Then the conductor chases him off.

He walks along, then does the same thing again, on a different tram. Then he goes on foot along the highway – then a dirt road and into a birch forest.

There are birches, more birches, then oak trees, pines and more oaks.

He never thinks about when he’ll get home. He just goes deeper and deeper into the forest. As if he were being lured.

Until he feels tired. And hungry. He sits down. Then he lies down on the grass. He stares at the sky through the branches. He has unbuttoned his jacket.

Silence.

He’s fallen asleep.

He’s having a bad dream: they’re chasing him – he runs away, but they release poison gas after him. Until he’s suffocating. His head aches.

It’s cold!

He opens his eyes.

He looks around, amazed. Aha – he’s in the forest. He looks upward: the crowns of the trees are swaying violently. There’s an ominous roaring sound – it’s the wind.

It’s dark.

There’s a shot. Not a shot, but thunder. And at once it starts to rain. Big, heavy drops.

Once again there’s thunder and lightning.

It’s a storm. A storm in the forest.

He must get to the highway. To the tram.

But which way?

He doesn’t know.

He’s lost.

That’s bad.

He runs. But where should he run to? It makes no difference. There’s more thunder.

His cap is soaked through, and there’s water streaming off its peak. His clothes feel heavy. There’s water sloshing in his shoes.

But maybe it’s a trap? That was just how the legendary robber chief Madey lost his way, signed his pact, and sold his soul to the devil.

He thinks there’s someone lurking behind a tree.

He stops. No – it’s just a bush. He rushes onward.

The forest has kind of ended, but there’s no highway, and no ditch by the highway. Just the sad-looking stumps of cut-down trees.

He slips and falls. He has trouble getting up. He turns left.

A small light looms in the distance.

Maybe it’s a cottage, or maybe it’s the eyes of a wolf? Or maybe it’s the hideout of the wizard who has lured him into the forest, made him fall asleep, caused the storm, and is now tempting him with that light?

A spark lights up and goes out – now there’s one, now two – they come closer, then move away.

At last he’s found the road. There are wheel tracks.

Now the mud is sticky and his feet are getting bogged down.

He hears someone calling. It’s Grandma’s voice: “Antek, Antek!”

He stops.