"That it?" Rhimak jabbed at Raklok's trophy. "Buncha stinkin' goat-guts? Oinker food!"

"Well, you'd be the one to know a pig's tastes," snarled Raklok. He slapped at Rhimak with the goat-lung.

"Munch maggots," snapped Khiba, thumping both goblins on the head. "Shut yer traps."

"He started it." Rhimak rubbed his eyes.

"Did not." Raklok intoned the ancient challenge, shoving his nose against Rhimak's.

"Did so!" Rhimak answered, picking up the gauntlet.

"Shaddup!" Khiba grabbed the others' ears and clacked their heads together like coconuts. "Let's hear your report."

"Ah wah wuh . . ." Raklok shook the butterflies from his head. "Uh . . . This boy I found was yammering about some 'Yellow Rock.' Seems one of his goats ate this rock, so I gave him the 'guts 'n' glory' routine."

"Nugget!" Rhimak was practically slobbering.

"The goatboy's not as dumb as he looks. He was goin' for it at first, but I couldn't find the rock before he caught on."

"So it's still inside a goat, eh?" muttered Khiba. "Hmmm . . . he won't fall for that trick again. Good thing I'm around, 'cause if smarts was brains, you wouldn't have none."

"We gonna get the gold?" Rhimak bounced up and down.

"Hold on. I got to rub the stones together. Which way was this human going?"

"Uh . . . looked like to the waterhole up a-ways."

Khiba stroked the hair on her chin. "He's got a buncha thirsty goats, so he'll have to follow the stream. Good. There's a valley pretty close. We roll rocks onto him and grab his goats."

"Smart, Khiba!" said Rhimak.

"Yeah," Khiba said complacently. "We circle around out of sight, through that rockfield. And you--gimme that!" Khiba grabbed at the gobbet Raklok clutched.

"No. It's mine," mumbled Raklok, and held on till it tore. Now they both had handfuls of innards.

"Oh, keep your mess, you gravelhead. Now get going."

The three goblins started picking their way through the tumbled rocks. Flies buzzed around them.

"Did you hear something?" asked Raklok.

"Shhhh! You want that goatboy to hear us?" hissed Khiba.

A high-pitched yelp split the hot afternoon.

"Shuddup, you wormbrains!" Khiba snarled.

"Uh, Khiba--GAKK!"

Khiba whirled around just in time to see a pair of green legs disappear behind a rock. "Raklok? Rhimak?" She moved hesitantly towards the boulder. "Where are you guys?"

Then something heavy landed on her back, and she had nothing more to say.