Zoltan Speaks

By Warren Hayes

Zoltan Speaks is the spiritual journey of Joshua Thompson from a young boy to an old man. Each developmental stage is depicted in the form of encountering the mysterious Zoltan, who offers an allegorical tale, along with a lesson from the mystics.

We meet Josh as he is conscripted into the impossible task of weeding Mr. Mead’s backyard. A hole in the back fence leads to an abandoned carnival in the forest, where Josh meets Zoltan, a glass-enclosed wooden dummy. Zoltan comes alive and treats him with a story and a card with a relevant quote from the mystics.

All thirteen entertaining tales, from “The Marvelous Mrs. Groundhog” to “The Wind Chimes,” cover the trials and tribulations of growing up, professional crises, romance, growing old, and finding one’s place in the universe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685263744

Book preview

1

The Marvelous Mrs. Groundhog

I

Josh-u-a! Three distinct syllables. The last coming out in a well-practiced, high-pitched command to Maggie’s son. It was time for breakfast, and Josh was well buried under his covers.

Don’t make me come up there with a stick! This got his attention; and quick as a flash, he was in jeans and tennies and clomping down the stairs.

You need to finish that weeding today, Joshua. Mr. Mead has already advanced you the money so you could go to that Western movie last week. The least you could do is finish it today. And get them all, or he won’t hire you again.

Nag, nag, nag, thought Josh as he wolfed down his pancakes. Jeez, it’s summer, and I haven’t had any fun yet! Mr. Mead has a large, unruly backyard. It would take forever!

And no going to the park. I’ll be checking on you. Nag, nag, nag.

C’mon, Butch, let’s go do this.

The boy and his mongrel slinked out the backdoor to the toolshed for a rake and a hoe; then he went down the street to the Meads’ house.

Built in the twenties, the house was solid enough; but Mr. Mead was getting on in years, and the yard was another matter. Once a spectacular garden, it was all Mr. Mead could do to keep the weeds at bay. Both Mr. Mead and Joshua knew that movie money in exchange for the needed backbreaking work was practically slave labor, but Maggie was adamant that Joshua not take advantage of the old man.

And Joshua truly liked Mr. Mead, for he practically doted on the boy. Sure enough, the old man was sitting in his rocker on the back porch, waiting with a pitcher of ice-cold lemonade and cookies.

Hard work ahead, my good man! he chuckled. Brought you refreshments to keep up your strength.

Josh knew he’d have them polished off by the end of the day. But finish weeding? That was another story altogether. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Josh found the lemonade for a quick break.

Why does this have to be so hard, Mr. Mead? I mean, I’m only a boy. I bet it would take a bunch of men to whack all those weeds! Josh didn’t mean to whine, but he was disheartened by the daunting task ahead of him.

Humph! Why, you’ve got the strength of any man! Let me see those muscles. Yes, sir, there’s nothing you can’t do once you’ve a mind.

Josh knew he was being buttered up. Mr. Mead had used this tactic before.

But then the old man said something odd. Now lookee at the hole in the back fence. You work your way to there, and you’re done for the day.

Done? For real?

Yes, sirree, my boy! That’s a special place. Many is the time I’ve sat here and heard wonderful sounds on the other side. I’ve often wondered what was goin’ on the other side.

Like what kind of sounds?

Like when I was about your age, the carnival would come to town. They’d set up in the fields on the other side, pitch their tents, get the organ grinding and all. Quite a sight, I’d say!

So why don’t you go check it out instead of me?

Son, I can barely move these days. But I would if there was a clear path with none of them cantankerous weeds. They’ll be the death of me. I’d do it in a heartbeat if you could clear me a path. I really want to see if that carnival has come to town.

Now Josh knew he was being conned, for he would definitely know if there was a carnival in town. He knew there was a large field on the other side, for he had explored it many times. His and Mr. Mead’s house were on a last row of houses that abutted large fields and then a forest. He had seen men with hard hats and equipment checking out the fields, presumably to build more houses.

But then it dawned on him that he was in the middle of a negotiation with Mr. Mead. All he had to do was clear a path to the hole rather than weed the whole backyard. He just needed to humor the old man and play along. Perfect!

Okay, Mr. Mead, I’ll do it on two conditions. First, you got to tell my mom I’m done. She won’t believe me. Second, you’ve got to come with me through the hole in the back fence and check out the other side.

Done. Now let’s have a cookie together to seal the deal. And they did.

Josh put his back to the weeds while Mr. Mead dozed in his chair and Butch found shade in order to supervise the proceedings in comfort.

Hours and much sweat later, Josh stood at the hole in the back fence. To his dismay, he couldn’t see through the hole to the other side due to the overgrowth blocking his view. Well, I did my part anyway, he thought as he headed back to the porch. He might have imagined it, but he thought he heard very faint organ music. Nah, he thought, it can’t be. Still, he quickened his pace back to the porch to gather up Mr. Mead. But Mr. Mead wasn’t in his chair. Butch had come to full attention, ears perked up.

Mr. Mead, are you there?

No answer.

Josh didn’t hesitate to go through the backdoor and search the house as he was quite familiar with the layout. No Mr. Mead. That’s odd, he thought as he sat on the back porch. Maybe he went to the store. I’ll just wait for him.

Josh was getting restless, as time dragged on. He was about to go through the house again when he heard Butch start to whimper, rise, and then creep toward the hole in the fence.

Butch, come here! Josh commanded, but the dog was already through the hole and gone. The boy jumped up and ran to and through the fence hole after his dog, yelling, Here, Boy! Here, Boy!

Josh jumped through the hole and pushed aside the bushes on the other side. He then could see across the field and was able to spot his dog headed for the forest. He knew better than to waste his breath on Butch as that dog had a mind of its own. Josh sighed and took off after the dog. Of all the times to be stubborn, he thought.

The dog stopped at the edge of the forest and looked back for Josh. He waited until the boy caught up with him. What’s going on, Guy? You chasing something? But as soon as Josh stopped to catch his breath, he could hear it. Faint organ music. Just as he had heard played on merry-go-rounds.

Butch then turned and started walking forward. Josh followed. He noticed that there was a path cut through the forest, and boy and dog followed it.

The music gradually got louder as they walked for what seemed an hour or so. The trees stopped when they came to another large field. There in magnificent disarray were piles of wood poles and rotted canvas, rusted-out old cars and trucks, and hulks of metal contraptions that resembled carnival rides.

Wow, an abandoned carnival, whispered Josh, taking it all in. This is so cool! He immediately thought of what Mr. Mead was missing out on, yet he realized the old man was in no shape to make the hike. I’ll just take a look around, he thought. This is like my own private museum! There were no fences or forbidding No Trespassing signs either.

It didn’t take long for Josh to grow bored with the decayed carnival junk. He could tell that it had been long abandoned, and all useful souvenirs had been stripped away. That is, until he spotted a smallish shed at the back of the site. The shed looked new, and it immediately reminded the boy that the organ music had stopped the moment he set foot on the place.

Josh shivered as he began to realize he might not be the only person there. Thank goodness Butch is with me, he thought. But Butch seemed to be preoccupied with sticking his nose in gopher holes, looking for playmates.

Can I help ya, Sonny?

Josh whirled about to find himself face-to-face with a very small man of indeterminate age and very odd clothing.

I’m a small person. Not a dwarf. Just so ya know. So watcha doin’ here? This was delivered in a most odd accent that Josh had never heard before. He must not be from around here, he thought.

Totally flummoxed, Josh began to stammer out, Well, I—I—I…

That’s all right, Kid. Just pullin’ your leg. You heard the music and came runnin’. I know. You must be here for some advice. Come on. I’ll fix you up right nice! With that and a wide grin and a sly wink, the little man headed for the shed.

But, sir, I’m not here for advice.

This fell on deaf ears as the little man fumbled with a large ring of keys. Now let’s see, durnit. Which one is it? It’s been so dagum long. To the delight of the little man, the lock clicked open after a few tries. With a bow and a flourish, he flung the door open. Come on in, and meet Zoltan.

Josh peeked his head in the door and checked the place out. It was very neat and tidy. It had a bed, sink, stove, and refrigerator. Piled high along the back wall was a menagerie of carnival impedimenta.

Nice, huh? Now you just have a seat at that there table, and I’ll get him set up for you. Oh my! It’s been such a long time since we’ve had a visitor. Now where’s my manners? Let me get you a nice cold glass of lemonade while I set it up.

But, sir, where do you get the electricity to power this nice home of yours?

The little man put his finger to his lips. Big secret. Now we wouldn’t want the man to know we have been borrowing just a wee bit now and then, would we? He chuckled as Josh nodded vigorously. He was still quite unnerved by this turn of events, and he wanted nothing better than to keep on the little man’s good side.

Presently a large glass of lemonade appeared, and soon after, a large glass box was placed across from him. Now you just make yourself comfy. I’ll be right outside when you’re done.

What am I supposed to do?

Why, just put your nickel in the slot, and settle in! Oh, and have some of that nice lemonade. You wouldn’t want to insult your host by not trying some now, would you?

Certainly not. Although the little man’s voice was quite friendly and innocent enough. Josh was already thinking how he could get out of this without causing any trouble. Then it hit him. He had spent all of his money last week.

But, sir, I don’t have a nickel. Maybe I could save up and come back another time?

Ah, go ahead. Check your pockets. Young men like yourself store all kinds of things in those jeans. You just never know what you might find.

Well, okay, but… Josh was astonished when he pulled out a nickel from his pocket. He could have sworn his pockets were empty.

There you go! Come on out when you’re done. With that, the little man closed the door behind him, leaving Josh sitting in the gloom with the big glass box.

Josh sat there, staring at the box. Okay, now what, he thought. I guess I need to sit here for a bit so that the little man is satisfied that I got the advice I was supposedly seeking. He thought of pouring the lemonade down the sink, but he was actually quite thirsty. Okay, just a sip. He wouldn’t drug me or anything, would he? And I better get rid of this magical nickel because he’s probably going to ask me about it.

So Josh put the nickel in the slot and took a drink. Nothing happened. While he was waiting, he had a chance to check out what was inside the glass box. Inside was a turbaned, dark-skinned mechanical wooden dummy with high cheekbones and dark piercing eyes, full black eyebrows with matching pencil-thin mustache and goatee. Gold hoops adorned each earlobe. The dummy ended just below his chest, with hands clasped and resting in