Terra Nova Research Base, Antarctica.
RAIN-8629: “Hamlin’s Pied Pipe”.
Published in 1923 [update made in 1982]
This one is from before our tenure at the Falcon-Scott Base. The Hamlin’s pied pipe belonged to the obviously-named Pied Piper of Hamlin, and it is known for being the artefact responsible for the disappearance of the plague-infested rats and children of the aforementioned city in the Year of Our Lord, 1284.
From what we could piece together from the poorly maintained archival records from Sophia and their Artefact collection, the pied pipe went from melomaniac to melomaniac up until ended up at the Garnier Opera House in 1879. It was the main cause for an impromptu mob fleeing from the palace and materialize themselves at the center of Paris and almost provoked a rebellion against the Emperor Napoleon III.
The members of the retrieval team, Alice Athenida and Jules Gabriel Verne, found themselves falling in and out of conscience while hearing the music. This was, apparently, one of the last missions made by both of them. Ms. Athenida would continue working with Sophia until the late 1900s, when she would disappear during the Great War; and Mr. Verne would return to Amiens following an issue with an artefact-related injury in the following year of this retrieval. Both, however, were part of the most proficient generation the Sophia Artefact Collection had, and it wouldn’t be until after the establishment of our base that their numbers would be surpassed.
As it usually happens with the most powerful mind-controlling artefacts, the person who activated it in the first place really had no idea what was going on. It was one of the members of the orchestra, and was the decision of the conductor to use the old dusty pipe as part of the wind instruments for that particular composition. We suppose it activated with the obligation, pent-up anger, and the traditional discomfort of the Belle Epoque Mr. Hugo was so kind to point out in his book the size of a small fridge.
With artefacts like the pipe, however, is not just the retrieval of the artefact itself what is an issue, but how to revert its effects on the people around it. Most case scenarios, the issue would be quickly solved by breaking the artefact in a way it couldn’t be used again; but the nature of our work forbids the use of unmeasurable force in any kind of damaging attempt against the object we swore to regain from the public spotlight. In those events, we use a countermove design by Ms. Athenida which consist in reverse maneuver the artefact to revert its effects. As an expert flutist, Alice was able to play the entire piece backwards, so the people not just broke from the controlling spell, but also made their way back to the Garnier Palace and to their seats before doing so.
Nonetheless, the artefact never made its way to Sophia, since it was stolen from the cargo train it was used for transportation of more than a dozen artefacts. We are not sure yet who stole the artefacts and all but three of them were recovered in the following years. Pythagoras’ rod, the pied pipe, and Charlemagne’s sword are still missing from the Archives and the Base. The Card Catalog can’t update information about them because we haven’t got an update on them in 44 years.
[Update: 1982]
The artefact reappeared after this inconclusive report was annexed to the Archives. It was responsible of a series of child craze incidents while it was on the hands of animator, entrepreneur and, later, businessman, Walter Elias “Walt” Disney. It took a few premiers of his movies in the 1950s for us to figure out which artefact he was using, but it was painfully clear when not just children, but adults alike, made their way to the inauguration of his park.
However, during his opening speech, something happened.
“To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past…and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America…with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”
After he finished his speech, and was descending the stairs of the podium, someone bumped into him and, as our knowledge goes, stole the pipe from his vest. As far as our knowledge goes, Hamlin’s Pied Pipe is again missing.
Ariel Bonheur, Chief Archivist
Attached note from the Overseer’s Office.
Ariel,
I haven’t censored this entry yet, given its update in the last half decade according to the guidelines we’ve spoken about. But I just finished a conversation with Mr. Athenida on the phone, who told me a friend of his, whom I refer to as “Ronnie”, is in possession of the Pipe. He is sending it through the usual channels, and is deeply sorry took him so long to come forward, but needed it for personal purposes.
Fully aware that doesn’t disqualify him of our traditional methods, but Mr. Athenida said he’ll deal with him. I assume that’s enough for us. He also asked for this not to be included in the official report, though I thought you should know about it.
Kind regards,
R.
October 26, 1985.
PS. I was thinking on having a movie night for the crew tomorrow, I could use your input.
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