The Last Fables and Fantasies: Fables and Fantasies, #3

By Dale T. Phillips

In this, the final volume of the Fables and Fantasies collections, we have a number of dark tales: a twisted version of an old fairy tale, a fantastic ride that does not end where the rider thought, horrible creatures from a legendary world of monstrosity, a terrifying clown in a macabre fantasy setting, and a hunt where the tables are turned, by a creature of myth. These fantasies remind us that evil things can lurk in the dark, and our choices should keep us on lighted paths. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Genretarium Publishing
• Release date: Jun 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201023126

Dale T. Phillips

A lifelong student of mysteries, Maine, and the martial arts, Dale T. Phillips has combined all of these into the Zack Taylor series. His travels and background allow him to paint a compelling picture of a man with a mission, but one at odds with himself and his new environment. A longtime follower of mystery fiction, the author has crafted a hero in the mold of Travis McGee, Doc Ford, and John Cain, a moral man at heart who finds himself faced with difficult choices in a dangerous world. But Maine is different from the mean, big-city streets of New York, Boston, or L.A., and Zack must learn quickly if he is to survive. Dale studied writing with Stephen King, and has published over 70 short stories, non-fiction, and more. He has appeared on stage, television (including Jeopardy), and in an independent feature film. He co-wrote and acted in a short political satire film. He has traveled to all 50 states, Mexico, Canada, and through Europe. He can be found at www.daletphillips.com

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Copyright © 2022 Genretarium Publishing

Cover Design copyright 2022 Melinda Phillips

All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events is coincidental.

Always Pay the Piper was first published in Fungi, Summer, 2013

Try these other works by Dale T. Phillips

Shadow of the Wendigo (Supernatural Thriller)

Locust Time (Suspense)

Neptune City (Mystery)

The Zack Taylor Mystery Series

A Memory of Grief

A Fall From Grace

A Shadow on the Wall

A Certain Slant of Light

A Sharp Medicine

Story Collections

Fables and Fantasies (Fantasy)

More Fables and Fantasies (Fantasy)

Crooked Paths (Mystery/Crime)

More Crooked Paths (Mystery/Crime)

The Last Crooked Paths (Mystery/Crime)

More Crooked Paths (Mystery/Crime)

Strange Tales (Magic Realism, Paranormal)

Apocalypse Tango (Science Fiction)

Halls of Horror (Horror)

Jumble Sale (Different Genres)

The Big Book of Genre Stories (Different Genres)

DEDICATION

For Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch, for their years of hard work, and the passing on of useful knowledge and inspiration.

CONTENTS

Dedication

For Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch, for their years of hard work, and the passing on of useful knowledge and inspiration.

Always Pay the Piper

IT'S AN OUTRAGE, CRIED the Marburg, head of the council. These damn pestilent rats are everywhere, devouring our food, devouring everything.

We must do something, agreed the Burgomeister. But I caution us against being too hasty...

The time for caution is past, a loud voice interrupted. I found one of them in my stein of beer this morning.

More voices chimed in with stories of the scourge. Rats biting farm animals, rats on dinner tables, as bold as brass, rats scurrying over sleeping people.

We must take action, and hire the man, said Hans, standing up to be heard over the din. Had we done so two weeks ago, as was suggested, we could be through this pestilence by now.

Ah, Clever Hans, said the Burgomeister. Had we but listened to you. A bit of laughter broke out, for the Burgomeister loved to dig at his council rival, diminishing Hans with the character name taken from old folk tales.

Hans put on a smile. Indeed, Burgomeister, you should have, for you would have got him for a much better price. It will cost far more of your precious silver to get him now, and we all know how dearly you love your coin. Even more than the blacksmith loves his beer, swimming rat or no.

More laughter spilled from the men.

Easy for you to talk of spending silver, the Burgomeister replied. You have but one other mouth to feed, even if she is deaf...

Leave my daughter out of this, said Hans, feeling a cold fury begin to rise within him. Indeed you have a large number of relations that you support, but I confess, Burgomeister, I see none of them going hungry, unlike many in this village. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Voices broke out, and the Burgomeister rose, his cheeks red with anger. The Marburg hammered a gavel for order. Silence! Enough, both of you. We have no time for this. He looked around the room. I confess, Burgomeister, I don't like it either, but I can see no other recourse. We waited, as you counseled, but more rats pour in every day, as they do in the surrounding towns. The man says he can drive them from the town for a price. Nothing else has been effective. I say we vote on whether or not to pay him to rid ourselves of the vermin.

Is there no other way? Someone else called. You all know it was a bad harvest, and we will need seed next year. The Burgomeister is not the only one to want our coin safe within our own coffers.

There were many murmurs of assent to this, and Hans spoke once more. "If you would prefer to eat your silver, then do so. Or eat the rats themselves. For soon that is all we will have. All the coin in the vaults won't buy you a crust of bread, if