Hamelyn's Curse
Prologue
What is dark be filled with light,
What was piped be undone
Remove this evil from my sight
What was lost once more become
Chapter Twelve
Don led the cavalcade of Federal Vehicles into Oak Well Camping and caravan site. The Fat Proprietor groaned as he saw them park up. But rather than wait for the Senior Agent. To enter his reception area he walked out to them.
"If you're looking for them other three? I sent them on to Wicket's Dell. Less than five minutes ago." Don was half glad. The man had approached him. It saved him the trouble of having to get out of his car All he had to do was ask
"Which way is Wicket's Dell?" The fat man raised his right arm and pointed. Straight down there to the end. Turn left onto Hawthorne Crescent At the end of it. You'll see a hump-backed bridge. Go over it. Wicket's Dell is on the right." Don nodded his thanks to the man. Then revved his engine. Before spinning his SUV around and setting off in the indicated direction.
Flashback
David had just turned into the lane leading to Wicket's dell. When Shukr began to softly growl. Colby knew the dog had sensed their Quarry. He peered out of the side window and through the trees. Caught his first glimpse of the brown Motorhome. He leaned forward and laid a hand on David's shoulder. To get him to slow down. His partner didn't need words. He sensed Colby had seen something. Most likely the Piper or his RV. David spotted a pull in just ahead. He cut the engine and allowed the car to slide smoothly. To a halt in a shielded parking spot Under a large tree. The three slid silently out of the car being careful to close the doors as softly as was possible. They did not want to alert the van occupant. To their approach. The trio and the hound set off on foot. To get as close as possible to the campervan. Colby had spotted through the trees. Charlie noted Shukr was growling and his hackles were raised. But as they approached the clearing. Where the brown van was parked. Colby began to hear it. Despite having blocked his ears with soap. The strangely hypnotic melody began to grow in his head. Only this time. It was accompanied by a searing heat. That felled him to his knees. He knew the others felt and heard it too. Charlie was trying to speak the numerical chant. He'd invented. But the sound of the Piper's Flute rose above the words and over-powered him.
Colby gasped and clutched at his head as the world around him span. The trees and sky merging into a blurred mass of agonising color. He was vaguely aware of the others being equally afflicted. All except Shukr. The dog reacted Colby felt more than saw. The protecting Gevaudon. Bound forward and try. To leap upon the brightly attired piper. The clown seemed to suddenly realize the danger. He dropped his flute and turned to run At the same moment - a second sound. Began to filter through the burning in his mind. Colby wasn't sure. But he thought he heard the sounds of guns cocking. A voice he recognised blasted through his agony
"Open Fire!"
Despite his pain Colby struggled to his feet. By making a supreme effort. He was able to stagger a few paces and throw himself over Shukr. Protecting the animal from the bullets whizzing about. Colby wasn't exactly sure what happened next? He heard the gunfire and a cry of pain as the piper was struck. He just kept his head down and his body across the brave animal. That had risked all to save him. Colby wasn't sure how long he lay there. But gradually the pain. Coursing through his body began to dissipate. Then he heard his boss bellowing. "Who's hurt? Charlie? David? Colby?" Colby drew in a long slow breath Then he rolled off his dog and sat up. "I'm okay!" He looked across the glade. To where the Piper had stood. The harlequin was lying on the ground. He was silent and still. Clearly he'd gone down under a hail of bullets. Colby saw a member of the swat team. Cautiously approach him. As he got close. The Swat wrenched the flute. The clown still held from his closed fist. He threw it to a second member of his squad. Don walked over and took the offending article. Colby expected it to be bagged. For the Case Evidence Vault. But to his surprise. Don laid the pipe across his knee and snapped it in two. He passed it to David. Who, Colby noted had recovered. A damn sight faster than him. "Burn it now!" Don ordered. "I don't know what evil powers it contains? But we can never risk it getting free again." The swat man lifted a can of Gasoline. From the back of one of the vehicles, Than as David placed the pieces on the ground He doused the wooden flute with it. The instrument flared up an iridescent orange. The second a flaming match was dropped on it. But what happened next was unexpected. To those in hearing range. It was as if a thousand voices were suddenly lifted in joyous song? Colby rubbed his eyes as strange vaporus forms. Swirled about him. He saw a multitude of faces All different! All children, and all singing with happiness. A part of Colby grew cold as he realized. These strange ephemeral beings had to be the flute's victims. For five thousand years, The monstrous entity had toured the globe. Enslaving and murdering children But now as it burned. They were being released. Their souls finally free to soar heavenward. The swirling cavalcade of disembodied infants. Continued for nearly twenty minutes. Making many shudder. At the extent of the evil. embodied within the ancient flute.
Epilogue
Despite a successful conclusion to the case. It was two days before Colby finally made it home. David accompanied him out to His normal Trailor compound. David glanced over his shoulder Shukr seemed different somehow. Calmer more relaxed. Then as they drew up at his designated home pitch. Colby reached back and ruffled the hound's fur. "You're a fine old chap ain't yer boy?" Shukr raised his head his single red eye blinked and he made a low contented sound in his throat. "So what's going to happen to him now?" David wondered aloud.
"My guess is he'll probably live out his days as a normal dog now," Colby replied. This poor hound has been around as long as the Piper."
"What makes you so sure of that?" David enquired. Colby smiled
"There is a little known legend That even after Saint Patrick had banished the Snake Worshippers from Ireland. He knew they weren't truly vanquished. The evil Dark Lord They worshipped would rise again
It is said Patrick called upon the Angels. To send an Avenger after them. An undying Angel that would hunt down every last one of Cromn's adherents. Even if it took forever."
"And you think Shukr is that Avenger?"
"Yes! But now his task is finished and he is free of the burden." Colby again fussed his now permanent pet.
Meanwhile at the his normal office Don was reporting to Director Wright in person.
The senior man was stunned. "All this time? The God has been stealing and murdering children? To feed his blood-lust?"
"I think Demon is a more appropriate epithet for Cromn the Bloody," Don interrupted. "Agent Granger thinks it was the only way He could sustain his life force." Wright rose from behind his desk and turned to look out the window. "Has Agent Granger mentioned if there are any other demons out there?"
"As yet I haven't had time to question the depth of his knowledge," Don replied. "I've given the team A few days leave to recover. Once we've all had a few days R+R. I'll sit Colby down with my brother and Ian Edgerton. I want to get them. Started on reviewing the old legends in detail."
"Be an ideal task for your brother He is clearly quite the asset. Wright suddenly chuckled "It sounds to me as if we are about to add a new department to the FBI's brief?" Don was puzzled.
"New Department sir?"
"Yes! From now on. The VCU is going to have a secondary remit and side squad." Wright almost grinned at Eppe's comfused expresstion. "I think I will call them SNOs."
"What does that stand for?"
"It is going to stand for Super Natural Occurances!
It's Primary Brief - will be to seek out and investigate. All those strange cases and paranormal happenings That generally fall outside. The realm of normal crime investigations."
Don understood Granger, Edgerton and his brother were going to have their status slightly enhanced. Don began to inwardly plan. He was thinking of Agent Hedger. The Dallas man had already requested. A transfer into LA. Don was quite happy to accept him. He could replace Granger on the MCRT and become. The permanant partner of Liz. A second idea occured to Don. David could become the Lead Agent of the SNOs. Of course, Don decided. He would retain overall control. But Edgerton could partner his brother. David would remain Colby's Partner. But for now Don like the rest of his squad. Wanted to go home and get some decent sleep. Sleep that wasn't haunted by the screams of dying children.
FIN