large lake.â
âThat is right, but I donât know if Your Majesty is aware that the people of Salem are the healthiest people in the whole country!â
âIf I was told it, I cannot remember it.â
âWell, they are, and what is so strange is that there has never been any illness to any of the people of Salem. When their ages were last counted, there were three men of over a hundred years of age and a large number of men and women nearing ninety.â
The King stared at him.
âIs there any reason for it?â
âThe reason I believe comes from the water in the lake and the land where the locals grow their food.â
âSurely that is nothing unusual?â asked the King.
âI know of no other place where the people are so healthy and where those who join them are cured of many different diseases.â
The King now realised that this information was of personal interest.
He was listening intently as Father Jozsef went on,
âTwo years ago I sent two young chimney sweeps to Salem, suffering from a strange growth on their skin due to their being continually in contact with soot.â
âAnd they were cured?â
âCompletely, and the same applied to the workers in a tar factory who spent several weeks there bathing in the lake and drinking the water. The growths on their skin vanished completely before they left.â
âI do know why you are telling me this, Father, and I thank you, but in my case the doctors think that the fatal growths are somewhere near my heart.â
âI sent a woman to Salem six months ago, who had unceasing pain in one of her breasts. The doctors told her it was a growth of some sort, but they had no idea how to cure it and she left them with no hope.â
âAnd what happened to her?â
âShe returned after only three weeks to her family, saying that the pain had gone. She was quite convinced that she was completely cured of whatever was hurting her and making her so miserable.â
There was silence before the King asked,
âAre you seriously suggesting that I go to Salem?â
âI think it would be very difficult for Your Majesty, but as I am convinced it is the water of Salem that works these miracles, I see no reason why the waters cannot be brought to the Palace in bottles, so that you can drink it. The water could also be put in large containers so that you can bathe in it.â
âFather, you are a magician! And of course I will do as you suggest.â
âI also believe that the vegetables grown in Salem and the animals that come to the lake must be influenced by what they eat and drink, so Your Majesty should purchase your meals for the next month or so from Salem.â
The King realised that there was no real difficulty about the Fatherâs suggestion. He only had to give the order to his chefs.
âI must thank you very humbly, Father, for giving me hope when I thought the only thing left for me was to say my prayers and die.â
âI hope Your Majesty will still say your prayers, and of course Princess Attila and I will be praying for you at St. Janosâs Shrine. I am absolutely convinced that all our prayers will be answered, but they will certainly be helped by everything Your Majesty obtains from Salem.â
âI thank you more than I can put into words,â said the King, âyou have given me hope and that at times is something very hard to come by.â
âI think what is more important that anything else, if I may say so, Your Majesty, is that you should be back ruling your people and leading them into the prosperity this country so richly deserves.â
Father Jozsef rose to his feet.
âBefore you leave, I would ask for your blessing, Father. It is something you have given me ever since I was young and I have never failed to be grateful for it.â
Father Jozsef smiled and putting his hands together he said a prayer and blessed the
Jessica Conant-Park, Susan Conant