The Treasure of Swamp Castle (Szaffi)

The tale I am about to tell you happened long ago, and bits of it might have even been true.

The Muslim half-moon that had occupied the mid-lands of Hungary was torn into a tiny croissant by the mighty Eugene.

The last bite of this croissant was none other, than Temesvar.

This small castle was the only thing that was still in the way of the Emperor...

...to be able to rule over the whole country instead of the Turkish Sultan.

But this small bite turned out to be hard to swallow, since the walls were defended by the valiant pasha Ahmed himself.

The Savoyan Lion of the Armies.

Every innocent souls were fleeing from this war that was raging both in heaven and on earth.

Grabbing their modest belongings they all wandered towards more peaceful lands.

But the animals of the forests and fields were fleeing just as well.

And so did the imps, elves and fairies of the swamps and groves disappear, too. Probably forever...

And then, the mighty Eugene gave the order:

"And once again... Fire!" "Understood! And once again fire!"

And once...

Fire!

Fiiiireee!

Fiiiireee!

Pull baaack!

"Forward!" "Understood! Forward. "

Forward!

It is cold.

Cold???

Bring in the Brunnhilde!

Look at that! Run! Let's go!

Fiiiireee!

It is the valiant Ahmed talking to you, true believers!

Hold on, brave soldiers! Although I am leaving now...

...but the help is on its way.

And thus pasha Ahmed and his only baby-daughter...

...carrying his most precious treasures...

...also fled to his friend...

...Gaspar Botsinkay...

...on the secret pathway.

Don't cry, little Sophie!

And I will have to marry such a cry-baby, then?!

We don't have too much time left, Gaspar!

We must escape!

Escape?

Me?

But I am a Hungarian!

Nooo. I am not going anywhere.

But you can hide your treasure here if you want.

I will safe-keep it even at the risk of my own life.

When the war will finally get here, and it will, Gaspar, it will, soon...

...your own head might become loose on your neck, too!

The Emperor will never forgive you that you befriended us before.

But then, so many other Hungarians lived at peace with your folks, too.

True. But you, my friend also got quite wealthy at the same time.

And that is a much bigger sin, than simply just making friends with the Turks.

That might be true.

But the castle, the estate!

Listen to me, Gaspar!

Mad times are coming very-very soon!

My brave soldiers won't hold the castle for too long either.

Life is much more important now! Your life and your son's.

Donnerwetter. What did Montecuccoli teach?

If the victory is barred by a dam, you must explode it!

Ahaa...

The dam.

Explode the dam!

Understood!

Reporting that the dam is set for the purpose of explosion!

Explode it, then!

And now...

"Charge!" "Charge!"

Charge!

Water! Bring some water!

Water! Quickly! Oh, great heaven!

Oh, the water has flooded the whole area!

Gaaspaaaar...!

Hold the directiooon!

Watch ooout!

Waterfall approaching!

"Dad, help me!" "Jonaaas... "

...hold on!

Dad, Sophie was taken by the flood!

My daughter!

After her!

My child!

My dear daughter is lost!

Where are you little Sophie?

My daughter!

Sophie!

My little Sophie!

Sophie!

Just do it!

Tapsi!

Hang on!

And where did you leave your little brothers and sisters?

Come, my little!

You just keep on swimming, if the heavens gave you a boat!

What is it, Saffi? Oh..

I can see that now, too!

Here! Here! Little one!

Now...

My little tear-drop, calm down!

What is it? Oh my dear!

"So you are the little... " "saffi... (sneezes)"

Well, if that's how you would like it, I don't mind.

Let your name be Saffi as well.

We are gonna have two Saffis from now on!

And we will raise them together...

...in good health!

My only little daughter!

Don't cry, my friend!

We will find her!

Calm down, please!

In our new home, in Turkey...

...we did not receive a warm welcome.

The Sultan beheaded the pasha.

And the death of our only supporter was quickly followed by my own father's.

God be with you, then. My dear son.

I have to leave you here, in a foreign land.

In a foreign country.

My time is soon over.

Be an honest and faithful son of your homeland!

One, who well deserves...

...the Botsinkay family name!

Defend the weak!

Give bread to the poor, and to the homeless!

Return to Hungary, as soon as you can!

Reclaim our ancient home!

My...

...treasure...

...the pasha's treasure...

I was helped out by the goodwill of gypsies, and so later on I joined them.

They shared with me all the joys and sorrows of the wandering life.

And thus we roamed the land together. I owe them...

...I mean, I owe you, my life and everything I learnt ever since.

But then word got out that the Emperor pardoned every political immigrant.

I can get back my home, too. And everything all I ever wished for!

Don't you worry!

I won't be ungrateful!

You will always find a home and safe haven on my estate!

"Oh! Don't you believe the lords, Jonas!" "But, I myself is a lord, too, Uncle Gazsi!"

Here I have the writing...

...that says that I can reclaim the castle and the estate as well.

I will only believe that, if I will see it!

Well, you will be seeing it, then!

And you will all be surprised!

Here is the junction! You will surely find your way from here.

But then send a word for us, Jonas...

Lord Jonas!

God be with you, Jonas! Come back to us soon, Jonas!

Well, God be with you...

...and have a good luck!

Come back to us, and stay with us, Jonas!

Well...

...we are at home, buddy.

I wish my poor father could have lived to see this day!

First we report to the governor that we wish to accept the general pardon...

...and reclaim my estate, and then...

...off we go! I am off into my fabulous castle, and you into your stable full of fresh straw!

Don't be afraid! You will have your own servant, who will feed you from a golden goblet and a silver bucket!

And tomorrow, we will have a great celebration to make everybody remember...

...the return of...

...lord Jonas Botsinkay!

And then...

And then...

We will look for the treasure of the pasha even if it was hidden at the very bottom of Hell by the old ones!

Uncle Gazsi will be surprised, then!

They will have nothing to worry about until their dying day!

The arrows of Cupid have pierced me...

...thus my heart will belong to her forever.

To her, or to you, my beautiful Venus...

...I am dreaming about you even when I am awake.

Now, so far so good.

Oh, please accept it gracefully, beautiful Arsena...

Arsena...

What the thundering hell-hole rhymes with this god-damn Arsena?

Oh, forgive me, my love!

Stop! Who are you?

My name is Jonas, de genere Botsinka.

I wish to talk to the governor.

How come not directly to the Heavenly Father, himself?

Now, clear away from here, you...

...dirty gypsy bastard!

How dare you talk to the lord of Botsinka like that?

Hahahaha! A lord of what?

Don't make me laugh or I will miss the target!

Let me in, valiant Captain! I will give you a plentiful reward!

You! That's enough of your jokes!

"Are you an honest man?" "Yes. "

Then, go away from here, quickly! You! Ein, Zwei!

Ooh! A gold piece!

What an old...

Arsena... Musket... No, that's not good.

Why are you not called Greti or Lisy?

I could find so many beautiful words to rhyme with it.

Lisy, busy, pussy...

Uuuuh...

But Arsena?!

This name is just another doing of your greedy father. He wanted to save on the rhymes, too!

I am honoured to introduce myself, lord governor.

My name is Jonas de genere Botsinka.

Botsinka... Arsena...

It rhymes!

What?

Botsinka?

Jonas Botsinkay, as you can see it stated on this dog-skin parchment.