Marysia and Fafik find a talking balloon in the forest and rise into the sky, where a strange island of sweets and a mysterious shadow wait ahead.
One warm, sunny morning, Marysia was walking through the forest with her dog Fafik. Light flickered between the leaves, and the birds were singing so loudly it sounded like the woods were full of tiny bells.
Then Marysia stopped. Between two tall trees, something bright was bobbing in the air. It was a huge balloon, striped with every colour of the rainbow. It shimmered and swayed, as if it were waiting just for her.
Fafik gave an excited bark and trotted in three quick circles around it. Marysia reached out and touched the shiny surface with one finger.
The balloon gave a soft giggle. “Hello, Mary! Do you want to fly above the forest with me?” it asked.
Marysia stared. She looked at Fafik, and Fafik looked back as if this was the most normal thing in the world. So Marysia climbed into the little basket and sat down beside him. The balloon felt soft, almost like a cloud.
“Ready?” whispered the balloon.
Before Marysia could answer, it lifted into the air. Up they went, past the treetops and high above the fluttering birds. Below them, the forest grew small and green, and the old oak trees waved like they were saying goodbye.
Soon the balloon tilted a little and whispered, “Look over there.”
Far ahead, at the end of a bright rainbow path, Marysia saw an island shining in the sky. It looked made of candy and ice cream. Purple butterflies spun above it, and Fafik’s nose twitched at the sweet smell of vanilla and raspberries.
“An island of sweets!” Marysia breathed. Then she squinted. Something dark was moving among the glittering colours.
A shadow.
It was big, it was bouncing, and it seemed to be laughing.
Marysia gripped Fafik’s paw as the balloon sped straight toward the island...