The
woman pauses, frowns. “Explain,” she commands.
“I
believe this situation requires the attention of an Authority,” he
replies.
“You
would have us make structural changes?” She asks. “Why?”
“This
creature,” he tells her, “It calls itself King Rat. The others,
they follow it, obey it, like a leader.”
“Then
surely the solution is simple,” she says, “Destroy this King Rat,
and the rest will return to their usual patterns of behaviour.”
“I
fear the consequences of such a short sighted response,” he says
earnestly. He can't help but feel he's not being taken seriously.
“Consequences?”
she asks with a laugh, “What consequences could there possibly be?”
“With
so many of them here,” he begins to explain, trying to be patient,
“The idea of rat leader could take root, could spread as they
encounter others. In time, that could change the nature of us all.”
He's
not certain, but he's sure he hears her stifle a laugh before she
replies. “Would that really be so bad?”
His
growing frustration explodes into anger at that. “RATS DO NOT
FOLLOW LEADERS!!!”
