"Excuses", Sphix breathed, but edge of her anger was gone; there wasn't any harm done, she had seen the rat - even if it had been very briefly - like she had intended to. "No, I didn't get the rat, thanks to you. It ran away." A thought occurred to her, and she grinned. "So, as far as I am concerned, it is now completely your problem.."

"And you can get the rat back in the box all you want", Sphix added to Ellie. "It was difficult enough the first time around, but who am I to tell you not to try?"