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of sight.
    In the thick, warm, damp darkness a voice said, “All right, who’s got the matches?”
    â€œMe, Dangerous Beans. Feedsfour.”
    â€œWell done, young rat. And who has the candle?”
    â€œMe, sir. I’m Bitesize.”
    â€œGood. Put it down and Peaches will light it.”
    There was a lot of scuffling in the darkness. Not all the rats had got used to the idea ofmaking fire, and they were getting out of the way.
    There was a scratching noise, and then the match flared. Holding the match with both front paws, Peaches lit the candle stub. The flame swelled for a moment and settled down to a steady glow.
    â€œCan you really see it?” asked Hamnpork.
    â€œYes, sir,” said Dangerous Beans. “I am not completely blind. I can tell the difference between light and dark.”
    â€œY’know,” said Hamnpork, watching the flame suspiciously, “I don’t like it at all, even so. Darkness was good enough for our parents. It’ll end in trouble. Besides, setting fire to a candle is a waste of perfectly good food.”
    â€œWe have to be able to control the fire, sir,” said Dangerous Beans calmly. “With the flame we make a statement to the darkness. We say: We are separate. We say: We are not just rats. We say: We are The Clan.”
    â€œHrumph,” said Hamnpork, which was his usual response when he didn’t understand what had just been said. Just lately he’d been hrumphing a lot.
    â€œI’ve heard the younger rats are saying that the shadows frighten them,” said Peaches.
    â€œWhy?” said Hamnpork. “They’re not frightenedof complete darkness, are they? Darkness is ratty! Being in the dark is what a rat is all about!”
    â€œIt’s odd,” said Peaches, “but we didn’t know the shadows were there until we had the light.”
    One of the younger rats timorously raised a paw.
    â€œUm…and even when the light has gone out, we know the shadows are still around,” she said.
    Dangerous Beans turned toward the young rat.
    â€œYou’re—?” he said.
    â€œDelicious,” said the younger rat.
    â€œWell, Delicious,” said Dangerous Beans in a kindly voice, “being afraid of shadows is all part of us becoming more intelligent, I think. Your mind is working out that there’s a you , and there’s also everything outside you . So now you’re not just frightened of things that you can see and hear and smell, but also of things that you can…sort of… see inside your head. Learning to face the shadows outside helps us to fight the shadows inside. And you can control all the darkness. It’s a big step forward. Well done.”
    Delicious looked slightly proud, but mostly nervous.
    â€œI don’t see the point, myself,” said Hamnpork.
    â€œWe used to do all right on the dump. And I was never scared of anything.”
    â€œWe were prey to every stray cat and hungry dog, sir,” said Dangerous Beans.
    â€œOh, well, if we’re going to talk about cats ,” growled Hamnpork.
    â€œI think we can trust Maurice, sir,” said Dangerous Beans. “Perhaps not when it comes to money, I admit. But he is very good at not eating people who talk, you know. He checks, every time.”
    â€œYou can trust a cat to be a cat,” said Hamnpork. “Talking or not!”
    â€œYes, sir. But we are different, and so is he. I believe he is a decent cat at heart.”
    â€œAhem. That remains to be seen,” said Peaches. “But now that we are here, let’s get organized.”
    Hamnpork growled.
    â€œWho are you to say, ‘Let’s get organized’?” he asked sharply. “Are you the leader, young female who refuses to rllk with me? No! I am the leader. It’s my job to say, ‘Let’s get organized’!”
    â€œYes, sir,” said Peaches, crouching low. “How would you like us to be