Hamelyn's Curse

Prologue

June 21st 1567 Weatherby Yorkshire England

Eleven year old Martha sat up in bed and listened. A smile of delight spread across her face. Quietly she crept across to the neighboring bed and shook her eight year old sister Anna.

"Annie! Annie wake up! He's here! He's come to play. Just like he promised." In the next room Thirteen year old Maurice also heard the calling. He dragged his brother John from his bed. The older boy opened the casement and peered out. The moon came out from behind a cloud and illuminated the late night visitor. Martha carried the still sleeping Betty as the children tip-toed down the stairs and out the side door. The stranger lifted his flute to his lips and led the dancing children away into the woods. Not one of them looked back. As the first licks of flame began to climb the walls of their home.

Flashback

Colby pasted a bright grin across his own face. Then looked up at Don. "The Pied Piper? Really? Come on! I know I am one hot shot investigator. But I think even I am too late for that one." Liz gave a snort of amusement That Don quelled with a hard look. Then he grinned too.

Chapter Four

Don sobered and returned his attention to Colby. "That mystery does not concern us - as you say it was too long ago. To even be verified as a real event. However unknown to most people. The Hamelyn story is not an isolated incident." Colby suppressed the urge. To feign illness and get out of the case. Instead he took several deep breaths to calm himself. Finally he asked

"Are you saying there have been other mass abductions?"

"Not exactly but there have been other curious accounts of a man dressed in multi-colored clothes leading either children or young people into unstoppable Dance Frenzies." David frowned.

"I've never heard of any?" he said.

"Strasbourg 1518!" Ian knew "The so called Dancing Plague. Where people suddenly started to dance and didn't stop until they dropped dead." Then Liz softly sang the chorus of a very old song. One whose origins were lost in the mists of time.

Sur le Pont d'Avignon.

On y danse On y danse.

Sur le Pont d'Avignon.

On y danse tous en rond.

Don nodded to her then added

"That song also dates from early Medieval Times and the few woodcuts. That depict it. Show the dancers being led by a Piper." He rifled through the papers. Found the one he needed then read aloud. "Hamelyn aside there was another account of children dancing away behind a strange piper about ninety years later."

"Really where?"

"The city of Archen in 1374," Don supplied. Colby was starting to quake inside. David frowned

"So was Hamelyn was the first recorded instance, of this so called dancing abductions?"

"No! There are three earlier accounts," Don again consulted his notes "The first was reported in the seventh century. The second was in 1020 AD and may have been the origin of the song Liz just sang,"

"Where else?" Colby asked.

"1237 again in Germany a group of children danced all the way from Erfurt to Anstaldt."

"What happened when they reached the second city?"

"Some of the townspeople managed to seize the children. They took them to a church and restrained them until they fell asleep exhausted."

"And the Piper?"

"As he led his procession towards the town-square. He was set upon by a group of men led by the head of the town's Militia,"

"So they caught him?"

"Yes and he was hung a day later."

"So why didn't it end then? Who was the second Piper? That stole the children from Hamelyn?" Don looked at David

"And there begins the mystery. The so called Pied Piper was dressed in the same manner as the previous pipers and carried the same instrument."

Colby scratched at the cold sweat on the back of his neck. Then asked the question the others were thinking.

"So why are we now investigating a phenomena? That died out centuries ago?" Don glanced around at him. Then let his gaze travel to the others before slowly saying.

"Two months ago a clown dressed in red and green. Playing a carved wooden flute. Entertained a crowd at a carnival fete. At the time his music was applauded as it had everyone dancing. But when the fete finished," he paused then softly added "Seven children were missing.

"Coincidence?" David hoped

"At first glance yes but."

"But?"

"Three weeks later a similarly dressed clown turned up at a church picnic."

"And I'm guessing he used a wooden flute to get everyone dancing?" Colby said. Don nodded. Liz inhaled.

"How many?"

"Eleven teenagers aged between thirteen and seventeen,"

"And since then?" Don's face grew grim.

"Two days ago at a small town a mile West of Edward's Plateau Texas. During their 4th of July celebrations. Thirty three youngsters danced away behind. A piping clown dressed in a Harlequin suit of red and green."

"Oh God!" Liz muttered her face horrified. Don looked at Colby.

"This is going to be a long field operation. Are you going to be up to it? Colby forced himself to smile and nod. "I'm fine. Tip top condition!"

Don raised an eyebrow. But let the matter slide. In truth he needed Colby. He was one the finest agents Don had ever worked with. Him and David. Don glanced around at the rest of the Major Case Review Team.

(MCRT) Including Ian Edgerton and his brother. They had a heck of a success rate. Don never said anything to them But he knew His team's record of case clearance was one of the highest ever. Don inhaled and put his thoughts aside. "Okay then people. The upper hierachy has arranged for us to fly out to Bosque. Where a fleet of vehicles will be on standby. To drive us out to Belcher's Hollow. The most recent town targetted by this Predator."

Predator?" Ian now enquired.

"Yes! The clown is being labelled as a sexual Predator and we are to follow standard procedure. For this sort of event." Don inhaled then ordered "Right people the plane's wheels are up in one hour So don't be late."

"Where are we flying out from?" Megan wanted to know "LAX?"

"No we are flying from Tahluk County Aerodrome. The location and directions are on the sheet. I gave you all earlier. Don considered the meeting over. His squad knew this and they all rose to leave the room.

All except Colby. Don frowned at him. "Col?"

"As you probably know by now. Despite being compensated. For all I lost during that Chinese affair. The money I got back was not enough to buy me a new apartment. Price rises and all that."

Don flushed red. While Colby had been confined by Homeland Security All his assets had been seized as profits of crime. Most had been auctioned off. Including Colby's Flat, antique soldiers collection and worst of all His pedigree Afghan hound. Colby ignored his boss's obvious embarrassment and continued. "Anyhow with the money I did receive I managed to buy myself a rather nice Campervan." Don knew that Colby now lived on an FBI approved, Trailor Park. His junior Agent was still talking. "Well!" Colby tried to smile. "The van set me back a good few dollars so I am reluctant To leave it unattended For more than a few hours. In case it get's pinched. Don understood. "You want to drive out to Belcher's Hollow?" Kolby scuffed a toe on the shiny floor "Sort of yeah!"

That won't be a Problem. I am told the area is tourist resort. There are bound to be camp sites. You can bivouac in. Just as long as you Join us at the hotel by 08:00 tomorrow. For the first in situ - case briefing Everything will be fine." Colby gave a small relieved sigh. Don patted his arm. "But now you had better get you rear in gear. It's a three hundred mile trek out to Texas by road." Colby grinned "Thanks Boss!" Don smiled as the Agent scuttled out. Then went to find his brother. Charlie was being included in the field trip Don was sure? They would need his skills, or as Edgerton often labelled them.

VOODOO!

TBC