Nifft the Lean, and his companion-at-arms, Barnar Hammer-Hand, were often lucky. Enroute to working Costard's sap mine—very dangerous, and sometimes nauseating work far below ground—they were shipwrecked. But this proved fortuitous, when they met Bunt, who had been seeking just such as they. If they would work the sap mine, but also bring back twenty gills of fluid, he would make them exceedingly wealthy.So it was settled. They would suck the sap from the servants of the monstrous insectile queen—and they would bring back some of the ichor that she alone exuded—and they would be rich. It seemed relatively easy. They wouldn't have to go to hell at all, for instance. Of course, the best laid plans sometimes do go a little astray.