The rats, being rats, were not keen on seeing a grinning cat, but they understood that a difficult decision had been made. They breathed tiny sighs of relief.

‘Are you happy with that, kid?’ said Maurice.

‘I can go on playing my flute afterwards?’ said the kid.

‘Absolutely.’

‘OK,’ said the kid.

The money, shiny like the sun and shiny like the moon, was solemnly put back in its bag. The rats dragged the bag under the bushes and buried it. No one could bury money like rats, and it didn’t pay to take too much into towns.

Then there was the horse. It was a valuable horse, and Maurice was very, very sorry to turn it loose. But, as Peaches pointed out, it was a highwayman’s horse, with a very ornate saddle and bridle. Trying to sell it here could be dangerous. People would talk. It might attract the attention of the government. This was no time to have the Watch on their tails.

Maurice walked to the edge of the rock and looked down at the town, which was waking up under the sunrise. ‘Let’s make this the big one, then, eh?’ he said, as the rats came back. ‘I want to see maximum squeaking and making faces at people and widdling on stuff, OK?’

‘We think that widdling on stuff is not really—’ Dangerous Beans began, but ‘Ahem,’ said Peaches, and so Dangerous Beans went on: ‘Oh, I suppose, if it’s the last time …’

‘I’ve widdled on everything since I was out of the nest,’ said Hamnpork. ‘Now they tell me it’s not right. If that’s what thinking means, I’m glad I don’t do any.’

‘Let’s leave ’em amazed,’ said Maurice. ‘Rats? They think they’ve seen rats in that town? After they’ve seen us, they’ll be making up stories!’

About the Author

Terry Pratchett is the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld® series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. His books have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he is the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal, as well as being awarded a knighthood for services to literature. After falling out with his keyboard he now talks to his computer. Occasionally, these days, it answers back.

BOOKS BY TERRY PRATCHETT

The Discworld® Series

1. THE COLOUR OF MAGIC

2. THE LIGHT FANTASTIC

3. EQUAL RITES

4. MORT

5. SOURCERY

6. WYRD SISTERS

7. PYRAMIDS

8. GUARDS! GUARDS!

9. ERIC
(illustrated by Josh Kirby)

10. MOVING PICTURES

11. REAPER MAN

12. WITCHES ABROAD

13. SMALL GODS

14. LORDS AND LADIES

15. MEN AT ARMS

16. SOUL MUSIC

17. INTERESTING TIMES

18. MASKERADE

19. FEET OF CLAY

20. HOGFATHER

21. JINGO

22. THE LAST CONTINENT

23. CARPE JUGULUM

24. THE FIFTH ELEPHANT

25. THE TRUTH

26. THIEF OF TIME

27. THE LAST HERO
(illustrated by Josh Kirby)

28. THE AMAZING MAURICE &
HIS EDUCATED RODENTS (for young adults)

29. NIGHT WATCH

30. THE WEE FREE MEN (for young adults)