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Show 91 that it could not be heard behind the door. "I'm sorry, Gast. Please let go." When he took away his hand, I rubbed my aching arm. "Geist, you have my word that this will not damage the children. Look, there are hardly two cupfuls of flour in the cloth. How could such a little bit do any harm, mixed with so much of your regular flour?" "I don't know, it just doesn't seem right." I mumbled the words. Even though I didn't want him to be angry with me again, I had to say what I felt. "Do you want to spend your entire life slaving in this bake shop, or do you want to go away with me into the world?" he asked suddenly. "Go away with you?" My heart began to vault against my ribs. "I am trying to make things happen so that you and I can leave Hamelin together." "Why don't we just...why don't we just...go, then?" I stammered. "You would be considered a runaway serf, and the Bishop's men would set out to find you and bring you back. I want no traffic with soldiers. If you come with me, it will be on my terms." He walked to the doorway and drummed his fingers against the frame, looking as if he might turn and leave. "Don't go, Gast. I will do whatever you say." The thought of freedom drove all objections from my head. "Good." He came back to where I was standing and spoke softly. "Mix that flour I gave you into the dough for the sweetmeats. Put a lot of honey into it. Knowing what a miserly cheat Master Hermann is. |