Taco McSoombrero and the Golden Salsa
Page 1
The sun rose over Crunchyville. It shone over Taco Avenue, Fillings Valley, Bean Forest, and the mountains.
Crunchyville woke up early.
The bakers opened the tortilla ovens.
The cheese carts rolled down the hill.
The bean carts came up it.
Somebody was already shouting about salsa prices.
The prices were fine.
Somebody shouted anyway.
It was a normal morning.
In the middle of Taco Avenue lived a strange hero.
His name was Taco McSoombrero.
He was a taco with a large sombrero, a big appetite, and a habit of causing trouble.
Page 2
The sombrero was very large.
It was bigger than Taco.
People asked him about it.
Townsfolk
“Why is your hat so big?”
Taco
“It is not a hat.”
Townsfolk
“It looks like a hat.”
Taco
“It is a tool.”
Taco used the sombrero as a plate.
He used it as an umbrella.
He used it as a bed.
Once he used it as a boat.
That did not go well.
Townsfolk
“Do you ever take it off?”
Taco
“It stays on.”
Townsfolk
“Why not?”
Taco
“Then I would just be a taco.”
Page 3
One morning, Taco was riding a taco-shaped skateboard down Taco Avenue.
The street went downhill.
Taco did not use the brakes.
Taco did not have brakes.
Taco
“Make way!”
A churro seller moved.
A bean cart moved.
A very slow tamale did not move.
Taco
“Move!”
Tamale
“I am moving.”
Taco
“You are not moving.”
Tamale
“I am moving slowly.”
Taco went around him.
He passed the Production Point.
Taco
“Coming through!”
Page 4
Ahead of him were three boxes of cheese.
Taco smiled.
Taco
“This is fine.”
He jumped over three boxes of cheese.
Taco
“Easy!”
He was still in the air.
He was in the air for a long time.
Too long.
He landed in a pile of lettuce.
Taco
“Perfect.”
A worker looked at him.
Worker
“That was not perfect.”
Taco pulled a leaf off his sombrero.
Taco
“It was close.”
Page 5
Suddenly, the bells of Assembly Hall rang.
DONG! DONG! DONG!
Everyone stopped.
The bells only rang for two reasons.
A festival, or trouble.
Nobody planned a festival.
The mayor ran into the street.
His hat was on backwards.
Mayor
“Everyone! There is an emergency!”
Townsfolk
“What happened?”
The mayor pointed toward Assembly Hall.
Mayor
“The Golden Salsa has been stolen!”
Page 6
Everyone became quiet.
The Golden Salsa was the most valuable treasure in Crunchyville.
Somebody made it a long time ago.
Nobody knew who made it.
Everybody knew it was important.
Once a year the town put it on a table. Everyone looked at it.
Then they put it back.
That was the whole festival.
Taco looked surprised.
Taco
“Who stole it?”
Mayor
“We do not know.”
The mayor sat down on a crate.
Mayor
“Without the Golden Salsa there is no festival.”
Page 7
Taco fixed his sombrero.
Taco
“Then I know what I will do.”
Mayor
“What?”
Taco
“Detective work!”
Mayor
“You have never done detective work.”
Taco
“Exactly. Nobody will expect me.”
The mayor thought about this.
Mayor
“That is not how you choose detective work.”
Taco
“It is now.”
Mayor
“Do you have a plan?”
Taco
“I have a very good plan.”
Mayor
“What is the plan?”
Taco
“I will find clues.”
Mayor
“And then?”
Taco
“Then I will have clues.”
Taco began his first adventure.
Page 8
Taco entered Assembly Hall.
It was cold inside.
It also smelled burnt.
Nothing in the hall had been burning.
There were paintings of old mayors on the wall.
They all looked disappointed.
The Golden Salsa had been kept inside a special vault.
The vault had three locks and one very serious door.
The vault door was still locked.
The guards stood outside.
Guard
“No one entered.”
Taco
“Are you sure?”
Guard
“I watched the door all night.”
Taco
“Did anyone leave?”
The captain thought.
Guard
“Also no.”
Page 9
Taco looked around.
Taco
“Then how was it stolen?”
Nobody answered.
Taco walked around the vault three times.
He knocked on the door.
He listened to the door.
The door said nothing.
He looked at the floor.
There were footprints.
They were very small.
Taco knelt down.
Taco
“These are clues.”
Guard?
“What do they tell you?”
Taco
“That somebody has small feet.”
Guard?
“How small?”
Taco held up two fingers.
The guards looked at his fingers.
Nobody in Crunchyville had feet that small.
Page 10
Taco followed the footprints.
They went past the vault.
They went past the guards.
The guards looked embarrassed.
They led to a window.
The window was too small for a normal taco.
Guard
“Nobody could fit through that.”
Taco smiled.
Taco
“Lucky for me, I am not normal.”
He took off his sombrero.
He pushed the sombrero through the window first.
He squeezed through the window.
SQUISH!
He landed outside.
The footprints continued toward the forest.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind him.
Gazpacho
“Looking for something?”
Page 11
Taco turned around.
A Spanish traveler stood there. He wore a red cape and carried a large wooden spoon.
He did not look friendly.
He did not look unfriendly.
He looked like a man holding a spoon.
Gazpacho
“My name is Don Gazpacho.”
Taco looked at him.
Taco
“That is a long name.”
Gazpacho
“It is a normal name.”
Taco
“Where are you from?”
Gazpacho
“Far away.”
Taco
“How far?”
Gazpacho
“It is farther than that.”
Taco
“Farther than what?”
Gazpacho
“Than far away.”
Page 12
Taco decided to ask a better question.
Taco
“Are you the thief?”
Don Gazpacho looked surprised.
Gazpacho
“Me? Steal salsa? No.”
Taco
“You have a spoon.”
Gazpacho
“Yes.”
Taco
“And you look suspicious.”
Gazpacho
“That is not proof.”
Taco pointed at the spoon.
Taco
“Why do you carry a spoon?”
Gazpacho
“For soup.”
Taco
“Where is the soup?”
Gazpacho
“I have not made it yet.”
Taco wrote this down.
He did not have paper.
He wrote it in the dust.
Page 13
Taco thought for a moment.
Taco
“Fair enough.”
Don Gazpacho pointed toward the forest.
Gazpacho
“I saw someone running that way.”
Taco
“How did they run?”
Gazpacho
“They ran quickly.”
Taco
“Was it a big person or a small person?”
Gazpacho
“He was small.”
Taco
“How small?”
Gazpacho
“Smaller than you.”
Taco
“Nobody is smaller than me.”
Gazpacho
“Somebody is.”
Taco nodded.
Taco
“Small feet.”
Page 14
Taco smiled.
Taco
“Then let us go.”
Gazpacho
“You said we.”
Taco
“You are a witness. Witnesses come along.”
Gazpacho
“That is also not how detective work works.”
Taco
“It is now.”
Don Gazpacho looked at the sun.
Gazpacho
“The forest is one hour that way.”
Taco
“How do you know?”
Gazpacho
“I walked here.”
Taco
“From where?”
Gazpacho
“Far away.”
Page 15
Taco and Don Gazpacho entered Bean Forest.
The trees were covered with beans.
There were black beans, red beans, and green beans.
Some beans had no name yet.
Taco ate one.
Gazpacho
“Do not eat the forest.”
Taco
“I am investigating it.”
Gazpacho
“With your mouth?”
Taco
“It is a valid method.”
The path got narrow.
The light got green.
They passed a tree with no beans on it.
Nothing grew under it.
Something moved behind the trees.
Then the ground shook.
THUMP.
Page 16
Taco stopped.
THUMP.
Don Gazpacho raised his spoon.
Gazpacho?
“What was that?”
Taco
“Probably nothing.”
THUMP.
Gazpacho
“That was a large nothing.”
A giant creature jumped from behind the trees.
It was the Bean Monster.
Monster
“Who enters my forest?”
Taco raised his hands.
Taco
“Hello.”
Monster
“Leave!”
Taco
“We are looking for the Golden Salsa.”
The Bean Monster stopped.
Monster
“Golden Salsa?”
Taco
“Yes.”
Page 17
The Bean Monster sat down.
The ground shook again.
Monster
“I protect Guacamole Mountain.” “I saw strangers going toward it.”
Taco
“How many?”
Monster
“Enough of them.”
Taco
“What did they look like?”
Monster
“They wore pans.”
Taco looked at Don Gazpacho.
Don Gazpacho looked at Taco.
Taco?
“They were wearing pans?”
Gazpacho?
“They were wearing pans.”
Taco
“Why would anybody wear a pan?”
Gazpacho
“To keep the rain off.”
Taco
“That is a hat.”
Page 18
The Bean Monster pointed toward the mountains.
Monster
“But be careful.”
Taco
“Why?”
Monster
“The Jalapeno Fields are between the forest and the mountain.”
Taco smiled.
Taco
“Jalapenos? I can handle them.”
The Bean Monster laughed.
The trees shook.
Monster
“You will not say that after meeting the Jalapeno Riders.”
The Bean Monster looked back at the forest.
Monster
“One more thing.”
Monster
“Stay away from the tree with no beans.”
Taco
“Why should I stay away?”
He did not say why.
Page 19
Between Bean Forest and Guacamole Mountain were large fields of jalapeno plants.
These were special jalapenos. They were used to make the famous guacamole of Crunchyville.
The rows went on for a long way.
The air smelled hot.
Taco's eyes watered.
Gazpacho
“Are you crying?”
Taco
“Tacos do not cry.”
Gazpacho
“You are crying.”
Taco
“It is the field.”
Gazpacho
“Of course it is.”
Taco walked carefully.
Taco
“This is a peaceful farm.”
Page 20
A whistle sounded.
Suddenly, small riders appeared on giant jalapenos.
Riders
“Intruders!”
Taco stared at them.
Taco
“Why are the jalapenos riding?”
Don Gazpacho looked again.
Gazpacho
“The small ones are the riders.”
Taco
“The small ones are on top.”
Gazpacho
“That is where riders sit.”
Taco
“Then the jalapenos are the horses.”
Gazpacho
“That is what a horse is.”
Taco
“Then why do the horses look angry?”
Gazpacho
“Because they are jalapenos.”
The riders lowered their whistles.
The field went quiet.
That was worse.
Page 21
The Jalapeno Riders charged.
Taco ran.
Don Gazpacho ran.
The jalapenos chased them.
Don Gazpacho ran faster than Taco.
He was not carrying a hat.
Gazpacho
“Faster!”
Taco
“I am a taco!”
Gazpacho
“What does that mean?”
Taco
“It means I am not fast!”
The riders got closer.
Gazpacho
“Then roll!”
Taco jumped onto his sombrero.
It rolled down the hill.
Page 22
The sombrero went faster.
Then much too fast.
Taco
“I cannot steer!”
Gazpacho
“Steer anyway!”
He crashed into the Jalapeno Riders.
CRUNCH!
They fell into a pile of leaves.
Taco stopped.
Taco
“See?”
Don Gazpacho looked at him.
Gazpacho
“You planned that?”
Taco
“No.”
A rider sat up in the leaves.
Rider
“That was rude.”
Taco
“I am sorry about that.”
Taco gave him a taco.
Rider
“Apology accepted.”
Page 23
They continued toward Guacamole Mountain.
The mountain was green.
The mountain was also slightly soft.
Taco
“Is the whole mountain guacamole?”
Gazpacho
“All the way through.”
Taco
“Is that safe?”
Gazpacho
“Not in warm weather.”
At the entrance, the Bean Monster was waiting.
Monster
“You have returned.”
Taco
“You were in the forest.”
Monster
“I was.”
Taco
“How did you get here first?”
Monster
“I know the mountain.”
Page 24
Taco pointed at the mountain.
Taco
“We need to enter.”
The Bean Monster crossed his arms.
Monster
“No one enters without proving that they are worthy.”
Taco sighed.
Taco
“What do I have to do?”
Monster
“Defeat me.”
Taco looked worried.
Taco
“Can we play rock-paper-scissors instead?”
Monster
“No.”
Taco
“Best of three?”
Monster
“There is no best of three.”
Page 25
The battle began.
The Bean Monster stomped.
BOOM!
Taco jumped.
He did not jump high.
He jumped enough.
The monster swung his giant bean club.
Taco moved out of the way.
The club hit a rock.
The rock broke.
Gazpacho
“Do you have a plan?”
Taco
“I always have a plan.”
Gazpacho
“Does it involve rolling?”
Taco
“It involves a little rolling.”
Gazpacho
“It always involves rolling.”
Taco
“It is a good plan.”
Page 26
Don Gazpacho threw his spoon.
CLANG!
The monster lost his balance.
Taco jumped onto his sombrero and used it as a spinning shield.
He spun into the monster's knee.
BONK!
Nothing happened to the monster.
Something happened to Taco.
The Bean Monster laughed.
Monster
“You are very strange!”
Taco
“Thank you!”
Taco stood up slowly.
The monster was very big.
Taco was very small.
Taco stopped fighting.
Instead, he gave the Bean Monster a taco.
Page 27
The monster took a bite.
He chewed for a long time.
Monster
“This is good.”
Taco
“Thank you.”
Monster
“What is in it?”
Taco
“It is made of beans.”
The Bean Monster thought about this.
Monster
“That is a bold choice.”
He stepped aside.
Monster
“You may enter.”
Don Gazpacho stared at Taco.
Gazpacho
“You beat him with lunch.”
Taco
“Fighting is loud.”
Page 28
Inside Guacamole Mountain was a large underground cave.
It was warm.
It smelled green.
Under the green it smelled burnt.
Taco
“Do you smell that?”
Gazpacho
“I smell guacamole.”
In the middle was a glowing green chamber.
It was the Guacamole Core.
All the guacamole in Crunchyville came from here.
Taco looked at it.
Taco
“Wow.”
Gazpacho
“Do not touch it.”
Taco
“I was not going to.”
Gazpacho
“You were reaching.”
Taco
“I was pointing.”
Page 29
Don Gazpacho looked around.
Gazpacho
“Someone has been here.”
There were footprints on the ground.
They were very small.
There was a black mark on the stone.
Taco touched it.
Taco
“This is cold.”
Gazpacho
“Most stones are.”
There was also a golden thread.
Taco picked it up.
He held it up to the green light.
Taco
“This looks like part of a Spanish cape.”
Don Gazpacho looked at his cape.
Taco noticed a small piece was missing.
Page 30
Taco
“Don Gazpacho, why is your cape missing a piece?”
Don Gazpacho looked worried.
Gazpacho
“I can explain.”
Taco
“Good. I am listening.”
Gazpacho
“It is a long explanation.”
Taco
“I have time.”
Before he could answer, the cave shook.
BOOM!
A secret door opened.
A masked person appeared.
Masked
“Too late!”
Taco
“Too late for what?”
Masked
“Too late for everything!”
The person ran into the tunnel.
Taco chased him.
Page 31
The tunnel went down.
Then down more.
Taco ran past torches.
He ran past old rice barrels.
He ran past a sign. It said do not run.
He kept running.
He ran past a second sign. It said we mean it.
He kept running.
The third sign said please.
He kept running.
The floor had been swept.
The tunnel opened into a large underground fortress.
Above the entrance was a sign:
PAELLA FORTRESS
Taco looked around.
Taco
“Who are these people?”
Page 32
Hundreds of warriors wearing paella-pan armor appeared.
They came out in rows.
The rows were straight.
Their pans were shiny.
Their pans were also dented.
Somebody cooked with them.
The warriors did not move.
They did not speak.
Don Gazpacho lowered his spoon.
Gazpacho
“There are a lot of them.”
Taco
“I counted to fifty.”
Gazpacho
“Then keep counting.”
Taco
“I ran out of numbers.”
Gazpacho
“That is not how numbers work.”
Page 33
Their leader walked forward.
His name was Captain Paellon.
He was not in a hurry.
Paellon
“Welcome, Taco McSoombrero.”
Taco
“How do you know my name?”
Paellon
“Everyone knows your name.”
Taco
“Do they really?”
Paellon
“You crashed into a pile of lettuce this morning.”
Taco
“That was this morning?”
Paellon
“It was.”
Taco
“How do you know that?”
Paellon
“I was told before you arrived.”
Taco
“Told by who?”
Paellon
“Somebody is watching you.”
Page 34
Taco pointed at him.
Taco
“You stole the Golden Salsa!”
Captain Paellon laughed.
Paellon
“Yes!”
It was a short laugh.
He stopped it on purpose.
Taco
“You are supposed to deny it.”
Paellon
“I am proud of it.”
Taco
“Was this your idea?”
Paellon
“It was my idea.”
Taco
“You answered very fast.”
Paellon
“I have had time to think about it.”
Taco
“Why are you proud of it?”
Paellon
“Because the Golden Salsa is the key to controlling the greatest food treasure in the world.”
Taco looked confused.
Taco
“What treasure?”
Page 35
Captain Paellon raised the Golden Salsa.
It shone in the torchlight.
Nobody in the fortress looked at it.
They had all seen it before.
Paellon
“The Cocada Crown.”
Taco was surprised.
Taco
“La Cocada Island?”
Paellon
“Exactly.”
Paellon
“With the Golden Salsa, we will control the Coco Sea.”
Taco
“Why do you want the Coco Sea?”
Paellon
“Every boat in the world crosses it.”
Taco
“That is not a reason.”
Paellon
“It will be.”
Taco did not have an answer for that.
Taco fixed his sombrero.
Taco
“Not if I can stop you.”
Page 36
Paellon
“Take the hat first.”
Taco
“Why my hat?”
Paellon
“It is a tool.”
Captain Paellon raised one hand.
The Paella Raiders charged.
They did not shout.
They did not need to.
Taco ran.
Don Gazpacho held his spoon.
Gazpacho
“Do you have a plan?”
Taco
“I am making one!”
Gazpacho
“Make it faster!”
Page 37
Gazpacho
“Left!”
Taco turned left.
Gazpacho
“Right!”
He turned right.
Gazpacho
“Down!”
Taco jumped into a food cart.
CRASH!
The cart rolled down a ramp.
It picked up speed.
It picked up a raider.
The raider got off.
Page 38
Taco
“Why do all my plans involve rolling?”
Gazpacho
“Because you are round!”
Taco
“I am folded!”
Gazpacho
“Folded things also roll.”
Taco
“Not on purpose.”
The cart crashed through the fortress gate.
The gate broke.
Somebody shouted about the gate.
Nobody stopped to fix it.
Taco and Don Gazpacho escaped.
Captain Paellon walked to the broken gate.
He looked at the hill.
Paellon
“Bring the cannon.”
Page 39
Paellon
“Get them!”
He said it once.
Nobody asked him to repeat it.
They raced through the mountains.
A paella-pan cannon fired behind them.
BOOM!
The blast knocked Taco's sombrero into the air.
Taco
“No!”
Taco jumped and caught it.
He landed safely.
Don Gazpacho looked impressed.
Gazpacho
“That was good.”
Taco smiled.
Taco
“I know.”
He then slipped on a bean.
SPLAT!
Gazpacho?
“Never mind.”
Page 40
Don Gazpacho helped him up.
Gazpacho?
“Where did the bean come from?”
Taco?
“The forest is far away.”
They both looked back at the forest.
The forest said nothing.
Taco put the bean in his pocket.
Gazpacho
“Why are you keeping it?”
Taco
“It is evidence.”
Gazpacho
“Of what?”
Taco
“I will know later.”
Taco and Don Gazpacho reached the Coco Sea.
The water was very blue.
The water was also very wide.
Across the water was La Cocada Island.
They needed to reach the island before Captain Paellon.
Page 41
Taco
“Do you have a boat?”
Gazpacho
“I walked here.”
Taco
“Do you know anyone with a boat?”
Gazpacho
“I know nobody here.”
Taco found a coconut.
He looked at it.
Don Gazpacho looked at him.
Gazpacho
“No.”
Taco
“I did not say anything.”
Gazpacho
“You were thinking about using it as a boat.”
Taco smiled.
Taco
“Yes.”
They built a small coconut raft.
It took two hours.
It looked terrible.
Page 42
They pushed the raft into the water.
They got on.
The raft floated for a few seconds.
It was a good few seconds.
Then it sank.
Taco came back to the surface.
His sombrero came back up after him.
Taco
“I have another plan.”
Don Gazpacho sighed.
Gazpacho
“What?”
Taco
“Swim.”
Gazpacho
“That is not a plan.”
Taco
“It is a short plan.”
Page 43
They swam across the Coco Sea.
Taco floated well.
Don Gazpacho did not.
Taco
“Hold the sombrero.”
Don Gazpacho held the sombrero.
It worked as a boat.
Taco had tried this before.
That time it sank.
Taco looked very pleased.
Gazpacho
“Say nothing.”
Taco
“I am saying nothing.”
Gazpacho
“You are smiling.”
Taco
“That is different.”
Page 44
After a long time, they reached La Cocada Island.
Taco lay down on the warm sand.
Don Gazpacho pulled him up again.
At the center of the island stood the Cocada Crown.
It was the tallest coconut tree in the world.
Taco
“How tall is that?”
Gazpacho
“Taller than looking.”
Captain Paellon was already there.
He was dry.
His raiders stood behind him in rows.
Paellon
“You are late.”
Taco
“How did you get here first?”
Paellon
“I used a boat.”
Taco
“We used a coconut.”
Paellon
“I know. I watched.”
Page 45
Captain Paellon stood under the Cocada Crown.
He placed the Golden Salsa into a golden bowl.
The tree began to glow.
The ground hummed.
The coconuts turned gold.
Gazpacho
“He has done this before.”
Taco
“How can you tell?”
Gazpacho
“He is not watching it.”
Taco
“What is he watching?”
Gazpacho
“He is watching us.”
The Coco Sea started to move.
Taco
“Stop!”
Captain Paellon laughed.
Paellon
“You are too late!”
He did not turn around.
Page 46
Taco
“People keep saying that.”
Paellon
“Because it keeps being true!”
Captain Paellon stepped back.
He knew what was coming.
The Cocada Crown released a huge wave.
WASH!
Taco flew into a coconut tree.
Don Gazpacho fell into a bush.
The bush was not soft.
Don Gazpacho said something in Spanish.
Nobody wrote it down.
Captain Paellon held the Golden Salsa.
Page 47
Taco stood up.
A coconut hit him on the head.
THUD!
Taco looked at the spinning water.
Then he looked at his sombrero.
He had an idea.
Taco
“I have a plan.”
Don Gazpacho climbed out of the bush.
Gazpacho
“Does it involve rolling?”
Taco
“There is no rolling in it.”
Gazpacho
“That is a first.”
Taco
“It involves spinning.”
Gazpacho
“That is rolling.”
Taco
“It is rolling with style.”
Page 48
He placed the sombrero on the ground.
The wind caught it.
The sombrero began to spin.
Taco jumped onto it.
Gazpacho
“Do not fall off.”
Taco
“Falling off is part of it.”
Taco
“Let's go!”
He flew toward Captain Paellon.
He did not fly straight.
He flew in the right direction anyway.
Captain Paellon turned around.
He did not look surprised.
He had time to say one word.
Paellon
“What.”
BAM!
Page 49
The Golden Salsa flew into the air.
Don Gazpacho caught it.
Captain Paellon slipped and fell into the Coco Sea.
SPLASH!
Taco landed on the beach.
His sombrero landed on his head.
Perfectly.
Don Gazpacho walked over.
Gazpacho
“That was lucky.”
Taco
“That was skill.”
Gazpacho
“Which part?”
Taco
“The landing.”
The raiders did not run.
They walked back to their boats in rows.
Taco
“Why are they so calm?”
Gazpacho
“Because they are not finished.”
Page 50
Back in Crunchyville, the Golden Salsa was returned to Assembly Hall.
They put it back in the vault.
They added a fourth lock.
They also closed the small window.
The footprints were never explained.
They were too small for anybody in the town.
After a week nobody asked.
The mayor thanked Taco.
Mayor
“You saved the town.”
Everyone cheered.
The captain of the guard shook his hand.
Guard
“How did you solve it?”
Taco
“I found clues.”
Guard
“And then?”
Taco
“Then I had clues.”
Page 51
But Taco noticed that Don Gazpacho was quiet.
He stood at the back of the hall.
He held his spoon.
He ate nothing.
Taco
“Something is wrong.”
Don Gazpacho looked at him.
Gazpacho
“I need to tell you the truth.”
Taco waited.
Gazpacho
“I was not working with Captain Paellon.”
Taco
“I know.”
Gazpacho
“But I knew about the Cocada Crown.”
Taco
“I know.”
Gazpacho
“How did you know?”
Taco
“Your cape.”
Gazpacho
“You knew the whole time?”
Taco
“I am a detective.”
Page 52
Don Gazpacho pulled a golden map from his cape.
The missing piece of his cape was still missing.
Gazpacho
“Someone else is looking for something even more powerful.”
Taco looked at the map.
Taco
“What?”
Don Gazpacho pointed to a place beyond the known lands.
Past the Coco Sea.
Past everything.
Gazpacho
“The Secret Food Kingdom.”
Taco looked surprised.
Taco
“That cannot be real.”
Don Gazpacho smiled.
Gazpacho
“Maybe it is.”
Page 53
Suddenly, the lights of Assembly Hall went out.
CLICK.
Everyone became quiet.
A shadow appeared on the wall.
The shadow did not move.
A mysterious voice spoke.
Voice
“The Golden Salsa was only the beginning.”
The voice was not loud.
It did not need to be.
Nobody moved.
The mayor hid behind a chair.
The chair was small.
The mayor was not.
Page 54
The lights came back on.
The shadow was gone.
Taco
“Did anyone else hear that?”
Everyone nodded.
Taco
“Good. I was worried.”
The mayor looked out from behind the chair.
Mayor
“Is it over?”
Gazpacho
“It is over for tonight.”
Taco fixed his sombrero.
Taco
“Now this is getting interesting.”
That night, Crunchyville celebrated.
The Golden Salsa was safe.
The Paella Raiders had been defeated.
The Coco Sea was calm.
Page 55
The Bean Monster returned to Guacamole Mountain.
He took ten tacos with him.
He said they were for later.
They were not for later.
The Bean Monster did not stay for the music.
He wanted to be home before dark.
The Churro Clan heard about Taco's adventure.
They sent a very long letter and a box of churros.
Tamale Village also celebrated with a large feast.
On Taco Avenue there was music until morning.
Even the slow tamale danced.
Slowly.
Page 56
But far away, beyond the mountains, a mysterious person watched Crunchyville through a telescope.
Captain Paellon stood beside him.
He was still wet.
He waited to be spoken to.
The mysterious person did not hurry.
Master
“You failed.”
Captain Paellon lowered his head.
Paellon
“Yes, Master.”
Master
“What stopped you?”
Paellon
“A taco.”
Master
“A taco.”
Paellon
“With a hat.”
Page 57
The mysterious person said nothing.
Captain Paellon did not fill the quiet.
His hands were shaking.
He put them behind his back.
Paellon
“I can try again.”
Master
“You will.”
The mysterious person looked toward Crunchyville.
Master
“Do not worry. We now know who stands in our way.”
He turned around.
A strange pepper symbol was on his cloak.
It glowed a little.
Captain Paellon looked away from it.
Page 58
Back in Crunchyville, Taco McSoombrero was sleeping.
His sombrero was on the pillow next to him.
He was dreaming about tacos.
Suddenly, he woke up.
Taco
“I am hungry.”
He walked to the kitchen.
He opened his cupboard.
There were no tacos.
There were never no tacos.
Taco
“WHO STOLE MY TACOS?”
Nobody answered.
The cupboard door was warm.
Taco did not notice.
A mysterious laugh came from far away.
Taco put on his sombrero.
The next adventure was about to begin.