Rattus sits proudly on top of the enormous pile of stockfish that Hans is pushing along the wharf in a handcart.
Hans is a cabin boy now. Together with the other boys, he has just helped unload a large shipment from a trading boat that has arrived from Northern Norway. There was so much stockfish on board that the sailors had built wooden sideboards along the deck to stop the fish from tumbling into the sea.
Rattus buries his whiskered nose deep into the pile of fish, which looks almost like a stack of wooden logs.
"Ahhhh..." he sighs happily. "Now this smells expensive! The merchant is going to be very pleased!"
"You can smell how much something costs?" Hans asks in surprise.
"Not exactly," says Rattus. "But I can smell that this is nothing but first- and second-quality stockfish. Fresh, clean, healthy... not a single third-quality fish in the whole pile! Ugh—I can smell those from far away. Sour and nasty!"
He twitches his whiskers and wipes his nose with a cod fin.
"I wish I had your nose," Hans sighs. "I'm still learning how to sort the fish. It's the hardest job I've been given."
"No problem!" says Rattus. "I'll help!"
Together they walk into the warehouse, where huge piles of stockfish are already stacked high.
Hans's job is only the first sorting. Later, the most skilled stockfish grader will inspect every fish carefully—using eyes, hands, and even smell—to decide which of the 24 Hanseatic quality grades it belongs to.
Hans picks up a fish and looks uncertainly at Rattus.
"Bring it closer," says Rattus. "I need a proper sniff."
Hans lowers the fish until it almost touches Rattus's nose.
"Mmm..." says Rattus. "It smells wonderful! It's nice and big too. Is it heavy?"
Hans lifts it up and down.
"Yes... fairly heavy."
"Good! Now look inside. Is the flesh pale and clean? Any dark spots?"
Hans peers into the fish.
"It looks good."
"Hurrah!" cries Rattus. "Straight onto the first-quality pile!"
He folds his paws proudly.
"I told you, Hans. This shipment is almost entirely first and second quality."
Rattus scratches his chin thoughtfully.
"I wonder... do they have apprentice positions for rats? I'd make a first-class stockfish grader!"
Rattus loves singing a stockfish-sorting song with his rat choir. He has taught it to Hans to help him remember how to sort the fish. Why not sing along?
See my stockfish, bright and clean and shining,
No dark spots and not a single smell.
That is because it is the finest grading,
Golden coins will fill our purse so well!
See my stockfish, it has spots and is yellow,
Not so big and surely not the best.
Still it’s whole and really not too shabby,
Second grade — but better than the rest!
See my stockfish, this one isn’t worthy,
Smells so sour, rotten through and through.
It must be sorted in the lowest pile now,
Third grade stockfish — nothing else will do!
See my stockfish, with a lump upon it,
Looks just like it wears a little crown.
Lucky me, I’ve found the royal treasure,
King cod stays — the best one to be found!