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Show 99 I could blame it on Gast if I wanted to, but God would know that it was my fault. After the soldiers killed me in some terrible way... they would know I did it, because I would be alive while the others were dead...and I stood in judgement before God, and if I said it was Gast's fault, God would know better and I'd be condemned to burn in the fires of hell forever. The night was long and I was in torment. After the Matins bell rang and the sky began to lighten, I crept to the door and looked out into the street to see whether any children's bodies lay there. The streets were empty and the houses were quiet. I threw water against my raw, burning eyes and went into the shop to build the fires in the ovens. No one stirred behind the Meinersing door. Perhaps they were all dead - maybe Gast had poisoned the grownups in some other way. I moved numbly, starting to mix the dough for the day's baking. Why had I listened to Gast? Why hadn't I just made regular dough for the sweetmeats? He wouldn't have known. Yes, he would have. Gast knew everything. When I heard the door creaking on its hinges I cringed and dropped the spoon I was holding. "Did I startle you, Geist? I'm sorry." It was Hilde, looking the same as usual, smiling at me. "I came to give you a message from Gast. He said he's terribly sorry about what happened last night - he lost his temper over something else and took it out on you, that's all. None of the children know that he really struck you - Gast told them it was a silly entertainment you |