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Show 18 send the message that the rat killing must begin immediately. A week after the rats die, people get the terrible sickness, he said, so we haven't much time. Leave it to me. Father. You did right to come and tell me the news." "There's a rat on your cassock, Father," I said, but Master Hermann roared at me, "Close that babbling mouth of yours!" and struck me a clout that glanced off my back, but hurt. "When I want you to speak, I'll tell you to. Now get back to work. There's a rat in your dough, if you're so worried about rats!" I hastily went back to shaping the loaves. Father Johann left, and Master Hermann grumbled his way back to his kitchen, yelling to his wife to fetch him something to eat. "What is the stranger like?" I turned around, very surprised to find Hilde there. She was actually asking me a question! "He is...he is...." I didn't know how to describe him. "He's very smart," I answered lamely. "What does he look like, and how old is he?" "About thirty, I guess. Very dark, his hair and eyes are black. He has a silver flute and he plays strange music." Her father was shouting for her, so she turned and went into the kitchen, closing the door firmly behind her. Well, I thought to myself, so many changes are happening in my life, and the stranger hasn't been in Hamelin twenty-four hours yet. I'm going to be allowed out of the bakery for the second time in less |