It Happened on a Full Moon Night | by Marianna Vogt

Ragnar, who was of short stature, peeled potatoes for supper in Kyburg Castle's kitchen. He was the subject of the castle lord, Lieutenant Colonel Ulrich von Wagner. A delegation from the canton of Zurich was expected to admire the lord's immense painting collection. Ragnar had already finished peeling a bucket full of potatoes and had processed half of the second tub. Maid Margarete sat opposite him, plucking a chicken. She glanced over at Ragnar and asked, horrified, "Ragnar, what kind of crooked things have you been up to again? The traces of torture are still clearly visible on your arms."
"Oh, Margarete, you know Wagner. He enjoys condemning me, the short Ragnar, to fetch water. Only with the greatest effort can I operate the large wheel at the well and pull the water-filled kettle up. Recently, I was so angry about it that I put a portion of snails from the grave of the Polish Count Saboski in his bed. For this deed, he locked me in the torture chamber for a day. I received twenty lashings, one for each snail. But I bravely endured all this pain."
Margarete, who had listened attentively to Ragnar's words, smiled hesitantly: "Bravo Ragnar. I hope he was really scared, that monster of a man. He always torments me too, by making me pluck and cook half-dead chickens. He knows exactly how much I love animals and that I don't eat meat. I'd love to do something bad to him too." Margarete was shocked by her words and covered her mouth with her hand.

"Margarete?"

"Yes, Ragnar?"
"Would you be willing to team up with me? I want Wagner to be truly, horribly scared. For this deed, I am prepared to take more lashings."
"What do you ask of me, Ragnar?"

"That you support me in my endeavor and warn me when Wagner comes to the armory. As soon as he is in the hall, you must quickly scatter the snails on the stairs leading to the courtroom. I will deposit them in a bucket under the stairs at nightfall!"
"And how is that supposed to work without him noticing? He's such a sly rogue, he notices everything."

"That evening, you will clean the stairs for once, and when Wagner is near you and walks towards the armory, you will have a coughing fit."
"But... what do you want in the armory? Not...?" Margarete turned pale.
"No, no, not what you think, Margarete. I won't tell you my plan. You'll see when the time comes."
Margarete narrowed her eyes and thought about Ragnar's plan. Finally, she replied: "Alright, I'll be your accomplice in your wicked deed, Ragnar. I just hope everything goes well."
"Don't worry, Margarete, you can count on me. In three days it will be a full moon, and Wagner will once again experience a sleepless, and this time hopefully unforgettable, full moon night. Be at the stairs promptly at nine o'clock and help me with my plan."

"Yes, Ragnar, I will."

It had rained a lot during the past few days. The 'snail garden' was overflowing with mollusks. As the full moon night grew dark, Ragnar went to the designated spot. At the sight of the many snails, he rubbed his hands with joy. First, he filled the bucket, then he collected more creatures, which he put into his leather bag. This would serve his purpose in the armory. When he was finished, he sneaked back into the castle. He deposited the bucket under the first staircase, as agreed with Margarete. With the bag, he went into the armory. Very carefully, he opened the door to the 'Iron Maiden'. At the sight of the torture device, an icy shiver ran down his spine. Ragnar quickly impaled a snail on each nail. Then he hid behind a knight's armor and waited. When he heard Margarete coming, he poked his head out of the armory door and nodded benevolently at her. Then everything happened very quickly. Ragnar poured the chicken blood, which Margarete had slipped to him in a cup during her last kitchen duty, onto the floor. Then he ducked down and cautiously crawled into the 'Iron Maiden' so that he would not hurt himself on the thorns. Ragnar's short stature helped him with this endeavor, as he found enough space to sit below the spikes. Just as Ragnar pulled the statue's door shut a little, he heard Margarete cough.
"Well, Margarete, what are you doing here at this hour?" The lieutenant colonel looked at his watch in surprise. "Go to your chamber. You can clean the stairs tomorrow," he said, pointing with his outstretched hand towards the exit. He was surprised and somewhat confused as he entered the armory.
"Oh dear God!" Ulrich von Wagner shook his head and looked horrified at the floor. "Where did this blood come from, and who left the door to the 'Iron Maiden' ajar?" Lieutenant Colonel Ulrich von Wagner stood in front of the torture instrument. Hesitantly, he opened the door and saw the impaled snails. He clasped his hands over his head and turned deathly pale. Then he took a step backward and almost fell over his own feet. At that moment, Ragnar let out a bloodcurdling scream. His voice cracked within the walls of the 'Iron Maiden', and the lieutenant colonel was scared to death. He wanted to scream, but his voice failed him. As fast as he could, Ulrich von Wagner ran out of the hall and down the stairs. In his haste, he slipped on the snails Margarete had laid out and tumbled down the steps. Wailing, he sat on the floor, clutching his aching head. Meanwhile, Ragnar cautiously crawled out of the 'Iron Maiden' and ran after Wagner. However, the latter had already gotten up and fled to his chamber.

Since this terrible event, Lieutenant Colonel Ulrich von Wagner never left his chamber on full moon nights to wander around. He also refrained from punishing Ragnar, for he feared his other possible acts of terror.

Written by: Marianna Vogt

Instagram: @mary_switzerland