Jozef packed a change of clean clothes in his saddlebags,
filled his money belt with the money he had earned in the last three months but
had seen no need to spend, and dressed in his warmed winter coat, boots and
hat.
His first step was the nearby town. He stopped at the
guesthouse and entered for a drink and some talk.
The wife of the inn keeper, a chunky middle-aged woman,
liked to talk, and Jozef banked on that. She brought him a mug of beer and put
it in front of him on the table. “Looks like you’re dressed for quite a ride, Panje Wawrzyniak. Where are you going
this late in the year?”
Jozef looked up at her and grinned. “I’m chasing down the
circus, Pani Niemczyk, if you can
believe it. There was a mess-up, and they left with something that belongs to
me.” He took a swallow of his mug.
“Do you know where they are, Panje?”
“I was hoping you could help me. Maybe you’ve heard from any
of your patrons where they have gone after they left here.” He gave her his
best smile. “You usually have the best information in town.”
Pani Niemczyk simpered. “You’re too kind. I do know they
went on to Buzilowo after they left here, but that was a while ago. There’s no
guessing where they are now.”
Jozef sighed. “I’ll just have to go to Buzilowo then.” He
finished his mug and paid. “You’ve helped me so much already. Thanks and good
bye.”
“Good luck to you,” the innkeeper’s wife called after him.
He arrived in Buzilowo three hours later, and after another
hour in the largest inn in town, he knew where Circus Francesco settled down
for winter quarters every year. His source of information, a skinny old man,
assured him that they always arrived in the first week of November. Since it
was already November 24th, they’d be all settled in by now.
He arrived at his goal late that evening and spent the night
in a warm room at one of the inns.
As he settled into the hard bed, he sighed with contentment.
Tomorrow he’d find the circus. And then,
maybe things could be straightened out.
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