A large, striped tent had sprung up on the edge of the town. The flags rustled in the wind, and the air smelled of candyfloss and roasted almonds. Maja clutched a ticket with a glittery star that shimmered with every step. Next to her walked Franek, holding the star-shaped balloon as tightly as if he was afraid it would fly away all the way to the clouds. - Quick, or the fanfare will begin! - whispered Maja, pulling her brother by the hand. Inside it was bright and warm. A circle of bright sawdust stretched in the middle. The spotlights drew tunnels of light in the air and the orchestra played merrily. The circus director stepped out from behind a scarlet curtain. He wore a red tailcoat, a black cylinder and a shiny cane. He smiled broadly. - Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Mr Rondo! - he called out in a voice so resonant that the flags fluttered. - Welcome to the Circus of Colours! First Nela appeared on a rope. She stepped lightly like a cat and her silver boots twinkled like stars. Then Rafi, the juggler, came out and tossed the coloured balls so fast that they looked like a rainbow in motion. Clown Bimbam rode a tiny bicycle and rang a tiny bell: ding, ding! Frank laughed so loudly that a balloon danced over his head. - And now... - Mr Rondo paused and looked at the audience. - And now we're going to show something that we haven't had before. Something quiet and daring. Behold the Whispering Box! The curtain parted a little further and a box on small wheels entered the spotlight. It was dark blue, with scattered silver stars. In the middle it had a star-shaped lock, so shiny that it looked like a captured moonbeam. - Can crates... whisper? - asked Franek, tilting his head. - 'Maybe... if they have something important to say,' replied Maja. She wasn't sure at all, but she couldn't take her eyes off the star lock. A drum drum drummed quietly. The lights dimmed a little. The tent grew soft from the silence, as if everyone had put on their breathing gloves at once. Maja heard a soft tick... tick... tick... like raindrops tapping on a metal box. The box vibrated. It was as if someone inside was moving cautiously, fingering the board. - 'This box only opens when it hears the right word,' said Mr Rondo. - He does not speak out loud. You have to listen with your heart and your ear at the same time. Bimbam jumped up and tried to put his ear to the lid. For a moment he lay like a star scattered on sawdust, and then confetti and seven coloured feathers burst from his pocket. The audience giggled. - 'We need the help of someone who can listen really carefully,' continued Mr Rondo. - 'Who's going to help the Whispering Box? Mai's hand shot up in the air. Franek, surprised, raised it too, and his balloon immediately flew higher. - Oh, I see two brave ones! - Mr Rondo bowed. - I invite you to join the circle of light. Sawdust crunched gently under their shoes as the siblings entered the arena. The spotlight enveloped them in a warm glow. The box stood right in front of them. Up close, the star castle shimmered like a flake of ice. - 'Please hold this ribbon,' said Bimbam, handing them a long, soft ribbon in the colours of the circus. - The ribbon helps you not to lose your courage. Maja and Franek grabbed the ribbon, each by his end. Mr Rondo leaned over, looked in his tailcoat pocket, then the other, then the inside pocket. He shook his head, smiling somewhat wryly. - Hm. And where did the key star go? - he muttered so that everyone could hear him. - Without it, the castle wouldn't understand a whisper. Bimbam looked into the big boot, then into the cylinder, from which he pulled out a handful of streamers and a rubber duck. The duck squealed: piik! Maja looked at her ticket. There was a glittering star on its corner. It was the same as the one on the castle. Maybe... it wasn't a coincidence? The glitter trembled, as if dancing. The girl felt herself growing warm in her hand. - Maya... - whispered Franek. - Your star is moving. The star on the ticket flashed brighter and... jumped up. It really did! It tore itself away from the paper like a tiny, luminous fish leaping out of the water. It swirled over their fingers, hesitated at the ribbon and then, as if it had heard an invisible call, swam straight to the silver lock. The audience snorted for air. The orchestra fell silent. The flags above the tent rustled in one long, quiet ssss. A star touched the castle and dissolved into its shape, like a drop of light seeping into the night. The lock lit up with a soft glow. The box moved once more, a little harder. Maja squeezed the end of the ribbon. Franek pressed the balloon, which now shimmered like a small sun. - 'If you hear a word, repeat it together,' said Mr Rondo in a half-hearted voice. - Then the chest will understand. Maja closed her eyes. She heard a tick... a tick... and then a quiet clink, like the smile of a bell. Something like a voice, very light, flitted through the air. Franek's ears perked up too, until his balloon touched her shoulder softly. Suddenly the lock clicked: click! Once. A second time. The lid of the box vibrated and lifted by the thickness of a finger. A narrow ray of light escaped from inside, as warm as the sun hidden in a pocket. The audience held its breath. The drum murmured as quietly as it could. - 'I hear... something,' whispered Maja, opening her eyes wider. The lid moved another millimetre. The light trembled. At the same moment, the wind rustled over the arena, the flags played a short tune, and the star castle flashed so brightly that small specks of light danced on the sawdust. Someone at the back sneezed, and Frank's balloon jerked upwards slightly. And then from inside the crate came their clear, soft whisper. Just one word. Maja and Frank looked at each other, simultaneously taking in breath, ready to repeat it....