Biblio Files: talking about books

Breath by Donna Jo Napoli During long and heavy rains, rats infest the homes of the poeple of Hamlin. The townspeople and then the farmers become sick until the people of Hameln town are all sick. Only Salz and the children who are weaned but not yet of age to reason are spared. Folks say that the rat plague is responsible.
Our narrator Salz has cystic fibrosis. He is thus set apart from the rest of the children in the story. Breath is a historical fiction retelling of the story of the Pied Piper of Hamlin. The explanation in the back of the book explains much, but not why the rats are so plentiful.
Question: The piper worries about being paid because he believes he has risked his life. How much money would you risk your life for?
Happy reading.