Then they went up to the nest.
“Our nest is well cushioned,” said Adam.
“True. It makes you want to sleep,” Thomas agreed.
The forest air and fatigue wrapped around the two boys, and they fell asleep.
Thomas dreamed that his mother was sitting on his bed and reading to him from Demian, a book by Hermann Hesse. His mother’s voice, before he fell asleep, was soft and calm, and the story appealed to him. Suddenly Thomas thought to ask his mother, “Why did you send me to the forest? Did you send me so I would grow up?” His mother was upset by his question. “I had no choice. I was afraid they would snatch you up.” “Where are they sending the children and the old people?” “Why do you ask?” “There are various rumors. When will the war be over?” “I don’t know. The moment it’s over, I’ll come and get you. You have to be patient.”
Thomas woke up very early, before sunrise. Adam was still asleep. The clear dream became even brighter, and he saw his mother before his eyes.
Adam woke up and asked, “Why aren’t you asleep?”
“I had a dream, and I guess it woke me up.”
“A good dream?”
“Mom promised she’ll come as soon as the war is over,” Thomas told him.
“When will the war be over?” Adam asked.
“She didn’t tell me in so many words. Dreams always hint, but they never explain.”
Chapter 10
When they came down from the nest, a surprise awaited them. The white dog was standing near them on his tall, thin legs. Adam was glad and knelt down right away, stroking him and asking, “What’s your name, nice dog? My name is Adam, and I’m in the forest with my friend Thomas. I have a dog that I love in town. He’s smaller than you, and his name is Miro.”
The dog was astonished by Adam’s words and petting, and he stood still. It was hard to say whether he was a pet dog or a stray. His fur was smooth, and he wasn’t neglected. If he wasn’t neglected, that was a sign he was a pet. He has had enough to eat, the thought flashed through Adam’s mind.
Adam kept talking to him. He asked about his home, but because the dog didn’t respond, he asked, “Maybe you’re looking for a friend?” He didn’t respond to that question either. He became more and more mute, and Adam realized that the dog didn’t understand human language. The people he lived with didn’t talk to him and weren’t interested in him.
Thomas, who was standing at the side all the time, didn’t join in Adam’s efforts to get that pretty, thin creature to talk. He asked bashfully, “Can I touch him?”
“Of course. He came to visit both of us.”
Thomas drew close to the dog, stroked him, and said, “My name is Thomas.” Then he withdrew, pleased he had overcome his fear.
“Talk to him some more,” Adam encouraged him.
“What should I say to him?”
“Ask him where he came to us from.”
“It’s hard for me to talk to him. I’m not used to talking to dogs.”
“In a day or two you’ll learn how to talk to animals. It’s not hard.”
Adam patted the dog again. Filled with pleasure and trust, the dog sat down and closed its eyes.
“We’re going to be good friends,” Adam said, hugging the dog. The dog shook himself and stood up. Adam kept trying to talk him into staying. “We’ll love you and treat you well.”
The dog looked at him with his big eyes, and it was evident that his patience was wearing out. Adam took a sugar cube out of his pocket and brought it to the dog’s mouth. The dog smelled it and swallowed the sugar. Thomas and Adam stood tensely and watched the dog’s expressions. The dog stood there for a while and finally slipped out of Adam’s arms and went on his way.
Adam wanted to run after him, but when he saw that the dog was running hard, he called out, “Don’t forget to come back to visit us. We’re expecting you.” He waited for the dog to turn his head back to him, but when he didn’t, Adam stood still and followed him with his eyes as he went away.
The dog apparently knew its way and disappeared. Adam stood still, stunned.
“What’s the matter, Adam?” Thomas was alarmed.
“The dog left part of himself with us,” said Adam.
“I don’t understand you, Adam. You have to explain to me.”
“When animals go away, they leave part of themselves with you.”
“Do you really feel it, or are you imagining it?” “I feel it in my hand or my knees, and sometimes in my whole body.”
“Strange,” said Thomas. “Anyway, you spoke to the dog in a very natural way. How did you learn how to talk to dogs?”
“From Miro, our dog.”
“Do you talk to him the way you talked to the dog that came to visit us?”
“I talk to Miro like a friend.”
“Do you understand him, or does it just seem like it?”
“I understand him, and he understands me.” Adam didn’t get confused.
“Still, dogs aren’t in the human family.” Thomas spoke in his father’s voice.
“Miro is part of our family. Mom and Dad understand him even better than I do.”
“Strange.”
“What’s so strange?”
“I guess I’ll never know how to talk to a dog.”
“Don’t worry, Thomas. The forest will teach you.”
When he heard Adam’s words, Thomas smiled and was about to say, Can you learn everything? Some people learn arithmetic easily, and some people learn how to draw easily. Not everyone knows how to learn everything. But for some reason he stopped himself and didn’t say it.
Light filled the forest. From a distance, mooing, the neighing of horses, and barking could be heard. The sounds reminded Adam of the long excursions he had made with his parents in the Carpathian Mountains, the low wooden houses, the green meadows spotted with cows, sheep, and horses. At noon they used to enter a roadside tavern, order a corn pudding filled with cherries. For dessert — a cup of ice cream.
Thomas dreamed a strange dream that night. He and his mother were standing at the door of their house. Suddenly his father appeared from a side entrance, and he was short and skinny. His back was bent. It was hard to recognize him.
“What happened?” his mother called out in surprise.
When he heard her voice, his father’s face beamed, and he said, “They made us work and starved us from morning to night, but they didn’t break our spirits. We studied whenever we could. I taught a class in history, and my friend Herman taught one in literature. We didn’t have books, but our memories didn’t betray us.”
While he was talking, he collapsed and passed out. Thomas and his mother ran over to him, knelt down, and poured water on his face.
Chapter 11
That same morning, a squirrel came to visit them. Adam knelt and asked, “How are you, squirrel?” The squirrel hopped and raised its body upright. Its chatter said, You’re new in the forest, aren’t you?
Adam offered it pieces of the sandwich he was eating. The squirrel was cautious, sniffed, tasted, hopped away, and kept nibbling at the bread.
After finishing the crumbs, the squirrel moved away, bowed once to the right and once to the left, and returned to its tree.
“I noticed,” said Thomas, “that some of the squirrel’s movements are like people’s. Am I mistaken?”
“You’re not mistaken. We have more in common with animals than we have differences,” said Adam, pleased with his own words.
“Anyway, you talked to the squirrel the way one person talks to his fellow,” said Thomas.