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Show 47 the long tapers and Father Johann came toward us in the sudden shadowed gloom. "Yesterday I had to shrive a dying man at a farm half a day's ride from here," the priest said, "and it was late when I returned home. But they told me...that is, Councilman Scadelant told me... when I got home, you understand,..that the rats are gone. That you helped your friend here to do it, Albert. I'm proud of you, my boy." Proud of me! His words brought back some of the sick feeling. If Father Johann had seen me yesterday, he would have been disgraced, not proud. I hoped he would never learn what happened along the River Weser. "Albert, I have not met your friend," the priest said almost shyly. Gast bowed gracefully toward him. "And your name is...?" Father Johann asked. "Since I arrived in Hamelin, everyone has called me Gast. In other places they call me the Piper." "Yes...well...." I could tell that Father Johann wanted to ask the stranger's real name, but he was too polite to insist. "Uh...it seems we Hamelin folk owe you a debt of gratitude." "And a great deal of money as well," Gast said very softly, raising his eyebrow the slightest amount for my benefit. "What was that?" The priest squinted as though trying to find the words he had missed. "I said that I had a great deal of help from Albert here," Gast spoke louder. |