In glorious Hamelin, life flows peacefully: the city is mired in sins, the rich fill their chests with gold, and the poor live from hand to mouth. Red-haired orphan Mirella grew up in an orphanage and works as a water carrier in the city. Hard work and hardship have strengthened Mirella’s will - she knows her worth and knows how to stand up for herself. A sensitive and compassionate girl helps even those who are lower than her on the social ladder - children and lepers who have accepted their lot and submitted to those who are higher and stronger. But Mirella does not want to bow her head and submit to the will of others. And when hordes of rats come to the city, followed by a plague in the guise of a stranger in black, Mirella discovers an extraordinary gift in herself and learns the secret of her origin. French writer Flore Vesco writes novels for children and teenagers in the historical-fiction genre with a considerable amount of irony and humor. The famous legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin takes on a new meaning in her work. This is the first translation of Flor Vesco into Russian. Vendredi Award (2019), Sorcières Award (2020), Imaginales Award (2020).