'I remember when your old dad stayed out too in the sun one day. He talked rubbish, too, just like this one,' said Granny Morkie quietly. Torrit appeared to be reaching a conclusion. They waited for it politely.

'I reckon,' he said at last, 'I reckon we ought to eat his rat.' 'You shut up, you,' said Granny, automatically. 'I'm leader, I am. You've got no right, talking like that to a leader,' Torrit whined.

'O'course you're leader,' snapped Granny Mor­kie 'Who said you weren't leader? I never said you. weren't leader. You're leader.' 'Right,' sniffed Torrit.

'And now shut up,' said Granny. Masklin tapped Angalo on the shoulder. 'Where is this place?' he said.

Angalo stopped by the wall, which towered up into the distance.

'You don't know?' he said.

We just thought, well, we just hoped that the lorries went to - to a good place to be,' said Grimma.

'Well, you heard right,' said Angalo proudly. 'This is the best place to be. This is the Store!'

2

xiii. And in the Store there was neither Night nor Day, only Opening Time and Closing Time. Rain fell not, neither was there Snow.

xiv. And the nomes grew fat and multiplied as the years passed, and spent their time in Rivalry and Small War, Department unto Department, and forgot all they knew of the Outside.

xv. For they said, Is it not so, Arnold Bros (est. 1905) has put All Things Under One Roof'? xvi. And those who said, Perhaps Not All Things, were cruelly laughed at, and prodded.

xvii. And other nomes said, Even if there were an Outside, What can it hold that we would need? For here we have the power of the Electric, the Food Hall, and All manner of Diversions.