The Star Page #3

New king?

And I thought,

"I'm not ready to be a mom."

But then I realized

the angel was talking to the lady.

Wait, wait. I'm not done.

That's usually everyone's favorite part.

Nice story, rat. Here's how it ends.

The end.

Rufus, spit it out.

We need that rat to talk.

I am not a rat.

-l'm a pygmyjerboa.

-What's a jerboa?

It is in the rodent family

but an entirely different species.

Rufus, enough. Spit it out.

l was just starting to

get a little bit of the flavor.

You've been telling this story

to every critter in Galilee.

Now it's our turn to hear it.

From the beginning.

From the beginning?

Okay. Well...

l was born in a sack of barley

somewhere in Capernaum.

Skip to the end! Who's the woman?

Her name is Mary. She lives in Nazareth.

But, please, don't hurt her.

-She's really nice.

-Don't worry.

We're harmless.

That's mine!

No.

Mary!

Looks like you're healed up.

Feeling better?

All I'm saying is it's unfair, you know,

to make all these people

drop everything for the census.

And for us to travel to Bethlehem,

especially in your condition.

Joseph, I'm not dying.

It's just a little road trip.

We'll be fine.

This feels right.

You know, Mary,

most donkeys have to work.

You are spoiling him.

She is spoiling you.

Hey, look at you.

-Your leg's all better.

-Hey, Dave.

All right, time to activate

Operation Kick Me Out.

What's your plan of attack?

First, I thought I'd let her finish

this belly rub.

Snap out of it!

A little bird named Methuselah

told me the royal caravan will be

passing through not too far from here.

We can catch them if we leave soon.

All right, let's get kicked out of here.

All packed up. Is the donkey ready?

Yes, his leg looks good as new.

Finally. Time for him to earn his keep.

All right, Bo, let's get you

hitched up to this cart

so you can take us to Bethlehem.

-Bethlehem?

-Bethlehem?

Not good, not good.

The royal caravan

is nowhere near Bethlehem.

Don't worry. He's gotta catch me first.

-Joseph, maybe if you just...

-Don't worry, Mary. I've got this.

Well, looks like you got me.

Come here!

-That looked like it hurt.

-It did.

-How was that?

-Bo, look out!

Come on. See?

Under control.

Joseph!

No, no, I'm okay.

You know what? We can walk to Bethlehem.

-No problem.

-Useless donkey.

-Nicely done.

-I thought so.

Did you see how I laid him out

on the ground?

Those caravan horses

have nothing on you.

-Okay, so now what?

-Easy.

All we have to do

is slip through the gate

when they're on their way out.

No, no, no, don't close the gate!

Don't worry. We'll be back soon.

I guess that was good-bye?

You're not gonna cry, are you?

Come on, we gotta figure out a way

to open this thing.

This is what I get

for having a friend who can't fly.

You know what? Gates were never

a problem before I met you.

There's gotta be something

we can use here.

There's that table,

that lumber, those tools.

A giant knife.

Hide!

Okay, Bo. What haven't you told me?

-You been making some new friends?

-No.

I bet the miller sent them

to bring me back to the mill.

-They left the gate open.

- | ' | | make a run for it.

Dave, you jump out

and create a distraction.

What? No. Terrible plan.

Why don't you make the distraction

and I run for it?

Because I'm the one trapped in here,

and you can y,

-as you like to keep telling me.

-All valid points.

I got a scent.

I smell a dog!

Thaddeus, there's definitely a dog here.

Yeah!

- | smell me.

-Hey! Scary dogs!

You guys here for the show?

-What show?

-What...

"What show," the silly dog asks.

You're adorable.

"The Dance of the Royal Dove,"

of course.

Played in Rome six years.

Great reviews.

Caesar saw it twice. Made him cry.

He won't admit that because,

you know, he's Caesar and all.

But he definitely cried like a baby.

-But I digress.

-We don't have time for this.

No! Wait! The show is about to start.

Okay. You can...

What are you doing? Don't watch me.

Yeah. This bird can dance.

No, guys. Guys, guys, guys, no,

this is the best part.

Okay, there you go. They're gone.

-Where's your owner?

-Yeah! Where's your owner?

Who, the miller? I don't know a miller.

My owner's a nice pregnant lady.

You would love her.

-That's her.

-Where is she?

Wait, you're looking for Mary?

Did I say "pregnant lady?"

I meant " '

mrller."

I'm just a mill donkey on vacation.

-Who's Mary?

-Keep talking.

Okay, that was pathetic.

Let me handle this, Bo.

-Guys, donkeys are stubborn.

-Yeah.

-He's not gonna tell you anything.

-Sorry, guys.

You would have to torture it out of him.

Wait, what?

-He didn't bandage himself.

-That's her scent.

Now we just gotta figure out

which way she went.

We'll tell her you said hello.

They left the gate open.

Okay. The royal caravan

is right this way.

We'll catch it in no time.

Wait. Where you going?

Dream is that way.

-Right, but Mary is this way.

-No.

Royal caravan cannot wait

for a rescue mission.

Especially when that guy is after her.

He is major bad news.

I'm not gonna just

let her get hurt, Dave.

-She was nice to me.

-Come on, B0.

-We've been waiting for this.

- | t' | | just take a second.

Once Mary's safe,

we'll turn right around

and join the royal caravan.

-Deal?

-Fine! Deal.

So we turn right around.

Okay, leave this to me.

I know a shortcut.

He'll lead us right to her.

-And then what?

-Then we find the baby.

That baby messed with the wrong dogs.

Nothing scares us.

Not even a baby. Right, partner?

Just stop.

Thaddeus, do you think

I'm bad at being bad?

I got it.

Okay, Dave, be honest.

-Are we lost?

-No.

'Cause this doesn't exactly

look like the beaten path.

It's a shortcut. Trust me.

Bo? Bo, right here. Look at me, buddy.

Just breathe. Breathe.

Breathe.

Nope. That's it.

No more of your terrible shortcuts.

We are...

Look. It's Mary. That's them.

Guess we'll have to take

my terrible shortcut.

You're welcome.

Wait. No, no, no, no. Okay.

Come on. Really?

-Which way am I supposed to go?

-lt's a cliff.

You go down.

-Hi.

-Could you help me get down, please?

Just let go.

-Here, let me.

-Wait, no, no, no.

-l'm Ruth.

-Hi, Ruth. l'm Bo.

Ruth? You're a little close.

-You know, personal space?

-Sorry.

Flocking. It's a sheep thing.

So, what are you doing

all alone on a cliff like this?

Well, actually,

I'm here with my friend, Dave.

I'm meeting him at the bottom.

We're on the road to Bethlehem

so we can catch up with

my friend Mary and save her.

And once we do,

we will be joining the royal caravan.

Sounds exciting.

Well, I guess I'll get back

to following the star.

The star? You mean the...

-You mean that super bright one?

-Yeah, that one.

Have you noticed

how it's been getting brighter?

Totally. And the weird way

it kind of pulsates.

Yes! It's like it's...

-Like it means something.

-Exactly.

Okay, come on. We're almost down.

One more chasm.

This is really easy for you, isn't it?

You got it, Bo. Just don't look down.

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