It sat before the mirror watching the slitherers. I suspended breathing and edged forward. When I was near enough to catch it with a short lunge I said, «I trust you are finding your last moments amusing.»

It leaped and I was upon it, catching it at the base of the neck, a large, black rat.

«Wait! I can explain!» it said. «Snuff! You're Snuff! I came to see you!»

I waited, neither tightening nor loosening my hold. A toss of my head would snap its spine.

«Needle told me of you,» it went on. «Cheeter told me where to find you.»

I couldn't say anything, my mouth being occupied. So I continued to wait.

«Cheeter said you seemed reasonable, and I wanted to talk. Nobody was around outside, so I let myself in through the little door in the back. Could you put me down, please?»

I carried the rat to a corner, deposited him there, seating myself directly before him.

«So you are in the Game,» I said.

«Yes.»

«Then you must know that entering another player's home without invitation lays you open to immediate reprisal.»

«Yes, but it was the only way I knew to get in touch with you.»

«What is it you wanted to tell me?»

«I know Quicklime, and Quicklime knows Nightwind… .»

«Yes?»

«Quicklime says that Nightwind told him you know a lot about who the players are and what they're about. And that you sometimes trade information. I'd like to trade some.»

«Why didn't you trade directly with Nightwind?»

«I've never met Nightwind. Owls scare me. Besides, I heard he's pretty closebeaked. Keeps everything close to his feathers, and keeps his pinions to himself.»

He chuckled at that. I did not.

«If you just wanted to talk, why were you snooping around?» I asked.