6 Payment

6. PAYMENT Captain Horatio Rattus marched into the council offices with a swagger, head held high. He rested his pipe over one shoulder while a flea-bitten rat sat on the other. "I'm here to see Mayor Carrot," he declared, and walked straight past the receptionist and up a grand staircase to the mayor's office. Harvey Carrot had his back to the door and was lounging in a sturdy leather chair admiring the

view of Dull-on-Sea. The Pirate Piper let himself in, marched to the mayor's desk, and tapped on its green leather surface with his pipe. Mayor Carrot turned around slowly and, disgruntled, leaned on his elbows with his fists clenched firmly together. "Well, look who we have here!" he said. "Would you like to walk back outside and knock? Or should I call security and—" "My job is done!" the Pirate Piper interrupted. "That will be ten thousand dollars, Mr. Mayor. Ye'll pay me in gold, silver, or twenty-dollar bills, whichever ye'll be findin' easiest." "Well, here's the thing," said Harvey

Carrot. "When I'm not playing mayor, I'm a bit of a businessman, and I don't think you've earned ten thousand dollars. I'm happy to write you a check for one." "One what?" scowled Captain Rattus. "And I won't be acceptin' yer checks."

"One thousand dollars," replied the mayor. "I think that's a fair price. What do you say? If you want it in cash, you'll have to wait until tomorrow." "I named me price, you squab," said Rattus firmly. "And I think ye'll be findin' that was TEN thousand dollars. I took yer scurvy rats, and now I want me gold!" "Ah, but we had no contract, no handshake. People were emotional," said the mayor. "Now that I've had time to reflect, I think the price was too high. It was only a few rats, after all. Our rat catcher, Norbert Grimes, would've sorted it all out eventually. One thousand dollars. You can take it or leave it."

"Refuse to pay! I dare ye..." growled the Pirate Piper. "Oh, OK," said the mayor, chuckling and rubbing his enormous hairy hands together. "I refuse." The Pirate Piper turned on his heels and left, muttering. Mayor Carrot was rather pleased with himself. He spun around in his chair to get back to enjoying the view— but was greeted by a huge black flea-bitten rat, squatting on the window ledge and giving him an evil stare.

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