Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11 An opportunity for Dusty to help came much sooner than the animals expected. Early the next morning, as Ruben and his prisoners returned to the Nativity Trail to continue their trek, Dusty spotted a familiar donkey face traveling in a group headed in the opposite direction, back to Nazareth. "Hee-Hawww!!!" brayed Noah, which in donkey means, "Hey, Uncle Dusty! Great to see you— thought you were retired."

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Dusty motioned with his head toward Ruben and brayed back, "Hee-Haw," which in donkey means, "Retirement's on hold— Jacob unloaded me on this guy." Much to the annoyance of their two owners, Dusty and Noah then stopped cold in their tracks to continue their conversation (all in donkey, of course). Dusty filled Noah in on Merle and Pearl's predicament, and Noah agreed to spread the word in Nazareth to be on the lookout for two Americans searching for squirrels. "What do you suppose they're saying?" Merle chirped in squirrel from the cage atop Dusty's back. Pearl noticed Noah glancing up at them. "I think they're talking about us," Pearl replied in squirrel. "Maybe Dusty's friend can get word to Michael and Dr. Gomez about where we're headed?"

All the donkey hee-hawing and squirrel chirping made Ruben nervous. "What are you all talking about?!" he demanded. "What are YOU talking about?" Noah's owner wondered, looking at Ruben like he was crazy. "Just animals making a racket. Giddyup, Noah!" he hollered. "We don't have time for this." "So, how's your mother?" Dusty continued the conversation in donkey to further annoy the humans. "She's good— I'll tell her you said hello," Noah replied. Eventually, when the donkeys were good and ready, the parties continued on their ways.