Aldus Issue 2 - Web Version

A L D U S , A J O U R N A L O F T R A N S L AT I O N off with his left foot and flew maybe a meter in the air; but since he wanted to comply, he aborted his flight and stayed put on the ground.

“Just awful,” the expert shouted. “You have to bend! You have to get on the balls of your feet and bend at the knees! And you have to have your arms forward, do you understand? Your arms transfer momentum, sir; it is a natural movement. Wait,” the expert said, “I will show you. Watch carefully how I do it.”

Therewith he took off his coat and got into starting position.

“Notice, sir: my weight is on my left foot; nose straight, body inclined forward; I hold my elbows back to expand my chest.

Do it like me!”

Mr. Tomšík did it like him; never in his life had he felt so uncomfortably contorted.

“You have to try it,” the expert ordered. “And look at me now! I stick my left leg out first--” the expert did so, ran six steps, pushed off, jumped, describing a beautiful arc with his arms; whereupon he landed elegantly, knees bent, arms forward. “That’s how it is done,” he said, tugging at his pants. “Do it just like I did.”

Mr. Tomšík, dubious and unhappy, looked at Mr. Vojta. Did it have to be this way?

“Once more,” said Mr. Vojta, and Mr. Tomšík contorted himself as he had been instructed. “Now!” Mr. Tomšík got his legs mixed up; he ran left foot forward.

‘It doesn’t matter; if I just bend my knees like this and hold my arms in,’ he thought carefully as he ran. He almost forgot to jump; he quickly took off--‘got to keep my knees bent’, he thought. He leapt a half meter high and landed a meter and a half away. He at once bent his knees and held his arms forward.

“But Mr. Tomšík,” cried Mr. Vojta, “you didn’t fly! Once more, please!”

Mr. Tomšík began running once more. He only jumped a 110