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- [00:01]
Amanda Weldon
Hello. Welcome to Stories Podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Weldon. Today's story is called Cats and Rats, an adaptation of an Italian folktale written for you by Daniel Hines.
- [00:15]
Daniel Hines
We have Stories Podcast merch, available@storiespodcast.com shop. We're also on Cameo for all of your personalized video message needs. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram oriespodcast. If you send us a drawing of your favorite scene or character, we'll share it on our feed. Now, here's a word from our sponsors.
- [00:36]
Amanda Weldon
Thanks. Enjoy the episode Cats and Rats Once upon a time there was a traveling merchant called a peddler named Mario. He lived in a bustling city and traveled all over the country, bringing rare and useful things to all corners. His pack was always loaded, his mule strong and patient, and it seemed there was nothing he didn't possess. A clapper for an old church bell, of course, a green wax crayon for a picture of a forest. What shade of green would you like? A chess set carved of marble and ebony? Well, would you look at that. Bits and bobs and nicks and knacks. Mario had it all, and somehow more. He made plenty of money and was very generous with it, always throwing in free candies for the kids or food for a hungry family. Mario was well loved in his city and on the roads, but there was one who didn't care for Mario, not one bit. Her name was Bianca and she was a rival peddler where Mario was generous and affable, which means friendly. Bianca was greedy and ornery, which means unfriendly. Mario was always finding the perfect thing for the perfect people, and Bianca had an idea how to derail that. Mario, my friend, she said one day when they were both home in the city between trips. I've gotten word of a little town up in the hills that needs a peddler. They've found a rich vein of gold but have no one to trade it with. Wonderful, said said Mario, who liked Bianca even if she didn't like him. But why wouldn't you go up there yourself? It sounds like a fine opportunity. The truth was that Bianca had found the town alright, but she'd found it overrun by rats. She knew that if she sent Mario up there, it would be a long trip with nothing but a mess of rats as a reward. Good luck making any money that way. Of course she didn't say that to Mario. I've already been, but now my mother is sick and I must stay home and take care of her for a time but my loss is your gain. Here, let me mark it on the map for you. That's very generous, said Mario, completely unaware of the lie that is often the trouble with kind and generous people. They are kind and generous even in their readings of other people. So Mario believed Bianca and soon set off for the strange little town in the mountains. The journey took two long weeks, but he had traveled all over this country and had friends all along the way. He constantly bought and sold as he went, and though he made money, his pack never got any smaller. Finally, he arrived at the gates of the town in the mountain. Hello. He called, finding no one standing guard. He found no one at all. Actually, that was strange, because the gates were beautifully made and would surely attract thieves. Just a friendly peddler coming in. He hollered, and he pushed through the unlocked gates. Inside he found a beautiful village, sprawling with handcrafted homes and blooming gardens. It would have been the most beautiful place Mario had ever seen if it weren't for the rats. They were everywhere he looked, big, scruffy rats with crusty whiskers and grubby tails. They screeched as he got close and gnawed at the air with their long yellow teeth. Mario was just about to turn and run when he heard a voice from the top of the hill. Peddler. Called an old woman with a booming tone. Come up here, quick. She waved him towards the top of the village, where he now saw a squat little guard tower. Rats swarmed toward Mario in waves, and he figured the safest bet was to run towards the tower. Even so, he had to dodge rats along the way, skipping over them as they screeched and scrambled. Here, here. Called a young boy, opening a stout door at the base of the tower. Mario beelined it in his direction and dove through the door. The boy slammed it behind him, and a second later the rats thumped against it, scratching at the metal and stone.
- [05:12]
Vince
Rat problem?
- [05:14]
Amanda Weldon
Asked Mario, standing up and dusting himself off. He still wore his peddler's pack on his back, and he readjusted a few odds and ends. You could say that, said the boy, smiling and helping Mario. But come on upstairs and talk to my father and the sister. The sister, not your sister. You'll see, said the boy, and led Mario up a winding staircase. Outside, he could still hear the rats scratching at the wall. Finally, they emerged into a large round room full of people. It was mostly families, clustered around cots and other makeshift beds. At the far wall. A bearded man stood next to a nun. The sister, Mario said. And walked over to the pair. Thanks for the help.
- [06:06]
Vince
It's the least we could do, said.
- [06:09]
Amanda Weldon
The bearded man, who introduced himself as Vince and the nun as Sister Carlotta.
- [06:14]
Vince
Our town has been taken over. We've got nothing to trade and nothing to do. We're all hiding out in here, waiting for ships to come and take us away.
- [06:24]
Amanda Weldon
Come now, said Mario, always the optimist. We've got to be able to win your town back from some lousy rats. Some, said the nun, shaking her head. We're practically drowning in the things. I doubt you have a solution. I always have a solution, said Mario. He rummaged through his packs. How about some rat traps or bait? There are just too many for either, said Sister Carlotta. I appreciate the effort, said Vince, shaking his head sadly, but we have to.
- [06:58]
Vince
Abandon our homes and all our possessions.
- [07:02]
Amanda Weldon
He gazed dramatically out over the city.
- [07:05]
Vince
It belongs to the rats now.
- [07:08]
Amanda Weldon
Nonsense, said Mario. He went to a special part of his pack, padded and ventilated, used for transporting animals. Rest assured, he only ever did it a short distance, and he took marvelous care of them. From that special pocket in his pack, he pulled out two scruffy cats. What are those? Asked the boy, peering closely. Those are cats, said the nun, smiling. I haven't seen a cat in this village for years. That's probably why you have a rat problem, said Mario. He let the cats out of the pack and they sauntered around the room, sniffing and scratching with curiosity. That big calico is called Dr. Catford. The scruffy tom is Dexter. You can have the both of them. That's very generous, said Vince.
- [08:01]
Vince
We have nothing we can pay you with. It's all under the rats.
- [08:05]
Amanda Weldon
Well, take the cats for free, and if they work, you tell me what's fair, mario said. You've got a deal, said Vince, and they shook on it. The rest of the day Mario talked with all the people gathered in the tower. They had managed to store food, but they were woefully lacking on other basics, like toothbrushes and soap and salt and pepper. He gave out everything he could to help and spent the night in his bedroll on the floor with the rest. All the while the cats were out hunting. Dr. Catford and Dexter decimated the rat population that first night. Come morning, the nearest houses were already free. Mario agreed to spend a few days there, and the cats kept at it. They prowled through the city like ninjas, pouncing and having the time of their lives. Soon the rats all were terrified to set foot outside, and they all fled the village and its mighty cat protectors. The villagers all gathered together in their town square, and they cheered Mario and his cats.
- [09:15]
Vince
We must pay you now.
- [09:17]
Amanda Weldon
Vince cheered with the rest. Oh, it was just a couple of cats, mario said. Pay me what you will.
- [09:24]
Vince
You may not have known because of all the furry little miscreants, but we do well for ourselves here.
- [09:31]
Amanda Weldon
In gold? Mario asked, remembering what Bianca had told him sadly. We have no gold, vince said, but his eyes were twinkling.
- [09:41]
Vince
But we have some spices that are treasured and grow well in these hills. Pepper and cardamom and others. We'll find the empty spaces in your pack and you'll turn a pretty prophet back in the city.
- [09:55]
Amanda Weldon
Well, said Mario, all smiles, how could I say no to that? He took the spices and left the cats for the people. They bid him to come visit anytime and cheered him as he set back down the mountain with his peddler's pack. After a bit of travel and trading, Mario made it home to the city with his wallet much heavier than when he left. How was your trip, Mario? Bianca asked. She was already sneering, knowing he must have taken one look at the flood of rats and run home empty handed. Oh, it was great, mario said, still assuming the best from Bianca. Even after the rats. They had a little rodent problem, but I solved it. You misheard about the gold, but that's okay. They had a treasure trove of spices, and I made good coin trading them back down the road. You. You solved the rat problem and you made money. That's right, said Mario, heading home to rest. Thanks again. Hope your mom's doing okay. Bianca was left standing in the street, fuming mad. Mario did better than her, even when she tried to sabotage him. It was infuriating. That's it, she said to herself. I'm going to that village and I'm going to get an even better haul and make even more money. She packed up quickly and set off that very night. A short trip later and she came to the gates of the town, now guarded once more.
- [11:27]
Vince
Who goes there?
- [11:29]
Amanda Weldon
Bianca, she said. I'm a peddler here to see your leader. A peddler? The guard said, his face lighting up.
- [11:39]
Vince
We love peddlers here. Do you know Mario?
- [11:43]
Amanda Weldon
Mario is an old friend of mine, she said through gritted teeth. Then come on in, he said, and the gate swung open. Bianca stormed through and made her way through the streets. Everywhere people stopped her to try and trade odds and ends like Mario, but she brushed them off. I have bigger fish to fry, she said, leaving them grumbling in her wake. Finally she made her way to the squat tower where Vince was talking with Sister Carlotta.
- [12:15]
Vince
A peddler.
- [12:16]
Amanda Weldon
He called when she approached.
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Vince
Welcome, welcome.
- [12:20]
Amanda Weldon
Bianca smiled and shook their hands. Im a friend of Mario's, she said. I heard you left him loaded with treasure, and he said I had to pay you a visit. I brought many fine silks and paintings and luxuries of that sort.
- [12:36]
Vince
Oh, we don't need anything like that, said Vince. But we would never send a friend of Mario's home empty handed. Please spend the night in our tower here and we'll give you a great gift tomorrow.
- [12:50]
Amanda Weldon
Bianca agreed and was hardly able to sleep that night. She was so excited about the gift they'd give her. She knew they loaded Mario's pack full of rare spices and she'd left a lot of room in her pack so she'd take advantage if she got the same opportunity. Greedy as always, she fell asleep dreaming of riches. The next morning she went to Vince and Sister Carlotta. They were standing by the gate, smiling, with a large box between them. Good morning, said the nun. We thought long and hard, and we believe we've given you the best treasure we have. Open the box, vince added with a smile. Bianca rushed to the box, expecting riches within, but when she opened it, there were only two small fuzzy balls. What in the? One of the balls stretched up and blinked at her, and the other rolled over sleepily. It was kittens. Two little kittens curled up asleep in a blanket. These are two of the kittens that Mario's cats had. They've had a litter and another is on the way. They're just about the sweetest animals you'll see, and they're useful at keeping away rodents too. Bianca had no choice but to thank them and excuse herself, setting off back towards home. She wanted to yell at them about not loading her with spices, but that wouldn't help at all, so she just grumbled to herself. As she walked from inside the box, the kittens started to make little noises. She paused to unsling the box and peek in on them. They looked up at her with big eyes and meowed. She scowled at them, but they were pretty cute, and she paused to give them some milk. Okay, you little rascals, she said, but softly, I guess you need names. I didn't get the spices I wanted, so I'm naming you Cardamom and you Pepper so I can call this trip a success. And on the journey back to the city, something amazing happened. Bianca's greed started to thaw the little kittens just seemed to melt her heart and she soon had them riding in her lap, feeding them the best bites of all her meals. By the time she got back to Mario, she was a different person. The greed was gone and she had love in her heart. Love for two little kittens that had ultimately come from Mario. I just wanted to thank you, she said to Mario when she got back. I've got two kittens that came from your pair in the village. Of course, mario said. Say, I've got some cat toys in my back. Would you like to trade a little? That sounds great, bianca said, smiling and letting the kittens out to play. And from that day on, Mario and Bianca were fast friends and Bianca learned to care for others, even if she did always prefer cats to people. The End Today's story Cats and Rats was an adaptation of an Italian folktale written for your by Daniel Hines. It was edited and produced for you by Andrew Martin and performed for you by me, Amanda Weldon.
- [16:15]
Daniel Hines
If you would like to support Stories podcast, you can leave us a five star review on itunes. Check out all of our merch available@storiespodcast.com Shop Commission a special video on Cameo. Follow us on Instagram oriespodcast or simply tell your friends about us.
- [16:30]
Amanda Weldon
In case you missed it, Dan and.
- [16:32]
Daniel Hines
I have a new show on Stories rpg. We play games just like Starsworn with all your Max Goodname, friends and Gigacity Guardians featuring the brilliant Firefly. Click the link in the episode description or go to patreon.com storiesrpg to get ad free episodes, play along games and coloring books. We've already got a bunch of episodes over there so check them out now.
- [16:56]
Amanda Weldon
Thanks for listening.