He listens hard. No, he was just imagining it.

He passes a small wooden bridge. Maybe it’ll break? Kaytek will fall into the water and the ghost of a drowned woman will drag him to the bottom.

The moon has floated into the sky – and Kaytek sees the drowned woman. He shuts his eyes and runs away.

But he has no strength left.

He leans against a post. His knees give way. He lies there and waits.

He hears the whirr of wheels. Friend or foe? Will he help him or kill him?

It’s all the same. It was cold, and now it’s hot. He starts coughing. It hurts.

“Momma!”

He groans.

“Hello, who’s there? Where have you come from? Who are you?”

“Don’t kill me,” begs Kaytek. “I’ll give you a sheep with a golden fleece.”

Kaytek hears another question, but he doesn’t answer. He feels strong arms picking him up. Now he’s lying on something soft. He doesn’t open his eyes. He’s rocking.

“Gee up!”

He wakes and dozes by turns.

He shouts. He leaps up.

“Don’t get up or you’ll fall off the cart.”

Kaytek has woken up in a strange room. He’s lying on a bench.

“Here you are. Drink this.”

He eagerly swallows the good, warm liquid.

There are people saying something, asking questions. Kaytek can hear, but he doesn’t answer. He’s too tired.

He hears a woman’s voice:

“What will we do with him, with the boy?”

“I’ll take him to the hospital. Maybe he’ll say something in the morning.”

“What if he dies in the night?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“What a bother.”

“So what was I meant to do? Leave him in the field, stupid?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

When Kaytek wakes up again, he can feel them dressing him. The clothes feel unpleasant, hard. Kaytek tries to defend himself, pushing them away. He just wants to lie in peace.

“Come along now. You’re going back to your dad.”

“Ow, my head. Stop. That’s enough.”

They carry him outside. He’s on the move again.

At last he opens his eyes. He recognizes some tall houses. He recognizes a policeman.

“Where do you live? What’s your name?”

He tries to smile but he can’t.

They pick him up again.