I raised the racquet and was just about to thump itwhen I noticed that it wasn't moving and there was blood in the cornerof its mouth. Come to think o...f it, the head was at a funny angle.I realised it was dead!Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the covers on the bed move slightly.I gasped as I realised that the other rat was very much alive and underthe bed covers.This one I knew had to be finished off and so I raised the racquetand..... heard a noise coming from under the bedcover. It wasn't. , no! She wasn't going to go there again and torture herself again with thoughts like that; it was enough just to be near him. Then she remembered the words of the elder of the elder on the Trembly world. She had to tell him, he needed her more than she thought. Alan looked at Hopix god he realized it in that second he was falling for her, it couldn't happen. Alan decided he had to harden his heart to the feelings he was feeling, though he was starting to love her there was nothing he could do. . Yes you silly, I know she wanted to punish you, so tell me what she did?I'm sorry madam, I am a little embarrassed... Its ok to be embarrassed, your telling a stranger how you were punished by another woman. I perfectly understand, so please continue.She grab my chin roughly in her hand and tell me that I am a stupid Latino and that I would pay for disrespecting her the way I did. I try to plead that I was sorry, that I didn't mean to drop the glass, but she insisted on punishing me. She let. And Miss Strickland... don't tell your mother anything about all this. If for some reason we should fail, I think it best she not know of our attempt. " I agree," Paula answered quickly."Give your daughter a hundred dollars instead of fifty, Mr. Strickland. And Miss Strickland... when you give the money to this Pico animal, try to act very pleased and tell him the extra fifty was a tip because your customer was so delighted with you." Yes," she said, smiling. "That should put him off guard so.