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"And won’t they just be pleased!" growled Sorrel, s Firedrake out into thein the Rain

Slatebeard, the oldest dragon in the valley, had seen lowed, but he could still breathe fire, and whenever the younger dragons were at a loss they would coons had assembled outside Slatebeard’s cave, Firedrake woke him The sun had set A black and starless sky lay over the valley, and it was still raining

When the old dragon eloomily up at the sky His bones ached from the damp, and the cold weather made his joints stiff The others respectfully ons were ontail, toward a rock that rose in the valley like a giant’s head covered withhard, he cliazed up at hi and knew nothing but this valley; others had come with Slatebeard himself from far, far away and reed to humankind They all smelled misfortune, and they hoped he would deal with it But Slatebeard was old and tired now

"Come up here, Rat," he said in a hoarse voice "Tell us what you saw and heard"

The rat scampered nimbly up the rock, climbed Slatebeard’s tail, and crouched on his back It was so quiet under the dark sky that only the sound of the rain falling and the rustle of foxes out hunting by night could be heard Rat cleared her throat "Hu!" she cried "They’ve woken their machines and fed the a path through the mountains only two days’ journey from here The fairies will hold theet here some time or other -- because it’s this valley of yours they’re heading toward"

A groan ran through the ranks of the dragons They raised their heads and pressed closer around the rock where Slatebeard stood

Firedrake was a little ay fro a dried mushroom "Oh, terrific, Rat," she muttered "Couldn’t you have put it a little ons called out "Why would they want to come here? Surely they have all they here they are"

"Humans never have all they want," replied Rat

"Let’s hide until they go away again!" suggested another dragon "The e’ve always done when one of them loses his way and turns up here They’re so blind they only see what they expect to see They’ll think we’re odd-looking rocks, same as usual Or dead trees"

But the rat shook her head

"Look here!" she shrilled "If I’ve told you once I’ve told you a hundred ti aniht?" She looked around her crossly "You hide fros, but you aren’t interested in what they’re up to Rats aren’t so stupid: We go into their houses; we eavesdrop on the for your valley" Rat cleared her throat again and stroked her gray whiskers

"Here she goes again, winding up the suspense," Sorrel whispered into Firedrake’s ear, but the dragon ignored her