A gherkin importer; by the balls of Leviticus, he was simply a gherkin importer. His life was worn out, his familywas dull, his politics were simple-minded and his theology non-existent. The man was a no-account, one of nature's blankest little numbers - why bother with the likes of him? This wasn't a Faust: a pact-maker, a soul-seller. This onewouldn't look twice at the chance of divine inspiration: he'd sniff, shrug and get on with his gherkin importing.Yet the Yattering was bound to that house, long night and longer day, until he had the man a lunatic, or as good as. Itwas going to be a lengthy job, if not interminable. Yes, there were times when even psychosomatic leprosy would be bearable if it meant being invalided off this impossible mission.