Chapter 10

As the young man tried to get off the horse, Giedrius approached him and gave him a hand. It was clear the man had not much experience riding on horse-back. The farmer that had lead the horse greeted the Count courteous. Then he unloaded the suitcase the man had brought and returned to the village with the horse..

The young man rubbed his legs for a moment. He felt the summer sun shine on his black hair.

"Welcome, Mr. Jakov. I hope the ride wasn't too uncomfortable?"

"It was a bit awkward, but I've made it. I just hope I don't need to repeat the ride soon," the man replied as he slowly regained his footing.

"If your referees are right, you won't have to. Shall I introduce you to everybody?"

"Yes, please."

"No, no, please, leave your suitcase. I will send someone for it."

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The Count introduced all staff-members, who had lined up in front of the lodge. Then he introduced Mr. Jakov to them as Hannibal's tutor. No menial work would be assigned to him.

"Please, follow me. I'll introduce you to my wife, and Hannibal."

Mr. Jakov followed the Count into the lodge. There, Madame sat at the harpsichord. Mr. Jakov saw the sheet-music; Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Lieder ohne Worte, Book 1. She finished the third movement and let the notes die out. Then she rose, and walked towards the Count and Mr. Jakov.

"Welcome, Mr. Jakov. Notwithstanding the lessons you will be giving here will probably be not as challenging as you were accustomed to in Leipzig, I hope your time here will be fruitful. You will meet Hannibal in a few moments."

"I have been informed that teaching Hannibal will be quite a challenge too."

"Yes, I believe it will be."

"I will do my best to teach him."

"But it's not your teaching that I worry about. Most people are... afraid of Hannibal. He's different from other children in his behavior and he's very bright. Too bright for the likes of some people."

"Your invitation mentioned his mental faculties."

"We would like to give him the best education possible under current circumstances. It's just a shame you were no longer allowed to teach at the university."

Mr. Jakov looked at her and found her very sincere.

"May I thank you both for this opportunity?"

Madame nodded her head in acquiescence.

" Shall we go?"

Madame took Mr. Jakov to Hannibal's room.

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After the introduction, Madame left them alone. Hannibal had risen from his chair, and stood with his hands behind his back. He looked at Mr. Jakov and read his face. Then he saw that Mr. Jakov was reading him as well. A fraction of a moment later, Hannibal's face lost all expression. Mr. Jakov suddenly felt as if he was nothing more than an object in the room. Then he realized it was a four-and-a-half year old child doing this to him. A chill went down his spine, but he mustered his courage.

"Good evening, young Master Hannibal."

He saw the change in Hannibal's eyes, he had regained his attention.

"Good evening, Mr. Jakov."

"As a three year old, Carl Gauss saw his father calculating his finances. Mentally calculating along, he found an error in his father's calculations. Gauss was a child prodigy, but as all children, he grew up and learned more each day. Both own discoveries and what teachers or others told him. I hear you are a bright child too. Can I teach you further?"

Hannibal liked the man. Though he had scared as Hannibal had read him, he had stood up to it. The man had recovered very fast. He had already been told he could learn a lot from this man, he knew this to be true now.

"Yes, please. Father told me you were a great scholar at the Leipzig University."

"I was."

"I hope your time here won't feel like wasted."

"I'm sure it won't. Teaching was no longer an option in Leipzig, it is here."

"Shall I show you your room?"

As they walked to Mr. Jakov's room, Hannibal asked him about his former work at the University. Mr. Jakov told him he had taught classical literature, English and French. The mathematics he knew was out of personal interest, he had not taught it, but his skills would surely suffice for the moment.

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Teaching Hannibal was a mixture of theory and practice. Mr. Jakov liked to alternate between the two. It helped to keep the concentration, but it was also an immense joy to him. After so many years of being restricted by racial laws, walking outside was without any limitation was a pleasure hard to describe.

So the theory was taught inside; Mr. Jakov would sit next to Hannibal at the table, books in front of them, a writing pad at hand for notes and small exercises. The practice would be done outside – if the weather permitted them, naturally. While walking, Mr. Jakov would examine Hannibal. Sometimes he would forget he was walking with a child and walk too fast, but Hannibal would take a quick double step and catch up with him. Quite often, Mr. Jakov would not even notice this.

And there were walks when Mr. Jakov would not be teaching or examining, where they would just walk and talk about a great diversity of subjects.

"Did you see our Castle when you were in Giedraičiai?" Hannibal once asked.

"Yes, I did."

"I loved it there. Especially the basement was nice, with all it's strange stairs and rooms. Sometimes, I just sit or lie and revisit it. I remember a lot."

"But not all?"

"No. Do you remember everything?"

"No, not everything. But I remember a lot."

"How?"

"Well, I have a Castle of my own, with many rooms in it. I can recall my bedroom from the house where I was born, for instance. In that room, there's a bookcase. Oak. Dark. It is in the corner on the right as I enter the room. In it are all the books I read as a child. For example, there's Der Struwwelpeter, the Slovenly Peter. It's creamy-white cover draws my attention right now, in the morning sun. I open it at a random page and read. This is Die Geschichte vom Daumenlutscher, the Story of Little Suck-a-Thumb. But for you, I will recite the English translation.

The door flew open, in he ran,

The great, long, red-legged scissor-man.

Oh! children, see! the tailor's come

And caught out little Suck-a-Thumb.

Snip! Snap! Snip! the scissors go;

And Conrad cries out "Oh! Oh! Oh!"

Snip! Snap! Snip! They go so fast,

That both his thumbs are off at last.

That's how I remember, young Master Hannibal. If you want to remember too, you could create your own Castle, and furnish its rooms with all the things you want to remember. Each room has its own purpose and objects."

Hannibal looked at Mr. Jakov and smiled.

"I will," he said.