1. One day, a group of people fought/argued (baklei) about what could be
done and what could not be done. One man got so irritated by all this
fighting (stryery), that he flapped (klap) his arms and flew (vlieg) away.
2. “Look there!” a child called out excitedly (opgewonde). “It is a very big bird
(voël).”
“But there aren’t such (sulke) big birds (voëls),” someone (iemand) else
(anders) said.
“No, but long, long ago (gelede), there were big flying (vlieënde) reptiles.
They were called pterosaurs (pterosourusse). Maybe (miskien) one of them
came here from a different (ander) time,” was another person’s opinion
(mening).
3. The child jumps up (op) and down (af). “It’s a man. It’s a man.”
“It’s trickery (oëverblindery),” says someone after (nadat) he rubbed (gevryf)
his eyes a few (paar) times (keer). “Magicians (towenaars) can do wonderful
(wonderlike) things. They saw (saag) people in two, but not really (rêrig).
They make roses appear from their pockets (sakke) and bunnies (hasies)
from hats (hoede). It’s magic (toordery). That’s all.”
4. “I have seen Hindu fakirs glide (sweef) like that,” says someone who travels
(reis) a lot. “Just like that (net so).”
5. “He’s not gliding (sweef), he’s flying (vlieg),” the child says.
6. “Dear (liewe) child,” says someone who likes (hou van) teaching (leer) kids,” we
have been arguing (stry) about what is possible (moontlik) and what is
impossible (onmoontlik) that we now have a need (behoefte) to prove
(bewys) the impossible to be possible. We are seeing something (iets) that
isn’t there at all (glad nie). Something like a mirage.”
7. “But I see how he is flapping (klap) his arms! I saw how he lifted off (opgestyg)
and flew (gevlieg)!” the child shouts (skreeu) because no one wants to listen
(luister) to him.
8. The man comes flying back (teruggevlieg). He lands amongst (tussen) them in
a big cloud of dust (stofwolk). “Did you see?” the man asks. “Did you see
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