When the Silver Tent circus stood in the meadow behind the school, the whole town smelled of candyfloss and fresh sawdust. Ribbons fluttered in the wind and colourful posters promised miracles: acrobats, a clown, fire hoops (but only as if) and tricks no one would forget. Zosia squeezed the ticket so tightly that it made little folds. Next to her walked Franek, a little younger and very curious. In his pocket rattled two caramel peanuts, which he was saving for the "best moment". At the entrance to the Silver Tent, the Master of Ceremonies was waiting. He had a tall cylinder, a purple cape and a smile that shone like evening lights. - Please, please, for the brave and for those who are just looking for courage! - he said and, with a light flick of his wand, tore open Zosia and Frank's tickets. - I invite you to a world that can wink at you with its eyes! Inside it was warm and cosy. The sawdust in the arena smelled of forest. Rows of lights hung from the top of the tent and flags swayed between them. Zosia and Franek sat close to the railing. They could hear someone behind the curtain practising the counting in a whisper: one, two, one, two. They could also hear the clatter of wooden wheels and quiet bells. Suddenly a trumpet beeped merrily, drums thundered and the Master of Ceremonies stepped into the middle of the arena. - Ladies and Gentlemen! Girls and Boys! - he called out. - Tonight the Silver Tent will show you courage, laughter and a bit of wonder! First, the Twins Cycle-Cycle rode on monocycles. Their wheels creaked and their colourful pom-poms popped with every pirouette. They rode onto a narrow plank and went round and round as if it were a straight line to the lollipop shop. The children clapped, the adults clapped and a dog called Button barked happily from the side. Button wore a checked tie and knew how to bow to the audience. Then Lila, an acrobat with copper-coloured hair, slipped through the arena. She climbed on a long silk that hung from the ceiling and danced in the air. Zosia almost held her breath as Lila hung by her very wrists and the light drew golden waves on her dress. - 'I'm going to fly one day too,' whispered Franek. - 'First you'll learn to untie your shoelaces,' giggled Zosia. Mr Kuku, a clown with a red nose and huge shoes that made a "clap-clap" with every step, rushed into the arena. He pretended to chase his own hat, but the hat ran away like a living thing. The hat jumped on the poles, peeked into the confetti bucket and then, completely unexpectedly, stuck to the button of his tailcoat. - Oh, please! - exclaimed Mr Kuku. - The hat is friends with Button! - And the dog Button, hearing his name, did a turn and barked even more cheerfully. Zosia noticed something else. Right next to the red curtain stood a huge drum. It was bigger than her and Frank combined, all in silver rivets and with a blue ribbon tied like a gift. On the side of the drum hung a small, closed latch. Every so often, Zosia would hear a soft: tick... tick... like raindrops that can't decide whether to fall already or wait yet. - Do you hear that? - Zosia poked Frank's elbow. - Maybe a little rain lives inside? - he replied half jokingly, half seriously. The Master of Ceremonies stood in the middle again. - And now what many of you have been waiting for - he spread his arms wide. - A surprise number! Something we have not yet played under the Silver Tent. Please have lights like an evening fairy tale and ears like bears sniffing honey. The lights dimmed. There was a soft, dark blue light all around, as if someone had covered the whole tent with a blanket of sky. The trumpet fell silent. Only the drum trembled slightly, as if someone had taken a breath inside. Two helpers in shiny waistcoats slowly rolled the drum into the middle of the arena. The wheels creaked and stopped just below the golden lamp. - What's there? - whispered Franek, squeezing Zosia's hand. - 'Probably... something that's just counting to three,' replied Zosia. And they heard again: tick... tick... tick... Mr Kuku came quietly, as if he was made of feathers. He positioned himself at the side of the drum and put his ear to the edge. He made his eyes as big as two buttons and put his finger to his lips - Quiet as in a thread box - he said in a whisper so that everyone could hear, though. - But he is humming something there. The Master of Ceremonies raised his cane. - Ladies and Gentlemen, Girls and Boys, this is the 'Drum Whisper'. A number where the subject has a voice, and the voice can dance. Please have a little courage and a lot of imagination. In the audience, someone crunched popcorn, but stopped immediately. Button sat down and put his muzzle on his paws, as if he understood that it was now necessary to be quiet. Lila sat by the rope and watched curiously. The Cyk-Cyk twins stood on tiptoe, peering over the adults' shoulders. The Master of Ceremonies approached the latch. - 'On the count of three,' he said softly. - Once... A breeze whipped through the tent. The flag at the entrance rustled. A shadow rose from the drum, very light, like a feather thrown upwards. - Two... - His voice was warmer now, falling quieter on the sawdust. Zosia felt Frank shiver beside her, but it was that good shiver that comes when you know something unusual is going to happen, and you can't stop smiling. Suddenly the tic... tic... turned into a quiet: tum... tum... like a heart that's counting something too. A tiny mark appeared on the drum, something like a touch from the inside. Mr Kuku took a step back and tripped over his own shoelace, but only to bow to the sawdust carpet, which made the little ones laugh. The latch flashed. - 'Two and a half,' joked the Master of Ceremonies, and the audience giggled, although no one took their eyes off the drum. A single, very delicate feather slipped out of an invisible slot. It was white at the tip and blue at the root. It twisted in the air, danced over the arena and fell directly into Zosia's hand. The feather was cool and soft, just like the morning over the pond. - 'Three,' said the Master of Ceremonies and touched the latch. The lights narrowed to a single golden circle. The spectators bowed their heads. Frank held his breath so hard that he forgot his two caramel nuts. And then, before the latch had completely moved away, a soft whisper came from inside the drum, clear as someone's name spoken straight into his ear: - Are you ready? The Master of Ceremonies raised his hand higher, the tent became so quiet that a single wing of a fly could be heard, which probably also wanted to know what was coming. The latch vibrated, a 'click', the lid of the drum lifted slightly and then something inside moved so raucously that the whole arena held its collective breath....