The Chief unbuttons his uniform.
“Oooh, it’s hot in here. Please drink your tea or it’ll get cold. Now would you please tell me about the car that suddenly flew into the air.”
“We don’t know anything about it. We didn’t see it.”
“That’s bad. Everyone has testified unanimously that the car was speeding straight toward you. A car is not exactly the size of a pin – you could hardly have failed to notice it, could you?”
“We were embarrassed and scared.”
“What were you so embarrassed about, and why were you scared?”
“About the fact that we were walking in such a bizarre way.”
“So who told you to walk in a bizarre way?”
“It all happened so suddenly. One moment we were chatting, then suddenly someone seemed to be pushing us and calling us rude names.”
“Who was it?”
“We don’t know. We did our best to get away.”
“From whom?”
“We don’t know.”
“How can you not know who you’re running away from? Was it a man or a woman? Was it someone young or old? Would you recognize them?”
The Chief presses a secret bell, and the secretary comes in again.
“Send a car to the Eastern Station. And call the Post Office – they’ve been sent two cages full of pigeons. We don’t know if the telephones will be working tomorrow, so the pigeons could be useful. And tell my wife I won’t be home tonight – ask them to bring me a pillow and a blanket. And summon that baker’s boy.”
The baker’s boy comes in.
“Do you know these ladies?”
“No, sir, I don’t mix with that kind of person.”
“But do you recognize them?”
“And how! Those are the freaks! I almost dropped a tray of cakes in the mud when I saw them. Occasionally somebody bumps into me because they’re staring at something and plodding along like they’re blind. But they clearly did it on purpose . . .”
“And did you see the flying car?”
“Everyone saw it. How could I fail to? I’ve got eyes. I wasn’t looking up because I had the tray balanced on my head, but when it took off into the air . . .”
“So, ladies, what do you say to that?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s bad. I’ll note that you refuse to make a statement and are obstinately keeping silent.”
“Your Worship, we are not in the least bit obstinate. We were just talking about the dentist, and about the summer holiday trip we’ll be taking together.”
“Would you please give me the dentist’s address.”
“I don’t know what he’s called, but he’s very handsome – he has such dreamy eyes.”
The secretary comes in.
“OK, the boy can go home,” says the Chief. “Take these two dames to the examining magistrate. Then remove this telephone. And no one’s to come in here until five o’clock. You understand: absolutely no one. Unless there’s a real emergency. Now I must get some rest. Good night, ladies.”
“Mr. Chief, please take a look at the cotton wool wad in my tooth,” says one of them.
“Show the magistrate. There, it’s all signed.”
And out they go.
The Chief undoes the last of his uniform buttons, flops onto the couch, and covers himself with the blanket. At once he’s snoring.
Three times Kaytek has tried to make everyone forget it all. It had worked that time with the bikes at school, so why shouldn’t it work now?
But unfortunately they hadn’t forgotten. They could still remember everything.
“I thought up a lot of dreadful things. I’ve terrified the whole city and injured people, horses, cats and dogs. I’ve done some stupid things in the past too. I teased the watchman and the storekeepers. I got into fights and I accosted those girls. In those days I was just a regular, annoying little boy, but a wizard can’t act like a clown or a hooligan. I have to find a solution. I can’t go on like this. I have to find a solution or it could end badly.”
It could end very badly.
There are notices posted at the street corners saying:
The Police call on the public to remain calm. Citizens are requested not to gather in crowds, as to do so will obstruct the arrest of the evildoer. There is a reward of 500 zlotys for his capture.
“I’ve gotten myself into a fine pickle,” thinks Kaytek. “Now I’m an evildoer.”
The newspaper headlines are printed in enormous letters, saying:
WILL THE GOVERNMENT SUPPRESS THE MADMAN?
GANG OF SPIES ARRESTED
CHANGING THE CLOCKS ALMOST CAUSES TRAIN CRASH
BRAVE CROSSING GUARD AND COURAGEOUS ENGINEER AVERT DISASTER!
And further on:
LIST OF CASUALTIES IN ATTEMPT TO BLOW UP BRIDGE
And finally:
MYSTERY PATIENT IN CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
“That mystery patient must be me,” guesses Kaytek, because it also says that at one of the schools in Warsaw there was recently a mass poisoning caused by an unidentified gas. The school had been closed and disinfected. The school janitor had made a statement to the police. One school student fell sick afterward with a strange kind of flu. He was found in a ditch outside the city and was treated at one of the hospitals.
All this was described rather vaguely, but the newspaper warned its readers that it couldn’t write more or it would obstruct the investigation, saying: “In view of the ongoing inquiries, that is all we can print.”
Kaytek even finds an echo of yesterday’s incidents in the small ads:
Lost: female dog, white with black patches. Reward offered for her return.
Lost: Trusty the poodle. 50 zlotys reward.
Tiger the cat has abandoned his mistress. 20 zlotys reward for news of him.
“I’ve brought it on myself,” mutters Kaytek bitterly. “They’re hunting me for a reward, like a dog or a cat. Maybe I shouldn’t go to school? Better send the lookalike? But I want to know what happens. What can they do to me, anyway? I’m a wizard.”
Just outside school, he thinks of a good solution. “Whatever spell I cast, only make it work if I repeat the command twice,” he thinks. “Then it won’t just be the first thing that enters my head. I have an impetuous nature, but this way I’ll be able to stop and think.”
Feeling completely calm now, Kaytek goes into the classroom.
At school no one’s talking about postage stamps, or photos, or the new show at the circus, or the latest soccer match, but only about yesterday’s events.
One kid saw the bridge go up, another saw a rabid dog, and another was in the Royal Park. Some of them are telling the truth, others are lying and showing off.
There are fewer students than usual because their parents were afraid and wouldn’t let them leave the house.
Kaytek’s mom wanted to keep him at home, but his dad said: “Our job is to send him to school. The teachers will say what to do next. The worst thing happens when everyone starts exercising his own mind. I know that from military service: there should be discipline and order everywhere.”
The lady teacher comes in. The boys are wondering how many classes there will be, and whether they’ll be allowed to go home early.
“Classes will be the same as usual,” says the teacher. “If anything has to change, the inspector will issue instructions in writing. He knows best what to do.”
She has only just said it when a car drives up outside the school, and two gentlemen get out of it. Soon after, the janitor comes into the classroom and whispers something into the teacher’s ear.
“Antek, go to the headmaster’s office please.”
“But what have I done wrong?”
“Nothing, it’s some personal matter.”
K
aytek boldly marches off to the headmaster’s office. The janitor opens the door as if for someone important. Kaytek bows, and a strange man offers his hand.
Then the man questions him about the bikes, the ink that changed into water, the bell that rang by itself, and the flies.
“What do you know about bicycles?” he says.
“There are new ones and used ones: you can rent them or lease them.”
What about the ink? Of course he remembers, but the boys didn’t do that.
And the flies in the classroom? That was five weeks ago, says Kaytek, no, a little longer.
And the bell? He says the janitor must have gotten the time wrong.
He says he knows this, but he didn’t notice that. That’s what he thinks happened.
Then another car drives up, and the doctor and nurse from the hospital come into the office.
“Do you know these people?” the strange man asks Kaytek.
Yes, he does – he was in the hospital, after all. He greets them and smiles awkwardly.
“Well then, what did you talk about when you were in there?”
“When I had a fever, apparently I talked about magic spells. Probably because I know lots of fairy tales.”
“You promised to build me a palace on a glass mountain,” says the nurse.
“And you threatened to turn me into a jackass,” says the doctor.
“I’m very sorry, Doctor.”
“And can you show us the place in the forest where you fell sick?”
“It wasn’t in the forest, it was beyond a little bridge.”
“Do you like to ride in cars?”
“Yes, sure I do. But not for too long, or my mom will be worried.”
“Ah, I can see you’re a good son – you don’t want to worry your parents. Don’t be afraid – the school will inform them.”
The two gentlemen say goodbye to the doctor, the headmaster, and the nurse. They get in the back of the car and sit on either side, with Kaytek in the middle.
He’d prefer to sit next to the driver, but this is good too. It’s a really good car, not just a cab.
“So where are we supposed to be going?”
“To Grochów, and then to Wawer,” replies Kaytek.
They’re on their way. They pass a tram.
“Oh, I traveled on that line. This is where the conductor chased me off. I walked along here on foot. I had a rest here, and a plane flew by here – very low.”
“Do you think a plane can change into a cab?” the man asks.
“I don’t know. But there are hydroplanes.”
Kaytek guesses they’re testing him.
“Stop. It’s here. This is the birch forest.”
They leave the car by the highway and walk into the forest.
“Show us the way.”
“It’s straight on. Now to the right. Here,” he says – he remembers it well. “But beyond here I’m not sure – I lost my way.”
“And do you recognize this man?”
“Who?” says Kaytek, looking around in amazement and staring at a man from the countryside. “I think I’ve seen him before,” he says.
“And where’s the little bridge?”
“I don’t know. It could be a long way off. I was lost for ages.”
“Can we get there by car?”
“Not through the forest, but by road you can.”
“So let’s go.”
“Oh, here are the cut-down trees. And the little bridge. It was right here, under this pillar.”
“Yes,” confirms the man. “He was lying here, groaning. This is where I found him.”
“Good. Here’s five zlotys for your trouble,” says one of the gentlemen. Then he tells the driver: “Let’s go back now.”
“How did you know that man found me?” asks Kaytek. “Why do you need to know?”
“Well, my boy, we’re looking for some harmful, dangerous people, so it’s our duty to know. And it’s the duty of every citizen to help us with this difficult task.”
They’re back in Warsaw again. Now where are they taking him?
They go straight to the restaurant. Kaytek pretends it’s the first time he’s ever seen it; he looks around and asks: “Why is the window broken? How much did the mirror cost? Who plays the piano?”
“What will you have to eat?” says the gentleman.
“May I have some black pudding? Gee, but this place is expensive!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll pay.”
“Then I’ll have some sausage and cabbage, please.”
The waiters are looking at Kaytek.
Don’t let them recognize me. Don’t let them recognize me! he repeats the thought twice.
They don’t seem to have recognized him, which may be at Kaytek’s command, or maybe out of fear.
They eat their food and talk. Now they’ve finished, and they’re leaving.
“They’re sure to take me to the Royal Park,” thinks Kaytek.
But instead they go to police headquarters, and into the Chief’s office.
“Bring in those two office clerk ladies. Sit down, Antek. Do you know these ladies?”
“No.”
“Ladies, have you ever seen this boy?”
They both shrug their shoulders.
“Thank you. Next.”
Various people come in. Now he genuinely doesn’t recognize them.
“I don’t know them. Maybe I’ve seen them. There are so many people in the streets.”
He’s feeling bored now, and he starts to fidget on his chair.
Then at last he’s free to go. His father comes in.
“You can take him home,” says the Chief. “Though we might send for him again.”
“Well, too bad, if he’s to blame.”
“No, nobody’s saying that. But it is our duty to check up on every rumor.”
“Well, yes, of course. Come on, Antek, let’s go home,” says his dad.
“So what do you think, sir?” asks the Chief once they’ve gone.
“I think we have wasted three vital hours for nothing,” says the gentleman.
“At least all’s calm in the city.”
“Maybe he’s lying in wait and is planning to catch us off guard.”
“Well, he won’t succeed.”
The Chief lights a cigarette and reaches for the telephone to report to his superiors.
Chapter Ten
Kaytek conjures up an island with a castle on the River Vistula – The good prince – Music, dancing, movies – Everything destroyed
Kaytek is sitting on the sand by the river.
He’s gazing at the water flowing by. He gazes at the clouds, high above. He watches the people working on the ships and boats.
For a long, long time he doesn’t think about anything.
Then he sees a sandbank in the middle of the river. There’s nothing there but white sand. There’s nothing of interest, yet he gazes at it as if he were expecting a new and important idea to occur to him, or as if he were waiting in solemn silence for a decision to come to mind.
He feels strangely calm; partly happy, and partly sad. He keeps gazing and waiting, without doing anything. Then suddenly . . .
“I’ve got it. I’m going to build a fortress on an island in the middle of the River Vistula. Just a small island, with a small castle on it, with a little tower and a small garden.”
In fact, he’s been feeling fed up at home. The windows there face the dark courtyard, and the walls are gray and peeling. There are no trees or flowers either. But now things are going to be different.
In the old days, Kaytek used to have all sorts of ideas – some serious, others less so. Every hour, every moment, he had a different idea in a different way. Now he knows just what he wants.
At home Mom asks: “What are you doing all that measuring and counting for?”
“I’m going to build a house,” replies Kaytek.
“Do you have the money for that?” says Mom, smiling.
“You can build one without money too,” he says, and he’s not even lying.
He’s not even going to keep it secret, because what harm can it do anyone? Better than that, there’ll be a lamp burning on the tower – there are such things as lighthouses, after all.
But what if they guess he’s a wizard? What then? In the past, they used to burn wizards at the stake, though they don’t do that anymore. Nowadays there are fortune tellers and folk healers – some of them cure people, others do magic tricks, summon up ghosts, or sell various herbs. No one ever stops them.
They get people to pay them, but Kaytek does his magic for free. He’ll be like a knight-errant, like a good prince. That’s it: the good prince. That’s what they’ll call him.
But there’s no need to hurry. He won’t reveal his secret until later on, one day in the future. It’ll be a surprise for his parents and for all Warsaw.
He’ll appear to them wearing a huntsman’s jacket or a royal coat, maybe dressed as a scout or a rifleman – perhaps on a white horse, or perhaps the first time in a car or in a plane.
He doesn’t know yet, but there’s no rush.
“The Good Prince.”
Maybe he’ll find a way to bring Grandma back to life. The fact that it didn’t work the first time is no proof that it can’t be done. He was only just over his illness then; maybe he went about it the wrong way. So many difficult spells have worked for him by now.
“From now on I must start a completely new life.”
One time his father had said: “The boy has character.”
Kaytek the Wizard Page 11
