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[quote=Hato]He picked [the silver box] up in his palm, but didn’t dare to open it. Not yet, at least. First, introductions were in order. Without flinching, he reached through the back of his elder’s shirt, wrenching the assailant by the tail. His eyes met those of the rodent, void and lacking sentience. Or, well, it appeared that way. It was probably just simple-minded. The astronomer placed the rodent on his shoulder, then poked at it with a jutted finger.

”Stay. I’ll need you to be a witness.”[/quote]

The locked silver box was heavier than it looked, as if it were filled with metal. When he moved it or shook it, nothing moved inside: it was all very well secured. If he held it for awhile, however, he might notice a small rhythmic vibration. Only with an ear pressed against it might he hear it ticking inside.

The rodent sat on Hato's shoulder, ruffled and puffed and rigid as stone, its little pin-claws sticking in his skin -- and its eyes were set fast on the silver box.

After awhile, when Alexander and Hato were both distracted, the rodent suddenly leaped off of his shoulder and landed neatly on the box. Immediately it sank his teeth into the tip of Hato's index finger, biting quickly and neatly right to the bone.

The little animal was thereafter fastened to Hato's bleeding finger, and would not under any circumstances let go.