'yes. it was too old, too weak. it fought for so long.'

'kettle, are you still killing people in the city?'

'not many. only bad people. one or two a night. some of the trees are still alive, but they can't feed on the tower's blood any more. so i give them other blood, so they can fight to hold the bad monsters down. but the trees are dying too.'

brys sighed. 'all right. i will visit again, kettle. with the swords.'

'i knew i could like you. i knew you would be nice. because of your brother.'

that comment elicited a frown, then another sigh. he gently disengaged his hand from the dead child's grip. 'be careful, kettle.'

'it was a perfectly good sleep,' tehol said as he walked alongside bugg.

'i am sure it was, master. but you did ask for this meeting.'

'i didn't expect such a quick response. did you do or say something to make them unduly interested?'

'of course i did, else we would not have achieved this audience.'

'oh, that's bad, bugg. you gave them my name?'

'no.'

'you revealed something of my grand scheme?'

'no.'

'well, what did you say, then?'

'i said money was not a consideration.'

'not a consideration?' tehol slowed his pace, drawing bugg round. 'what do you think i'm willing to pay them?'

'i don't know,' the manservant replied. 'i have no idea of the nature of this contract you want to enter into with the rat catchers' guild.'

'that's because i hadn't decided yet!'

'well, have you decided now, master?'

'i'm thinking on it. i hope to come up with something by the time we arrive.'

'so, it could be expensive...'

tehol's expression brightened. 'you're right, it could be indeed. therefore, money is not a consideration.'

'exactly.'

'i'm glad we're in agreement. you are a wonderful manservant, bugg.'

'thank you, master.'

they resumed walking.

before long they halted in front of scale house. tehol stared up at the riotous rodent facade for a time. 'they're all looking at me,' he said.

'they do convey that impression, don't they?'

'i don't like being the singular focus of the attention of thousands of rats. what do they know that i don't?'

'given the size of their brains, not much.'

tehol stared for a moment longer, then he slowly blinked and regarded bugg. five heartbeats. ten.

the manservant remained expressionless, then he coughed, cleared his throat, and said, 'well, we should head inside, shouldn't we?'

the secretary sat as he had earlier that day, working on what seemed to bugg to be the same ledger. once again, he did not bother looking up. 'you're early. i was expecting punctual.'

'we're not early,' tehol said.

'you're not?'

'no, but since the bell is already sounding, any more from you and we'll be late.'

'i'm not to blame. never was at any point in this ridiculous conversation. up the stairs. to the top. there's only one door. knock once then enter, and errant help you. oh, and the manservant can stay here, provided he doesn't poke me in the eyes again.'

'he's not staying here.'

'he's not?'

'no.'

'fine, then. get out of my sight, the both of you.'

tehol led the way past the desk and they began their ascent.

'you poked him in the eyes?' tehol asked.

'i judged it useful in getting his attention.'

'i'm pleased, although somewhat alarmed.'

'the circumstances warranted extreme action on my part.'

'does that happen often?'

'i'm afraid it does.'

they reached the landing. tehol stepped forward and thumped on the door. a final glance back at bugg, suspicious and gauging, then he swung open the door. they strode into the chamber beyond.

in which rats swarmed. covering the floor. the tabletop. on the shelves, clambering on the crystal chandelier. crouched on the shoulders and peering from folds in the clothes of the six board members seated on the other side of the table.

thousands of beady eyes fixed on tehol and bugg, including those of the three men and three women who were the heart of the rat catchers' guild.