//------------------------------//
// Spineless the Owl 
// Story: Mini Mysteries 
// by Acologic 
//------------------------------//

‘Last night’s pitch was a beauty!’ Cecil Andrews, the luckless skirt-chaser who had yet to seduce a mare, told Slipstar. ‘I met a bombshell at a merrymaking in Ponyville. We got chatting, and our conversation turned to pets. I noticed she owned an owl, so naturally, I cooked up a tale there and then. 

‘Spineless was a barn owl who lived near a pie factory in Vanhoover, feeding on rodents attracted to the waste. He was well liked by the workers, who petted him and fed him treats. 

‘Early one morning, Spineless was perched on a branch and making ready to sleep when he smelled smoke. Flying over to investigate, he realised the factory was ablaze! 

‘Spineless wasted no time. He flew as fast as he could to the closest town. Only by hooting repeatedly at pictures of fire did he manage to convince the fighters that something was wrong. They followed him to the factory and quenched the flames enough to rescue from the inferno those who were trapped inside. Grateful, the workers jokingly named the owl Spineless after hearing from the fire chief how he had saved their lives.’ 

Cecil stared glumly at the fire burning in the hearth.

‘Once I’d finished,’ he concluded, ‘she gave me her drink and stomped off!’ 

‘This bombshell of yours knows what she’s about,’ said Slipstar, shaking his head. 

What was wrong with Cecil’s story?

Spineless the barn owl could not have smelled smoke. Owls have no sense of smell.