I stared thoughtfully at the beast.
“I was just wondering if it could hear me … say, if I said that I thought it was the ugliest building decoration I’ve seen here in town?”
The dragon’s head rewarded me by narrowing its eyes into an evil glare.
“I think it can hear you, Boss,” Guido said, shifting his grip nervously. “It doesn’t look like it liked that last comment.”
“Oh, swell!” Aahz grumbled. “Tell you what, partner. Why don’t you come in here and sit on this thing’s tongue instead of me before you start getting it all riled up?”
“I was just checking.” I smiled. “To tell the truth, I think it’s the most incredible thing I’ve seen since I started traveling the dimensions. I just said that other to test its reactions.”
The dragon stopped glaring, but it still looked a little bit suspicious and wary.
“Well, find some other reaction to test, okay?” my partner snapped. “For some obscure reason, I’m a little nervous these days, and every time this thing moves its tongue I age a few centuries.”
I ignored his grumbling and shook one of my legs.
“Hey, Guido! Are you still paying attention down there?”
His grip tightened fiercely.
“Of course I’m paying attention, you little . . . I mean, yeah, Boss. There’s not much else to do while we’re hangin’ here, know what I mean? And quit jerking your leg around . . . please?”
I found his verbal slip rather interesting, but now wasn’t the time to investigate further.
“Well, listen up,” I said. “Here’s what I want you to do. I want you to let go with one hand and pass the rope up to me. …”