The Ratatosk reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Ratatosk

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In Norse mythology, Ratatosk is a squirrel, running up and down with messages in the giant tree Yggdrasil, and spreading gossip. In particular, Ratatosk ferried insults between the eagle at the top of Yggdrasil, and the dragon Nidhogg beneath its roots.