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Show 108 The rain was still falling when I went to sleep that night but when I woke up in the middle of the night it had stopped. Some faint noise in the street made me stir - Hamelin was usually so quiet after dark. I got up and opened the door to peer outside. What I saw made my heart stop. The children of Hamelin were out walking the streets, the boys in their long shirts and the girls in shifts which dragged in the dampness along the ground. By the pale moonlight they looked like ghosts, walking in pairs or in larger groups, talking softly and laughing, stopping often to throw arms around one another in the most friendly manner. I pullen on my hosen and ran outside, coming first upon the twins, Dietrich and Damien, who stood hugging each other- "What is happening?" I cried. "Look, it's Geist!" they said, as though I were the most welcome sight their eyes had ever beheld. "Geist, our dear friend the baker's boy. We haven't seen you for days, comrade." "This is my brother Damien," Dietrich said, "the most stalwart, stouthearted brother a twin could have." "And this is my brother Dietrich," Damien echoed. "I would lay dov/n my life for my brother. We are two halves of the same soul, come out of the womb at the same time, suckled at she same breasts...." "I know who you are," I interrupted angrily, "but why is everyone out in the streets?" "Shhhh, keep your voice down, friend Geist. We don't want our |