Carthick's Unfairy Tales by T F Carthick

Author:T F Carthick [Carthick, T F]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-01-05T05:00:00+00:00

A Tale of One City

I have seen the best of times. I have seen the worst of times. Various hues of men have come. And have gone. But I continue to live and learn. So many memories lie buried deep within my heart going all the way back to the time when I came into existence. From the collective consciousness of a jungle, my individual consciousness was eked out. The trees were cut and ramparts erected. Houses were built and people came to live within me, entrusting me with their lives. I was given a soul – the soul of the people who lived within me. I was no longer a nameless formless swathe of wilderness – a small part of the vast jungle. I became my own person with my own name and form. I became Hamelin.

So many interesting events have transpired in all these years. But one that still remains etched firmly in my mind is the one around a man who called himself “The Piper”. It was the fourth century of my existence, the twelfth after Christ by human reckoning. A strange-looking man made his appearance outside the town hall. He was a middle-aged man of average height. His belly was strangely bloated and his arms and legs were thin and knotty. He wore a tight-fitting shirt, tight fitting pants and a pointed hat – all made of the same cloth – a motley fabric full of bright colors – red, blue, green and yellow. He held a rugged looking pipe that did not seem to be of human make in his hand.

“What brings you to our town, stranger?” asked the guard outside the hall.

“I would like to see the mayor of your town,” he replied, in a singsong voice.

“What do you want with the mayor? He is a busy man. He has no time to meet every vagabond who passes by our town.”

The piper drew himself straight and tried to bring a stern expression on his podgy face. “I am no vagabond. I am an artist. I come here to perform for your town.”

Before the guard could reply, he took out his pipe and began to play. The notes that emanated were not exactly melodious. But they were like nothing I had ever heard before. They had a strange, ethereal quality to them. They seemed to stir something deep within my heart. I was suddenly overcome by affection for this stranger and wanted to do whatever I could to please him. I presume it was the same with the guard as well, for he immediately ushered the piper towards the mayor’s office.

The mayor was a sparse man in his late fifties who had aged beyond his years. He sat at his table, his head buried in his hands. He raised his head on hearing footsteps.

“Who do you bring with you, Hans?”

“Sir, this man wanted to meet you. He wants to perform for our town. I heard him play. He is amazing. You too must hear him, Sir.

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