The next morning at Green-Sprout Station, the specially scheduled Star-Train No. 2 roared down the golden Sky-Rail ramp from Planet Canglan, pulling a single, extra-long flatcar behind the engine.
Coiled up on top of the flatcar like a giant blue-and-gold scaly mountain was Ao Ming, the ancient Rank 7 Early Flood Dragon who had once lived at the bottom of Dry-Well Village’s well.
Right now, the dignified ancient dragon was wearing a pair of oversized dark sunglasses to block the morning sunlight, using three plush velvet pillows under his chin, and hugging a ten-foot porcelain jar of pickled garlic with his front claws.
HISS-CLANK!
As the train brakes locked in place, Ao Ming lazily cracked open one golden dragon eye, lifted his giant whiskered snout, and sniffed the air.
Instantly, both of his eyes popped wide open behind his sunglasses.
Standing on the gray-brick station platform fifty yards away was Old Guo, beside a custom-built thirty-foot rotating iron spit. Skewered over roaring red-date wood coals were ten whole Rank 5 Iron-Hoof Spirit Cows, brushed with golden honey, bubbling mutton tallow, crushed red chilies, and two hundred pounds of freshly ground desert cumin!
SIZZLE—DRIP—FSSSSSS!
