Today the town smelled of gingerbread and orange. There was a huge Christmas tree with a star on it in the town square. Hania held a cup of cocoa and jumped for joy. Tonight Santa was to arrive in his sleigh. Each child practised a song and a hand wave. Suddenly, Mr Marcel from the community centre stopped the rehearsals. He said: "You can't hear the bells. The big bell has gone off." Hania looked at Tymek and squeezed her cup. Without the bell, the sleigh would not find its way. In the snow she saw tiny golden crumbs. They led into a narrow alley between tenement houses. Hania and Tymek took a torch and warm scarves. They walked quietly, listening to the snow creaking under their shoes. At the end of the alley was an old green gate. A bell rang from behind the gate, very quiet and short. Suddenly someone just outside moved the chain. Suddenly a red glove flashed out of the darkness. The gate squeaked and swung open a finger's breadth. Hania raised the small torch upwards. The light fell on something glittering in the snow....