THIRTY-FOUR
Feeling terribly exposed, George rolled the barrel to the mouth of the dragon's cave. He draped the sheepskin over it and prayed that it would be enough to fool the beast. Once the bait was in place, George took to his heels and fled. Not to the city, but to a high vantage point where Melitta waited.
Together, they crouched amid the leaves of an oak Melitta had chosen for its good view of the cave mouth.
They didn't have to wait long. The dragon had heard George, and it emerged from the darkness, sniffing the air.
George gulped. If the beast could smell him, it would find them.
The beast lowered its snout and sniffed delicately at the woolly barrel. Then it opened its mouth, enveloping the barrel in searing flame.
"Oh, no," Melitta murmured.
While the barrel still
