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Four
Theratchitteredoncemore,decisively,thenleaptfromtheman’sshoulderontothegroundandvanishedintooneofthemanyholesthatlinedthewalls.
TheLordRat-speakerstoodup.Ahundredeyeswerefixedonhim.Heturnedbacktothehallandlookedathissubjects,crouchedbesidetheirgreasyfires."Idon’tknowwhatyoulotarealllookingat,"heshouted."Who’sturningthespits,eh?Youwantthegrubtoburn?There’snothingtosee.Goon.Get-getawaywiththelotofyou."Richardstoodup,nervously.Hisleftleghadgottennumb,andherubbedlifeintoit,asitprickledwithpinsandneedles.LordRat-speakerlookedatIliaster."He’sgottobetakentothemarket.MasterLongtail’sorders."
Iliastershookhishead,andspatontotheground."Well,I’mnottakinghim,"hesaid."Morethanmylife’sworth,thatjourney.Yourat-speakershavealwaysbeengoodtome,butIcan’tgobackthere.Youknowthat."
TheLordRat-speakernodded.Heputhisdaggeraway,inthefursofhisrobe.ThenhesmiledatRichardwithyellowteeth."Youdon’tknowhowluckyyouwere,justthen,"hesaid.
"YesIdo,"saidRichard."Ireallydo."
"No,"saidtheman,"youdon’t.Youreallydon’t."Andheshookhisheadandsaidtohimself,marvelling,"‘Ratty.’"
TheLordRat-speakertookIliasterbythearm,andthetwoofthemwalkedalittlewayoutofearshotandbegantotalk,dartinglooksbackatRichardastheydidso.
