Knight Caterino

“What if the feather won’t 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, can refuse. I won’t reproach you. But this is the only way to save Gene. If you don’t use it, then you’ll lose your brother forever. Your parents will remain without a son. True, they still have you. Again, I must warn you that if you decide to set off for the search, it isn’t known whether you’ll return. The choice is yours. But in any case I won’t say a word whatever 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 news that 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 had disappeared, she would search for him wherever he might be.

“I’m flying,” the girl announced firmly. “Afraid?” Nick looked closely at her. “Yes,” acknowledged Kate. “Very much.” “You have to overcome your fears. Otherwise nothing will turn out.” “When should I fly?” asked the girl. “In the morning, at dawn as soon as the sun rises. But you must get ready. Prepare for the journey thoroughly as if for the hardest 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!” He rushed 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 warm coarsely-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 the girl 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 grandmother’s 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. “It’s time,” he said quietly. “Quickly wash and have breakfast.” Kate wanted to do neither but she meandered into the bathroom and quickly tidied herself. Nick waited for her in the kitchen. An omelette with sausages was steaming on the table. Kate started to eat but without any appetite. “Don’t have to rush,” Nick cheered her up. “Still half an hour to sunrise.”

After half an hour Kate and Nick were standing on the roof waiting for the sun to appear 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 his hunting knife in a sheath of highly durable plastic. Nick remembered the knife at the very last moment before leaving. “I don’t think that you will be able to resist robbers,” he warned, “but it may come in handy.”

There was one more object next to Kate – a chair, a most ordinary chair. Nick had taken it from his room and had Scotch-taped the magic feather under the seat. This flight vehicle, according to Nick’s calculations, should deliver Kate to where the goose-swans took her little brother. In order that she would not fall from the chair during flight, Nick had put together a whole system of safety belts.

On the roof of Nick’s home, he and Kate immediately got busy with preparations for the flight. Nick placed the chair on a flat place, then set Kate down on it and tinkered with 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 sun appears or not.” Kate shrugged her shoulders. “Doesn’t matter,” Nick calmed her. “The main thing, you don’t worry.” But it was obvious that he was also very worried. “I think everything will be fine.” Kate decided to cheer up the older fellow. Nick looked at her and smiled.

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

When Nick looked at the ponytail, he slapped his forehead and shouted, “Ah, I’m a blockhead! Forgot a cap and mittens. Indeed minus six in the sky.” Kate shuddered. To her, the things already on her were quite sufficient. A cap and mittens would just be enough to look like a complete scarecrow. She wanted to tell Nick this but did not have time. He had already run to the garret window. “I’ll bring everything now!” he shouted and dived into the garret window like a sailor into a submarine.

Kate remained on the roof alone. She looked with melancholy at the sea of roofs spread 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 was always making a mess of something for which she had to face the consequences. She recalled Gene’s last words and sighed bitterly. He flew away to become a prince but she remained here. On top of that she must fly to heaven knows where after him. “A prince!” Kate smiled, imagining Gene in fairytale 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 friends with the boy and played with him all evening. Kate, it goes without saying, rejected their company with disdain, sat alone the whole evening, and was in a huff at goodness knows who. Certainly, she also wanted to play but just the day before she had a big fight with her brother. The little ones were managing very well without her and were playing to their hearts’ content. When the time came to leave, the girl did not want to let go of Gene for anything. She hugged him tightly and kissed him, compelling him to blush to the roots of his hair. “You have such a boy, such a boy…” she gushed with enthusiasm. “He’s so pretty, so pretty… Well, just like… like a prince!”

Gene was actually a good-looking boy and adults were constantly saying so. Gene was 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 a prince, this comparison suited him just fine. Kate on hearing this wanted to beat up her little brother. She herself was not a fright, quite the opposite; she was the most attractive girl in her grade. Next to her brother, however, people always stopped noticing her; no one called her a princess either. That same day at bedtime she got into a grand-scale confrontation with Gene. It came to tears. Both went to bed snivelling.

Now Kate thought that she hurt Gene’s feelings then for nothing. Where is he now? What is happening to him? Such thoughts came to the girl’s mind for the first time. Earlier she had thought only about herself and never about Gene. If he was bad sometimes, Kate was only glad and teased him. Now, for the first time, she called him “Eugene” and not Gene. What had happen to Kate?

While she was pondering this, the sun slowly began to appear from beyond the horizon. Kate did not even notice this because she was so occupied with her thoughts. She did not notice how her chair broke away very smoothly from the roof and hung in the air. Then it slowly floated to the edge of the roof. “Kate!” Nick shouted, sticking his head out of the garret window, but it was already too late. Kate, on the flying chair, was already beyond the edge of the roof. The girl was frozen with fear. What both were waiting for had happened. It is, however, one thing to hear about a miracle or to see it from a distance, but another to participate in it.

The chair began to pick up speed. A minute passed and Nick already had difficulty distinguishing the flying girl. Soon Kate became a small point in the blue sky and then completely disappeared. Nick stood on the roof for a long time looking in the direction in which Kate had flown away. At this minute, he dreamed most of all in the world to be in Kate’s place.

The next person after Nick to see Kate in the sky was, of course, Ivan Ivanovich Speechmaker, 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 Speechmaker got 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 live without the sky?

Chapter Five PRINCE 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, and the city above which they flew. The main attraction, however, was the white tower! Gene had never seen the like – even on TV. He flew on top of a swan right into the window of this tower. Gene jumped down onto the marble floor and looked attentively all 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 and Gene 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 approached timidly and carefully. “Let someone speak alone.” “We’ve carried out your order,” said the leader of the swans. “We will fly away but remember that after carrying out one more order of yours, we will be free. Your authority over us will end!” The old man answered nothing. “Good-bye, Sovereign.” The swan gave its comrades a signal to fly away and spread out its wings with noise. “We will only see you once more.”

The birds flew away. Gene’s eyes followed them with a perplexed look. He did not expect to part with his new friends so soon. What would he do now alone? The same old man 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 fairy tales are usually good. “And I have waited for you.” Here it dawned on Gene, “Ah-h, so you’re that king who needs a prince?” “Yes, it’s I,” the Sovereign tried to smile but it turned out poorly. “Only you must call me ‘Your Majesty’.” “Okay, Your Majesty,” Gene agreed. He did not look at the old man because his wide-open eyes were looking around at 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?” Gene liked uttering this form of address. All the time he still did not look at the old man and listened to him with only half an ear. “I want to say, boy, that I’m very glad of your appearance here,” the Sovereign spoke solemnly. “And I’m not the only one. The whole country rejoices in regard to this. Look here.”

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

“This is all because of me?” Gene asked and for the first time looked attentively at the Sovereign. “Yes. All this is for you. From this day on you rule over all the people in our country.” “Is this true?” Gene was staggered. “You don’t believe me?” The Sovereign shrugged his shoulders and clapped his hands. The door of the hall opened. The hall was so high that the person who appeared in it seemed to Gene like a Lilliputian. This was Gargulio. He looked with fear and adoration at the Sovereign.

“Approach, Gargulio. Meet my heir,” his lord commanded. Gargulio hurriedly minced 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 and sugary smile, “My name is Gargulio, Your Highness.” “And I’m Gene!” “No. Gene doesn’t work. It’s too simple,” the Sovereign objected. “Tell me, do you have another name, 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 Sovereign summed up with satisfaction. “Prince Eugene, this is magnificent!” Gargulio carried on while clapping with delight. All three brightened up. Gargulio was in shock. For the first time in his life he saw a smile on the Sovereign’s face.

“Let’s return to business, Gargulio.” the Sovereign unexpectedly cut short the laughter. “Our prince has come from a distance. He’s tired and hungry. Take care of it. In the evening I’ll show our future ruler the people and the city which he’ll govern. The people will look at their new monarch.” The old man was no longer smiling. He was again sullen as before. Gargulio, as if on command, also stopped smiling. “Please come with me, Your Highness,” he turned to the boy. One must obey kings. Gene knew this and 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, Your Majesty.” “See you later, my young prince!”

The Sovereign waited until the door was closed behind the boy and Gargulio, then rubbed his hands with satisfaction. “This child is simply a miracle!” he said to himself. “With him I’ll again be able to begin everything afresh. And what a smile he has! It’ll disarm whomever he wants, even a dragon. Those dragons! The Fairy of Eternal Youth will melt when the new Sovereign, young and beautiful, smiles at her.” For the first time in 300 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 and marvelled at how many halls there were. In front of each door was a guard with a terrible and forbidding halberd. Every time Gene approached one, the guard would salute, click his heels loudly and jingle the spurs at the same time.

“And here’s your room, Prince,” Gargulio opened the next door. Gene entered and opened his mouth in amazement. He had never seen the like even in the movies. Together with the pictures and the ancient furniture, there was a real pond with a fountain which was bubbling merrily and flowing with rainbow colours in the sun. In addition, there were many different toys, big ones, a quantity with horses, and small ones like June bugs. Although he was very tired, Gene’s eyes sparkled with rapture.

Gene carefully entered his room not knowing what he was to do. Gargulio went to the curtain and pulled an invisible cord. The ringing of a little bell was heard next. A door opened and an attractive girl in a beautiful dress came in. On seeing Gene, she curtsied and bowed deeply, at which the boy was confused and looked questioningly at Gargulio. “This is your maid,” Gargulio explained. “Maid?” For all his seven years, Gene did not completely know what this was. “Yes indeed,” said Gargulio. “She’ll carry out all your orders. She’ll feed, dress, undress, wash, put you to bed… Her name is Marie.” “Will she play with me?” “Play?” Gargulio faltered. “Why yes! I can’t play alone.” “Certainly, certainly!” Gargulio hurried to calm the boy. “But first, Prince, you must rest. Marie, take the Prince into the dining room. Maybe not, the Prince is too tired. Feed him right here and then put him to bed. I’ll come for him in the evening.” Gargulio bowed to Gene and left. The boy’s eyes followed him with a happy look. He must admit that he was rather tired of Gargulio.

“Food is served, Your Highness,” Marie again bowed to the boy. Gene did not want to eat at all but he felt a frightful hunger when he saw the goodies on the table. He attacked 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 don’t know how to talk?” “I do.” The girl was embarrassed and blushed. “I simply can’t talk with the Prince, the heir of the Sovereign. But in general I can talk. My friends even call me a chatterbox.” “I allow you to talk with me.” With such tasty food, Gene wanted to be nice and magnanimous. The girl was pleased and began to chatter non-stop about how the entire city was only talking about the appearance of a prince. “When my friends find out that I’m the first after Gargulio to see the Prince and even to talk to him, they will die with envy.”

Marie then noticed that the boy was ready to fall off the chair from fatigue. “Ah, the poor dear!” she exclaimed and started to prepare the child for bed. Gene did not remember that Marie carried him to bed, undressed and put a nightshirt on him, and put him into bed.

Gene slept until the evening and the fairy tale began anew when he woke up. Gene saw new clothing in Marie’s hands. His shirt and shorts had disappeared without a trace. When the girl dressed him and put him in front of the mirror, Gene could not recognize himself. In the mirror was not a seven-year-old boy from the usual contemporary family but a little prince from a bright and beautiful book about fairies, kings, princesses, and dragons. Even Marie was lost in admiration.

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

“Good evening, Your Highness!” he chanted. “How did you sleep, Prince, and what dreams were seen by your eminence?” “I slept very well, Gargulio.” Gene could not tear himself away from his reflection in the mirror. “This is a real prince,” thought Gargulio and added aloud, “Then, if it pleases Your Highness, it’s time to show the populace the prince.” “Show whom?” Gene did not understand. “The populace.” Gargulio bowed. “That is, the people, your subjects.” “Ah, the people!” Gene looked with an air of importance at his own shoes, the buckles on which were made of pure gold. “But why?” “They must see who will rule them.” “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. “What’s this?” asked the boy. “This is a palanquin,” the minister bowed. “It’ll convey you below. I ordered to have it made especially for you, Prince.” “Very well, but why below?” “The subjects are waiting for us below, in the castle.” “Why don’t they come up to us; why must we go below?” “A real prince,” Gargulio again thought and answered aloud, “Only those who can speak to the Sovereign have the right to enter the White Tower. In our entire country only I and a few other men can speak to him. Well, in addition, it goes without saying, the guards. They are chosen from the sons of the most respected and… (‘rich,’ Gargulio wanted to say) honoured townspeople. But even they cannot enter the hall where the Sovereign sits.” “Can Marie go to the Sovereign?” “No, she’s only your maid,” answered Gargulio. “But don’t be disturbed, Your Highness, she’s not a common girl but the niece of the Defence Minister Leonar. I assure you she’s from a very decent family. She’s chosen from a hundred girls.” “A hundred?” Gene was surprised. “Yes, a hundred. It was a very difficult competition. Marie won.”

The prince and the minister, not interrupting the conversation, sat down in the palanquins, and the servants carried them along the long and steep stairs of the Tower. All the beauty, which the great genius Walter had created, appeared before them. Some halls glittered with pink marble, others emerald-green malachite, a third, golden amber… After half an hour of the excursion, during which time servants were changed three times and Gene had almost fallen asleep, the palanquins were lowered on a special hoist and carried into the castle. To the prince’s eyes appeared a completely different spectacle. The walls of the hall were made of gloomy grey stones. Fairly shabby old tapestries with pictures darkened by time hung on the walls and there were no elegant statues as in Walter’s 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 welcoming him. They were all looking at Gene. “His Highness, Prince Eugene!” the first minister declared loudly. “Eugene, Eugene,” the walls of the castle echoed in answer, “Gene, Gene!” “Eugene, Eugene!” swept along the ranks of enthusiastic courtiers. Even the stern guardsmen also seemed to be repeating this name. Gene looked grandly, as befits a prince, at his subjects. He liked their delight and joy related to his arrival. Gene decided to reward those present with his outstanding smile. Applause switched over to an ovation. 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 a high back and watched the performance in his honour. He was happy and enjoyed himself. Of course! No one drove him to bed although it was already very late. No one lectured or railed at him. There was no need to be constantly on alert in expectation of Kate’s pranks. Indeed the war with her was far away in another world! Here everybody caught each of his words and looks. Not so at home where he could force neither Mama nor Papa to pay attention for at least an hour or so. Here adult uncles and aunts were prepared to do anything for him.

Gene taught the courtiers to play hide-and-seek. The old grey General, when it was his turn to play, toppled a knight and then caught one fat damsel who turned out to be very ticklish. She squealed so, that the Prince nearly choked with laughter. He ordered on the spot to give medals to both the General and the plump damsel, and he personally 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 ended with immense fireworks.

When Gene woke the next day, he recalled with difficulty all that had happened to him. He did not even have time for breakfast before he was again carried down into the castle. Here the Prince received his subjects for almost two hours. Among them were barons and princes, counts and knights, chief magistrates of cities and deputies of provinces. At first, this mixed crowd amused Gene but then he became bored and began to fidget impatiently on the throne. Gargulio noticed how the boy was yawning and right away gave 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 the city. A huge exultant crowd of inhabitants of the city and its outskirts met him. The guardsmen barely held back the pressing crowd who wanted to behold the Prince. The respectable upper streets, along which passed Prince Eugene’s retinue, had never seen so many people. From each window, well-dressed townspeople greeted the Prince and threw flowers into his open carriage.