The list of physicians-turned-writers is a long and honored one: SmoUet, 0. W. Holmes the elder, Doyle, Maugham, to name some few-in SF, Dooid Keller and Allan Nourse among others. Dr. William Carlos WiUiams, in Patterson, N. ] . long practiced both poetry and medicine. Dr. Leonard Tushnet, in Irvington, N. ]. is a general pracHtioner of many years standing, and author of such articles as "Mt.rder By Disease," "Diabetes Mellitus and Sexual Impotence," and "Health Conditions in the Ghetto of Lodz." For the past few ysars he has turned his pen to fiction and 1aas had short stories printed m various literary and general magazines, and hi& history of the Jewish r:esiatanoe movement in Warsaw W11l be pub lished by Citadel Press. He writes: "[lam] at prestmt seeking a publisher for a medical historical work . . . on starvation in the Warsaw Ghetto." PCJland, peasants, and politics-this iB the back ground for Dr. Tushnet's story of a favorite fanttuy theme, to which he gh>es a new-and unexpected-tum.
by Leonard T ushnet
}ANUSZ PIONTEK MET THE Devil scattered about. "You see, Your early Gne cold November morning Worship," Janusz smirked, wiping near the BrubMw Co-operetive off a stool with his sleeve, "we pig-sty. He greeted the black Poles have always heen a cultured coated gentleman in the stylishly people, so the Village Co-opera· creased homburg courteousJv, tive made a place where a worldng "Good morning, Your Wors~. peasant could shelter hi:mself Would you ldndly step into the when hts necessities occurred." rest-house? It is warmer titere." The Devil twitched his nose The rude shack set against the and sat down gingerly. He said, wall of the pig-sty was merely an "Well, Janusz, I've heard a lot enlarged out-house, its essential about you and I want to do busi· purpose hidden by a curtain. The ness with you." visible remainder was white "With me, Your Worship?" washed and had several low stools Janusz snatched off his fur-lined 113 114 PANTASY AND $CIENCB PICTIOM cap and held It stiflly at his side. tive. I have no idea what you "Excuse me. I forgot. These new can offer me." The Devil looked democratic customs-. Your Wor· straight at Janusz. "Well, Your ship wants to do business with Worship, there are indeed some me? I am only Janusz Piontek, the things I want, but I do without Chairman of the Grubrow Co them as any good citizen should operative." in the interest of building Social The Devil waved a black-gloved ism for a bright and golden fu. hand. "I know all about you. This ture." morning, for instance, you were "Spare me the speeches!" the going to take the speckled pig to Devil shouted. "In other times you sell in Nowy Brzecz." kept quiet about your humble Janusz blanched beneath his origin, but now you boast you were leathery tan. He rubbed a hand so poor your father boiled herring over the grayish-blond stubble on barrels to get salt. Your family his scalp, then bowed low. "In· died of typhus in 1921, so you deed, Your Worship, it was not for went as an unpaid orphan servant me that the money would be in to the landlord's house. You ran tended. The Co-operative could away to join the army, from which use a little cash for the luxuries you were kicked out for stealing that the working class enjoys as from your comrades. You came well as the decadent bourgeoisie back and became the toady of the -." gentry. You were the bully-boy for "Enough!" the Devil interrupt· the Nationalists in the town. You ed. "I've heard that speech, with raided the Jews' stores and beat up variations, dozens of times before. the visiting Deputy from the I've got something you want and Sejm-." you've got something I want. So "Please, Your Worship," Janusz on to business!" broke in, "speak a little more soft So this is the Devil, Janusz ly. What you have said is true, but thought. This remnant of ancient please remember that a poor young superstition, this straw man set up fellow has a hard job to make his by the priests to frighten the way in this life. The rulers of the credulous, is nothing but an ordi world like others to do their dirty nary businessman, an obsolete work for them and they pay-who carry-over in a modern People's else can pay? Don't forget that Republic! He said, ''Your Worship, while the drunken gentry were I need very little. I was born here clapping their hands at my patri before the First War in a poor otism I managed to hide away for farm-laborer's family, and now I myself some of the Jews' merchan am the Chairman of the Co-opera- dise.• IN THB CALBNDAJ. OF SAINTS 115 The Devil went on more quiet tell vou · something, my lord. I ly, "You hounded the refugee ki:.ow how to pour the milk so that Ukrainian Orthodox priest, a I don't get 8ies in the bowl. What harmless old man with a sickly was, was. There is a new life here wife, from the village to curry for workers and peasants. So if favor with the Catholic Party. you've got something for me, don't When the Second War started, hide it behind your back. Open you were taken for the army-." the sack and let me see the hen." "And when the Germans won, I The Devil spread his hands, came home unhurt. God and the deprecatingly. "Now, Janusz, Holy Virgin of Czenstochowa calm down. I can give you what watched over me," Janusz re ever your heart desires. Just name marked, automatically crossing it and it's yours-anything, that himself. He started, realizing his is, except immortality." faux-pas. Janusz's eyes narrowed. HJ'Il The Devil went on, ''You came tell you," he said at last, "just give home unhurt because you hid out me success in everything I put my during the fighting. During the mind or hand to." retreat you managed to com The Devil chuckled. ''You're a mandeer two horses for yourself in genius, Janusz! Most men ask for the name of the Partisans. By the money or for women or for power, way, you're a professed unbe but you-you ask for everything liever, so that Sign means noth all at once! And you're even will ing. You denounced the Kowalskis ing to work a little for it! Agreed to the Nazis as members of the un -you shall have what you want derground Catholic Rescue Soci -success! How long do you ety. And when the Nazis were want? Twenty years? Fifty? A gone and the Russians came, you hundred?" offered the priest to hide the gold Janusz blew his nose to hide his altar chalice and the ciborium and satisfaction. "A successful old man the silver censers in your cellar is still an old man. Let me stay and then you accused the priest of the same age I am now." appropriating the people's prop "Agreed! But for how longr erty for counter-revolutionary pur the Devil de.nanded. poses." "I am not a pig," Janusz replied. ''Yes, so I did." Janusz shrugged. "To be successful even for a short "'What good would valuable sacred time is worth much. Just to St. objects be to the godless Rus Mlotekisierp's Day is enough for sians?" He stopped being on the me." defensive. Why excuse himself to "St. Mlotekisierp? I'm not fa this relic of a dark past? "Let me miliar with that one." The Devil 116 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION regarded Janusz quizzically. "It butter :tilled him with a sense of almost sounds as though you said power. Why, there was nothing he St. Hammer-and-Siclde in your couldn't do! With su.clden reSGlve, country-Polish. No matter-I will he said, "I'm going to town." give you sue«ss in everything you He hitched up the wagon and put your mind or hand to at the drove the six miles oYer the rutted, same age you are now until that f10zen roads to Nowy lkzecz, right that Whatever-his-name-is' Saint's up to the inn. There, he chal Day. And naw-you are willing to lenged Kawalek, the innkeeper, a give me your immortal soul on burly e~e-blacksmith who had lost that day?" his left arm in the war, "I'll hand Janusz quickly assented. No wrestle you for a bottle of vodlae." wonder the Devil never won over Kawalek grinneci. ".Better get God! No wonder even ianorant out your money now. Double-if priests could exorcise him! you lose. Remember, I'm the cham The Devil walked toward the pion." Janusz and he rested their door, turned to say, "Until St. elbows on the table, clasped St.-St. Whoever-it-is~ Day, hands, and started the game. It then," and vanished. was over in five seconds. The inn Going horne, Janusz saw a hare keeper was ast.ounded. "You've the nibbling at stubble near his gar strength of an ox!" With a grand den. With an oath, he flung a manner, Janusz told him to get stone in its general directien. It glasses and they drank together. fell short lmt then, to his amaze They had finished off half the ment, rebounded from the dark bottle when the innkeeper's broth earth, flew tGward the animal, and er-in-law came in with a large, struck it S'!uarely on the head. sealed package. Tadeusz Rybacki "Hal That Devil was an honest had been the mayor of Nowy, man!" Janusz exclaimed, as he Brzecz before the People's Repub picked up the dead hare. lic had removed him from office His wife was standing at the beaause of his suspected collabora stove when he came in. He threw tion during the German occupa the hare at her feet and ordered, tion. He was now unemployed, "Make stew tGnight." He went to living on funds sent him by rela the cupboal'd, took out a lwttle of tives in Cincinnati in response to vodka, and drained the ounce or his tearful letters about how his two in it. The easy victory over the noD-existent six children were dr Devil, the prospect of the evening ing of hunger. He had a sideline stew, the warmth of the vodka and selling the clothing he got in the the hreakfast of buckwheat groats pacltages fro111 America. with hot milk and black bread and He made a mock bow to Janusz. IN THE CALENDAR OF SAINTS 117 "Honored we are by your presence, dollars extra was to buy whatever Pan. Could I perhaps favor you else she needed. with a dress for your wife?" He drove to the State Bank "S ure, " Janusz answere d , "if Branch Office, where he changed you have one fit to wear in that the dollars for zlotys. From there bundle of yours." he went across the street to the "And what will you pay me Bierut Tobacco Store for a dozen with, Mr. Chairman?" Rvbacki packs of Troikas. Then he went twitted him. "You know, honest next door to the Dombrowski Pro merchants are part of the fabric of vision Bazaar where he bought our Socialist society and cannot coffee, tea, strawberry preserves, be exploited by peasants." Romanian black olives and juicy "I'll make you a bet," Janusz Crimean lemons. replied. "If you have a blue silk On the way home he fortified dress with little white flowers in himself with a few more swigs that pack, you'll give it to me. If from the bottle. He began to feel there is no such dress, I'll pay you sorry for himself. What was he? double what you ask for any other -a nothing at the head of a one." bunch of less-than-nothings! Co Rybacki stared at him. What a operative!-a fancy name for forty stupid peasant to make such a families settled on the poorest part silly bet! "Done!" he cried, and of the ex-landlord's estate! Chair unwrapped the big pasteboard box. man!-because no one else want Neatly folded pinafores, girls' ed the job! As the village came blouses and skirts, and several into view, he raised the bottle to pairs of blue jeans lay on top of a his lips once more. The wagon blue-and-white silk print dress. lurched against a deep rut, spill Rybacki's jaw dropped. Open ing the vodka over him. He cursed mouthed, he could only point to -why couldn't his village have the dress. smooth roads, at least, like the Janusz pulled it from the pile town's? and draped it over his arm after Filled with the hot fury of alco stowing the bottle in a jacket hol and anger, he whipped the _pocket. He left and, outside the ·horse from his neighbor's bam inn, examined the dress. In one into his own yard. He took a log of the little slanting side-pockets twice the length of a man and he -felt paper crinkle. He pulled hitched the two horses to it, one out an envelope with ten United at each end, then drove them be States dollar bills and a note say fore him into the village square, ing the mother should have some using the log as a roller. thing nice to wear and the ten Grugrow consisted of a cluster 118 PANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION of houses in an irregular oval with way through the men standing at the unused church at the upper end the door. They looked at the and Janusz's hGuse, off to one side, brushes and the paint and roared. at the lowttr end. Next to the Janusz was really crazy-to start church was the former gverseer's painting in the afternoon of a cold house, now the Co-operative office day with dried out brushes and a and meeting lwl11. The late autumn cupful of paintf "Hey, Janusz!" rains and then the freezing weath Antoni Zukowski called out, er had waved and pitted the cen "should I help?" tral area like a damaged wash "Why not?" Janusz answered. board. He thrust a brush into his hand. Shouting and beating the "Here, we'll start at this side. Get horses, Janusz ran after them, ev ladders and boards, you loafecsl" ery now and then giving the log a he shouted at the others. "Do kick to straighten it. The villagers something if you're too lazy to came running. Janusz must have workt" Ladders and boarcds were gone mad! Imagine trying to roll quickly brought. The villagers out the ruts with a log! The log were ready for sport. This would bumped and bounced, but as it be something to tell about all the passed on the space behind it be long winter, a good joke on the came smooth as a paved road. drunkard Chairman. Janusz drove the horses around the The painting went like magic. entire area, then back toward his The paint gleamed fresh and house and down the road for half a bright; the can seemed as empty, mile. o.r as full, as before. Antoni Home again, while he ate the slapped his brush vigorously on steaming cabbage soup his wife the wall and cried out, "The Devil put before him, he decided to take must be in this! Look, the paint full advantage of the Devil's bar just Rows on!" AU the villagers, gain. He was going to make the even the women, ran for brushes. village a showplace that would They wanted to see for themselves put out the eyes of the townspeople. what this wonderful paint was He told his wife to unlead the like. They discovered that as sOGn wagon while he went down celliir. as they dipped their brushes into He came up with two crusted the can they were seized with a brushes and a can half-full of strange energy. The paint was un thick white paint. A few bold like any other they had used; it women were in the kitchen ex spread smoothly and covered well. claiming at the delicacies his wife Before the sun set, the whole was putting away. Paying no at house shone in brilliant whiteness. tention to them, he pushed his Janusz clapped his hands and IN THE CALENDAII. OF SAINTS 119 shouted over the chattering of the not finish because of the laughter. crowd, "Go home now! Special Stephen Borkowski got up and meeting tonight! Everybody must glowered at Janusz. "Maybe Ma attend!" rek's right! Nobody but a provoca The hall was filled. Janusz sat teur would make such an idiotic at the table on the platform, be proposal! Who can paint in the neath the red and white flag dead of winter?" flanked by portraits of 1\farx and "Janusz can paint!" "And a Engels. Taking notes at his right good job he made of it, too!" "And hand was Stephan Borkowski, the what about the smooth square?" local head of the Union of Rural Yells of approval called for the Youth; at his left was Marek, the Chairman to continue. He said, "I village Communist, an ex-Parti promise you the supplies, I will san. help you, and whatever I do will Janusz banged his gavel and be successful, I promise you that, shouted for order above the hub too. I want to be proud to be the bub. "Act like cultured citizens, Chairman of the Grubrow Co brothers! Shut up! I have a pro operative." The proposal was put posal to bring before you. Whv do to a vote and carried unanimously. we live like animals in stables? By the middle of December, his Are we not as tood as the towns promise was fulfilled. With his people? Without us, the peasants, help, every house in Grubrow was there would be no towns, no War re-painted, every roof re-done, saw, no Poland! Then why do we every yard cleaned up. Only the live as we do? I propose that we church was the same as before, out paint every house in the village of deference, Janusz said, to the and clean up this filthy meeting non-religious majority, but actual hall and fix up the church-." ly because he didn't want to an "Aha!" Marek jumped up. tagonize the Devil unnecessarily. ''That's what it is! So that's your Peasants came from miles around scheme, you-you-provocateur! to see the model village. Eventual You make a grand speech about ly, even the Rural District Com how we should work to make a mission heard of what was going beautiful village and all of a sud on and sent Comrade Sophia den-bang! The priest is here!" Swiatek to investigate. "Sh-sh!" Angry voices si Comrade Swiatek, a vigorous, lenced him. One-eyed Andrzej well-proportioned woman, came called out, "Shame on you, Marek! unannounced. She drove her jeep Going against the Constitution I If right up to the Co-operative office, we're so stupid as to want a priest, recognizable by its flag and its we deserve to have one!" He could freshly painted and incorrectly 120 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION spelled sign. She looked back over The crowded meeting hall was the square. It was as she had heard different from its past squalor. -the whole village looked like a The fly-specks had been scrubbed picture in a propaganda maga off the pictures of Marx and En zine. The square was smooth with gels. From the left wall portraits Oat-packed, spotless snow; paper of Mieckiewicz, Madame Curie, cut-outs adorned the windows of and Lenin gazed across at the red the houses; the sleighs were shiny and-white banner on the right, with varnish and gay decorations. "Grubrow-Pride of Poland." The church disturbed her; it stood Comrade Swiatek introduced out in its deterioration. herself and took a sheaf of papers She went into the office, showed from her brief-case. She began, her credentials to the book-keeper, "Comrades, fellow workers and and asked to see the Chairman. peasants, what I saw here today Poor Bartlomiej, who was book would gladden the heart of every keeper because he was too weak for Polish patriot. Your village is in farm work and not because he deed the 'Pride of Poland' -on the could keep books, was terrified. surf-ace. Your houses shine, this He stammered that he'd get the hall is a wonder to behold, you de Chairman, and off he ran to J a serve much credit for putting on a nusz's house. good show. But all this improve Janusz came and offered to ment is on the outside. Look at show her around. As they walked this model village the way our through the village, he looked enemies would, those dark ele sidewise out of the corners of his ments who want a return to the eyes at her. He felt a stirring in days of oppression and ignorance. him, something that had not hap See-they say-how clean and pened in years. Ah, if he were bright the houses are and what a only younger, he mourned, he'd dingy and weather-beaten hulk and the Devil's promise came back the church is? Are not these peas to him. Why not? ants ground down by godless rul Comrade Swietek was im ers who forbid them to paint the pressed and puzzled by what she church? And then they say-all saw. It was inconceivable that this is fakery, because the peasants this doltish Chairman who made hate the government so much they eyes at her could have engineered do not support it. Their evidence? the renovation of the village. She Here-the reports of your deliv asked him to call a meeting that eries to the State-only fifty per night. He agreed, and invited her cent of the potatoes delivered and to stay ror supper and to sleep half of them cut and rotten, only overnight at his house. sixty percent of the grain deli•- IN THE CALENDAll OF SAINn 121 ered, and only twenty percent of what! That Janusz! What a manr• the hogs. Sure, you make a fine At home, Janusz showed his show for fools, but what good is a visitor the room she was to sleep painted house when your city in, next to the kitchen. His wife brothers need food and you hold had made up their own bed for back?" She was going to continue her with an extra feather-filled her speech, a combination of ex cover. He and his wife lay down hortation and threat, but she felt on blankets spread on the floor the eyes of the Chairman on her. near the stove. Mter about an She finished lamely, "I propose to hour, when he thought his wife stay here a few days and investi was asleep, Janusz got up quietly gate." and opened the door to the bed Janusz took advantage of the room. The moonlight shone on his heavy quiet in the hall to rise and guest, waiting for him. He got say, "Comrade, you are right. In into bed with her. Janusz's wife our selfishness we have forgotten was not asleep. She turned her we have duties. I pledge myself to face to the pillow and wept, then see to it that our quotas are ful pulled the coverlet over her ears filled. I admit that I have not to shut out the creaking§ from the turned over all that I should have other room. and I know others have been as Comrade Swiatek stayed a thoughtless. Comrade Swiatek may whole week. During that time, she think that I advised the painting and Janusz were inseparable at out of an evil desire to bring shame night as well as during the day, on our country, but that is not so. when they went from house to I just didn't think first things house gathering the potatoes from come first. I take full responsibil the villagers. A special convoy of ity." trucks was sent up from the town Comrade Swiatek looked at the to cart away the potatoes, and then Chairman with frank admiration. the oats and barley, and then the Marek had to nudge her to get up hogs. Somehow Janusz's neighbors and reply. She was no longer the were unable to resist his per forbidding political representa suasion or the presence of the Dis tive. She was just a woman, blush trict representative. In a week the :ing as she tried to find words and Co-operative's quota was overful then coming out with, "Grubrow filled. There was no longer any should be congratulated on having reason for Comrade Swiatek to such a fine Chairman." The meet stay. She kissed Janusz in full ing was evidently over. The wom view of the villagers and wept en poked each other on the way openly as she drove away in her out. "He's bewitched her, that's jeep. 122 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION A little scared by his easy suc versal as the church and he ex cesses, Janusz felt that it wouldn't horted his hearers to follow the hurt to have a few friends in court example of the Saint, "whose hand on the other side. Single-handedly, in life was ever on the plough, his he nailed up the loose beams of heart ever blessed with the thought the church, re-painted it, replaced of God." .. the rotting steps and re-plastered At the end of the services, there the walls and ceiling. He went was a feast in the Co-operative secretly to the Provincial Bishop. hall. After the women had set out Word came to Grubrow ten days the babka and poured the tea, they later that a priest had been as sat down with the men. The signed by the diocese, with the Bishop expressed his regret that consent of the government, to take the worthy Chairman was not over the cure of the village. There present and suggested to Father was a flurry of activity. Altar Stanislas that he visit him the cloths were made, curtains hung, nCJrt day. Marek made a speech the pews and railings re-var noting that religious worship was nished, gilt paint used lavishly, free in a free society and that the bare church quickly re-fur Church and State could work to nished and re-furbished. gether under Socialism. He added On February twelfth, the Bish that he would join the new priest op's limousine and the car of the in visiting Janusz. Chairman of the Provincial Board There was no need for the visit. on Religious Affairs were met by Next morning, Janusz was up almost the entire village at the en early, breaking up the ice in the trance to the square. Janus:r: was well, where he was joined by a not present, under pretext of ill group of young fellows whose- idol ness. Why provoke the Devil too he now was. No one could eKcell much? The Bishop blessed the Janusz in hunting. He had only to kneeling crowd and proceeded to point the gun at a crow and the the church, where he presided crow was down. Janusz walked over a Solemn Mass of re-consecra cockily about, told dirty stories tion, naming the church in honor for the amusement of his follow of St. Isidore the Laborer. He had e£s, and was generally "king of the brought along a large canvas show dung-hill," as Borlrowski bitterly ing St. Isidore in Heaven, hold remarked, seeing his influence ing a golden sickle and gazing up wane before the wiles of this cor wards to the Sacred Heart. The rupt old man. Bishop stressed in his sermon that, Corrupt he was, tha-e was no although St. Isidore had been a doubt about that. As the weeks Spaniard, fann work was as uni- wore on, he became more shame- IN THE CAI.ENDAR OF SAINTS 123 less in his misdeeds. More than guidance were confirmed by the one woman was beaten by her hus old women and the priest. It was band after coming out of Janusz's still early afternoon when he barn, straightening her skirts. Ev heard singing in the distance. A ery night the kitchen of the Pion dozen broad-tired wagons drove tek house was filled with men get through the square, laden with ting drunk on Janusz's seemingly neatly cut blocks of peat. Janusz unlimited supply of vodka, sing marched behind the last wagon, ing ribald songs, and then ending surrounded by his sweating, ex up fighting each other. No one ever hausted neighbors. attacked Janusz himself after they Comrade Witold, the wind saw the way he laid out Big Maciej taken out of his saih, was polite with one punch. to the Chairman. His failings had The whole winter passed by in to be winked at; obviously a life this manner. Grubrow became time of vices learned under capi known throughout the District for talism could not be wiped out in a its debauchery and again the few years. He congratulated him Rural District Commission felt it on an early start, diffidently made necessary to investigate. This time, a few recommendations, and left. however, they sent out a man, Janusz had no fondness for in Comrade Witold. spections. He became more cir Forewarned by his ex-mistress, cumspect. The carousing went on, Janusz stole a march on Comrade but so did the farm work. The Witold. The day he arrived the April plowing and fertilizing was village was almost deserted. In finished, the seeding was done, formed that Janusz had organized long before the time limit set by a peat-cutting expedition, Witold the Agricultural Board. No other exploded. "Peat cutting! In the Co-operative in the District, no middle of Marchi The ground is private farmer, no State farm, frozen yeti The tools will be could equal the record set by broken!" He examined the Co Grubrow. Nor could they equal operative's books, saw they were in the amount of vodka and plum hopeless disorder, inspected the brandy consumed there, either. communal milk-collecting station, Janusz was troubled, neverthe saw it was filthy, looked in at the less. Things were going a little too church, saw its gleaming decora good to be true. He thought over 'tions with disapproval, walked the contract with the Devil and around the yards, noted the care could find no flaw in it, but-the lessly-piled mounds of manure. Devil couldn't have lasted so long The stories of the scandalous go if he were always such a ninny in ings on under Piontek's maleficent bargaming. Maybe there was a 124 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION stone mixed in with the basket of isn't." Janusz asked, "Is there by eggs. any chance a saint with a hammer Janusz never went to church, and sickle for his emblem?" Father but on May tenth, the feast day of Stanislas' face reddened. Was the St. Isidore the Laborer, he accom Chairman trying to bait him? His panied his wife. Father Stanislas reply was stiff. "I don't think so." hastily added a few words to his "Make sure, Father. This is a very prepared talk, mentioning in gen important matter." eralities the glories in Heaven Father Stanislas recognized that awaiting the secular leaders of the the Chairman was in earnest. May people when they led Christian be there was some political matter lives. Father Stanislas thought here that the Church might be that he had made an impression concerned with. He took out a vol on the Chairman, his gaze was so ume on hagiology. No, no saint intent. It was, however, fixed had both hammer and sickle as his rather on the picture of St. Isi emblem. St. Marinos had a ham dore, now in a great gilded frame mer, but no sickle. Janusz urged directly over the lectern. him, "Look again, Father. Is there The very next day, Janusz vis perhaps a St. Mlotekisierp?" No, ited the priest. Father Stanislas there was no St. Hammer-and hurried to greet him, almost trip Sickle. There were two saints ping over his cassock in his haste. named Meletios and a St. Milti He invited him into the study, ades-that was the closest. gave him a comfortable chair, and Janusz looked relieved. He brought out a decanter of Hun took a deep breath, drank down garian wine. Janusz took a fistful the wine in his glass, and stood of zlotys from his pocket and said, up. "Thank you, Father. You've "Here, Father." The priest started been a big help to me." to thank him, but Janusz inter Father Stanislas hoped that St. rupted, "I've come to ask you about Isidore would lead Janosz back to that picture of St. Isidore in the the church. Already there was an ehurch. Why is he holding a improvement in his personal life. sickle?" There were no more drunken Father Stanislas told him the parties at his house, less obvious story of the sainted farm laborer of lechery, and Janusz was beginning Madrid and how the sickle was to act like a sober citizen. Alas! chosen as his emblem. Janusz The reform was part of Janusz's heard him through and then new plans. Assured now he had asked, "Is the hammer one of his nothing to fear from the Devil, he emblems, too?" The priest looked was no longer satisfied to be run at him wonderingly. "No, it after by Rybacki and civilly sa- IN THE CALENDAR OF SAINTS 125 luted by the town officials. With had heen burned out, it reported the Devil's help, there was no that the rains came because cer reason why he could not become tain local peculiarities of the ter Rural Commissioner, and then rain, as yet undetermined, caused Deputy, and then-why, there precipitation. was no limit. The crop yield in Grubrow was He knew that he could not rely fantastically high. There was on the Devil alone, however. He enough corn for fodder for the en had to start the ball rolling him tire District. The oats and barley self. He began to dress more neat quotas were over-fulfilled. The ly, as befitted a potential Rural watermelons and cucumbers, the Commissioner. He scraped all the potatoes, turnips, onions and beets dung from his boots before he en were the boast of the Province. tered a house. He bought handker The cabbages were enormous and chiefs to use instead of his fingers in such quantity that truckloads for blowing his nose. He said were taken to other areas. Hplease" instead of cursing while Throughout the harvesting, Ja directing the weeding in the fields. nusz was indefatigable. Borkowski He told the young men horrendous became his right hand man. tales of the hard life of a landless Marek approached him with a re peasant under the old regime. He quest to join the Communist Party. called meetings of the Co-opera The villagers praised him for his tive Executive Committee to dis efficient labor-saving organization cuss the work quotas instead of of the work. The women forgot his setting them up himself. past transgressions when they saw The Devil did his share also, how he helped with the chopping Janusz agreed. That year there was of the cabbages for sauerkraut and a great drought all over Eastern how he wangled extra crocks from Europe. The government tried the town supply !louse for the cloud-seeding devices and the pickles. The District Rural Com peasants paraded in the fields with mission sent a team of carpenters sacred images, to no avail. Only and masons to build a large new over Grubrow and its immediate smoke-house. In return, Janusz vicinity did it rain. The Meteoro pledged to triple the amount of logic Group from the University ham and sausage produced for the of Krakow came to study the ph~ urban population. nomenon. They sent up weather The last move led to a visit balloons, took geological speci from Comrade Wladislaw Michal mens and interviewed the farm ski, the political leader of the ers. In due time, long after most Province, who let drop a few hints of the crops in the rest of Poland that the Rural District Commis- 126 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION sion to be elected in November was a gala meeting in the Town could benefit by the presence of Council Hall that night, with the Janusz Piontek. Janusz received candidates sitting at the table of the news quietly. He enjoyed his honor. The Town Magistrate read new role as he had never enjoyed off the list of candidates and anything before. Pushed into the asked for objections. Several of the background were the short-lived nominees were criticized, but not pleasures of drunkenness and Janusz. Then Comrade l\Hchalski fornication. Better it was to have asked for the floor. power, to be honored by men. The "Fellow workers," he began, "I secondary enjoyments followed as come here tonight as an official a matter of course, he calculated, representative of the Provincial all in due time. Bureau to honor the man who The hay was all in and the heads your list, Janusz Piontek. September plowing finished two (Loud applause.) We in the Bu weeks before the first frost. Janusz reau have followed the career of started his electioneering. He Comrade Piontek with great inter made journeys to the nearby vil est this past year. Janusz Piontek lages, to the state farms, and to the was slow in starting his brilliant private farmers in the area. Every work as Chairman of the Grubrow where he was humble but digni Co-operative. (Murmurs.) But his fied, gave a few suggestions and slowness was not stupidity! It was asked for support for his nomina the slow natural fermentation of tion to the Rural District Com ideas. When the fermentation was mission. Needless to say, his visits over and the ideas matured in his aroused enthusiasm-here was no mind, the dull mash, distilled by college professor, no mechanic, no our democratic society, became school teacher, but a plain, hard the sparkling spirits that invigor working peasant who liked a drink ate and freshen us all. (Laughter.) or two now and then and who was Look at what he has done this past a little too fond of women, but year! He has made the broken who knew, too, where the horse down village of Grubrow the was going and how to keep from Pride of Poland! He has succeeded stepping on the droppings. in everything he has put his mind The peak of the campaign came and hand to! Why? Because he is on October twenty-seventh. The no bureaucrat sitting In an office local Communist Party of Nowy issuing directives-he is right out Brzecz joined with the Peasant in the field, working. (Applause.) Party in placing the name of And now, my fellow workers, I Janusz Piontek at the head of the have an announcement. (Stir United List of candidates. There rings.) The Provincial Political IN THE CALENDAR OF SAINTS 127 Bureau, to shttw its appreciation He drove home, sure now that, of Comrade Piontek's efforts on with Rybacki's help, he would behalf of the building of a Social avoid the errors his poor education ist Poland, has given him-a might lead to. He drove into the jeep! (Exclamations.) It is a sym yard, lovingly covered the radiator bol of the New Poland to come with an old blanket, and relieved when every farm Co-operative will himself at the side of the house. have a score of jeeps, yes, and As he turned around, he saw the pleasure cars!" (Loud applause. Devil. A spasm of fear shook him Stamping of feet. General Com for just a moment. He demanded motion.) wrathfully, "What are you doing The Political Bureau provided here?" a chauffeur until Janusz learned The Devil raised his eyebrows to drive himself. In one day he be in surprise. "Why, Janusz, it's came as a~plished as his teach October thirty-first." er. The next few days he spent "And yesterday was October driving around from village to thirtieth and tomorrow is the first village, showing off, praisiag the of November," Janusz retorted. government, and lapping up the "What have the days of the year semi-envious congratulatiGns. He to do with me? Get out of here stopped on the evening of the and don't come around again! A thirty-first at the Nowy Brzecz inn bargain is a bargain and if you're for a drink. a fool, you pay the consequences." The innkeeper, exceptionally "So?" The Devil was very calm. respectful, asked for a favor. "My ''Yon ere right. I shall return at the brother-in-law, Rybacki, has been proper time." He vanished. arrested on a charge of smuggfing Janusz went into the house, sat foreign currency and failing to down by the stove, and thought pay duty on goods imported for over the encounter with the Devil. sale. It's true he's nothing but a Resentment rose in him. What, lowdown crook, but my wife is did that Devil think he was a crying her eyes out. You are a man booby who could be frightened of influence-" Janusz's chest ex into cancelling the contract? He panded-"and if you would drop had another think coming. Janusz a word in the right quarter, rm would hold him to the very letter sure his senteilce would be light of the agreement as long as he ened." pleased-and that was forever, he "Nonsense!" Janusz tossed his smiled to himself. head. "I will do more. I will have "Good, Janusz, you're smiling. Rybacki freed and I will make him That's better." The Devil stood be my secretary." fore him. "How have things been 128 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION this past year? Everything went as Sickle, and you must live up to you wished, didn't it?" your part of the deal until there is Janutz jumped from his chair. one, which is not likely ever to "Yes, it went well. If that's all you be. I" want to know, clear out!" The Devil shook his head. "Ai, "Now, now, Janusz," the Dev Janusz, Janusz! Trying to cheat an il's voice was teasing. "A bargain's old-timer like me. Today is St. a bargain, and I've come to collect. Hammer-and-Sickle's Day, St. No It is now November first." body's Day, St. Bread-and-Sau Janusz peered at him in disbe sage's Day. It is All Saints' Day. lief. What the devil was the Devil It is the day dedicated to every talking about? "Collect? You don't saint, known or unknown, past or know yet?" He began to laugh present or future, no matter by out loud. "You fool, you thick what name he goes. This is the skulled Devil, there is no St. day for payment. This is the day I Mlotekisierp, no St. Hammer-and- collect."
Watch lor our OCTOBER ALL-STAR ISSUE
(on !ale Septembef' 1)
LEIGH BRACKETT R. BRETNOR MIRIAM ALLEN DE FORD EDMOND HAMILTON DAMON KNIGHT ROBERT F. YOUNG