Marina Sciascia Ingeborg Rat Trapper. Many secrets and ancient legends keeps the old London. A lot of mystery is lurking in the shadow of crumbling, moss-covered buildings and ancient ruined city stone. And only old ivy, as in time before, keeps these away from prying eyes. This ancient legend was told to me by Margaret. A nice old woman heard it from her old grandmother, and willingly shared this old family story. Once upon a time outside the town lived a blacksmith named Ingeborg. He lived alone, and no one knew where he came from. He was unsociable and vicious and without any friends. And the people came to him: some to shoe a horse, some to make a castle granary, others to procure a hook to hang on the door. He was a loner with a scary face, and his eyes sometimes gleamed red lights. Or, it was a reflection of the forge? ... His work was done well, but people who paid off, were in a hurry to leave the forge. That year, when it happened, turned out to be one with a very poor harvest. Crop-urban barns were filled barely half with wheat. The city streets were full of mud and debris. People were poor, and London was drowning in filth. Slop and the contents of chamber pots poured into the street. Often, passers-by did not have time to dodge the rainy sewage, and it rained right on the head. And then, rats came to town. Of course, they always were located in London. But such a huge amount, even the old-timers couldn't remember. Malevolent creatures burrowing walls outside of the houses, which were built of wood and covered with clay, and thusly penetrating to the chambers, to dine on the host's meager supplies. Hungry rats were dragging everything they could get. The city experienced panic. It was said that somewhere a child was rat-bitten. Was it so or not, nobody knew for sure. But a week later, on a street there was found a female corpse mutilated by disease. The plague came into the city. A scary wagon with the corpses of citizens constantly traveled around the city, collecting the tribute, illuminated by torches that were carried by the lepers. A noise of rattles would alert residents of approaching vehicles, forcing chill to those who were not yet ill. It seems there was no house that was not visited by the plague: almost every door was already marked by a chalk cross. Behind closed, tightly shuttered doors there was heard a bloodcurdling scream, as it gave up its soul to the Lord, another sufferer, someone's husband, son, wife, or daughter ... The corpses were taken out of the city and burnt, and the streets were covered by the ominous darkness of smoke creeping from burning corpses. The King announced the decree to gather all citizens who still were healthy, to kill rats. But it turned out to be not so many brave ones ... However, four of them pursued a large rat who ran to the old abandoned mill on the outskirts of the city. And they saw how the creature managed to dive quickly into a huge hole, it is unknown how it could happen, which had appeared under the foundation of the mill. And checking where the strike occurred, the brave ones were never to be found. But the next day, the blacksmith Ingeborg, volunteered to torment the rats. The King shook his head, but gave his consent. In the evening, there was the blacksmith with his whip and with an iron knob in his hand. During the next day, the townspeople noticed that the amount of rats darting fearlessly through the streets had decreased. Ingeborg, the Smithy, appeared accompanied by a huge, tall as a lap dog, black rat, and in its eyes were clearly visible a red tint which was not a reflection of the forge .... The evening came, and the blacksmith again took to the streets of the city. This night resounded was a terrible wind. It was howling in the narrow streets like a distraught father over the corpse of his son. What was going on that night, was hard to describe. Everyone who could pray, prayed, children were crying with fear. Suddenly, there was a shriek, as if hundreds of crazed banshee screamed in one cry, and then all became quiet. Just one curious soul, Jack Bloodslurper, butcher, whose shop was near the gate, heard a wild shriek, could not restrain himself and stuck his head out the door. What he saw, he did not forget till the end of his life. And this is what he saw. Past his doors stretched a carpet, but looking closely, he realized that this carpet was composed of countless hordes of rats, which extended up to the abandoned mill. The terrible hole in the foundation was lit from the inside, and the whole rat stream rushed in and was lost in it. Then, he saw the blacksmith Ingeborg, rushing at full speed, toward the flow in the rats, and as it seemed at first, sitting on a big black dog who ran from side by side. And then, remembering it all, Jack Bloodslurper began to realize that the smithy was riding on huge rats! And all of this wild horde, with noise, howling and squealing, flew into the hole under the mill. At the same instant, the mill was split into two parts and escaping from it came a huge shower of sparks, and then all extinguished. Bloodslurper crashed to the ground, and even though he was no shy one, he laid trembling next to his door until the break of dawn. And behold, the next day, the city did not see any trace of rats. And once again plague victims are no longer to be detected. Those who were curious and bolder, after hearing Jack Bloodslurper's story, decided to look at the old mill themselves. But ... where it formerly stood was a circle of burned coal, even all traces of the foundation stone was gone. The huge hole was not in sight! Yes, it was a long time ago... And the old mill stood at the east wall, well ... you remember, of course, these ruins... Now there is a shop there selling souvenirs for tourists. A blacksmith has since started calling Ingeborg the Rat Trapper. Just... just say that on the ruins of the east wall, on a cold winter night, you can clearly see the shadow of a man with a whip in his hand, and next to him, a shadow of a big rat. They say Ingeborg Rat Trapper protects the city from the invasion of rats ... But maybe the rats are hiding in a cave, waiting in the wings to throw at London all horror .... Well, okay, let's have tea!