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WARSAW

13th April 2007
Dear Diary,

Terrorists attacked the aeroplane, which I was flying. It is strange but they were nice, even polite and they allowed us to land. Nobody knew that I ran away because I was wearing a coat of invisibility, almost like Harry Potter. I was running so fast that I did not notice a statue of The Warsaw Mermaid. My head hit the base of the Statue. I fell down and in the same moment the Mermaid trembled and said:

- “You are welcome my dear Wanderer! I have a clue for you. As I know, the aim of your travel is to find your lost girlfriend. She disappeared in mysterious circumstances. If you want to find her you must cover a long distance, full of dangerous adventures. I will help you but now you have to listen to me carefully – go where you can see all the city around”.

I was wandering along Warsaw streets for a long time until finally I found a huge palace. As I learnt later it was called The Palace of Culture and Science. When I entered the building I really admired its interior. I was only wondering why the Mermaid had ordered me to come here. I desperately started looking for any clues because I love my girlfriend very much and I wanted to find her. Unfortunately, I did not discover anything so I decided to cancel my searches for a short time and look around the city.

14th April 2007

Dear Diary,

I cannot sleep at night. All the time I think about the aim of my journey. In the morning I found a little, paper model of a crane bird lying on my desk. I started thinking who had brought it here and what it meant. When I was examining it carefully I noticed that there was a code message:

/8./4../3..7./2./5…/2./2…/3.. 6…/3…
2…/8../5…/8./8../7…/3..2./6../3.
7…./2…/4…/3../6../2…/3.. 4…/7….2.
5../3../9…7./5…/2./2…/3.. 2…/6…/6./3..
2../2./2…/5..8./4../3../7…/3..

I was thinking about this code for a long time. I decided to go for a walk to refresh my mind. In the street I met a well-known figure approaching towards me. It was the old man who helped me in Denmark. This time I got a mobile phone instead of a bar of chocolate. He said nothing. I was extremely angry, as how on earth should I know what it was for? I started to examine it thoroughly and I noticed the word “CODE” on the mobile display. I returned to the hotel quickly and decoded the mysterious message. The numbers denoted phone keys whereas dots represented the order of the letters on a certain key. The decoded message was: “The Palace of Culture and Science is a key place. Come back there!” Unfortunately, I did not have any money left so I had to find a job. Warsaw is a beautiful city but it is really hard to find any kind of work here.

15th April 2007
Dear Diary,

Today I got a job. I work as a paperboy. I am looking for any clues around me but there is nothing. Only the words that I hear everywhere: “Hurry up, time is running out!” I was overcome by fear. Will I manage to find my girlfriend?

22nd April 2007
Dear Diary,

I received my wage today and I went to The Palace of Culture at once. I did not believe that I would discover any hints. My thoughts started mixing when some voice interrupted:

- “Look at a mirror… and comb your hair at last”.

After this strange command I looked at the mirror. Indeed, I needed a comb but it was not the most important thing. In the mirror, besides my reflection, I saw my girlfriend … I heard her voice:

- “Honey, I am waiting for you. I cannot tell you where, yet, but listen to your heart. Please, be patient, trusting and faithful. The next clue you will find in the Palace of Culture”. - “But, I am in the Palace” – I replied. - “Whoops. Sorry, it is not the right note” (nervous laugh). - “Aha” - “The next clue… you will find it in your pocket”. I put my hand into the pocket and took out a ticket to Gdansk. It was like an order. - “I must go to Gdansk”. But…. Why, what am I going to do there? I had nothing but only this ticket.

23rd April 2007
Dear Diary,

My train was at 19.19 and it left from The Central Railway Station. So I had all day to find some information about this Gdansk. That is why I asked a passer - by where the nearest library was. He informed me:

- “You should visit The Library of Warsaw University”.

I took out a sheet of paper and asked him to draw a sketch of how to get there. I did not encounter many problems in finding this place. I read a lot of interesting things from encyclopaedias and tourist guides. I discovered that Gdansk is a part of so-called Trójmiasto (collective noun for the 3 cities). It consists of Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia. A nice librarian encouraged me to visit Sopot pier, the Crooked House in Sopot or the Long Market in Gdansk with the Neptune’s Statue. The evening was coming so I approached The Central Railway Station. Fortunately, I caught the train; it was not delayed. That was the beginning of my journey to Gdansk.

GDANSK

Dear Diary,

I arrived at midnight and I wondered what to do. Once, a stranger asked me what I was doing there. When I replied that actually I did not know he offered me a shelter. On the way to his home we were talking. It occurred that this pleasant man was a priest. When we reached our destination he asked me whether I was hungry. I answered - “yes” - so he invited me to the kitchen. There was a table full of food on it. When I finished the meal the priest took me to a room with a comfortable bed.

24th April 2007
Dear Diary,

The sound of the bells woke me up. I looked through the window. The weather was horrible. As the priest celebrated the mass in the local church I wrote a message with many thanks for hospitality and I explained that I borrowed his umbrella. I might give it back … some day.

Automatically I went to The Old Town. Empty streets did not give a nice impression. Despite this fact the city was beautiful in its own right. Walking along a narrow street I discovered graffiti on the wall: - “Be aware of Neptune”. This statement did not make any sense for me. It was strange that I actually looked at it. When I reached the main square the majestic Neptune’s Statue caught my eyes. I could not believe but I had a weird impression that it moved a little. When I came closer Neptune looked at me with anger. I was really scared. I felt goose bumps on my skin. He aimed his trident at me. Luckily I calmed down in time somehow and dodged. The air was cut by Neptune’s weapon. I escaped in panic. I looked behind. The huge, stone figure was closer and closer while I was more and more tired, almost exhausted. Suddenly, somebody’s hand grabbed my collar and in a while I was inside a tenement house. After a few seconds, when I could see in the dark room, I saw already known people – the mysterious girl with large, penetrating eyes and the old man who gave me his hand several times. I asked him: - “What’s happening?”

Although I looked at the man the answer came from the charming girl:

- “Your way is getting more dangerous”. - “But, I am only looking for my girlfriend” – I cried. - “Who knows … it might not be the only purpose of your journey… Be careful. Europe’s fate may depend on your success. Now, Krakow is your next destination. You have to find the next clue and then, having it, come back to Warsaw, where your adventures in Poland started. The Mermaid will tell you what to do”.

I speculated what was the connection between my search and the fate of entire Europe. I wanted the girl to explain it to me but she only smiled suspiciously and went away leaving a coach ticket to Krakow.

KRAKOW

25th April 2007
Dear diary,

Eventually, I am in Krakow but where is the clue? What does it look like? I realised I had completely forgotten about the mobile I got from the old guy. I took it out of my packet and peeped at it. Unexpectedly the display changed and a short message appeared: “You are really close.” Close - to what? I had plenty of questions without answers. I made a few steps ahead and I saw the Wawel Dragon. It was amazing and frightening at the same time. I stopped for a moment in front of it. Suddenly, it belched fire and I perceived a piece of singed paper announcing:

- “Find St. Mary’s Church”

I was not able to read the rest of the information as the piece of paper was partly damaged. It took me a lot of time to find the church, as I did not know where to ask for help. At last I heard the sound of the trumpet. I decided to follow it immediately. This was the right decision as the music came from the Tower of St. Mary’s Church. I entered the temple and I came across the priest whom I had already met before. I hoped this time he would also help me and I was right.

- “But first give me back my umbrella…” – he whispered.

- “OK, it is not damaged. Now, listen to me – I had a dream. I have to cast a special spell over you that will protect you against a Big Evil, which is treading on your heels” – he announced. Then he started to murmur and made a strange gesture. Unexpectedly, I felt weird power, which was filling me inside.

- “Now, go to the Main Altar created by a famous sculpturer – Veit Stoss. You will find there the next hint. And … remember, be careful! – he warned.

I proceeded to the enormous, gold altar of St. Mary’s. One of the wooden figures decorating the altar kept a rolled piece of paper. There was written: “You can see well only with your heart. What is most important is invisible to your eyes.”

I did not completely understand what was the matter and how I could use this motto. When I turned around my fellow priest was not there, he had disappeared. Suddenly, I heard in my mind - “Hurry up, hurry up…! You do not have much time!” When I was running along the street towards the railway station I perceived a car with the notice:

“This vehicle is for you.”

I did not know why but I stopped and asked:

- “What is the price of this car?”

The assistant replied: - ”For you it is free.”

He threw the keys and winked at me. I did not think much and jumped into the automobile to set off for Warsaw.

WARSAW

25th April 2007
Dear Diary,

I arrived at the capital of Poland without any obstacles. There I went to the Mermaid Statue immediately. She welcomed me with a smile:

- “Would you like to tell me anything?” – she asked.

I exclaimed: - “You can see well only with your heart. What is most important is invisible to your eyes.”

She smiled proudly as if she was glad to see my change. She only advised me:

- “Remember this maxim!”

Afterwards I felt how I was hovering in order to fly into the unknown.

Chapter 4