The Wizard of Izegem

The first time anyone saw him, he wore a soldier’s uniform that no captain recognized. With his black case under his arm, he was led around by a sergeant who gave him a blank stare. No one asked questions.

But soon the farmers began to whisper. Whenever this soldier visited a farm, strange things happened. Wine became water, bread became stone. And the farmers learned quickly: give this soldier what he asks for.

One night he demanded milk. A poor farmer refused – he barely had enough for his children. The wizard opened his black case and read from one of his books. The barn became dark as coal. The door was so stuck that ten horses could not wrench it open.

Worse still: rats came. Not a few, but thousands. Black and gray, large and small, with red eyes that glowed in the darkness. The farmer screamed, and the wizard laughed. “Milk,” he said simply. The farmer gave everything he had.

One afternoon a crowd gathered in the village. The wizard stood in the square and opened his case. The weather changed. At first it began to rain softly – indoors, in houses with closed doors. Then tables and chairs began to dance, without any hand touching them.

A priest tried to speak to him, but the wizard opened his book again. The priest’s voice became silence. All witnesses knew: this soldier was no man, but something likely from hell. He remained in Izegem until one night his case was stolen. After that, they never saw him again.