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Show 61 my brain to find a way to save you good people and your children from pestilence, and I succeeded. With the help of my council members, of course, and especially HermamMeinersing." Master Hermann raised his eyebrows. It seemed he didn't know whether to be pleased at the praise or angry because Mayor Gruelhot was taking all the credit. "It warms my soul," the mayor declared, "to stand before you tonight and say that my plan has succeeded so grandly. Thanks to Gast the the boy Geist who helped him, the rats are gone from Hamelin town." On all sides of us cheers and huzzahs flew into the air. Mayor Gruelhot beamed, then raised his hands for silence. "And now," he proclaimed, "let us all give thanks, for Hamelin has been delivered from pestilence. The ratcatcher, who is also a musician, will play for us this fine evening so that we can make merry and rejoice at our good fortune." Gast took out his flute then and the children joined hands to begin the dance. Someone clapped me on the back and thrust a mug of ale into my hands, and since I didn't waait to dance, I drank it slowly. When the cup was empty, someone else filled it with wine. The sky grew darker as the merrymaking grew louder. In the distance I saw a jagged streak of lightning but the storm seemed to be far away. Everyone was having a good time, yet I did not feel a part of it. When I gazed at the happy, excited faces of the dancing children, I could not help remembering the way they had looked the day |