Benna, still breathing somewhat heavily, trotted after the rat. Masha, hearingthat the footsteps were louder, went alongside the wall, still in the shadows.She was curious about what Benna had got rid of, but she didn't want to beassociated with him in any way when his hunters caught up with him.
At the corner, the youth stopped and looked around him. He didn't seem able tomake up his mind which route to take. He stood, swaying, and then fell to hisknees. He groaned, and pitched forwards, softening his fall with outstretchedarms.
Masha meant to leave him to his fate. It was the only sensible thing to do. Butas she rounded the corner, she heard him moaning. And then she thought she heardhim say something about a jewel.
She stopped. Was that what he had put in something, perhaps a bit of cheese, andthrown to the rat? It would be worth more money than she'd earn in a lifetime,and if she could, somehow, get her hands on it ... Her thoughts raced as swiftlyas her heart, and now she was breathing heavily. A jewel! A jewel? It would meanrelease from this terrible place, a good home for her mother and her children.And for herself.
And it might mean release from Eevroen.
But there was also a terrible danger very close. She couldn't hear the sounds ofthe pursuers now, but that didn't mean they'd left the neighbourhood. They wereprowling around, looking into each doorway. Or perhaps one had looked around thecorner and seen Benna. He had motioned to the others, and they were just behindthe corner, getting ready to make a sudden rush.
She could visualize the knives in their hands.