Alberic the Wise and Other Journeys. Norton Juster

lands they’d never known existed and creatures that all their wildest fancies could not invent, and then a story, a legend and three dark mysterious tales remembered from a thousand years before. As he spoke, the words began to come more easily and the pleasure of them eased away his weariness. Everything he’d ever seen or heard or touched or tried was suddenly fresh and clear in his memory, and when the children finally left for home, their faces glowing with excitement, it was to spread the news of the wonderful old man who knew so much.

      Since he had nowhere else to go, Alberic returned to the square each day, and each day the crowds grew larger and larger around him. At first it was only the children, but soon everyone, regardless of age or size, crowded close to listen – and patiently he tried to tell them all they wished to hear. For many of their questions his own experience provided the answers, and for those he could not directly answer he always had a tale or story whose point or artifice led them to answers of their own. More and more he began to enjoy the days and soon he learned to embellish his tales with skilful detail, to pause at just the right time, to raise his voice to a roar or lower it to a whisper as the telling demanded. And the crowds grew even larger.

      Workmen came to listen and stayed to learn the secret ways and methods of their own crafts. Artisans consulted him on questions of taste or skill and when they left they always knew more than when they came. Alberic told them everything he had learned or seen through all his failures and his wanderings, and before very long he became known throughout the realm as Alberic the Wise.

      His fame spread so far that one day the King himself and several of his ministers came to the square to see for themselves. Cleverly disguised so as not to alert the old man to his purpose, the King posed several questions concerning matters of state and situations in far-off corners of the kingdom. Everything he asked, Alberic answered in great detail, enlarging each reply with accounts of the lore and customs of each region, condition of the crops and royal castles, local problems and controversies, reports on the annual rainfall and the latest depredations by various discontented barons. And for added measure, two songs and a short play (in which he acted all the parts) which he had learned before being dismissed from a travelling theatre company.

      “You are the wisest man in my kingdom,” the astonished King proclaimed, throwing off his disguise, “and you shall have a palace of your own with servants and riches as befits a man of your accomplishments.”

      Alberic moved into the new palace at once and was more than content with his new life. He enjoyed the wealth and possessions he had never known before, slept on feather beds, ate nothing but the most succulent and delicate foods and endlessly put on and took off the many cloaks, robes and caps the King had graciously provided. His beard was trimmed and curled and he spent his time strolling about the gardens and marble halls posing with proper dignity before each mirror and repeating to himself in various tones and accents, “Alberic the Wise, ALBERIC THE WISE, A-L-B-E-R-I-C T-H-E W-I-S-E!” in order to become accustomed to his new title.

      After several weeks, however, the novelty began to wear thin, for a sable cloak is just a sable cloak and a poulet poêle à l’estragon is really just another roast chicken. Soon doubts began to crowd out pleasure and by degrees he grew first serious, then sober, then sombre and then once again thoroughly discouraged.

      “How is it possible to be a failure at everything one day and a wise man the next?” he enquired. “Am I not the same person?”

      For weeks this question continued to trouble him deeply, and since he could not find a satisfactory answer he returned to the square with his doubts.

      “Simply calling someone wise does not make him wise!” he announced to the eager crowd. “So you see, I am not wise.” Then, feeling much better, he returned to the palace and began to make ready to leave.

      “How modest,” the crowd murmured. “The sign of a truly great man.” And a delegation of prominent citizens was sent to prevail on him to stay.