Hamelin

CHAPTER IV

  "It's really you. You're real. You're the Pied Piper!" Emiline said with a note of awe. Then she remembered her history and stepped back a few steps. "Why are you here?"

  Pfeifer looked at her steadily and answered, "To right a wrong."

  He's going to demand payment for the job he performed seven centuries ago. "What do you mean?"

  Pfeifer didn't answer. Instead he asked her, "Are you still going to lead me to the mayor?"

  Emiline's thoughts were jumbled. She didn't know what to do. Why has he come back? Why did he wait seven hundred years to demand payment? And those children, he couldn't give them back. Their parents are dead and the children have aged and died as well. Did he regret what he did? This man—if he is a man—was responsible for the loss of 130 children and the despair and loneliness of more than three dozen parents including the mayor at that time. Did they deserve such punishment for doing what they did?

  The story of the Pied Piper had always been used to teach children the value of keeping promises and the possible consequences of breaking those promises. Unfortunately, the story is believed to be untrue, a fanciful tale, or a fictionalized story of a different event. Nobody would believe her if she told them she'd spoken with the real Pied Piper.

  "How are you going to make him believe who you are? How would anyone believe who you are? To them, you're just an old folktale. I'm just a 10 year old girl. They probably won't believe me either."

  Emiline was trying to discourage him from pulling through with his plan, whatever it was. No one wasn't going to believe who he was even if he showed them that pigeon-calling trick. The only way he was going to convince them was by taking more children away and she wasn't going to allow that to happen.

  Pfeifer shook and lowered his head. He stood that way for a while. He's probably considering giving up, Emiline thought. I hope he leaves.

  Pfeifer sighed, lifted his head, and looked at Emiline. She felt a stab of fear but quelled it. He'd had time to bewitch her several times over but he had merely lessened her fear of him. He had not even tried to eliminate it. He was an unsolvable enigma. She thought he had forgotten her question when he gave a belated answer.

  "I have to try."

  "But, what makes you think you'll succeed? People today aren't the same as they were seven hundred years ago. We don't believe in magic anymore." Emiline couldn't think of a way to discourage him. He didn't seem to be violent but that was the way the old story pictured him. Back then, he had not said anything, not even a threat that he would punish the town for reneging on their promise. He had just left the town, came back and took the children without any adult knowing about it.

  Pfeifer walked past her and turned back after getting to end of the alley. "I don't want to waste any more time. If you won't lead me to the mayor, I will look for other ways to get to him."

  Emiline started to feel desperation creep into her. She can't possibly take him to the mayor, not when she knew what he can do. Emiline hesitated then started walking toward him, when she got to the end of the alley, she broke into a run. She had not gone far when she heard a strange, melodious tune. She felt compelled to stop, turn around, and started walking back toward Pfeifer.

  What’s happening to me? My feet are moving by themselves. I can’t control them!

  Pfeifer had taken control of her body. Her mind was still her own but she was unable to resist Pfeifer’s magic. His control was perfect. She wasn’t moving like a robot. No one would suspect anything.

  They walked again, passing the festivities and the other Pied Piper actors on the streets. A few children clapped their hands and playfully followed the pair but soon left to follow some other piper. A few of the townspeople greeted Emiline who greeted them back.

  The town municipal hall was right in front of a large, open park. The mayor, several councilors, prominent citizens, and the chief of police were on the balcony, watching the activities.

  Emiline and Pfeifer entered the building and approached the stairs to the balcony. No one stopped them.

  Gunther Bloss, Hamelin's police chief, had just gotten off the stairs from the second floor when he spotted Emiline. He smiled and greeted her.

  "Hello Emiline, who's your friend?"

  Emiline looked at Gunther and smiled, "Hello, Chief Bloss. I've come to introduce my friend, Pfeifer, to Father."

  "Well, he's upstairs on the balcony, watching the festivities. You two go right ahead and talk to him."

  Gunther didn't notice that Emiline's smile was mechanical, it wasn't real. He watched the pair go up the stairs to the second floor before walking out of the building.

  At the top of the stairs, Pfeifer told Emiline to stop. He looked around but saw no one in the corridors. He turned toward her.

  "The mayor is your father?"

  Emiline nodded. Pfeifer's control allowed her to respond to him. "Please don't hurt him."

  Pfeifer ignored her request. "I need a window that has a view of the park in front of the building, we have to get inside without being seen."

  Though Emiline tried to resist, her mouth moved of its own volition and gave Pfeifer the information he asked for. "Father's secretary has an office that overlooks the park. We can get there through this door." She pointed at a door next to the stairs. Pfeifer led the way to the door, slowly opened it, and peeked in. The room was empty. Everyone was either part of the festival or watching it.

  They went in and Emiline led him to a window at the far end. Pfeifer looked out and nodded. He took out his fife and began to play. Emiline could hear the music but it was faint. It was not meant for her.

  Emiline couldn't see anything changing in the park. It was filled with people enjoying the festival and vendors plying their wares. No one seemed to notice or hear the tones coming from the magic fife. Pfeifer played for several minutes and then put the fife back inside his belt. He looked out the window and smiled.

  She wondered what it was that Pfeifer saw. Pfeifer walked back toward the door they had come into and waited for her.

  "We can go to your father now."

  Back to Table of Contents