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Show 35 My disappointment was as bitter as the sour ale which Master Hermann sometimes gave me to drink because he was too stingy to throw it away. Damien and Dietrich would be dressed well enough to stand beside him, I thought, or Hilde, who wore such fine clothes that Gast had said she looked like a lady born. I ached with shame, and I vowed that one day I would dress as finely as Mayor Gruelhot, wearing rich wool cloth even when the weather was too hot for it. The door had been left open only a crack, so although I could hear voices rising and falling inside, I couldn't make out the words. Mayor Gruelhot's voice boomed. Master Hermann's whined and wheedled, the others argued, threatened, and coaxed. Through it all Gast's voice stayed the same even pitch, and as soft as it was, it could be heard clearly because the others stopped talking whenever he spoke. After half an hour he came out alone and motioned for me to follow. When we had walked rather slowly along the length of two squares, he asked me, "Aren't you curious about what went on?" I nodded sullenly, still hurting inside. "They will pay me three hundred and fifty schillings. Starting this very moment, every person in Hamelin will tightly cover every well, bucket, bowl or cup vihich holds water, weighing down the lids so that the rats can't get them off. Tomorrow four sides of salt pork and two heavy bags of salt will be delivered to the bridge, where you and I will take charge of them. Aren't you going to ask me what you and I will do then?" I didn't have to ask him, because suddenly it came clear to me - almost all of it. I couldn't help grinning. |