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Show 113 her arm and would be unable to cook for the mayor's family for a number of weeks. Gerhardt was to do the cooking as best he could, and they would want bread delivered each day. As I walked through the drizzling rain I saw groups of citizens gathered together in doorways, talking worriedly. By slowing my steps I was able to hear bits of conversations. "...when I came in, Gerta was sobbing and saying that she saw wild boars coming out of the wall at her. She seemed to know that they were not there, but they frightened her just as much." "...complaining about pains in his middle, and he has not slept.... "...little Johann screams pitiably that he is walking in a river of blood...." "...a plague...." "...but only the children...." "...call in a doctor from Sedemuende...." I turned icy with fear. As soon as I had thrust the bread into Gerhardt's hands, I raced to the riverbank to look for Gast, but he was not there. My first thought was that he had left Hamelin to escape punishment for poisoning the children, but on my way back to the bakery I saw him talking gravely with Mayor Gruelhot and Councilman Scadelant. Gast lowered his brows in a fleeting look of warning when he saw me. I knew from that that I was not to interrupt him, but I lingered a short distance away so that I could hear what was being said. "Trude will not be quiet unless every pot in the house is lined |