Zorch snorted. "You probably should have left it there."

"Ah…" the messenger boy pressed a few more buttons, then paused and stared at the screen.

"What're we doing?" Zorch waddled closer for a better look. "The screen's changed."

"We're waiting," Pell answered.

"Hmm…" Taq scratched at his non-existent beard. "What's this Vista thing it mentioned?"

"I'm not exactly sure… though I've heard of it… I think it's some kind of virus.

Zorch yawned and stretched. "Is it done whatchmacalling yet?"

"Reformatting?" A very tired looking Pell nodded. "I think so…"

The King had long since abandoned them for the comforts of castle Roshca. The unconscious girl, however, remained ever diligent at her post, face-down on the lawn. "Maybe we should get her some help," Pell suggested. But Zorch shrugged him off. He had managed to convince himself that if she remained there long enough, the king would allow Zorch to have her.

"Look, it's doing something. The screen's gone blue."

"Oh no," Pell cried. "It's crashed."

"Well, I give up." Frazzled and drained, Pell shut the lap-box and stood up. "I'm sorry. Tell the king I've failed. I just can't get the thing to function properly."

"Oh no worries." Zorch shrugged. "I'm sure he's forgotten about it by now. And hopefully that's not all he's forgotten about…"

"Excuse me?" The boy rubbed sleepily at his eyes.

"Never mind," Zorch answered. "I'll give you a ride home."

"Dragon!" Oh, Zorch wondered, what is it this time?

King Taq came stomping up the hill behind Zorch, sniffing in disgust. "Something's burning. What is that you're doing? Is that my lap-box?"

Sheepishly, Zorch glanced at the king. "The messenger boy left. He couldn't make it work properly."

"What exactly did he say it is supposed to do, anyway?"

"Um…" Zorch paused. "Well I've found a new use for it. See."

Upon close inspection, Taq saw that the dragon had inverted the box. It was lying face-down on the grass. On top of it, several pieces of meat were being charred to a crisp. The pungent odor of the burning strips of steak was wafting lazily down the hillside towards Roshca Castle.

"The heat the thing produces makes it a perfect smoker," Zorch announced.

The king turned away in boredom. Cooking didn't interest him in the slightest. However, a sudden thought made him look back.

"Dragon…"

"Mmm hmm?"

"Exactly what kind of meat are you burning on that thing?"

"Uh…"

"And whatever happened to Rosie?"

"Can't say as I know any… Rosie, did you say?"