Thirty-Eight:
"Hello, Spot the talking dog," Princess Ariadne answered her balcony. "You've arrived in time to witness my rescue."
"Oui, Mademoiselle Princess, we have arrived to rescue you," said Spot. "It is time to take you to zee Cyclops..."
"...ha, ha," said Ariadne. "This is no time for jokes, silly dog. My rescuer will be here any second."
"Your... rescuer?" said Spot. Ariadne's chambers had another balcony.
"Feh, it is only zee fake prince from zee circus act," said Spot. "And I suppose zee accompanying fox is zee animal helper — to assist his rescue of Mademoiselle Princess. That is nothing. I have zee animal helper also. He is Monsieur le Brian..."
"...no arguing who's the animal helper," said Brian.
"Ok," said Spot as creatures filled the room. "So zee 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 Clownie's wrath. Everyone abandoned the circus, and I was the only one who noticed 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 zee cries of despair, have you by chance heard zee longing serenade in zee night?"
"Do you mean that terrible hollering?" said Ariadne. "Sounds like someone torturing a wildebeest."
"Ah, yes, very terrible those wretched sounds," said Spot. "That is what I mean to say."
"Now that you mention it," said Ariadne, "it's almost morning and it's been quiet almost the entire night." Jack joined Ariadne at the window to welcome the dawn.
"AAARRROOOooo..."
"Well, there it is now," said Ariadne.
"That wasn't a good idea," said Brian.
"And the birds and the mice have brought us more good news," said Ariadne. "They tell us the King of the World needs a replacement. His crown is available. If Jack can win it, we can be a real prince and princess..."
"Ah, yes," said Spot. "About zee crown—" A banana peel sailed through the window.
"AAARRROOOooo..."
"Well that's odd," said Ariadne. "I haven't had garbage just fly in like that before. It's only the bay outside my window."
"Or something on the other side of the bay," said Brian. The empty can that struck him on the head was for tuna. "...ow."
"AAARRROOOooo..."
"I think we should get out of here," 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 fall on the way down..."
"Mademoiselle Princess, as I was saying," said Spot, "I am also here as zee — as zee animal helper. Zee crown I bring is for zee new King of zee World."
"Mademoiselle Princess... Jack... into zee bag." The little dog sent them from the tower.
"Alas, Monsieur le Brian, I have lured zee rain of destruction onto Mademoiselle Princess. Now you must take and deliver zee crown. I shall bravely and unselfishly sacrifice myself to zee angry Cyclops while zee rest of you escape to safety." Brian stood ready to leave with Spot.
"Very well." The little dog shook off fatigue and exhaustion. "Monsieur le Brian into zee bag." And so Spot and Brian cheated certain death once again.