knight caterino

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Jane H. Buckingham 2013

[email protected] https://twitter.com/translator_frog

http://www.dmsuslin.narod.ru/
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White Tower

Country of Frozen Time

Knight Caterino

Dmitrii Suslin

Translated from Russian

by

Jane H. Buckingham

Translation edited by

Elizabeth King, Shona Brandt,and Dmitrii Suslin





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Titles in the Series

Knight Caterino





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PROLOGUE

I

In a far away country (I have never managed to find it on any map) is a big andbeautiful city. It sits on an enormous hill and is visible from afar. High thick wallssurround it on all sides and one can enter or leave the city only through the gatesprotected by armed guards. There are many houses in the city and life is buzzing on itsstreets. People come here from all over the country in order to sell or to buy something.Certainly, the city cannot manage without travellers; they want to see, in their opinion,the largest city in the world. We know, though, that in the world there are citiesconsiderably bigger. This, however, is not in question. The people of the city which I amtelling you about consider that there is only one country in the world, the one in whichthey live. A few rebellious principalities on its outskirts are persistently unwilling tobecome subjects of this great country.

The city stands on the hill and its cobble-stoned streets either lead up or run down.Most of the people live below, near the city gates, and the houses are poorly constructed.Here boisterous merriment reigns. It sometimes seems that it is an eternal fair and showhere. Even the soldiers here are always happy, talkative, and love to enjoy themselvesvery much. The merriment, however, begins to quiet down several blocks above. Thehouses are more solid and luxurious. These citizens slam their heavy doors in an

unfriendly way and cast haughty looks at the merriment on the streets below.Prosperous townsfolk live here. They keep many servants and ride in expensive coaches.The more splendid the coach, the more horses harnessed to it, and the richer and morenotable its owner. The moneybags love to brag about their status to each other. They donot like to walk, however, and only ride in their coaches, hence all of them are eithervery fat or very thin. The people on the lower streets, when no police officers are besidethem, laugh at the rich on the sly.

Jane H. Buckingham [email protected] https://twitter.com/translator_frog



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After passing the rich blocks, one can see a beautiful fairy-tale park surrounded bypatterned iron railings and watched by guards with halberds. The richest townspeoplewith special passes enter the park through the gate and stroll along white sandy pathspast fountains and ponds where snow-white swans swim. Everywhere grow carefullypruned trees and bushes and very many flowers. The noise of the merriment from the

lower streets does not reach here.In the depth of the park looms a gloomy palace, or more precisely, a castle, becauseit has too few windows for a palace. Here reigns complete despondency. Courtiers andgrim guards in iron armours walk along the enormous gloomy halls. No one laughs andeveryone talks only in a whisper. A tower stands on the highest part of the hill and onecan see almost the whole country from it dense forests, deep rivers, cities and knightlycastles, large villages and lonely cabins, and quite far away, the huge bulk of a mountainwith its snowy peaks resting against the sky. Sometimes tiny glimpses of fire are visiblethere at night when a dragon takes off on a hunt.

Long, long ago the great architect Walter built this tower from blocks of whitemarble and covered the roof with a thin layer of gold. The beauty of the tower amazeseverybody. Walter died and a conflict immediately started around his creation. One

prince took possession of the tower. He added his castle to the tower but this made hiscastle look like a deformed dwarf standing up next to a beautiful princess in a weddingdress. Later the tower and the castle frequently changed owners. Haughty barons andgood fairies lived here. Even the elf king took up residence once. He surrounded thecastle with a magnificent park. Five hundred years ago, after the elf kings time, a citybegan to grow here.




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The Sovereign appeared next. No one knew from where he came. This person turnedout to be omnipotent. He subdued the dragons. None of the knights could oppose himand the wars, which had continued for almost a thousand years, ended. The Sovereignestablished strict laws and began to rule over the entire country.

The Sovereign settled in Walters tower alone, almost in seclusion. Only several loyal

servants and guards were there with him. The courtiers who lived in the castle wererarely allowed into the tower. The Sovereign lived in the highest part of the tower, wherehe could keep an eye on everything that was happening in his realm.

The people gazed at the tower with fear and respect and called it the White Tower.

II

Once on a bright summer day the Sovereign was sitting regally on the throne in themain hall of the White Tower. He was very old and decrepit. His hands gripped a heavystaff with an eagle carved from dragon bone topping the gold knob. A magnificent crownwas resting on the Sovereigns head.

The Sovereign was gloomy and sullen this day; he was usually this way and he neversmiled. On this day, the Sovereign was particularly out of sorts. The bright sun in theblue sky among the carefree clouds spoiled the Sovereigns mood even more: hepreferred the dusk and the coolness of rain. In this country, however, it rained veryrarely.

Send for my First Minister Gargulio! ordered the Sovereign. Gargulio, a portlysquab with shifty eyes, then appeared before the stern gaze of the Sovereign. Garguliowas extremely uneasy because his lord had not summoned him for three whole years.What does the great Sovereign want to say to his loyal servant? Gargulio asked in atrembling voice. The First Minister tried not to show how tired he was when he hurriedto appear before his lord. On the contrary, he was all lit up with pride that the Sovereignhad remembered him.

Listen, Gargulio, the Sovereign began gravely, Ive become quite old. What doyou mean you are old?! exclaimed the First Minister. Dont interrupt! the Sovereignbecame furious. Ill be a thousand soon. That means I must die. For five hundred yearsI have ruled the country, the people, and other creatures that settled on this land. Nowthe end for me has come. Yes, the end! The Sovereign sighed and clutched the staffeven firmer with crooked fingers. The First Minister listened to him with bated breath.

But the country will not be left without a ruler! shouted the Sovereign and, afterstriking the staff against the floor, had a fit of coughing right then. I will leave an heir.Oh, great Sovereign! Gargulio yelled, having fallen onto his knees. Who indeed is thelucky person who will take the place of so great a wizard? You dont know him.Gargulio was dismayed there and then: in the depth of his soul, he had hoped that the

Sovereign would make him the heir. Hes still not known to anyone, continued theSovereign. Not even to me. He said the last two words quite quietly, only to himself,then again spoke loudly, Listen to my order. Gargulio bent his back in a servile bow.

Exactly at midnight, the Sovereigns hoarse voice became quiet and mysterious,go into the Garden of the Elf King and find the pond in the growth of willows. Go up tothe shore and stand next to the mermaid statue. After that youll blow this whistle threetimes. The Sovereign handed a crystal whistle on a silver chain to the stunned minister




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and concluded, And say to all who arrive at your call, He who owns your freedomawaits you. Memorized? Gargulio nodded. Then go.

That night a frightened Gargulio (he was very afraid of the dark) made his way alongthe park while lighting the way with a dim lantern. Finally, he found the necessary pondand the mermaid statue. With trembling hands the butterball put the whistle to hischubby lips, and three melodious sounds disturbed the silence of the night. The willowsbegan to shake their branches and the water in the pond was set in motion, as if smallfishes in it had started to dance in a ring. Gargulio even sat down in fright.




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Suddenly a soft blue light lit up everything in this pitch darkness. Gargulio saw fivebeautiful swans, as white as the fresh snow at New Year, gliding along the water directlyto him. The swans stopped in their tracks several steps from the man and their leaderglanced sternly, solemnly, and a little sadly at Gargulio.

On seeing that no one besides the swans had appeared, the man turned to the birdswith the words already known to us, He who owns your freedom awaits you! Havingheard this, the swans anxiously flapped their wings on the water, splashing Garguliowith a fountain of sprays. Only the leader remained calm and majestically proud. It bentits neck elegantly and sighed like a human.

The thunderstruck Gargulio saw the birds lifting off after taking a running start.

Having stretched out into a wedge and made a smooth circle above the water, theysoared upward to the White Tower. They very quickly became barely discernible points.Nevertheless, Gargulio managed to make out the birds flying into the window of thethrone hall where, in all likelihood, the Sovereign was waiting for them.




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The First Minister opened his mouth in amazement and looked at the crystalwhistle. The magic whistle had disappeared as if it had dissolved in the air. The bluelight had also faded and it became dark as in a cellar. After crying out in terror, Gargulioraced as fast as he could to the park exit. The astonished guards watched as he took offfrom the park as if a fire were lit under him and, whimpering from fear, jumped into thecoach which had been waiting for him for a long time. After some time Gargulio came tohis senses. It then seemed to him that he saw a flock of birds, bathed in moonlight,flying out of the Sovereigns window to the east.

III

A grandpa and his two grandsons were sitting with fishing rods on the shore of thelake and waiting for sunrise. The grandfather was smoking a very big pipe and the boys,not moving, were watching the floats.

The sun emerged from below the horizon. It was so bright that the grandpa and thegrandsons screwed up their eyes. Then the strangest thing that could possibly happentook place. A strong whirlpool appeared in the lake. The height of the funnel graduallyincreased and it began to resemble a waterspout. Swans suddenly took off from theexposed bottom in the middle of the lake real swans, the kind that swim in the ponds

of zoos and royal castles in Andersens fairy tales.1

Five white swans shot up into the skyand, after circling above the lake which had returned to its shores, flew in the directionof the sun. When they were out of sight, peace and quiet reigned again.

Ah-h! escaped simultaneously from the boys and the grandfather. Moreover, theold man let out so much smoke from his pipe that his grandsons coughed.

1 Hans Christian Andersen (1805-75), a Danish author well known for his fairy tales and childrens stories.Jane H. Buckingham 2013




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IV

When the topnotch pilot, Ivan Ivanovich Speechmaker, guided his Fulcrum2 into thenext loop, he saw something that almost blew his mind. His suddenly sweaty handsnearly let go of the controls. In front of him at an altitude of five thousand metres flew a

flock of birds similar to large geese. The birds were flapping their wings slowly andsmoothly but the pilot Speechmaker in the speediest aircraft in the world could notovertake them. The pilot increased his speed. He broke the sound barrier in a fewseconds and caught up with the birds. No matter how he tried, however, the pilot couldnot outrun the flock of five white swans. What the devil! cursed the pilot. Suddenly itdawned on him. But indeed this cant be. It cant be!

What had Speechmaker not seen in the sky in hundreds of flights! He had seenflying saucers, which, after winking slyly, immediately disappeared into outer space, andsluggish airships similar to well-fed piglets. Once he even saw an octopus in a huge glassjar floating across the sky.

Speechmaker understood that the sky was not only for aircrafts and always reportedhis sightings in detail. Each time his chief, General Barrel, exclaimed indignantly,Listen, Speechmaker, why is it only you see such things? Neither Major Hohum norColonel Insipid ever comes across anything in the clouds. But then, CaptainSpeechmaker has seen everything in the sky except perhaps his own mother! TheGeneral could not be angry with Speechmaker for long because he was the best pilot inhis squadron. However, he had not been promoted for a long time because of hiseccentricities.

Friends laughed at Speechmaker and said, Well, brother, come on! Such tall taleseven Baron Mnchhausen3 could not tell. Maybe write a book about you? A suitable titlewould be: The Wonder Tales of Captain Speechmaker. Ivan Ivanovich was veryoffended by this and swore not to tell anything similar in the future. Nevertheless, afterseveral flights he again came across something farfetched in the sky and all began anew.

Yet, Speechmaker had never seen anything like today. The spectacle of swans flyingat supersonic speed was just too unusual and not only that! The swans began to overtakethe pride of Russian aviation the Fulcrum. Ivan Ivanovich could not stand this. Thedaring and talented pilot, the hero of the riskiest flights and experiments started to cry.He decided that he probably had gone insane and was seeing hallucinations.

The swans calmly pulled ahead without any effort and flew to the east towards thesun.

2 Fulcrum is the NATO code name for the MiG-29, the fourth-generation jet fighter designed in the Soviet

Union in the 1970s and has since gone through different variants over the years.3 Karl Friedrich Hieronymus, Freiherr von Mnchhausen (1720-97), known as Baron Mnchhausen in

English, was a German nobleman and raconteur of tall tales.Jane H. Buckingham 2013




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Chapter OneALONE AT HOME

I depend on you, said Papa, when he and Mama sat down in the car. Everythingwill be fine! Kate assured him. I wont take my eyes off him. This was said about heryounger brother, who was standing beside her. In answer the boy stuck his tongue out athis sister but in such a way that their parents would not notice.

Kate, Gene. Mama looked pleadingly at the children. Swear that you wont fight.But we already promised! the girl exclaimed impatiently. All the same, swear,insisted Mama. Im certain that as soon as we disappear beyond the turn, youllinstantly start to fight. Okay, I swear, the girl reluctantly agreed. For some reasonIm sure that theyll live perfectly in peace and harmony without us, said Papa. Really,just two days! Tell me, son, am I right? Of course, Papa, Ill be good. I swear! Genehad learned to win over almost all adults with his wide smile.

Mama sighed. The time had come to say goodbye. Tears appeared in her eyes. Thiswas indeed the first time in her life that she had left the children alone. Papa tried toappear calm but it was obvious that he too was worried. Finally, the farewell ritual wasover and the car, after tossing up dust on the road, disappeared beyond the turn. The

children sighed with relief. Indeed! What effort they had to put in to convince theirparents to leave home and leave them alone!

Although Mama and Papa were leaving the children alone for all of a couple of days,they felt like criminals. It was necessary to go, however, because the matter concernedthe wellbeing of their family. In the two days, granted by the chief of Papas company,Papa had to correct the error, because of which the business turned out to be in adifficult position. The children never got the details but one thing was clear Papa and




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Mama had to go to some settlement over fifty kilometres from the city and negotiatewith someone there. What about? The children clearly did not understand this either.

Only one thing made the children uneasy they had never been parted from theirparents (not counting summer camp for Kate), but they assured friends that it would beawfully interesting. This is why the parents problems not only did not distress them but

also even pleased them slightly. Independence promised so many delights!Papa and Mama, however, were torn between parental and office duties. Mama hadto go with Papa because she was his chief assistant. Indeed, many parents leave theirchildren alone for a day or two and nothing happens! Unfortunately, it was not the casein this family. Kate and Gene sister and brother did not get along at all. You maysay, this cannot be! Alas, it is this way.

Kate was eleven and Gene, seven. The difference in age, however, did not preventthem from carrying on a real war between themselves. Certainly, it was a tragedy for theparents but they could do nothing. No matter how often they punished, scolded, tried topersuade and urge the children, nothing helped. The children continued to fight andbicker over every little thing. The childrens screams and tears, bruises and bumpstormented the parents. Now they were being left alone together.

When the children had been left alone, they immediately wanted to fight again. Doup your sandals, Kate ordered her brother. Leave me alone! he waved her off. Iwont! Kate had been appointed as the senior and she immediately felt all the charm ofauthority. You promised to obey me, so do what I say!

Gene looked at his sister with hatred. He got down on his knees and began to do upthe straps slowly. He was waiting for the sisters patience to run out. It was her way tohave patience. Gene could not bear it and groaned, Help me. This was a clevermanoeuvre, but Kate guessed her brothers intention. She wanted to give him a goodkick but kept herself in control and fastened the ill-fated clasps.

This time Gene and Kate did not fight. They did not fight for two more hours. Whenthey got home, both started to be busy with their own things. Kate started to read a book

about the adventures of a girl Alice, and Gene scattered his toys all over the room andset up a battle between the beasts and the dolls. He purposely tried to play noisily inorder to bother his sister, but she did not pay him any attention because she wascaptivated by the space adventures of the girl from the future.

Read aloud! Gene suddenly demanded. The last thing in the world Kate wantednow was to read aloud. This book is not for you, she answered, not taking her eyes offthe page. Why? Youre still little. Nothing so upset the boy as these words from hissister. Fool! he fired maliciously. Little and foolish. Kate decided to tease her littlebrother. You want to fight? Lets! But consider, you started first. I need you! Thenshut up! Didnt ask you!

Suddenly, both were silent because they remembered that they always started a

squabble with precisely such words. Kate was older, and all the blame for the quarrelwould lie on her. Okay, Gene, she said conciliatorily. Already late; lets have supper.Fine, lets eat.

Gene rejoiced that he had turned out to be the winner of this skirmish. Heunderstood that his sister did not want to appear as the party at fault, so he decided tobring her to a furious state and then retreat. He also did not want to become theinstigator of an argument, or worse, a fight although he could.




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Do you think these children would respect and obey their parents? No, they weredisobedient and now and then drove their unhappy parents almost to heart attacks. Thistime, however, they had given an oath and they had never done this earlier. From thestories of their parents and from books and movies, they knew that God, fate, orsomeone else would severely punish whoever broke any oath. Kate and Gene were afraid

of becoming oath-breakers; therefore, they tried not to step over the boundary beyondwhich a quarrel would begin.What happened next? Kate prepared supper. She was an independent girl. Gene

tried to make trouble at the table. Not tasty! he stated while picking at the food on theplate. Mama in Kates place would start to assure the son that everything was very tasty,healthy, and nourishing. Kate, however, quietly said, You dont like it, you dont eat.There was nothing left for Gene to do but resign himself.

Gene silently ate his supper and demanded to have the TV on. Kate had nothingagainst that; otherwise, why did they so long to be left at home alone? Certainly it was tohave fun and do what they were not allowed to normally; for example, watch eveningprograms on TV.

Kate again decided to demonstrate her authority. First pick up your toys, she saidsternly. Why? Gene was sincerely surprised. You havent washed the dishes. He wasright. Kate had forgotten to do this. She bit her lip in annoyance but decided not to giveup. Ill wash now and you pick up the toys. I dont think so. Then I wont turn on theTV. Ill turn it on myself. I wont let you.

A quarrel was brewing. The children understood this but they were already tired ofkeeping the peace and they continued the skirmish. What can you do to me? Therewas no stopping Gene. Ill send you to bed and watch an interesting movie myself.Wont work! Why is that? Because!

In the depth of her soul, Kate understood that there was actually nothing she coulddo in this situation. She decided to take a different approach. Okay, Gene, she said in asly voice. Do you want me to take you to the zoo tomorrow? The boys eyes sparkled.

The proposal was very tempting. You dont say! he exclaimed. Of course I do! Thenpick up the toys. Okay, Gene agreed.

The first day without their parents ended peacefully. The brother and sister wereglued to the TV for almost two hours; Papa and Mama would have gone out of theirminds if they had found out about this. Then Gene and Kate brushed their teeth andwent to bed.




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Chapter TwoTHE FIGHT AT THE ZOO

A shout woke Kate early in the morning. It was Gene shouting. Get up! hebrusquely demanded and pulled the blanket off her. Time for us to go. The girl lookedat the alarm clock. It was seven in the morning. Youre out of your mind! she wasannoyed, Still early; I want to sleep. But you promised! Gene whined. Lets nap forat least one more hour, then well go. I want to eat, the boy stated. Well, getsomething from the fridge and eat.

Kate was in despair. She knew from personal experience that her brother would notleave her alone until he got his own way. Anger gradually began to take hold of her.When peoples sleep is interrupted, it is easy for them to be driven out of their wits. Katestarted getting angry with her brother for not letting her sleep, with herself forthoughtlessly promising him the day before a trip to the zoo, and generally witheveryone and everything.

So, youre not getting up? Gene asked, squinting. No! Then Ill go alone. Justtry, Kate muttered and turned over to the other side.

Kate fell asleep and did not hear Gene puttering in the kitchen preparing breakfastand dropping a plate doing so. He wandered around the apartment for a long time insearch of his clothes because he had scattered them all over the place the night before.He banged something in the foyer. It was scary to go out alone but Kate would not getup. Gene was obstinate and this time he was unable to get the better of his ownstubbornness. Besides, it would be disgraceful to back off. Gene slammed the door andbegan to go slowly down the stairs. Kate continued to sleep.




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It was such a bright, sunny morning in the courtyard that Gene instantly forgot thedisagreement and headed straight for the zoo. There was some change in his pockets. Hebought three lollipops at the kiosk and briskly walked along the street while lookingaround. Passers-by were moving to and fro. No one paid any attention to the little boy inunbuckled sandals and with a lollipop in his mouth. The question why the boy was alone

at this early hour entered no ones head. Trolley buses rushed past; streetcars dingedfrom time to time. The city was living its usual active life. Gene walked. He knew the wayto the zoo even better than the way to school although the way there was about fivetimes longer.

The boy loved animals very much and he was terribly envious of children whosehome had a dog, a cat, or any little beast. He and his sister repeatedly asked theirparents to let them get something. Nothing helped. Once, the children even promisedtheir parents that they would live in peace and harmony if they could have a dog. Theirparents did not believe them.

Gene got to the zoo but the gates were still closed. Time was dragging along veryslowly. It even seemed to the boy that time had stopped completely. There was nothingleft to do but be patient and wait.

Nasty kid! Kate cursed when she woke up and saw that her brother was not athome. Ran off. She was certain that Gene was running in the courtyard and thereforedid not begin to worry. Mama and Papa forbade the boy to go out onto the street aloneunaccompanied by an adult or his sister. Kate should run and get Gene home but shedid not because she thought, Why did we remain alone? In order not to interfere witheach other. If I tell him to come home, he wont listen. Well fight. Better let him play.When he gets hungry, hell come running like a good kid.

Two hours passed and Gene did not return. Kate began to worry. She really did notwant to go out but there was nothing else to do. She decided to give her brother a gooddressing down. The boy, however, was not in the courtyard and Kate became very

frightened. She ran along the street while glancing into all the secluded corners in vain.Kate sat on a bench and gave the situation some thought. Did Gene actually run off tothe zoo? Apparently so, Kate decided and ran in the direction of the zoo. Passers-bylooked at her with surprise.

When Kate got to the zoo, she discovered that she did not have any money at all.Would she really have to return home? The girl got even angrier with her brother. Heranger grew with each second. When Kate got angry, she became very obstinate. The girldecided to get into the zoo at any cost. Without thinking, she went along the fence insearch of any hole.

Is it really possible there can be holes in normal zoo fencing? Of course not, or elseall the beasts would scatter. Kate was tired and found nothing. If she were to meet her

brother now, without a moments hesitation, she would throw him into the lion cage.Poor Gene did not know what clouds were darkening over him!

Kate turned the corner and saw boys playing a trading card game right on theasphalt. Trading card games had become most popular among children very recentlyand resembled adult card games. The rules were different everywhere but one thing wasessentially the same instead of playing cards, they used bubblegum cards. In her class,




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Kate was the champion of this game. She groped in her pocket for her pack of cards andapproached the boys. There were four of them and all were a year or two younger.

Lets play? Kate proposed. The boys uttered not a word. What, afraid? the girlasked maliciously. We dont play with girls, answered the oldest, who wore a yellow T-shirt. Why is that? Kate was indignant. Because when girls lose, they squeal and howlso you have to give them back their loss. And what game is that? said another boy.




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Right, Ted? The boy in the yellow shirt nodded with an air of importance. Obviously,he was Teddy.

No, Kate grunted, You wont beat me. Such words greatly offended the boys.Okay! they yelled in eager rivalry. You have to play with something. Probably savedup five cards Like hell! Kate showed them her wealth. A whole pack of the finest

cards flickered before their eyes. Well? Kate asked with a challenge. Will you play?In fifteen minutes the boys were standing with downcast faces and Kate stuffed herpockets with their cards. She won with ease but this was only half the work. Do youwant to win them back? Kate asked. She knew perfectly well that they had nothing tobet. The kids kept quiet and watched with melancholy as the girl shoved their wealthinto her pockets. She specifically did this slowly and carelessly. The boys hearts brokewhen they saw how their cards with cars, airplanes, supermen, and toys were crushed.

You know where to go! Teddy muttered sullenly. Took all away and say: win themback. How will we do that? You will redeem them from me and try to win, proposedKate. Hows that? Teddy did not understand. Very simple. Kate mentally divided theprice of a ticket to the zoo by the cards won. The ransom was ridiculous. Kate wasalmost ready to sell the cards for a song. The boys shouted excitedly, expressing theiragreement. The transaction took place; a satisfied Kate very quickly counted the money,and her partners retrieved their cards.

Well, shall we play still? Kate asked this just in case, for clear conscience. Noway! the boys who had been taught a bitter lesson answered. Okey-dokey! Kateagreed with pleasure. Bye then! She ran to the zoo entrance. Her mood had improvednoticeably. Winners are magnanimous. Her anger had disappeared by itself. The girleven decided not to punish her little brother but merely to chide him slightly.

Kate went through the gate with the alluring inscription and ran to the cashier,bought a ticket, and handed it to the old lady with the red band. After a minute, she wasby the cages with animals but was not interested in them. Kate searched for Gene. In thezoo it was easier to find a camel or an orangutan than a seven-year-old boy. In fact, signs

were hanging in the cages about where certain beasts or birds could be found. There wasno sign for where to search for Gene Konstantinov and one cannot make the rounds ofthe entire zoo in a day.

Kate first rushed to the lion cages, then to the monkey cages. Gene was nowhere.The girl rushed about from side to side. She asked visitors whether they had seen a littleboy in dark blue shorts and an orange short-sleeved shirt. She heard different answers;some positive, some negative, but no one could say anything specific.

Please do not think that Kate did not know that one could go into the broadcastingcentre of the zoo and ask them to announce over the PA about a lost boy named Gene.She was just so bewildered that she did not think of doing this. Sometimes even adultsare at a loss in difficult situations.

Time passed. There were fewer and fewer people; the zoo visitors were moving oneafter the other to the exit but Kate was still running from one cage to another, from oneenclosure to another. Perhaps Gene isnt in the zoo? Kate posed the question to herselfonce again. Right then she saw her brother. The boy was standing in the pond withwaterfowl and watching spellbound as ducklings played. He nearly fell into the waterfrom surprise when his sisters hand grabbed him by the collar.




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Gotcha! Kate announced triumphantly. Let me go! the boy desperately struggledto break loose. Now well go home, the girl said with threat in her voice. Ill have atalk with you there, an appropriate chat. Then Gene bit his sisters finger. Ouch! Kateyelled and let go of her brother. There! Gene bounced to a safe distance and stuck outhis tongue at his sister. Kate rushed to him. Gene moved to the side but the girl

managed to seize her brothers hand. She dragged him to the exit.I still havent seen everything! Gene yelled. Enough for today. No! I want tostay! You can manage without, Kate cut him off. She was barely restraining herselffrom delivering a good slap to the back of her obstinate brothers head. To drag aresisting and struggling boy was difficult. To argue with him was even more so. The rareremaining visitors looked over at the children and disapprovingly shook their heads.

You have no right to deprive me of cultural leisure in a public place! Gene shouted.He knew many clever words and expressions and loved to use them on occasion.Besides, you promised me! Yes, I did, agreed Kate. But who let you run away from

home? Who? Disgusting boy!Not my fault that you sleep like a sick

monkey. He should not have said this.Youre a monkey! the girl was angry,downright mad with this comparison. Yes,she had this small fault; she loved lying inbed in the mornings, but she let no one laughat her, not even her own brother.

The boy continued to call her by otheroffensive nicknames. Sleepyhead! heshouted. I saw this beast today. The spittingimage of you! Shut up! Kate was ready tocry with mortification. There was nostopping Gene. He understood that at long

last he had found his sisters weak spot anddecided to make full use of it. No, youremore like a sloth. It sleeps even whenhanging on a branch. If you hang upsidedown, youll also sleep as if nothing hashappened.

Is that so?! Tears escaped Kate becauseof her resentment. She broke down and,forgetting about everything in the world,encircled her brother with her left arm andturned him around with his back to her so

that he could not break away; the immediatesurroundings were filled with resoundingslaps.

Hitting was a forbidden action. Their parents had never lifted a finger to either Kateor Gene in their whole lives; it was just not done. There was a law in their family: capitalpunishment was forbidden. In a fit of temper, Kate spanked Gene. This happened nearthe giraffe cage. The animals looked at the children with surprise.




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When the stung boy finally broke loose from his sisters hold, he leaped to the side,with both hands on the injured place and started to cry loudly. Kate looked stunned ather brother. She understood that she had done something terrible but did not knowwhat she should do now. Gene she muttered, I didnt mean

The insulted child, shaking with sobs, broke into a run. He had not experienced such

humiliation for three years since Kate had done the same to him the first time. Then hehad had a real fit. Their parents had been barely able to calm their son down andseverely punished their daughter. They did not talk to her for a week. Kate vowed neverto do this again.

Today she broke two oaths at once. She spanked Gene and quarrelled with him. Thegirl was so at a loss that she did not immediately run after her brother. When she cameto her senses, he was nowhere to be seen. The search had to begin anew, only this timeher mood was completely different. Kate was dispirited and downcast.

Gene hid in the bushes which grew by the water of one of the canals and criedbitterly. He wept with resentment, humiliation, and guilt. The boy squatted down,hugging his knees with his arms, and, after burying his face in them, quietly howled likean offended wolf cub. Tears fell on the sand and left dark specks on it. Suddenly,through his tears, he heard someone hailing him by his name. The voice was low, deep,

and unusual. Gene. Little boy Gene, the voice called.Gene raised his head, wiped the tears with his fists, and looked around. There was

nobody beside him; however, someone continued to call him non-stop. The boy turnedhis head in perplexity. Five swans were floating in the water so close to the shore thatone could stretch a hand out to them. It could not really be them talking to him! Genelooked more attentively at the birds and unexpectedly realized that it was precisely themaddressing him in a human tongue. Whos here? he asked just in case. Whos calling




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me? We are, answered the largest and the most beautiful swan. Gene stopped cryingand plopped down onto the ground in surprise.




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Chapter ThreeTHEFT

Did you call me? Gene asked timidly, addressing the swan. Yes. How do youknow my name? We know everything in the world. Gene was at a loss and did notknow what to say. The swan continued, We saw how your relatives treated you and we

were very indignant for you, Gene. How can you let a girl hit you? Shes my sister.Gene again recalled how Kate spanked him and his eyelashes began to tremble fromanger and resentment. She always gets me angry.

Poor boy, the swan sighed sympathetically. You probably would be glad to be ridof her? Of course! Im sick of her, as everyone knows! But how can I get away fromher? How?! Fly with us to the Country of Frozen Time. There will be neither a sisterwho bugs you nor parents who constantly lecture you, Dont do this, dont do that!

I dont want to run away from Mama and Papa, Gene shook his head. But indeedtheyre not home now, insisted the swan. How do you know? the surprised boy asked.Silly, I told you, we know everything. When you again show up at home, Mama andPapa will still not have time to return. But then, your intolerable sister will grow wiser inthis time. Let her worry, cry, run searching for you. When you return, she wont lay afinger on you anymore. Imagine how scared shell be, realizing that youve disappeared,and what shell get for this from your parents. Yes, sighed Gene, it would be great.All the time he still had not decided whether to accept the proposal of the fairy-tale bird,although it sounded so tempting.

Have no fear. However much time you spend in our country, only a little timewould pass here, the swan continued to persuade him. And we urgently need a boy likeyou. Why? Gene was on guard. In order to rule over our country. Our king is very old




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and he needs a successor. Do you want to be a prince? I do, Gene nodded. But Icant. I must return home very soon. I cant stay with you for long. No need. Youreturn whenever you want. Really?! Certainly, promised the swan. Then lets go!Gene finally agreed.

The swan got up onto the shore. Gene took a long time making himself comfortable

on the back of the leader. All the time the swan endured submissively and did not move.Finally, the boy settled down.

Kate suddenly appeared. On seeing what was happening, she froze on the spot,unable to utter a word. Quick! Gene yelled. Danger below! The swan awkwardly

tottered to the water. The remaining birds followed and soon they were gliding on thesmooth watery surface of the canal.

It dawned on Kate that something inconceivable was happening. Gene! sheshouted mournfully. Where are you going? Come back! Gene turned in her directionand shouted also, Goodbye, Kate! Now Ill be a prince! What prince? Kate sat rightdown on the sand. But Gene was no longer looking at her. The swans picked up speed




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and were already far away. Suddenly they broke away from the water and took off.Where are you going? the girl could only ask.

The birds circled in the sky and again flew towards Kate. She was just about to beglad, thinking that they had decided to return. But no. All the time the swans were flyinghigher and higher. It was already difficult to make out a little boy among them. A minute

later, they had disappeared from sight.Now it was Kates turn to wail at the top of her lungs. She had difficultyunderstanding what had happened.

A passer-by stopped beside her. What happened, girl? he asked sympathetically.Did someone treat you badly? My brother has disappeared, Kate howled through hertears, My little brother. So well look for him! the passer-by proposed. He flewaway. Kate again burst out sobbing. How did he fly away? the man was surprised. Ona goose, Kate sobbed. On what goose? I dont know. He sat on it and flew away.For shame, girl, spinning such a yarn! The passer-by shook his head reproachfully andwent on his way.

Kate looked at him from behind and thought that it is impossible for children to flyon birds! This only happens in fairy tales. What will she tell her parents when theyreturn? Indeed, this is all her fault. Kate began to cry even more.




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Suddenly something fell next to her. Kate looked at the sand and saw Genes sandal.The boy, as always, had not done up his sandals; here one of them fell down from thesky. Kate picked up the sandal, pressed it against her chest, and started thinking.Something improbable had happened. In a modern city, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, a child was kidnapped in broad daylight. By whom? Swans! Like in a fairy

tale or a terrible dream.Pondering non-stop over what had happened, Kate ran to the exit. Well, a child had

been abducted. Kate tried to think about this as calmly as possible. What had happenedwas like madness. It means it would be useless to appeal to the police. No one willbelieve her, even worse, they will think that she is mocking the law enforcement. Beingmade fun of is what the police like least of all in the world. The rest of the adults will alsobehave for sure like that passer-by in the zoo. What could she do? Turn to friends? Butwho will take her story seriously? They will say, She let her brother slip away. She losthim. Now shes making up a cock-and-bull story to justify herself. How can they evenhelp? Kate needed someone who would actually believe in what happened.

Here Kate brightened up. Yes, there is such a person! His name is Nick. He is a

student. Kate made his acquaintance a year ago at summer camp. Nick was the leader ofKates group. He was the best leader in the camp and the kids of the other groups enviedKate and her friends very much. They went on trips, went fishing, sang songs atcampfires, and wrote verses with him. Nick was a tireless inventor and the childrennever had a boring time with him. How many interesting stories he knew! When thesession ended, the children did not want to leave camp. The girls even cried. (They wereall secretly in love with Nick.) In September, Kate arrived in school and, to her greatamazement and happiness, met her former leader there. Nick, it seemed, studied in




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teachers college and came to them for a practicum for a whole two months. Only Nickcould help Kate now. The girl ran to get him. If only he is home!

The pilot Speechmaker almost pressed the eject button when a flock of swans againemerged from the nearest cloud. Now they were flying towards him. The Captain quicklycalmed down. When you encounter something unusual the second time, it no longer

seems as improbable as the first time.On the largest and the most beautiful swan sat a little boy in dark-blue shorts and an

orange short-sleeved T-shirt. The main thing that struck the pilot was that the boy onlyhad on one shoe. The birds flew with dignity past the super-fast fighter. The boy sittingon the back of the leader looked at Ivan Ivanovich, smiled, and waved at him.Speechmaker quickly went into a spin.

Definitely, there was nothing for Speechmaker to do in the sky once ordinary boysare flying here already. What will the commander say when he hears the report of whatis going on in the airspace?!




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Chapter FourON THE WAY

With a sinking heart, Kate pressed the doorbell. There was silence behind the door.The girl had already made up her mind to leave when she heard footsteps. Kate? Nickwas very surprised to see the girl at so late an hour. Come in; dont stand at the door.

What happened? Kate entered and burst into tears instead of answering. Nick stoodand waited for the girl to calm down and recount the gist of the matter. Finally, Katestopped crying and began to tell her story Nick listened very attentively and neverinterrupted her.

Indeed, like a fairy tale, he said when Kate finished her sad story. The girl stoodand sobbed. There was neither disbelief nor mockery in Nicks eyes. This soothed her.You never said that you have a brother, Nick remarked while attentively examiningKate, who until now had been pressing Genes shoe against her chest. And what isthis? Its his sandal, Kate sobbed loudly. He never does up his shoes; now he has lostone. Well, lets have a look. Nick thought hard.

Using the fact that Nick was not paying her any attention, Kate sat down on the

couch and closed her eyes. A minute passed and Kate fell asleep. Nick, however, did notlet her sleep. Kate! His hand shook the girl mercilessly. She did not immediatelyunderstand what was happening. At first Kate thought that she was dreaming all thetime the zoo, the fight with her brother, and the goose-swans but no, she returnedquickly to reality.

Nows not the time to sleep, said Nick. His eyes sparkled triumphantly. Greatdeeds await you. Great deeds? a half-awake Kate repeated like an echo. Well, notgreat, but important, Nick corrected himself. Very important! I found something while




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you were sleeping. And I dont need a violin at all like Sherlock Holmes for this. Eventhis great detective couldnt solve your case. Must admit Im also completely powerlesshere. Kate was at a loss, But who, then? You. Me? Only you alone will be able tofind your little brother.

But how? Kate questioned in desperation. Perhaps I know where to search for

him now? No, you dont. Neither do I. No one knows. But I discovered somethingwhile you were sleeping. See what I found in your brothers sandal. He handed Kate theill-fated shoe. The girl took a good close look but saw nothing except a bird feather stuckbetween the leather strips of the shoe.

Theres nothing here, she said, looking wonderingly at Nick. What do you meannothing? What do you think this is? A feather, Kate said hesitantly. A feather! Nickmimicked her. Perhaps its a simple feather? No, not a simple one. But what? What?Kate did not understand what he wanted from her. This is a feather from one of thebirds that abducted your brother. This is proof that it happened. You didnt dream it; itdidnt just seem so to you; you didnt make it up in a moment of despair. Everythinghappened for real. Understand? I understand. But how will the feather help us findGene?

The whole point is that it will help! Nick rubbed the bridge of his nose. He alwaysdid this when he was troubled. You fell asleep, but I was busy examining this godsend.At first glance theres nothing unusual. A feather is a feather. But as soon as I put it onthe table and turned on the lamp, it immediately flew to the window. Good that Imanaged to close the window in time. The feather, as if alive, hit against the windowtrying to overcome the obstacle. I switched off the lamp and it obediently fell to thefloor. Kate listened spellbound to the students story.

Nick continued, I again switched on the lamp. The feather again slowly rose andflew to the window. I caught it. The feather, like a small bird, began to break away frommy palm, weakly at first, then stronger and stronger so I even began to hold it withdifficulty. Then I covered it with a half of a globe, which is sufficiently heavy. The half

globe stayed in place for a while, then began to tremble, slowly rose up in the air, andflew to the window. I was afraid that the globe would smash the glass and the featherwould fly away. I put the half globe back onto the table and weighed it down with a pileof books. Imagine, this contraption also took off and moved to the window. I dont knowhow to explain this. Fantastic! Be that as it may, but then I was finally convinced of thetruthfulness of your words. Kate smiled for the first time that day.

I started to experiment. How many kilos can this unusual feather carry? It seems itcan lift into the air a weight up to fifty kilos! This both pleased and distressed me.Why? Because you have only one magic feather. But what is it about the feather?Kate did not understand. Most likely, the feather is seeking its owner. The swan,explained Nick. And we need this. We must catch the swans, take the abducted child

away from them, and make the kidnappers answerable. Do you agree with me? Yes,nodded Kate.

So you, Kate, have to set off in pursuit. Im very sorry but you will fly alone. I wontbe able to come with you. Why? Kate was scared. The fact is that I weigh sixty-threekilos. Likely not so much, but the feather wont be able to lift me up. But you, I thinkweigh no more than forty. Thirty-five, Kate clarified. There, you see, Nick sighed




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sadly, It means only you can save your brother. How only me? The feather can onlytransfer you to where Gene is in all probability.

What if the feather wont take me to where I have to be? Kate began to worry.Completely possible, agreed Nick. But all depends only on you. You, of course, canrefuse. I wont reproach you. But this is the only way to save Gene. If you dont use it,

then youll lose your brother forever. Your parents will remain without a son. True, theystill have you. Again, I must warn you that if you decide to set off for the search, it isntknown whether youll return. The choice is yours. But in any case, I wont say a wordwhatever your decision.

Nick stopped talking. Kate looked at him and thought about what she should do.One thing she knew for certain: she would not be able to greet her parents with the newsthat Gene had disappeared. Neither would she be able to look them in the eye after this.It meant there could only be one solution. Since she felt guilty that the boy haddisappeared, she would search for him wherever he might be.

Im flying, the girl announced firmly. Afraid? Nick looked closely at her. Yes,acknowledged Kate. Very much. You have to overcome your fears. Otherwise nothingwill turn out. When should I fly? asked the girl. In the morning, at dawn as soon asthe sun rises. But you must get ready. Prepare for the journey thoroughly as if for thehardest trip.

Nick looked Kate over critically. She was dressed in jeans, sneakers, and a white T-shirt with bunnies. Well, not bad, he remarked, But somewhat light. Wait! Herushed to the wardrobe, buried his head in it, and started searching for something.Finally, he came out of there. Here, hold this. He handed Kate an old but warmcoarsely-knit sweater and a vest with rabbit fur on the inside and Mickey Mouse on it.Kate tried them on. The sweater turned out to be almost her size and the vest a little big.

Nick pulled out his own kiddie knapsack and started to fill it with necessary things.At first, he was explaining to Kate the purpose of each thing but, after noticing that thegirl was yawning frequently, gave the order, Well, quick to supper and off to bed! He

fed her macaroni and cheese and sent her to sleep in his absent grandmothers room.Kate fell asleep as soon her head hit the pillow.

Nick woke Kate up early in the morning. It was still totally dark beyond the window.Its time, he said quietly. Quickly wash and have breakfast. Kate wanted to doneither, but she meandered into the bathroom and quickly tidied herself. Nick waitedfor her in the kitchen. An omelette with sausages was steaming on the table. Kate startedto eat but without any appetite. Dont have to rush, Nick cheered her up. Still half anhour to sunrise.

After half an hour Kate and Nick were standing on the roof waiting for the sun toappear on the horizon. The girl was like Robin Hood in her vest and sweater because

Nick had told her to put on her waist a wide leather belt, attached to which was hishunting knife in a sheath of highly durable plastic. Nick remembered the knife at thevery last moment before leaving. I dont think that you will be able to resist robbers, hewarned, but it may come in handy.

There was one more object next to Kate a chair, a most ordinary chair. Nick hadtaken it from his room and had Scotch-taped the magic feather under the seat. Thisflight vehicle, according to Nicks calculations, should deliver Kate to where the goose-




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swans had taken her little brother. In order that she would not fall from the chair duringflight, Nick had put together a whole system of safety belts.

On the roof of Nicks home, he and Kate immediately got busy with preparations forthe flight. Nick placed the chair on a flat place, then set Kate down on it and tinkeredwith the belts for a long time. Ready! he finally declared. The first chairnaut girl in

the world is ready for flight. Now the most important thing: you will fly whether the sunappears or not. Kate shrugged her shoulders. Doesnt matter, Nick calmed her. Themain thing is, dont worry. But it was obvious that he was also very worried. I thinkeverything will be fine. Kate decided to cheer up the older fellow. Nick looked at herand smiled.

Kate actually presented an amusing spectacle. She was sitting on the chair back tofront, holding the back of the chair with her hands. An orange knapsack hung like aparachute behind her shoulders. Her light-brown hair was prudently gathered into aponytail. Over blue eyes were attractive bangs.

When Nick looked at the ponytail, he slapped his forehead and shouted, Ah, Im ablockhead! Forgot a cap and mittens. Indeed, its minus six in the sky. Kate shuddered.To her, the things already on her were quite sufficient. A cap and mittens would just beenough to look like a complete scarecrow. She wanted to tell Nick this but did not havetime. He had already run to the garret window. Ill bring everything now! he shoutedand dived in through the garret window like a sailor into a submarine.

Kate remained on the roof alone. She looked with melancholy at the sea of roofsspread in front of her and thought about how unlucky and unhappy she was after all.She was always getting into foolish stories and adventures. For some reason she wasalways making a mess of something for which she had to face the consequences. Sherecalled Genes last words and sighed bitterly. He flew away to become a prince but sheremained here. On top of that she must fly to heaven knows where after him. A prince!Kate smiled, imagining Gene in fairy-tale finery and sitting on a golden throne.

Once, Kate and Gene had gone together with their parents to visit friends. The

friends had a girl slightly younger than Gene. The little girl immediately made friendswith the boy and played with him all evening. Kate, it goes without saying, rejected theircompany with disdain, sat alone the whole evening, and was in a huff at goodness knowswho. Certainly, she also wanted to play but just the day before she had had a big fightwith her brother. The little ones were managing very well without her and were playingto their hearts content. When the time came to leave, the girl did not want to let go ofGene for anything. She hugged him tightly and kissed him, compelling him to blush tothe roots of his hair. You have such a boy, such a boy she gushed with enthusiasm.Hes so pretty, so pretty Well, just like like a prince!

Gene was actually a good-looking boy and adults were constantly saying so. Genewas embarrassed and upset when he heard this. He persistently considered that only

girls could be pretty and he was not in the least like a girl. Now, when he was called aprince, this comparison suited him just fine. Kate, on hearing this, wanted to beat up herlittle brother. She herself was not a fright, quite the opposite; she was the most attractivegirl in her grade. Next to her brother, however, people always stopped noticing her; noone called her a princess either. That same day at bedtime she got into a grand-scaleconfrontation with Gene. It came to tears. Both went to bed snivelling.




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Now Kate thought that she had hurt Genes feelings then for nothing. Where is henow? What is happening to him? Such thoughts came to the girls mind for the firsttime. Earlier she had thought only about herself and never about Gene. If he was badsometimes, Kate was only glad and teased him. Now, for the first time, she called himEugene and not Gene. What had happened to Kate?

While she was pondering this, the sun slowly began to appear from beyond thehorizon. Kate did not even notice this because she was so occupied with her thoughts.She did not notice her chair breaking away very smoothly from the roof and hanging in

the air. Then it slowly floated to the edge of the roof. Kate! Nick shouted, sticking hishead out of the garret window, but it was already too late. Kate, on the flying chair, wasalready beyond the edge of the roof. The girl was frozen with fear. What both werewaiting for had happened. It is, however, one thing to hear about a miracle or to see itfrom a distance, but another to participate in it.

The chair began to pick up speed. A minute passed and Nick already had difficultydistinguishing the flying girl. Soon Kate became a small point in the blue sky and thencompletely disappeared. Nick stood on the roof for a long time looking in the directionin which Kate had flown away. At that minute, he dreamed most of all in the world to bein Kates place.




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The next person after Nick to see Kate in the sky was, of course, Ivan IvanovichSpeechmaker, who was soaring in the sky and making loops and barrels as always.When he saw a girl flying on a chair, he tried not to be surprised but it did not work out.The pilot felt that today he had flown his last flight. However, as soon as Speechmakergot back on the ground, he would calm down, think for a while, and decide to fly further.

There were indeed so many interesting things in the sky. Is it really possible to livewithout the sky?




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Chapter FivePRINCE EUGENE

The swans, together with Gene, landed in the throne hall of the White Tower.Everything was like a fairy tale: the flight on the amazing birds, the overtaking of the jet

plane, the magic country, so beautiful and mysterious like a country from a cartoon, andthe city above which they flew. The main attraction, however, was the white tower! Genehad never seen the like even on TV. He flew on top of a swan right in through thewindow of this tower. Gene jumped down onto the marble floor and looked attentivelyall around. There was nothing terrible only an old man, tall and thin with a sullen face,who sat on the throne. Gene did not look at him for long. The old man did not stir andGene thought that he was sleeping.

The swans hurriedly made their way to the old man and, stretching out their necks,began to bow and cackle. Silence! the old man raised his voice. Gene approachedtimidly and carefully. Let someone speak alone. Weve carried out your order, saidthe leader of the swans. We will fly away, but remember that after carrying out onemore order of yours, we will be free. Your authority over us will end! The old mananswered nothing. Goodbye, Sovereign. The swan gave its comrades a signal to flyaway and noisily spread out its wings. We will only see you once more.

The birds flew away. Genes eyes followed them with a perplexed look. He did notexpect to part with his new friends so soon. What would he do now alone? The same oldman whom the swans called the Sovereign approached him, How do you do, Gene.How do you do, grandpa. The boy calmed down a little because old men in all fairytales are usually good. And I have waited for you. Here it dawned on Gene, Ah-h, so




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youre that king who needs a prince? Yes, its I, the Sovereign tried to smile but itturned out poorly. Only you must call me Your Majesty. Okay, Your Majesty, Geneagreed. He did not look at the old man, because his wide-open eyes were looking aroundat the splendour of the hall. He even opened his mouth with surprise and delight.

The old man remained satisfied. I see my servants carried out my order well, he

muttered. The boy completely suits my plan. What did you say, Your Majesty? Geneliked uttering this form of address. All the time he still did not look at the old man andlistened to him with only half an ear. I want to say, boy, that Im very glad of yourappearance here, the Sovereign spoke solemnly. And Im not the only one. The wholecountry rejoices in regard to this. Look here.

The old man brought the boy to the window. Gene was very surprised that thingshappening on the city streets were perfectly visible from this high tower. There was areal carnival. People were having a good time and rejoicing, singing and dancing. Musicthundered; they beat drums; soldiers in ancient uniforms marched in a stately manner;mounted knights in shining armours galloped. Gene was spellbound by this spectacle. Itwas all in his honour!

This is all because of me? Gene asked and for the first time looked attentively atthe Sovereign. Yes. All this is for you. From this day on you rule over all the people inour country. Is this true? Gene was staggered. You dont believe me? The Sovereignshrugged his shoulders and clapped his hands. The door of the hall opened. The hall wasso high that the person who appeared in it seemed to Gene like a Lilliputian. This wasGargulio. He looked with fear and adoration at the Sovereign.

Approach, Gargulio. Meet my heir, his lord commanded. Gargulio hurriedlyminced along to the boy and, a few steps from him, bent over before him in a deep bow.Gene smiled; the First Minister was so funny. Gargulio in turn smiled with a false andsugary smile, My name is Gargulio, Your Highness. And Im Gene! No. Genedoesnt work. Its too simple, the Sovereign objected. Tell me, do you have anothername, more sonorous and longer? In fact my full name is Eugene, the boy cheerfully

informed him. Wonderful! Eugene is a most suitable name for a prince, the Sovereignsummed up with satisfaction. Prince Eugene, this is magnificent! Gargulio carried onwhile clapping with delight. All three brightened up. Gargulio was in shock. For the firsttime in his life he saw a smile on the Sovereigns face.

Lets return to business, Gargulio. the Sovereign unexpectedly cut short thelaughter. Our prince has come from a distance. Hes tired and hungry. Take care of it.In the evening Ill show our future ruler the people and the city which hell govern. Thepeople will look at their new monarch. The old man was no longer smiling. He wasagain sullen as before. Gargulio, as if on command, also stopped smiling. Please comewith me, Your Highness, he turned to the boy. One must obey kings. Gene knew thisand therefore obediently trudged after Gargulio. He stopped at the doors and, having

turned to the Sovereign, rewarded him with his outstanding smile, See you later, YourMajesty. See you later, my young prince!

The Sovereign waited until the door was closed behind the boy and Gargulio, thenrubbed his hands with satisfaction. This child is simply a miracle! he said to himself.With him Ill again be able to begin everything afresh. And what a smile he has! Itlldisarm whomever he wants, even a dragon. Those dragons! The Fairy of Eternal Youth




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will melt when the new Sovereign, young and beautiful, smiles at her. For the first timein three hundred years, the Sovereign was happy that the sun was shining in the sky.

Gene, accompanied by Gargulio, walked along the halls of the White Tower andmarvelled at how many halls there were. Infront of each door was a guard with a

terrible and forbidding halberd. Every timeGene approached one, the guard wouldsalute, click his heels loudly, and jingle thespurs at the same time.

And heres your room, Prince,Gargulio opened the next door. Geneentered and opened his mouth inamazement. He had never seen the likeeven in the movies. Together with thepictures and the ancient furniture, therewas a real pond with a fountain which wasbubbling merrily and flowing with rainbowcolours in the sun. In addition, there weremany different toys, big ones, a quantitywith horses, and small ones like June bugs.Although he was very tired, Genes eyessparkled with rapture.

Gene carefully entered his room, notknowing what he was to do. Gargulio wentto the curtain and pulled an invisible cord.The ringing of a little bell was heard next. Adoor opened and an attractive girl in abeautiful dress came in. On seeing Gene,

she curtsied and bowed deeply, at which theboy was confused and looked questioninglyat Gargulio. This is your maid, Gargulioexplained. Maid? For all his seven years,Gene did not completely know what thiswas. Yes indeed, said Gargulio. Shellcarry out all your orders. Shell feed, dress,undress, wash, put you to bed Her nameis Marie. Will she play with me? Play?Gargulio faltered. Why yes! I cant playalone. Certainly, certainly! Gargulio

hurried to calm the boy. But first, Prince,you must rest. Marie, take the Prince intothe dining room. Maybe not, the Prince istoo tired. Feed him right here and then put him to bed. Ill come for him in the evening.Gargulio bowed to Gene and left. The boys eyes followed him with a happy look. Hemust admit that he was rather tired of Gargulio.




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Food is served, Your Highness, Marie again bowed to the boy. Gene did not wantto eat at all, but he felt a frightful hunger when he saw the goodies on the table. Heattacked the delicacies with greediness. Marie was constantly adding to it: pastries,pieces of pineapple, drinks... She did all this without saying a word.

Why are you quiet all the time? the boy finally asked. You dont know how to

talk? I do. The girl was embarrassed and blushed. I simply cant talk with the Prince,the heir of the Sovereign. But in general I can talk. My friends even call me achatterbox. I allow you to talk with me. With such tasty food, Gene wanted to be niceand magnanimous. The girl was pleased and began to chatter non-stop about how theentire city was only talking about the appearance of a prince. When my friends find outthat I was the first after Gargulio to see the Prince and even to talk to him, they will diewith envy.

Marie then noticed that the boy was ready to fall off the chair from fatigue. Ah, thepoor dear! she exclaimed and started to preparethe child for bed. Gene did not remember thatMarie carried him to bed, undressed and put anightshirt on him, and put him into bed.

Gene slept until the evening and the fairy talebegan anew when he woke up. Gene saw newclothing in Maries hands. His shirt and shortshad disappeared without a trace. When the girldressed him and put him in front of the mirror,Gene could not recognize himself. In the mirrorwas not a seven-year-old boy from the usualcontemporary family but a little prince from abright and beautiful book about fairies, kings,princesses, and dragons. Even Marie was lost inadmiration.

The door creaked. It was Gargulio. Hefeigned elation and ecstasy on seeing Gene. (Allcourtiers know how to do this to perfection.)Gargulio was the first courtier of the kingdomand knew best of all how to pretend. This time,however, he was not conniving. He was reallydelighted with Gene and it showed.

Good evening, Your Highness! he chanted.How did you sleep, Prince, and what dreamswere seen by your eminence? I slept very well,Gargulio. Gene could not tear himself away from

his reflection in the mirror. This is a realprince, thought Gargulio and added aloud,Then, if it pleases Your Highness, its time toshow the populace the prince. Show whom?Gene did not understand. The populace.Gargulio bowed. That is, the people, your

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buckles on which were made of pure gold. But why? They must see who will rulethem. Rule? Yes, rule. Give orders and punish the delinquent and the rebellious.Okay. Let the people see me. Oh, Your Highness, they will be so happy!

The door was opened and Gene, accompanied by Gargulio and Marie, left the room.Four people with sedan chairs were waiting for him. Whats this? asked the boy. This

is a palanquin, the minister bowed. Itll convey you below. I ordered to have it madeespecially for you, Prince. Very well, but why below? The subjects are waiting for usbelow, in the castle. Why dont they come up to us; why must we go below? A realprince, Gargulio again thought and answered aloud, Only those who can speak to theSovereign have the right to enter the White Tower. In our entire country only I and a fewother men can speak to him. Well, in addition to, it goes without saying, the guards.They are chosen from the sons of the most respected and (rich, Gargulio wanted tosay) honoured townspeople. But even they cannot enter the hall where the Sovereignsits. Can Marie go to the Sovereign? No, shes only your maid, answered Gargulio.But dont be disturbed, Your Highness, shes not a common girl but the niece ofDefence Minister Leonari. I assure you shes from a very decent family. She was chosenfrom a hundred girls. A hundred? Gene was surprised. Yes, a hundred. It was a verydifficult competition. Marie won.

The prince and the minister, not interrupting the conversation, sat down in thepalanquins, and the servants carried them down the long and steep stairs of the tower.All the beauty, which the great genius Walter had created, appeared before them. Somehalls glittered with pink marble, others emerald-green malachite, a third, goldenamber After half an hour of the excursion, during which time servants were changedthree times and Gene had almost fallen asleep, the palanquins were lowered on a specialhoist and carried into the castle. Before the princes eyes appeared a completely differentspectacle. The walls of the hall were made of gloomy grey stones. Fairly shabby oldtapestries with pictures darkened by time hung on the walls and there were no elegantstatues as in Walters tower, but formidable knightly armours with full armament stood

between the high narrow windows with opaque glass.When Gene, following Gargulio, climbed out of the palanquin, he met a storm of

applause. The boy saw a whole crowd of well-dressed people smiling and welcominghim. They were all looking at Gene. His Highness, Prince Eugene! First Ministerdeclared loudly. Eugene, Eugene, the walls of the castle echoed in answer, Gene,Gene! Eugene, Eugene! swept along the ranks of enthusiastic courtiers. Even thestern guardsmen also seemed to be repeating this name. Gene looked grandly, as befits aprince, at his subjects. He liked their delight and joy related to his arrival. Gene decidedto reward those present with his outstanding smile. Applause switched over to anovation. One of the ladies fainted and two guardsmen carried her away. Her husband,also a courtier, did not even notice this.

There followed a party and sumptuous feast. Gene sat in a fancy armchair with ahigh back and watched the performance in his honour. He was happy and enjoyedhimself. Of course! No one drove him to bed although it was already very late. No onelectured or railed at him. There was no need to be constantly on alert in expectation ofKates pranks. Indeed, the war with her was far away in another world! Here everybodycaught each of his words and looks. Not so at home, where he could force neither Mama




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nor Papa to pay attention for at least an hour or so. Here adult uncles and aunts wereprepared to do anything for him.

Gene taught the courtiers to play hide-and-seek. The old grey General, when it washis turn to play, toppled a knight and then caught one fat damsel who turned out to bevery ticklish. She squealed so, that the Prince nearly choked with laughter. He gave the

order on the spot to give medals to both the General and the plump damsel, and hepersonally presented them to loud applause from the courtiers. Headed by the Prince,everybody went out for a stroll in the Garden of the Elf King, where the festivities endedwith immense fireworks.

When Gene woke the next day, he recalled with difficulty all that had happened tohim. He did not even have time for breakfast before he was again carried down into thecastle. Here the Prince received his subjects for almost two hours. Among them werebarons and princes, counts and knights, chief magistrates of cities and deputies ofprovinces. At first, this mixed crowd amused Gene, but then he became bored and beganto fidget impatiently on the throne. Gargulio noticed the boy yawning and right awaygave the order to end the audience and move it to the next day.

After a splendid and lavish meal, the Prince, in a gilded coach, drove out into thecity. A huge exultant crowd of inhabitants of the city and its outskirts met him. Theguardsmen barely held back the pressing crowd who wanted to behold the Prince. Therespectable upper streets, along which passed Prince Eugenes retinue, had never seenso many people. From each window, well-dressed townspeople greeted the Prince andthrew flowers into his open carriage.

So, in the Country of Frozen Time appeared a new ruler with whom everyoneimmediately fell in love. Although he was a little boy, he was always in full view of hissubjects. As for the great Sovereign who sat in seclusion in the White Tower, the subjectsbegan to forget him gradually. Indeed, not even one inhabitant of the country had everseen him whereas everyone knew Prince Eugene now. Prince Eugene and his court led alife full of festivities, parties, and fun. Now it was as cheerful and noisy on the upper

streets of the city as on the lower ones.No one knew that everything would change in a few weeks. Prince Eugene would

suddenly become sad and pensive. A little more time would pass and the noisy festivitiesand parties would stop. The courtiers would again wander around the castledespondently. Then the Sovereign would die. His funeral would be grandiose andmajestic. The courtiers would bury the body of the Sovereign in the Tomb of Kings,which was located in the castle. Prince Eugene would be present at the funeral. There hewould give a speech in memory of the deceased and afterwards would declare himselfthe Sovereign of the Country of Frozen Time. He, like his predecessor, would withdrawinto the White Tower and live there with dozens of courtiers. In memory of the dear boy,people would call him not Sovereign but Prince of the White Tower and sigh sadly at the

same time.




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Chapter SixTHE COUNTRY OF FROZEN TIME

In ancient times, knights rode around the world and accomplished feats in the nameof the damsels of their hearts. With time, there were fewer and fewer great knights.There were many ordinary knights, and over time there were more and more of them,but great knights who whole-heartedly honoured and observed the code of honour

began to die out. They perished in duels, in crusades, and from the treachery of kings.The most important and famous among them were Count Gottfeld, descendant of

Lancelot4 himself; Duke Artois fearless, descendant of Charlemagne;5 and BaronSiegfried, whose ancestors were Nibelungen.6 Their love for the beautiful Fairy ofEternal Youth linked them together. For fifty years, the three knights were alwaysfighting all the tournaments and duels in her honour. In all this time, the Fairy had notchanged at all. She remained young and beautiful but she could not marry, otherwiseshe would lose the godly gift of youth and immediately become a normal woman. Shelived in France, and people came from all over the world only to look at her. Once a yearthe knights Gottfeld, Artois, and Siegfried met in her castle and fought each other. Notonce did one of them gain the upper hand over the others. After the tournament all three

went to the feast given by the Fairy of Eternal Youth.

4 Sir Lancelot du Lac was one of the Knights of the Round Table in the legend of King Arthur.5 Charlemagne (c. 742-814), also known as Charles the Great, was King of the Franks from 768 and

Emperor of the Romans from 800 814.6 According to Germanic and Norse mythology, Nibelung is the name of the royal family of the

Burgundians, an Ea

knight caterino

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