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Show 45 "That's fine," he said. "Now you will look like a proper hero at the celebration." "What celebration?" I whispered. "Why, Hamelin must celebrate getting rid of the rats, of course. Mayor Gruelhot wanted to do it yesterday evening, but I told him there could be no festivities unless you were there. I told him you deserved as much credit as I did for clearing the town of vermin." I raised my eyes to see whether he was making fun of me, but he looked quite serious. "Everyone agreed that you are a hero, Geist." I didn't want to be praised for my part in the savagery but before I could say so, he added, "Master Hermann has said that you're to have a long holiday - he has hired Gerhardt to work here for a week. You don't have to do any of this." He waved his hand toward the dough waiting to be shaped. "How did that happen?" "I persuaded Master Hermann - it wasn't hard." My feelings were churning, but through the confusion an idea began to form in my mind. "You mean I can leave right now?" I asked him. "Any time you wish." "I would like to go to church," I told him. "Mass has already begun, but I can still get there for part of it." I looked him full in the eye. "Will you come with me?" "Certainly," he answered, "if it pleases you." Without saying anything further we walked the two squares to |