“Because you’re a murderer.” “But my father told me to. I swear. He even told me to put your cat in a sack and throw it straight into the water from the hill.” “And you think you’ll be forgiven? God will punish you. Nikolai says your wart must become as big as the tail you cut off.” Zelik lost himself for a moment. He put his hand to his cheek and it seemed to him that the wart was already becoming longer. “It’s a lie. How much will you bet that I won’t have it at all by tomorrow? I’ve got something that’ll take it away.” “What have you got?” “I’ll put pigeon blood on it a few times, and it will dry and fall off.” “Why didn’t you do it before?” “Because mama says a wart is lucky. If I take it off before I’m thirteen, my luck will go.” “Are you lucky?” “Of course, see, the Vistula threw me up three times. And I can swim in the sea, too. My father is a fisherman so long, and he never caught a goldfish. And I know where they live, too. And you don’t know.” “Where?” “In the whirlpools.” “Zelik, is it true that a whirlpool must get a man each year?” “Of course. They live there together with the goldfish. You know, when I grow older, I’ll swim down there to the goldfish.” “And if they won’t let you go back?” “Eh, they’ll let me go back.” “And what will you do there?” “All the treasures of the sea are there. I’ll fill my pockets with gold and diamonds, and come back.” “And you’ll take me, too?” “You? You’re mad at me.” “Of course I’m mad.” “Then I won’t take you.” “Don’t take me, then.” “Give me back my goldfish.” “The goldfish? Why are you so bad? Why did you take my cat and--” “I swear I won’t cut the tail off again.” “But you’ve cut it off already.” “Rachel, where are you? The dinner is cold,” came the old servant’s voice from the house. “I’m coming,” Rachel answered, and arose. “Come to us tomorrow, Rachel. The storks are here already. You’ll come?” “I’ll come.” She entered the house. II The woods whispered happily. The air was filled with resin. Zelik, tanned like a gipsy, walked barefoot through the forest. He avoided the common path and trudged over the black, swampy, moss-covered earth. He was happy to feel the cool, soft earth yield beneath his feet like well kneaded dough. The boy had a key in his mouth, and whistled for all he was worth. Rachel, happy, with flaming cheeks, with her shoes and stockings in her hands, followed him. Sunbeams that had been hidden deep in the woods suddenly began to play and weave themselves around Rachel. They stole up from the rear, kissed her, sprang back, and all of a sudden sprayed her with such silver light, she half closed her eyes, and shrieked happily. The birds became happier, springing up suddenly from the deep grass, and flapping their wings. They remained hanging against the flaming sun, trilling their songs.