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fingers into his mouth and whistled the way his dad had taught him to hail a taxi.
    The piercing screech made Antaeus wince.
    “What annoying bird makes such a squawk?” the rock man boomed, easing his grip on Hercules.
    “Me,” said Billy. “I, uh, just finished chatting with your, uh, mom. She wants you to give her Hercules as a Mother’s Day gift.”
    “Huh?”
    “Mother’s Day! Sure, you’re a little late. You reallyshould’ve given her something back in May, but, hey, you know what they say—better late than never. So just, uh, put Hercules down, and Mommy will make sure you always stay big and strong.”
    Antaeus did what Billy told him to.
    “Quick!” Billy shouted at Hercules. “Pick him up, carry him to the shore, and toss him into the lake! But don’t ever let his feet touch the ground. Touching ‘Mother Earth’ makes him stronger!”
    Hercules stared at Billy.
    “Do it!” Billy shouted.
    Finally, Hercules grabbed Antaeus by the ankle, raised him off the ground, and carried him away through the forest.
    “No!” Billy heard Antaeus blubber. “Put me down! Put me down!”
    “As you wish!”
    There was a tremendous splash.
    And then everything was quiet.
    Until Billy heard a rustling in the forest behind him.
    Great. Now what?
    “Halloa, good fellow!” cried a gallant voice. “Art thou yet another bounty hunter sent forth by the foul Sheriff of Nottingham?”
    Billy spun around and saw a tall, nimble man dressed all in green. A woman dressed all in brown stepped out of the shadows behind him.
    She was swinging a sword.
    “If so,” she said, “prepare to diest where thou do stand.”

Robin Hood and Maid Marian sprang into the clearing.
    Billy couldn’t believe it. He was face to face with his mother’s favorite fictional characters.
    “What be thy name?” demanded Robin Hood, raising his bow and aiming it at Billy’s chest.
    “Um, Billy. You know—like the goats.”
    “Billy?”
    “It’s short for William.”
    “Ah-ah!” said Maid Marian, lowering her broadsword. “Thou, then, art Sir William of Goat?”
    “Okay,” said Billy, nodding his head, hoping Maid Marian wouldn’t lop it off. “Sure. Works for me.”
    “Merrily, good sir,” said Marian. “What brings thee to this, the secret hiding place of the most renowned outlaw in all of England?”
    Billy thought for a second. “My mother sent me?”
    “Thy mother?” said Robin Hood skeptically.
    “You two are her favorites. She
loves
you guys!”
    Robin Hood smiled. So did Maid Marian.
    Then Robin took off his feathered cap, twirled it in front of his chest, and dipped into a bow.
    “Sir William,” said Robin, “for thy mother’s sake, thou art most welcome.”
    “Thanks.” Billy checked out the forest behind the two new characters. “So, where’s that bad guy? The bounty hunter?”
    “Dispatched,” said Maid Marian cheerfully.
    “Does that mean he’s, you know, dead?”
    “Ah-ha-ha-ha!” Robin Hood threw back his head and laughed heartily. “No, it means Marian scared him off with her sword.”
    “And I wouldst do it again,” said Marian. “For the scoundrel was sent here by that vile villain the Sheriff of Nottingham.”
    “Aye,” said Robin, squinting at the shadowy trees. “Methinks there shalt be others eager to earn the price the sheriff hath placed upon my head.”
    “Well, maybe, I don’t know, you two should go hide in Sherwood Forest or something.”
    “Forsooth, I like thy notion. Come. Sherwood is over yonder.”
    Robin pointed.
    Billy turned around.
    And Hercules’s field of trampled weeds had morphedinto a shady forest complete with dancing leaves, flickering sunlight, and a babbling brook. The air smelled like May and flowers. Birds chirped. A rustic log bridge spanned the rippling stream.
    “Okay,” said Billy. “How’d that happen?”
    “Quite quickly,” said Marian. “Wouldst thou not agree?”
    “Yeah, but—”
    Robin marched toward the narrow bridge. Marian and