“Why, Yrael?” it said, as the last of the dark gave way to silver, and the shining sphere of metal sank slowly to the ground. “Why?”“Life,” said Yrael, who was more Mogget than it ever knew. “Fish and fowl, warm sun and shady trees, the field mice in the wheat, under the cool light of the moon.”

“Time plays tricks between here and home," said Mogget sepulchrally, frightening the life out of the telephone operator.”

“I'll sing you a song of the long ago - Seven shine the shiners, oh!What did the Seven do way back when?Why, they wove the Charter then!Five for the warp, from beginning to end.Two for the woof, to make and mend.That's Seven, but what of the Nine - What of the two who chose not to shine?The Eighth did hide, hide all away,But the Seven caught him and made him pay.The Ninth was strong and fought with might,But lone Orannis was put out of the light,Broken in two and buried under hill,For ever to lie there, wishing us ill.”

“This? It's a feather-coin. I made it.''What is it for?''It isn't for anything. It's a toy.''It's for annoying people,' said Mogget from Sam's pack. 'If you don't put it away, I shall eat it.”

“As for you, Private, if you mention a word of this to anyone, I'll feed you to the cat thing here. Understand?""Yum," said Mogget."Yes, sir!" mumbled the telephone operator, his hands shaking as he tried to smother the burning wreckage of his switchboard with a fire blanket.”

“I suppose you could call me...Soot," said the thing. "Yes...Soot. I have breathed it, lived in it, and eaten it for so long that it is a fitting name.""Eaten it?" asked Suzy. "Why eat soot?""Boredom," said Soot.”

“Fine!" muttered Mogget. "Wet, cold, and full of holes. Another fun day on the river.”