“But how did you make the kill?” cried Erica.
Grock grinned and said. “I smelled him to death, didn’t I?”
“You
what?”
cried Erica.
“Bubbles’s secret weakness was sneezing,” Wiglaf said. “When Grock gets scared, he smells like pepper. The pepper smell made Bubbles sneeze.”
“That was the biggest sneeze I ever saw,” said Dudwin. “But you don’t smell like pepper now, Grock.”
“That’s ’cause I’m not scared no more,” the troll said.
“Sir Mort is saved!” cried Angus.
“I am?” Sir Mort said. “That’s good news!”
“And we owe it all to you, Grock,” said Janice.
“Yah,” said the troll. “Ye do.”
All the DSA lads and lasses cheered for Grock. Wiglaf felt a little glow of pride for his Class I buddy.
“This here’s for you, teacher,” Grock said. He handed Sir Mort the tiny blue dragon.
“Why, thank you, lad,” said Sir Mort. “Now I can take Duckie and Bubbles for little swims together.”
Grock turned to Wiglaf. “Now gimme yer book.”
Wiglaf slowly pulled A
Knight and His Dragon
from his belt.
“What are you doing, Wiggie?” asked Dudwin.
“I made a promise,” said Wiglaf miserably.
What would Brother Dave say when he told him his precious book had been eaten? He held out the book to the troll.
Grock grabbed the book and put it up to his nose. He sniffed it eagerly. Then he licked the cover with his pointy, pink tongue. He started to drool.
Then he made a face.
“Don’t you like it?” asked Wiglaf.
“Not good book, buddy,” Grock said. “This old, stale book.”
“It is?” said Wiglaf eagerly.
“YUCK!” said the troll, tossing the book back to Wiglaf.
“Thanks, Grock.” Wiglaf smiled. The cover looked a little slimy, but the rest of the book was unharmed. Now he would find out what happened to the knight and his dragon, after all!
“Going home now,” said the troll.
“What?” said Aggie.
“No, don’t go!” said Dudwin.
“Don’t!” said Maggot and Bilge.
“It won’t be as much fun around here without you, Grock,” said Dudwin. “Don’t you like DSA?”
“Yah, I like,” said Grock. “But I first troll dragon slayer,” he added proudly. “I done here.”
“Will you come and visit?” asked Dudwin.
“Sure,” said the troll. “Promise.” He turned to Wiglaf and waved. “Bye, buddy!” he said.
“Good-bye,” said Wiglaf. He couldn’t believe it—he was sorry to see Grock go. But he had a feeling he had not seen the last of the troll.