3. Hans Becomes a Bread Merchant

The unrest in the village did not stop. It seemed unfair to everyone that Hans alone had “eternal bread.” The fishermen gathered at the meeting, decided to declare the dough common property, requisition it and share equally. But Schulz (foreman) recognized this decision as illegal and refused to enforce it. Ludwig and Fritz were especially worried. They even dared to assert that there was nothing to reckon with the law since when the laws were written, they did not know about “eternal bread.” However, the majority was afraid to turn out to be self-governing and violators of the law and to get into trouble if the center became aware of unauthorized legislation. During one of these meetings, someone broke the news that thieves had already stolen part of the dough from Hans, twice. The thieves were, apparently, conscientious, since they only took no more than thirty grams.

“These thieves are smart people,” said Fritz. “I wouldn’t even call it stealing. The dough cannot belong to one person, I have been saying this for a long time.”

After Ludwig found out about the theft, the idea firmly settled in his head to steal a piece of this wonderful dough from Hans.

One dark night, he took a rope with him and headed to the lighthouse. He managed to throw a rope with a knot at the end into one of the wall crevices, pull himself up on his hands and climb into the room where the dough was stored. When he stretched out his hand in the dark to the shelf on which the pot stood, an unknown creature rushed at him with an unusual cry and scratched his face and hands. Ludwig screamed in surprise, stepped back, and fell down the stairs. Hans stepped out at the noise with a lantern in his hand.

“What are you doing here, Ludwig?” the old man asked.

“I… I wanted to catch the thief who steals your dough. But that’s probably the devil himself. He scratched my whole face with his claws.”

Ludwig did not believe in the devil and therefore suggested that Hans go into the upper room with a lantern and inspect it.

When they ascended the stairs, they saw a large black cat that was grumbling angrily at them.

“That’s the thief?” Ludwig was surprised. “Do cats find this dough tasty?” And he thought bitterly: “They probably don’t care about stupid laws.” But almost getting caught at the scene of the crime, he no longer repeated his attempts to steal the dough. However, things soon took a different turn.

Hans was provided with bread and did not starve. But, his boots fell apart, shabby clothes spread on his plump body, he had no firewood, and he was freezing in his dilapidated lighthouse. In a word, he remained a beggar, although a well-fed beggar.