then he reached an inner chamber and suddenly found himself lost in the open space . she picked it up , cuddling and snuggling it . `` that 's a lot of loss , '' he said . i closed my eye , hoping if i waited it out a little longer , he 'd cave . it would chime in three minutes . there were a few bowls of sliced fruit and cheese and a fresh pitcher of cold water . 'they might as well worship trees or oddly shaped rocks . the live rat scampered about its cage happily . 