Don't forget:

- Text after a dash or between two dashes means somebody's talking. - text written in italic has emphasis. 'Text written like this' means the character is thinking. But when he/she quotes someone else is like the next line.

- "I don't use bold font; don't look for it, please."

Nobody expected the news Kese had brought when he got home two days later. Of course everyone doubted him, but then Dombi later arrived and confirmed the news. The blonde had told him on that evening what he had heard from those men and Dombi had spent the next day asking his friends if they had known something about it. One of the fishermen from Siplak had seen the pirates' ship on the thirteenth, at another neighbouring island's docks.

This was enough to freak out most of the villagers, but a few remained collected and wanted to protect themselves and their goods. These men and women gathered at Tas' house and begun to discuss what they should do. Present were the fishermen with Csík; the only teacher on the island, Ajtony*; a few members of the carpenter and cooper families; Lehel; Dombi and his family; and at last the blacksmiths: Tas and Kese. Sometimes Rozi and Jolánta appeared too, latter carrying Szeneske in her arms like her mother carried her baby. Of course the cat couldn't stand it, but the girl didn't let her go.

There was a little warm-up talk; then the subject quickly changed to the most recent and important one. Ajtony volunteered to lead the discussion, so he asked Kese and Dombi to tell the others in detail what they had learnt in Siplak. The group couldn't believe the pirates originally wanted a simple treasure and not their goods. Deep silence followed the two's speech, which was interrupted by a carpenter, Gyula*. – I don't know what you all think of this, but I'm a little fed up with them. – his voice was filled with weariness. No one contradicted, a few nodded in agreement.

- We all are. – Ajtony whispered to himself.

Kese rubbed his forehead. He wanted to make them get up and stand against the pirates. He wanted it so badly; but he was well aware of their loss. And if they had killed one Magor, what would hold them back to kill another? 'It would be the best solution if they didn't even want to approach the island by their own will. If they had the treasure, they wouldn't need to come back. So, if we could give it to them...'

- What about this treasure they want? – everyone's eyes fell on him, some replied they had never heard of it or it didn't exist. Kese shook his head. – They wouldn't believe this.

- What were you thinking about? – Tas was the one who asked him.

- If they had it, they wouldn't have a reason to come back.

- If we knew what this treasure's like we might be able to reproduce it, but we don't know. – Karcsa stated. – But I like your other idea.

- What other idea?

- That they wouldn't have a reason to come back.

Grumbling was heard amongst the people: they already started figuring out what that reason would be. Kese blinked, and inside his mind he repeated his previous thought. 'It would be the best solution if the pirates didn't even want to approach the island by their own will.' – Or rather... – he completed Karcsa's assumption. - They would have a reason not to come back.

- Isn't it the same? – a fisherman asked. The blonde shook his head and wanted to explain it, but a few things kept him from doing so. First the grumbling became so loud he couldn't even be heard by that man; second: Karcsa had already started to explain the differences; third: Jolánta almost knocked him over while chasing poor cat which had managed to flee from her arms. Unexpectedly, a hand held him up.

- What are you planning? – Tas hissed in his ears. The blonde heard nervousness and anger in his voice, and he was surprised by these. The man was well-known for his calm attitude.

- What? – he whispered.

- What do you mean by this? A reason not to come back? Sounds like a threat, son; do you want to counter them, too?! – the blacksmith started seeing red. His grip on the younger's shoulder became really strong.

Kese frowned and raised an eyebrow at the same time. – I-I wasn't thinking of this...

- Then what? – he couldn't answer, he was a little frightened because of the man's sudden offensive tone. – Don't dare thinking about fighting against them. Do you understand? – the blonde was trembling, but he hesitantly nodded. His father took a deep breath and patted him on his shoulder. – Good.

They returned to the mass of conversations, listening to the others while remaining silent.

- We just need to make this treasure less attractive, or repulsive, or something, so they just wouldn't want it so badly. – he heard Karcsa arguing with his father.

- But what guarantees they wouldn't come back to rob us, eh? What guarantees they stay away from the island? I'm afraid; there is nothing we could do to keep them away!

Meanwhile Kese's thoughts were racing, desperately trying to find a decent solution. He repeated other's ideas and words in his mind, and he somehow knew he had been groping on a good way with this method. 'Make the treasure repulsive; guarantee to stay away...'

- Come back, Szeneske, don't run away from me!

'"I'm afraid". Szeneske? Ah, the black cat. Wait... Black cat. And the thirteenth. Superstitions?!'

A light bulb flashed in Kese's mind. – Superstitious. – he whispered. Lehel heard him; he was the closest to him now and leaned to him.

- Excuse me?

- They're... superstitious. – he whispered again, his onyx eyes bounced from face to face until they found Karcsa's pupils. The other boy frowned at his strange expression, but Kese quickly led his gaze to the ground and started thinking about this while fidgeting his chin and lips with his fingers. – This might work...

- Please, Kese, use full sentences. Explain yourself. – the doctor was trying to bring him back to the present, successfully. The blonde looked around, feeling others glance upon him. He waited for the grumbling to cease; and when it was quiet enough, he started to speak.

- As I said before, it would be nice if they had a reason not to come back. At the moment, we have something they want to get, so we just have to have something that keeps them away. – most of them nodded, waiting impatiently for him to finally get to the point. – They have a weak point we should use: they are superstitious. They don't sail on month's thirteenth day. So we just need to have something that makes them afraid of this island; that makes their fear stronger than their desire after this treasure. We have to use a known superstition or create a new one for them which they would be wary of. And which would keep them away.

His audience was in silence; they were contemplating his words. Some of them didn't like his idea, the other half agreed.

- It doesn't seem so dangerous. – Ajtony spoke out first.

- But what guarantees this would work? – Dombi said nervously.

- Nothing guarantees it. – Karcsa replied. It was obvious they were tired of arguing with each other. – We can still stand here doing nothing, thinking of what we should do, waiting for them to arrive. If we can figure out a better idea, then let's do it quickly. Time is precious.

They were silent for a minute again until few of them started to have their own conversations in pairs. Dombi was quietly quarrelling with his son again, about something Kese couldn't hear. Tas was thinking, his arms crossed on his chest, his eyes closed. Lehel leaned to the blonde again and whispered. – Do you have any ideas about this? – Kese shook his head. The doc hummed, and returned to his previous posture. A few seconds later he leaned and asked the blonde again. – By the way, where did you learn to speak so well?

- Dreams and visions. – he sighed barely audible. He heard Karcsa snorting and saw him walking away from his father and the group. The blonde wanted to follow him, but Tas' hand stopped him. Kese waited for him to talk, but for a minute he didn't speak. Then he turned to the others.

- We can decide about this later. Now, that we know they would come, we should discuss how to save our families' well-being. I know about a cave near the abbey where we should hide some of our goods and food, not only in our dry wells. We could lead our children, women and elders to the monks as well, to protect them getting harmed by the pirates. However, we should leave a little food and a few of us in the village as well: if they find here nothing and no one, they would begin searching through the island.

Everyone was satisfied with his words, and came to agree with him. Kese was surprised and amazed by the blacksmith's way of thinking; this option hadn't even come to his mind. After all, Tas was a father, his first worry was his family. They were talking about how they would carry out this idea, when suddenly Rozi called for the blonde. – Kese, could you come over here a little?

Said young man nodded and went towards the source of her voice. He stepped into the kitchen and looked around: her mother was nowhere to be found, so he walked into their bedroom, but she wasn't there either. Kese turned back to the kitchen and was scared out of his wits.

An ugly, evil-looking and frightening creature stared dead into his eyes.

An adult and two young Magors' laughter filled the blacksmith's house while the blonde was panting and shaking on his parent's bedroom floor. Kese had been frightened so much he had almost peed himself, though he was not known for being easily scared.

He took a few deep breaths to calm himself. – Tell me only one reason why I shouldn't throw you off the cliffs. – he said menacingly to his friend.

The creature stood at the door-step; it was covered with white sheepskin, had ram horns, blood red face, evil eyes and a grotesque grin. It was laughing though its mouth wasn't moving. A hand came to its head and lifted it, revealing Karcsa's face. That head was only a mask. – Sorry, I had to test it on you, I couldn't resist the idea. – he tried to cease his laughing. – I didn't expect such reaction from you. – Kese snorted at this.

- And I didn't expect you to try and provoke a heart attack on me; that's all. – he murmured.

- Yeah, sure. – Karcsa chuckled. – But... Imagine what our pirates would react seeing all of us in these Busó* costumes. – he winked.

Kese's mouth gaped at this idea. He remembered the villager's strange tradition, which they 'celebrated' in late winter usually in February. They wore scary monster-like costumes and walked a carnival-like marching while making loud noises to chase winter away. It was said with this method they had chased a really powerful enemy away many, many years ago. The blonde too had a Busó costume: last year he had been given the one Botond had worn before, and which Karcsa had put on to frighten the living soul out of him.

Suddenly Tas appeared in the kitchen; he looked at the costume with a frowning but questioning expression. – What is this comedy for?

- This comedy shall be our performance for those unlucky superstitious bastard pirates. – replied Karcsa ceremoniously. The blacksmith sternly crossed his arms and watched them.

- If you two are able to frighten that bunch of grown men and women... – he pointed out of the house. - ... with only Busó costumes, you will have my permission and support in this idea.

The boys looked at him, then at each other, then back to him and at each other again and again; until both of them got an evil smirk on his own face. – Agreed!

A few hours later an exhausted Kese fell into his bed. What a show he and Karcsa had made that afternoon with the adults! The blonde had put on Tas' costume, then the two of them had sneaked out of the blacksmiths' house. Kese had got on the neighbours' roof while Karcsa remaining on ground. For a few minutes nothing had happened and nobody had noticed them; they had been a little too good at sneaking. When the blonde had got tired of waiting, he had jumped right into the middle of the group, growling like a real monster which was about to go on a rampage. The Magors had started to scream, scatter and run, but none of them had attacked him, especially after his friend had joined him. They hadn't even recognized their costumes, they had been so scared. Only Tas' laughter had given the boys away.

Kese chuckled when he remembered how they had chased Karcsa and him through the island. The two had managed to hide themselves well in the forest, and the Magors had searched for them until sunset. - It was worth it. – he sighed. He was glad his father had kept his promise, and even convinced the others about their idea, experiencing its effectiveness.

'I haven't seen him laughing for a long time', Kese thought smiling. He almost fell asleep, but suddenly he heard noises from under his window. Someone climbed into his room and quickly made it to his bed. – What the hell... – the blonde whispered, but that person hushed him and slipped under his covers.

- You are a damned good prankster, my dear. – his visitor whispered and kissed him avidly. She got on top of him and took off her shirt.

- I did my best. – he answered. – Let's resume what we had to cut off the other day...

*Pronounciation
Ajtony [ 'ɒjtoɲ ]
Gyula [ 'ɟ͡ʝulɒ ]
Busó [ buʃo: ]

You can find more info about Busós on Wikipedia and other websites. And if you are not certain about pronounciation, just look up these names on Google Translator (Hungarian-English) and listen to them.
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I'll put back M rating soon, so don't be surprised ;)