“There is something in what you say,” admitted the monitor. “But what is there to prevent you from taking to your heels?”
Cugel gave a somewhat labored laugh. “Do I seem one to betray a trust? Further, why should I do so, when I can easily procure tally after tally for my score?”
“We shall make certain adjustments.” A moment later a number of the rat-folk swarmed into the burrow. The collar was loosened from Cugel’s neck, his right leg was seized and a silver pin driven through his ankle, to which, while Cugel called out in anguish, a chain was secured.
“The chain is now inconspicuous,” stated one of his captors. “You may now stand before the cave and attract passers-by as best you may.”
Still groaning in pain Cugel crawled up through the burrows and into the cave-mouth, where Fabeln sat, a chain about his neck, awaiting the arrival of his daughter. “Where do you go?” he asked suspiciously.
“I go to pace before the cave, to attract passers-by and direct them within!”
Fabeln gave a sour grunt, and peered off through the trees.
Cugel went to stand before the cave-mouth. He looked in all directions, then gave a melodious call. “Does anyone walk near?”
He received no reply, and began to pace back and forth, the chain jingling along the ground.
Movement through the trees: the flutter of yellow and green cloth, and here came Fabeln’s daughter, carrying a basket and an axe. At the sight of Cugel she paused, then hesitantly approached. “I seek Fabeln, who has requested certain articles.”
“I will take them,” said Cugel, reaching for the axe, but the rat-folk were alert and hauled him quickly back into the cave. “She must place the axe on that far rock,” they hissed into Cugel’s ear. “Go forth and so inform her.”
Cugel limped forth once more. The girl looked at him in puzzlement. “Why did you leap back in that fashion?”
“I will tell you,” said Cugel, “and it is an odd matter, but first you must place your basket and axe on that rock yonder, where the true Fabeln will presently arrive.”
From within the cave came a mutter of angry protest, quickly stifled.
“What was that sound?” inquired the girl.
“Do with the axe as I require, and I will make all known.”
The girl, puzzled, took axe and basket to the designated spot, then returned. “Now, where is Fabeln?”
“Fabeln is dead,” said Cugel. “His body is currently possessed by a malicious spirit; do not on any grounds heed it: this is my warning.”
At this Fabeln gave a great groan, and called from the cave. “He lies, he lies. Come hither, into the cave!”
Cugel held up a hand in restraint. “By no means. Be cautious!”
The girl peered in wonder and fear toward the cave where now Fabeln appeared, making the most earnest gesticulations. The girl drew back. “Come, come!” cried Fabeln. “Enter the cave!”
The girl shook her head, and Fabeln in a fury attempted to tear loose his chain. The rat-folk dragged him hastily back into the shadows, where Fabeln fought so vigorously the rat-folk were obliged to kill him and drag his body back into the burrows.
Cugel listened attentively, then turned to the girl and nodded. “All is now well. Fabeln left certain valuables in my care; if you will step within the cave, I will relinquish them to you.”
The girl shook her head in bewilderment. “Fabeln owned nothing of value!”
“Be good enough to inspect the objects.” Cugel courteously motioned her to the cave. She stepped forward, peered within, where the rat-folk seized her and dragged her down into the burrow.
“This is item one on my score,” called Cugel within. “Do not neglect to record it!”
“The tally is duly noted,” came a voice from within. “One more such and you go free.”
The remainder of the day Cugel paced back and forth before the cave, looking this way and that through the trees, but saw no one. At night-fall he was drawn back into the cave and pent in the low-level burrow where he had passed the previous night. Now it was occupied by Fabeln’s daughter. Naked, bruised, vacant-eyed, she stared at him fixedly. Cugel attempted an exchange of conversation, but she seemed bereft of speech.
The evening porridge was served. While Cugel ate, he watched the girl surreptitiously. She was by no means uncomely, though now bedraggled and soiled. Cugel crawled closer, but the odor of the rat-folk was so strong that his lust diminished, and he drew back.
During the night there was furtive sound in the burrow: a scraping, scratching, grating sound. Cugel, blinking sleepily, raised on an elbow, to see a section of the floor tilt stealthily ajar, allowing a seep of smoky yellow light to play on the girl. Cugel cried out; into the burrow rushed rat-folk carrying tridents, but it was too late: the girl had been stolen.
The rat-folk were intensely angry. They raised the stone, screamed curses and abuse into the gap. Others appeared, carrying buckets of filth, and these they poured into the hole, with further vituperation. One aggrievedly explained the situation to Cugel. “Other beings live below; they cheat us at every turn. Someday we will exact revenge; our patience is not inexhaustible! This night you must sleep elsewhere lest they make another sortie.” He loosened Cugel’s chain, but now was called by those who cemented the hole in the floor.
Cugel moved quietly to the entrance, and when the attention of all were distracted, slipped out into the passage. Gathering up the chain, he crawled in that direction which he thought led to the surface, but encountering a side-passage became confused. The tunnel turned downward and, becoming narrow, constricted his shoulders; then it diminished in height, pressing down on him from above, so that he was forced to writhe forward, jerking himself by his elbows.
His absence was discovered; from behind came squeals of rage, as the rat-folk rushed this way and that.
The passage made a sharp twist, at an angle into which Cugel found it impossible to twist his body. Writhing and jerking, he squeezed himself into a new posture, and now could no longer move. He exhaled and with eyes starting from his head, lunged about and up, and drew himself into a passage more open. In a niche he came upon a fire-ball, which he carried with him.
The rat-folk were approaching, screaming injunctions. Cugel thrust himself into a side-passage which opened into a store-room. The first objects to meet his eye were his sword and pouch.
The rat-folk rushed into the room with tridents. Cugel hacked and slashed and drove them squealing back into the corridor. Here they gathered, darting back and forth, calling shrill threats in at Cugel. Occasionally one would rush forward to gnash its teeth and flourish its trident, but when Cugel killed two of these, they drew back to confer in low tones.
Cugel took occasion to thrust certain heavy cases against the entrance, thus affording himself a moment’s respite.
The rat-folk pressed forward, kicked and shoved. Cugel thrust his blade through a chink, eliciting a wail of intense distress.
One spoke: “Cugel, come forth! We are a kindly folk and bear no malice. You have one item upon your score, and shortly no doubt will secure another, and thus go free. Why discommode us all? There is no reason why, in an essentially inconvenient relationship, we should not adopt an attitude of camaraderie. Come forth, then, and we will provide meat for your morning porridge.”
Cugel spoke politely. “At the moment I am too distraught to think clearly. Did I hear you say that you planned to set me free without further charge or difficulty?”
