Magic at Midnight by Lyssa Chiavari & Amy McNulty

Author:Lyssa Chiavari & Amy McNulty [Chiavari, Lyssa & McNulty, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Snowy Wings Publishing via Indie Author Project
Published: 2018-04-22T10:43:18+00:00

“I awoke early,” said the Piper, “attended to Abigail as best I could, and then left for town. I still hated leaving her alone, but I had no choice. As I walked along the forest path, I practiced playing my pipe; working on the best song that I thought would attract the rats of Hamelin. I also had to think of how to collect all the rats in the entire town, and, when successful, what to do with them. By the time I reached the gates, I was confident in the tune I had selected, but no more than hopeful in the method I decided upon.”

Although I tried to hide it, I was quite interested in the story that was being told. Never had I heard an account as uniquely fascinating. “How did you do it?”

“In the end, it was simple. Starting at the east gate, I walked up and down each street, north and south, while slowly going westward across the city.”

I was almost afraid to ask, “And the rats?”

A look of disgust crossed his face. “Innumerable. When I reached the north end of the first street, I turned around to see what, if anything, I’d accomplished. What I saw, for at least thirty yards, was nothing but rats. Now facing them, I could hear their horrid squeaks and squeals over my music. They writhed over one another, a living mass of dirty animals. I was so surprised and disturbed that I faltered in my tune for an instant. The rats immediately started to disperse, some heading toward me with wild eyes. Regaining my composure, I quickly began the tune anew and the horrid creatures once again fell under the effects of the music.”

“That was only after one street?” I exclaimed. “No wonder the town was willing to pay so much!”

At that comment, the prisoner gave me another cold stare. There was clearly something he knew that I did not. Without saying why he was so insulted by my statement, he went on with his story.

“As I continued through the streets, I didn’t turn around again until the end. However, I was certain that I still had my trail of gruesome followers, for I could hear exclamations and screams from the townsfolk.”

I tried to imagine the scene—hearing some music and sounds of animal noises, looking through my window or stepping outside to understand what was happening and to see a mass of rats following a man down the street. The confusion and fright would have been extreme.

“When I reached the west gate, having completed my tour of the city, I finally looked back once more. I didn’t falter in my music, but I could hardly believe what I saw. Rats covering the street as far as the eye could see. The constant scurrying made it seem like the town was flooded, not with water, but with disgusting, disease-ridden vermin. Despite the awful sight, I felt a sense of happiness, or perhaps relief, since I was accomplishing the task that would attain Abigail’s treatment.

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