The Real Thief by William Steig

Author:William Steig [Steig, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4668-4097-3
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Published: 1973-06-27T16:00:00+00:00

He didn’t know that it was called the Kalikak diamond and that it was world-famous. He only knew how unspeakably impressive it was, flashing, radiating, almost alive. He knew where to put this awesome gem—where it belonged: on top of his rickety table in the center of the room. He managed to get it up there, and then he lighted all his lamps and candles. The Kalikak diamond not only reflected the yellow light but shot heavenly blue arrows everywhere, and the lights, the reflections, and the inter-reflections created a marvelous atmosphere that completely turned Derek’s small head. His place was a palace and he was mighty proud of it. True, it still smelled of stale cheese and of everlasting earth, and it still had rags in it and rickety furniture, but it was a palace all the same.

Stuffed with cheese, wine, and mushrooms, he lay on his bed of jute that night, tossing, turning, belching, and thinking. Was it an accident that had led him through the mole run and into the treasure house, or was it Fate or some other great power? Was he not destined, being Derek, uniquely himself and no other, to come by this great good fortune? He wondered.

He fell asleep late and when he woke up he felt he had to find a confidant. There must be someone, someone he had not yet thought of, with whom he could share his secret. There must be someone he could discuss his feelings with and show off to. Of course it would have to be someone small who could fit into his home and see what he was talking about.

At noon he hastened into town; and there he learned about Gawain’s trial. They were all talking about it. Everywhere.

He hurried home and flung himself on his bed. It had never really occurred to him that the robberies would be discovered. He had not let himself think about that. Sometimes he had begun to think about it, but he had quickly pushed the thought aside, and his fears with it. As long as he kept the secret, he had felt, it would remain a secret. He realized now how unrealistic that had been.

He began anxiously to consider Gawain’s plight, and his considerations led to the conclusion that the good goose was safe. No one would ever believe that anyone like Gawain had committed a crime. He had everyone’s highest esteem, especially the King’s. Would anyone have believed that he, Derek, had done it? Would he himself have believed it before it happened? But what if Gawain were found guilty? Well, if Gawain were found guilty, he, Derek the mouse, would come forward in court and point to himself as the culprit so that justice should prevail. If Gawain were found innocent, which would surely be the case, Derek decided he would keep his mouth shut.

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