“The rat population thrived in such a horrible mess. Ironically, cats were believed to be the consorts of witches in those days, so they were killed. Persecution of cats during the Middle Ages nearly eliminated populations of the rat's natural predator, just when Europeans could have used the cats' hunting skills the most.”

“There are other advantages," continued the child. "For instance, if one rat were cornered by nine cats, on the average, each cat would be ten percent rat and the rat would be ninety percent cat. If you happened to be a rat, you can see how much nicer it would make things.”

“People here had redwood trees in their backyards. You were never far from the infinite.”

“Don't bother asking for explanation, she'll just tell you that she came, in the year of the cat.”

“Besides, thinking kind thoughts about Valek could be extremely dangerous. I could admire his skills, and be relieved when he was on my side in a fight. But for a rat to like the cat? That scenario ended only one way. With one dead rat.”

“The male doesn't eat - it doesn't even have a mouth or an anus - so it does nothing but mate until death.”

“If you want to reduce the rats, use the cats! If you want to reduce the fools, use the books!”