The snake slithered back and forth across the center of the bridge. “Oh, you haven’t heard tales of the Mudlurker? He’s a terrible, giant creature with jaws like this.”
The snake’s jaws opened wide, and it snapped its mouth closed a foot away from Max’s snout. Instinctively, Max scrambled backward.
Hissing, the snake pulled its head up, away from the dogs. “So you might get past me only to head in the wrong direction. Sadly for you, only I know the correct path.”
Gizmo growled. “We’re not afraid,” she barked. “Not of you and not of this Mudlurker. We actually just fought off some swamp monsters a little while ago. It was easy!”
The snake tilted its head. “I’m not sure I believe that. But the Mudlurker? He’s the monster that the monsters are afraid of.”
To Max’s surprise, Rocky waddled forward. “Okay, we get it. We deal with you or we get eaten. I’m tired and hungry, so why don’t you tell us what you want?”
Lowering itself so that its head was only half a foot off the ground, the boa constrictor slithered forward to meet Rocky nose-to-nose. Rocky trembled, but he did not back away.
“Right to the point,” the snake hissed. “I can appreciate that. Here’s my offer: I will tell you the way to go for a price.”
“And what price is that?” Max asked, already knowing he wouldn’t like the answer.
The boa constrictor’s tongue circled its mouth. “I want one of you,” the snake said. “Just one.” Its eyes darted past Max to Gizmo. “I’m hungry, too, and I need to eat.”
“No way!” Gizmo barked.
“Don’t be so hasty with an answer,” the snake called. “I trust you’ll make the right decision.” Lifting its head, it slithered back to the center of the bridge.
Rocky shook his head. “This thing thinks he’s so smart, but he’s never met a real smart animal before. Let me talk to him.”
“But Rocky—” Max said.
A gust of wind rose up, and the blankets of moss rippled above them. But that wasn’t why Max stopped speaking.
With the wind came a familiar scent: the musky stench of wolves somewhere behind them in the swamp.
Gizmo went rigid. “Do you smell that?”
“Yes,” Max said, peering into the trees.
“Wolves,” Rocky whispered. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Lying possums, horrible monsters, hungry snakes, and now wolves? This swamp is just the worst.”
Max raised his snout, facing their earlier path.
Behind him, the snake called out, “I’m still waiting!”
Max ignored the creature, focusing on the wolf scent. He couldn’t tell if it was just any pack of wolves… or if it was their old enemy, Dolph.
Gizmo asked, “Do you think it’s Dolph? After he got burned in the riverboat fire, would he really come all this way just to get us?”
“Dolph is deranged,” Rocky grumbled. “I’m surprised he’s able to find other wolves to follow him.”
“Dolph or not,” Max said, “we need to get out of this swamp.” He licked Rocky’s forehead. “You sure you’re up for talking to the snake?”
Rocky gulped. “Not at all. But I’ve managed to talk us out of danger before!”
Gizmo nuzzled Rocky’s neck. “Be careful, Rocky. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”
Rocky’s spiky tail wagged. “Sure you do. You’d get vengeance on my behalf. That’s why you’re so great.”
Gizmo sighed. “If he starts snapping at you, run. Okay?”
A loud, metallic clang echoed through the air, and all three dogs turned to see the boa constrictor, its fat tail raised. “Time’s up!” the snake hissed. “What’s your choice?”
Holding his head high, Rocky moved to stand in front of the boa constrictor. Gizmo curled into Max’s side, her body trembling.
“They’re not happy, as you can see,” Rocky said. His voice was strong and confident, with no trace of fear. “But,” the Dachshund went on, “I’ve decided to offer myself up to you in exchange for letting them pass.”
The boa constrictor sat still, staring at Rocky. “How very… noble.”
With a wave of his front paw, Rocky said, “It’s nothing, really. You see, you might think the big dog back there is the leader, but he’s just the muscle. I’ve always been the one in charge, and I vowed to protect these two simple, silly mutts. Even if I must make this most devastating of sacrifices.”
The snake looked between Rocky and the other two dogs. Sensing the creature’s suspicion, Max sobbed loudly. “I sure will miss our fearless leader,” he cried.
Catching on, Gizmo let out a wail. “We’ll always remember you, Rocky!”
Rocky shook his head. “Now, now, mutts. You know this is how it has to be. Just promise to live… for me.”
The snake said, “Hmm. Usually my meals put up more of a fight. Well, a deal is a deal.” And the boa opened its jaws wide, revealing pink gums.
“Wait!” Rocky bellowed.
Startled, the boa constrictor snapped its mouth shut. “What?”
“How am I supposed to know you’ll live up to your end of the deal?” Rocky said. “Tell my friends which way to go, and let them free! I mean, this is a big deal for me. If I’m going to spend my evening being slowly digested, I need to know you’re not lying.”
The snake slapped the end of its tail against the bridge, and once more, the grating rattled beneath Max’s feet.
“I’m not lying.” The snake hissed. “How do I know you’re not lying? If I point your friends toward the right path and let them go, how do I know you aren’t going to play some trick on me?”
Rocky raised a paw. “Hey, I’m the one standing in front of your big, gummy mouth. Would I do that if I was trying to trick you?”
The snake flicked its tongue. “Well—”
“So really,” Rocky interrupted, “it’s just you who has to prove you’re trustworthy. If you won’t let my friends pass before you eat me, then show us some other proof that you’re not lying.”
“But I—”
Rocky jumped up on his hind legs. “Okay, I’m going to ask you a true-or-false question. Based on your answer, I’ll know if we can trust you.”
With a sigh, the boa constrictor pulled itself into a tight, tense coil. The creature was not pleased.
“Fine!” the snake spat. “If it’ll get you in my belly without any more yapping, ask away.”
Rocky leaned in close to the snake. “Is it true,” he asked, “that boa constrictors are too fat to swim?”
The snake laughed. “That’s your question? That’s false, of course! We’re not too fat to swim. I am all muscle.”
Rocky’s tail drooped. “Oh, I hoped you would keep your word,” he said sadly, turning to rejoin Max and Gizmo.
“Where are you going?” The snake hissed. “I told you the truth!”
“No, you didn’t!” Rocky called over his shoulder. “Obviously nothing as big as you could swim without sinking to the bottom and drowning, especially since you don’t have any legs to paddle with. If you’d lie about swimming, how can we trust anything you say?” Rocky shook his head. “No, we’ll just have to find some other way across.”
The snake thrashed back and forth in a rage, making the vines and moss tremble.
“Fine!” the boa constrictor bellowed. “I’ll prove it to you! But just remember, you still need me to know which path to take. Go to the fork in the road. I’ll swim there and meet you.”
And as the dogs watched with barely contained glee, the giant boa constrictor slithered to the edge of the bridge, dangled over, and let itself drop to the swampy valley below. The three friends scrambled to the guardrail just in time to see the snake’s body land in the murky water with a giant splash.
“You did it!” Gizmo said, leaping in the air. “You got it out of our way!”
Max laughed and licked Rocky. “You’re one smooth talker!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Rocky said, wagging his tail. “But we can’t celebrate too long. Let’s get across this stupid bridge and figure out which path to take before that snake actually swims to shore!”