The Harlequin

This is a Fantasy, built upon a Fairy Tale conjured from a Legend and sparked by a single line written in a medieval town's chronicle. Do not imagine that any of it is real nor that I condone any of the activities in this fantasy. Adaliz is the storyteller and I, the mere recorder of her narrative.

I pulled on my white cotton gloves as I stepped up to the lectern. Before me was the ancient volume of Fables and Fairy Tales that I had badgered the Chief Librarian for permission to view for almost a year. The old library was closed, empty but for myself and the caretaker.

Very gently I began turning the old, dry, pages before me. There were no 'Contents' pages just a single page illustration of fantastical, magical beasts then straight into the first story. I recognised the title as one of the stories from long ago, when I was a child, and my parents took turns to read me bedtime stories. I glanced through it quickly noting that is differed a little to the one I remembered. The next was a story I'd not heard before and took longer to read it completely.

And so it continued, time seemed to stand still as I immersed myself in one fantastic fairy tale after another. I turned a page and there it was, my most favourite fairy tale of all. So many unanswered questions left at the end. I clearly remember demanding 'what happened next? How? Why?' of my parents only to be told 'it's a fairy tale, nothing happens next'. I gazed contentedly at the page and smiled at the memory of my childhood demands then I clearly heard a voice.

"Would Sir care to know the truth?" came the polite voice of an educated, well spoken young woman.

I looked around quickly suspecting that one of my colleagues was playing a prank on me. The room was empty save for myself. I looked back at the page before me. Something seemed to be moving in the title illustration. I looked closer. There was a young woman in the artwork, waving at me!

"Good evening," I replied equally politely seeking to hide my astonishment.

"My name is Adaliz," replied the young woman, "I was present at the time..."

Adaliz began her narrative and so began the most amazing evening of my life...

=== === ===

In a land far, far away and at a time long, long ago a little town in Saxony lost all of its children to the Pied Piper, the Harlequin, because the Burghers of the town had refused to pay him after he cleared the town of the plague of rats. We all know the story of the Pied Piper but, that evening, Adaliz told me the truth of what really happened.

The townsfolk had been demanding action from the Burghers. The Burghers were at a loss as to what they could do. In desperation they placed a bounty on the head of each rat captured and delivered to the newly appointed Rat-Meister, he, in turn threw the rat into the furnace and handed out the bounty. Unfortunately the rats that were the problem were far too quick and nimble to be caught and only those that were sick or old ended up in the furnace.

The plan was scrapped and a proclamation was sent throughout the land offering fifty pieces of silver to the person or persons that would rid the town of the vermin. Nobody stepped forward to offer their services. The reward was increased. Nobody answered the cry for help. By degrees the reward was increased until the massive sum of 1000 Gold Duckets was reached.

One fine day a strange young man presented himself at the Town Hall. His clothes were a patchwork of red and yellow cloths. He wore a long coat, from heel to head which was half of yellow and half of red. Upon his head was a soft hat, half of yellow and half of red. On his feet a red boot and on the other a yellow boot. Across his shoulder hung a bag, half of yellow and half of red. The only part of his attire that wasn't similarly coloured were the two long Peacock feathers, one on each side of his hat.

"For 1000 Gold Duckets I shall rid your town of the vermin" he announced as he strode confidently into the Town Hall.

"You?" scoffed the little clerk at the desk, "how would you propose to do that?" he asked haughtily.

"Fetch the Burghermiester, little man," retorted the Harlequin, "I'll not deal with mere minions this morn."

The Burghers were in the Great Chamber, discussing the problem when the Harlequin was ushered into their presence.

"You can rid this town of rats?" they laughed, "and how do you propose to do that? You're nothing but a clown, an entertainer, a vagabond. Be off with you and don't waste our time with your nonsense."

"I repeat," said the Harlequin quietly, "for 1000 Gold Duckets I shall rid your town of the vermin."

The Burghers consulted while giving the Harlequin furtive looks. At length the Burghermiester rose from the table.

"Harlequin," announced he, "if you can rid this town of every rat we shall pay you the promised 1000 Gold Duckets however if just one rat is left you shall receive not a single penny, agreed?"

"A single rat left or a single rat reintroduced after I have disposed of all the rats?" asked the Harlequin wisely.

"You do not trust us, Harlequin? We are the Burghers of this town! Our word is our bond! Do you accept or not?"

"I accept but I give you my word. Should you default on your debt or try to cheat me of my just reward then you shall come to rue the day. You shall realise that 1000 Gold Duckets is but a mere trifle. You have my word upon it."

So saying the Harlequin turned on his heel and strode from the chamber. The Burghers, much surprised and led by the Burghermiester, followed.

The Harlequin stood at the top of the Town Hall steps and withdrew a small pipe from his yellow and red bag. Raising it to his lips he played for a few minutes. The tune, so high in pitch it was barely audible to the human ear, soared above the town, spread out and pervaded every little nook and cranny. The high pitched tune could still be heard even after the Harlequin had ceased playing and returned the pipe to his bag of yellow and red leather.

He waited patiently ignoring the chuckling and rising laughter from the assembled Burghers and Town Hall minions. Rats began to appear, scurrying and scuttling from the doorways and alleyways. The fit and the young arrived first forsaking the wealth of food in the warehouses, granaries, kitchens and shops. They rushed into the big square that was the market place each Tuesday and Saturday and waited quietly at the foot of the Town Hall steps. And still the Harlequin waited. Mothers arrived with their babies clinging to their backs. The elderly and infirm hobbled into the square

The rapid flow of rats diminished over time until they came in ones and twos. The Harlequin continued to wait. Eventually four fit, black, young rats appeared with a large, fat brown rat sprawled across their shoulders. Their little legs bowed by the great weight. The crowd of rats parted and the four rats and their heavy burden made their way to the foot of the Town Hall steps.

"Are you the last?" the Harlequin squeaked.

"Yes, Harlequin," came the high pitched reply.

Six rats scurried off. The Harlequin ignored them and waited patiently. The rats returned after a while dragging pieces of hessian sacking. They pulled them to the front of the Town Hall. The black rats deposited the brown rat on a piece of sacking. Mothers placed their babies on others. Eventually all the pieces of sacking bore those that would not be able to keep up. Strong, young, healthy, rats lined the sides of each piece of sacking. The Harlequin drew his pipe once more and lifted it to his lips. Playing a merry tune he walked down the steps, along the cleared pathway the rats had made for him and towards the town gate. The rats followed with those dragging the laden pieces of hessian to the fore.

The town gate, usually creaky and requiring six strong men to open and close swung open easily and soundlessly. After the last rat had passed through it swung closed effortlessly. The Harlequin kept his pace steady, not wishing to create stragglers. The music was in their head and they would follow him until they would hear it no more but he didn't want to loose any due to tiredness. He stopped regularly allowing the rats dragging the hessian to swap with fresher rats and for those not so sprightly to catch up and take a breather. By degree he led them over hill and dale along magical paths, known only to himself and others of his kind, until they reached the Enchanted Forest. At the other side they came to the sea. A wide vista of blue to left and right and the horizon so far into the distance it could only be imagined. The tide was out. The Harlequin strode lightly over the damp sands towards the waters edge where a small unmanned sailing craft awaited with its little white sail flapping uselessly in the slight breeze. The water was so shallow that when the Harlequin stepped into the tiny craft the keel scraped on the sand beneath. He sat and he waited. The rats danced and played encouraged by the music in their heads.

When the Harlequin knew that all the rats were on the damp sands he raised his pipe and gathered them tight along the water's edge. The tide turned. He set his small white sail and conjured a favourable breeze. The incoming tide lifted his tiny boat from the sand and he sailed quietly and without fuss out to sea. The rats followed.

Rats are good swimmers but slowly and surely the numbers diminished as first the young and weak succumbed to the rigours of their long march and the constant battle against the incoming tide. With the tune in their head until the very moment they died even as they sank to the sea bed they struggled to follow the music. After many hours the strongest had also succumbed and no rats could be seen in any direction. The Harlequin sailed, for another hour, until he was certain that each and every rat that had been in the town had perished.

The Harlequin had been sailing in a massive arc and quickly came ashore in a little cove less than two hours from the town. He rested overnight and presented himself at the Town Hall the following morning to collect his reward.

The Burghers laughed in his face. He reminded them of their promise. They scoffed at his words. He reminded them of his promise and they chortled with mirth.

The Harlequin took a single pipe from his bag of yellow and red and stood at the top of the Town Hall steps. The first few notes summoned the Burghers. They stood in an orderly arc behind him with a clear view of the town square. The following notes soared high and explored the town, delving deep into every space. No cavity was missed. The Harlequin waited patiently. Slowly but steadily the square began to fill with all the people of the town. They stood in an orderly fashion around three sides of the square and faced the Town Hall steps where the Harlequin and the Burghers stood. The Harlequin waited patiently until he knew that all the townsfolk were present. He removed a different pipe from his bag and blew briefly. A merry tune soared out and over the townsfolk. They laughed happily. The Harlequin created two further notes from his pipe that mingled seamlessly with the tune and all the children of the town started to move through the throng until they were standing in the Town Square, where they danced joyously. Three new notes wriggled their way into the tune and all the adults stood absolutely still, fixed to the spot. The children continued to dance and the adults continued to watch unable to do anything.

=== === ===

Outside the town wall was the prettiest harlot in the district. She was with her cull who had strange but delightful needs. He required his women to be entirely naked when they were with him. He further required that they be out in the open air and, for preference, beneath to boughs of the Weeping Willow on the river bank. And that was exactly where Adaliz was, naked on the rug, her beautiful body enticing her cull as it had done every Wednesday and Sunday for the previous six months.

The baker stood at her feet his eyes traveling slowly up her elegant legs to her delicious, pink, swollen cunt where he fully intended his cock would rest within minutes. He struggled to remove his breeches as his eyes continued to drink in the whore's beauty. Her tits, full and wholesome just begged to be mauled and chewed. Her pursed lips begged to feel his hard cock between them. With his breeches off and his semi hard cock pointing directly at Adaliz's head he lowered himself to the rug and inched his cock closer to her luscious mouth. He was mere inches away from his first goal when the Harlequin's first notes wafted over the town walls and into his ear.

Without hesitation he clambered to his feet, scooped up his clothing and started to dress hurriedly. He threw a handful of coinage towards Adaliz and scampered off.

Adaliz wasn't in the least confused. Her cull had paid, that was all that mattered. She did wonder if it was that awful racket that had startled him but she gave it no further thought. She lay for a few minutes, counting her coins before delving into the underskirts of her dress for her secret pocket. Hiding the coins within she took her time and dressed. That is she pulled her dress over her head and laced up the bodice. After slipping on her shoes Adaliz was fully dressed.

You may wonder why Adaliz didn't respond to the Harlequin's call as had the baker. It was simply that although perfect in shape and form, exquisitely trained for her profession and with a mind as sharp as a razor poor Adaliz was utterly tone deaf. The most beautiful composition created by man and played by the finest orchestra in the land would sound no better than the highland pipes being played by a drunk on a Saturday night.

To Adaliz the Harlequin's music was just another annoying sound. She blocked it out completely. Rolling up the rug she tucked in under her arm and strolled slowly towards the town gate, arriving just as they swung silently open and the Harlequin strode out leading the children who danced happily behind him.

Adaliz felt compelled to press herself against the town wall, unroll the rug and hide behind it lest her pretty cream coloured dress attract unwanted attention. She waited until the last child was some 50 metres down the road then, wrapping the dull coloured rug around her shoulders, scooted down the road to catch up. The children at the end of the line seemed totally oblivious to her presence and continued to dance and cavort happily.

The Harlequin was more than a little bemused. He was perplexed and utterly shocked. He had threatened to take the town's children away, the town's future, and they had let him? What manner of people were these Burgers? Of course he couldn't have changed his mind, they would have laughed at him and he most certainly would not get paid. What on earth was he going to do with 80 children? He had no argument with any of them, not a single one. They hadn't refused to pay!

He pondered the problem as he led them over hill and through dale. The Enchanted Forest! He decided, the forest would be able to look after them while he decided his best course of action. With a jauntier step he led the children onwards until they reached the first of many magical paths they would travel down.

As he turned onto the magical path leading to the Enchanted Forest the piper sent five lonely, disjointed notes upwards where they caught the evening breeze and drifted delicately back towards the town. They didn't rush but wandered, pausing to admire a pretty vista or listen to the tune of a blackbird.

Two notes eventually reached the town and hovered over the town square. Slowly the townsfolk came back to life. They knew what had happened and rushed for the town gates to try and catch the children. The gates were locked shut and all other exits were barred by the three remaining notes. There was no escape from the town, not even through the windows in the town walls.

As the Harlequin led the children deeper into the Enchanted Forest they came upon a fork in the trail. A couple of quick notes sent the children to the right, while he carried on along the left hand path. The children, accompanied only by the Harlequin's tune in their heads and Adaliz, covertly following, continued until they came to a clearing where they danced and played happily.

Adaliz took stock of the situation. There was food aplenty, more than most of the children had ever seen. There was ample shelter and sufficient beds for all the children to sleep well and comfortably. But she could see nothing else. Glancing around at the children she realised that they were all the children of the town between the age of about six and nearly eighteen and they were all dancing and frolicking, despite many being old enough to have known better.

Adaliz realised that something had to be done if only to bring a little order to the situation and that she was probably the only one able to do that. Pushing her way through the happy children she made for the biggest table and climbed onto the top. She looked around carefully. With all the under eighteen year olds present there must be some that could be relied upon to be sensible.

Where were they?

She scanned the dancing children. Anne? Stefan? They would be perfect. Old enough to be respected, young enough to be thought of as 'one of them' and both very smart. Making her way through the crowd she reached the pair. They totally ignored her! She slapped Anne's face quite hard. She stopped dancing, blinked a couple of times then smiled.

"Hi, Adaliz!" she exclaimed happily, "err, where am I?"

Adaliz gave her a hug and told her to hang on for a moment. She turned and slapped Stefan's face and got the same reaction. She led the two teenagers towards the largest table and sat them down.

"We've got a big problem and I think we are the only ones who can sort it out, neither Anne nor Stefan had any idea where they were or how they got there. Adaliz explained and laid out her thoughts on how to keep the children happy and find a way back to the town.

Anne, a merchant's daughter and Stefan, the youngest son of a Burger, were well educated and able to suggest ideas. An hour later a plan was hatched and the two youngsters set off to organise the simpler aspects while Adaliz did a survey of the glade, checking what was available and what was required.

To her surprise she found a latrine, nothing fancy, a trench, and a plank with suitably sized holes. Exactly the same as used in and around the town for the most part. With 80 children to look after that was a massive bonus. She laughed to herself. 'I'm excited about finding a shit house???'

Nearby she found a hollowed out log, water was diverted from a little waterfall into the log and it flowed out of a hole at the far end. Adaliz chuckled, the Enchanted Forest had indeed supplied everything needed, she just had to find it.

With a much happier step she set about exploring, finding a safe pool where the children could bathe, a pump handle that when pumped produced fresh, sweet water. The river was shallow with a gentle shingle beach where the children could play if it was too hot.

Adaliz grinned happily. She realised that as she'd thought of things she needed to look for, she found them, perfectly placed. 'I just need somewhere for myself to sleep, eat and bathe,' she thought and a few minutes later she discovered exactly that. Life was certainly getting easier. Mustn't push it, stay within the bounds of reasonable and everything will be fine, she told herself.

Returning to the glade she found that everyone was eating and eating the finest of food. Even as the daughter of the Whore-master she had never seen such food. Good food, comfortable beds, everything we need? Maybe it's not such a good idea to try and find our way back to town? She considered thoughtfully.