is all-lost my footing. Listen Fiero why you're here do you think ya'd mind lookin' over something for me?"
"Not at all-as long as it doesn't involve sprucing up."
"Ah, Fiero you haven't changed a bit, still ever the charmer and never the neat freak."
As Joseph disappeared inside his office, Fiero turned to face the gentlemen. "Good Sirs, I thank you for allowing me a room to the inn. It is most kind of you."
"Our pleasure," said Rango.
"Is you really a legend like that guy said?" said Waffles.
"Certainly my horned friend. I am known by many epithets; The Robber of Hearts, the Taker of Treachery, The Red Rouge, that one's my favourite."
The men all whispered in hushed, awed tones.
"However most know me simply as The Baron or The Masked Stranger. That is my current identity."
"Boy, you really get around huh?" said Rango, mildly jealous.
"Well, I wouldn't want any fellow bandits chasing after me!"
"Bandits?!" gasped Turley, Spoons, Elgin, Ambrose, Willy, Waffles and Buford together. "Bandits?!" repeated Rango, "Uh Uh! Forget what I said about the room sir, like it or not, we don't accept bandits in this town!"
Fiero shook his head and smiled. "Mr Rango you take for a nothing more than a violent thug."
"Yeah and we got enough o those round here!" said Spoons, "they done shoot things up left 'n right, just take Bad Bill."
"I hear of Bad Bill," said Fiero thoughtfully, "he is not a bandit, he is an outlaw. I however am a Robin Hood."
"Uh? Whozatt?" Waffles asked.
"You've never heard the adventures of the Great Robin Hood? The human who stole from the rich and gave to the poor? Well I do something similar, anuthing that needs safe removal or stealing is entrusted to me. Joseph was my partner many years ago."
"Partner?" said Buford.
"You mean you-" Spoons began.
"Finest robbers in the desert!" laughed the fox.
Suddenly, Angelique returned in a mint coloured blouse, holding her cigarette, "Missour Merrimack? I've 'av ze numbers you zent for-" she paused abruptly as he came face to face with Fiero who licked his paw and combed over his fur all while giving her a handsome smile.
"Mon Dieu!" she exclaimed.
"Enchente! Charmed to meet you my fair maiden," he said kissing her paw, "your sight is truly one for sore eyes after a long journey across these desert lands. Tell me, is your title as beautiful as your face?"
"Ooh la la!" the vixen giggled flirtatiously.
Spoons nudged Rango as the lizard watched perplexed and somewhat uncomfortable as the gent kissed his way up the Secretary's arm. "Bet chu wish you wuz that straight shootin' huh fruit cup?"
Rango nervously stared at Beans who was also watching the "romantic" sight and rolling her eyes in disgust.
"Here it is-" said Joseph, returning with the map, "if it'd been a snake it would've bitten me-Oh in heaven's name, again Fiero?"
"What can I say, I am an Amant Rouge!"
"Oh Mon! Mon!" sighed Angelique, "I will be in ze other room," she whispered seductively, brushing her tail against his muzzle.
"Fiero, Miss Beans and myself here have found some kind of map of somesort-ya betted take a look at this too Sheriff!"
"Well I'd kindly study it for you Mr Merrimack 2 sir! Let's see now it's uh-that uh-What is this here scripture of ancient text?"
"It's a map," Beans said flatly.
"A MAP! Of course!" said Rango quickly, "I knew that."
"Belonged to ma daddy," muttered Beans forlornly.
"Really?"
"Yeah, that there's his writin'"
Rango squinted at the signature, "What's M stand for?"
"Montgomery," Beans explained, "Montgomery Junior Sanchez. His side of the family came from the other side of the Mojave."
"What he use this for?"
"That's what we're hoping Mr von Hempstead here can tell us," said Joseph, "so Fiero if you will-"
Fiero stepped through the crowd of the lizards,and the other male animals took one glance at the map and instantly smirked, "I can't read it."
"What?!"
"You heard correctly friend, I cannot read."
"But Fiero, you are always so refind, so intelligent. How on earth can't uou possess the education to read words."
"I mean, that language is unreadable. I'm well versed in different languages, I don't mean to brag I do speak and read several including Sanskrit, but this is old old Spanish right here. It probably goes back to the time of the Armada."
"Wounded Bird?" asked Rango.
"Don't look at me. He say it old Spanish. Indecipherable language."
"If only we had someone bigger who could read it," pondered Waffles.
"Yes," said Rango, his chameleon brain cogs turning, "If only we did."
Sorry! Yes I know it's not very good, but keep in mind I will make the next chapter better I promise! Could you put in the reviews if I did anything right or wrong? What was good and what was bad? I'm Really Sorry you all had to wait this long!