PIPER

    So you want to know about the Piper, young one?  I've not been asked about
him in many a season...there are younger and healthier tellers of tales to ask
if you want to know.  And yet, each have their own ideas and passions that
influence the telling...Ah, I see by your expression you know whereof I speak.
Ha, that's why you've come to me, is it?  I've seen so much that the fires of
my soul burn a little dimmer, and at least I know my eyes are clouded.  Yes,
even me.  It's a sad truth, but as the Piper lived a long, long time ago, all
we have to remember him by are stories about stories, twisted by years of
telling.  Sure, I can try and tell how I think it really happened, correcting
for the years of little white lies...But the 'truth' may not exist any more.
A sad fact, but one you must learn to deal with.
    Still here, then?  Good.  I sense that you have a sharp mind.  Perhaps you
can learn to see as I do.  Remember, those who know what they do not know are
wise.
    Now, what was it you wanted to hear about again?  Ah, the Piper, of
course.  What other story could it be?  No, don't bother trying to answer,
young one.
    Well.  The Piper lived many, many long years ago.  At that time it is
speculated that we were not as we are now...Less thinking, more scurrying and
scavenging.  Not much more than beasts.  Although some would say that we were
placed on this earth set apart from the other animals, at the beginning of
time.  In a sense, it doesn't really matter.
    What do I think?  An interesting question.  I believe that we have learned
and changed over the years.  Our history shows us that much, at least.
    Ah, but that is the only answer I can give.  Now be quiet.  Where was I?
Oh, of course...
    The Piper.  He came to us in our youth, wishing to live with us and learn
our ways.  There have been others who have done so, through the years, but he
was the first.  The first human to come and live with us.
    And who is the one telling this story, young one?  That's right.  If you
don't like the manner of my telling, you don't have to listen.
    That's better.  Now...the Piper lived with us as we lived.  Scrounging and
scavenging for food and trinkets, assembling his garments from scraps found in
the humans' refuse.  Running with us in our warrens, and playing tunes at our
celebrations.
    For that is how he got his name, from his musical pipe.  Ah, you weren't
aware of that, were you?  You thought it was just a collection of sounds, what
we call him?  Not at all.  While his true name is forever lost, 'Piper' is all
we really needed to call him.  As I'm sure you know.
    And indeed he was the finest musician we had ever known.  Some say he was
the first we ever knew, and in fact taught us to play and dance and sing.  And
some go even further, saying that he was the one who taught us all the crafts
and practices we hold dear.
    Yes, the religious orders say all this.  I see I need say no more of them.
    In any case, we taught the Piper much, and he taught us much.  And then,
as you know, he betrayed us.
    ...What?  Oh, I'm sorry.  I was just watching...Every time this story is
told, this is the point where listeners pay the most attention.  It is a
curious combination of discomfort and rapt concentration...I ramble, forgive
me.
    On with the story.  The Piper betrayed us.  He said his time with us was
finished, and he wished to seek out the company of his own kind again.  We
begged him not to leave, as he was dear to us, and we knew the humans were
dishonest, tricky creatures.  Little did we know how accurate this warning
was.
    The Piper went back to his human brethren, and told them he would rid
their city of all of us and our little cousins.  He wanted some form of
status, acclaim, some exchange--yes, that's the word, money.  He asked the
city for money, in order to lead us away.  And the humans foolishly agreed,
perhaps not believing such a thing was possible.
    So the Piper used the songs we had taught him, and a little magic of his
own.  At least, that is how I see it.  He cast a spell on all the people in
the city, and led us away.  It must have been an incredible sight, and I
regret that my words are inadequate to convey such an image...But thousands of
us must have been there, walking along behind the ragged musician.
    And then there is a curious branching of the story.  Some hold that the
Piper simply led the people to another area, letting them resettle.  A happy,
fairy tale ending.  Yes, you are correct, I personally do not believe this is
what occurred.  The darker version of the story says that all those led away
by the Piper were killed.  Yes, it is an awful thing to contemplate, a
disaster of unimaginable proportions...Murder on an incomprehensible scale.  I
have tried to comprehend it myself, for many years...Ah, I ramble again.
    The important fact is that one the Piper had taken care of our people,
through trickery or genocide, whichever it was, and now went back to the
humans to ask for his--yes, money, that's it.  To ask for his money...But the
humans refused.  Yes, tricky creatures they were...They saw no reason to
uphold their end of the bargain, as they had already gained much.
    At this point the Piper's eyes were opened, and he realized the scale of
what he had done.  I like to think it was the words of the people that rang in
his ears, warning him that humans were dishonest and deceitful.  But who can
say what he thought?  In any case, he decided to return to us and attempt to
make amends for what he had done.
    I cannot imagine the uproar this must have caused.  So many emotions must
have fueled the resulting arguments--betrayal, grief, anger...Most tellings
gloss over this section of the story, with good reason; It is impossible to
convey the meaning of such events, it is too much for the mind to grasp.  Or
if there is a teller who can manage it, I have not met them.
    So.  Eventually the Piper decided to do all that he could to make up for
his betrayal.  And what he came up with was quite something, to say the least.
    The Piper went to the human city, and wove another musical, magical
enchantment.  This time it was the young of the humans who heard the call, and
followed.  Every one of them, slipping free of their parents or sneaking out
at night, somehow managing to escape.  Hm, yes, you may be right; some of the
young might have been prevented from leaving.  Nevertheless, all the tales say
that a great tide of human--children, yes, that's the word I was looking for,
all followed the Piper out of the city.
    And for the humans, this was a devestating tragedy.  Worse, in my opinion,
than simple destruction, as the humans had to watch the future they were
nurturing slip from their fingers.  Yes, it is rather cruel, now that you
mention it.  Perhaps you should think about that.
    And what did the Piper do with these children?  Some dark souls whisper
that he simply killed them as well, but most say that the Piper brought the
children back to us, for us to raise as our own.  The first of the so-called
changelings, who grew loyal to us and combining the features of ourselves and
the humans.  It is from them that we truly gained the power of human speech,
as their blood was mingled with ours...
    Yes, I know what the religions say about speech.  As I keep telling you,
this is how I tell the story, hm?  That's right.
    Well...that will be the end of the story.  That's all I have to tell.  I
hope it afforded you another perspective on this tale, which is so important
to our people.
    Yes, you're welcome, young one.  You're welcome.  Now run along...I am
tired and must rest...


=====

by John Evans
jevans@alum.mit.edu

The Sunburst Project, Week 9
http://www.chaoseed.com/btr/sbp/
5/25/00