
A thin veil of fog lifts from the rooftops of a centuries‑old town, revealing stone walls, spires and the pale glow of dawn slipping through cracked windows. Inside a modest brick house, the bed is neatly made, but the owner is nowhere to be seen; the only sign of life is a faded portrait of a young girl clutching a fresh rose, its smile a stubborn flash of colour amid the gloom. The room hums with a quiet melancholy, hinting at forgotten dreams and a lingering presence that waits for its master.
A lanky young man in a weather‑worn coat and a crumpled hat wanders the winding alleys, humming to himself as he makes his way back to the house. He is briefly joined by a rotund, red‑scarved woman who staggers through the street, loudly crooning a folk tune while swaying in a comical, dance‑like stumble. Their brief encounter raises questions—who is the man, what is he returning to, and why does the town seem to hold a secret that lingers like the lingering scent of that rose.
Language
pl
Duration
~9 hours (542K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Michalina Makowska, Eve Sobol, and Julia Jezierska.
Release date
2004-06-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

A historian, journalist, and scriptwriter who likes to bring the past to life with wit and energy. His books move easily between family saga, Warsaw history, and popular storytelling for a wide audience.
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