W G Graham

Evil and the Child W G Graham

Twelve year old Alex Vodak from the small 1920's Balkan town of Zalt is wrongly convicted of killing his school friend Helge. Miro Posavec, the town drunk, had seen the two boys playing and when Helge falls into the river from a rock, he seizes the opportunity to ingratiate himself with the townspeople by stating that Alex had pushed him into the river and that he himself had tried unsuccessfully to save him. As a result of Miro's testimony Alex is convicted and sentenced to a young offenders prison, where he endures the almost daily beating by the guards, more so by the sadist Traub the head guard, who also enjoys humiliating and torturing his young charges. After a time Alex makes friends with Stefan Pevlicek, a fellow inmate, who although teaching him the rules of the prison unfortunately also leads him in a prank which results in both being sentenced to the bitter cold of the dreaded 'hole' Also they must fight off the unwelcome attentions of Traub, which results in their severe beatings by the sadist. After Stefan's sentence has expired, Alex now fifteen, unfortunately one day attracts the attention of Traub, and in the ensuing fight between them, Alex escapes and heads for neighbouring Poland where he hopes to find sanctuary and return when older to kill Miro Posavek. On making his way to Poland Alex almost dies in a huge forest, and is saved by Sol, an old hermit, whom he lives with until the old man is cruelly murdered by thieves, and Alex knowing he has been seen has to flee for his life. On route to Poland, Alex is offered work by Sarah, on her farm and who in turn seduces him. However unknown to Alex the farm is also the sanctuary of old Sol's murderers. But this time there seems to be no escape for the fifteen year old.