A Printed Work

Author:

Translator: Mehmet Akif Acar (16 years old)

Illustrator: Betül Kızıler (10 years old)

A press piece Hello, I am Mia. I was born in Germany, and I live there. At that time, books were fewer. Knowledge was like a treasure, rare to find. My master Gutenberg was searching for a solution.

One day, I saw metal letters on the desk when I went to the workshop. They were aligned next to each other; they looked like they were little soldiers. I asked curiously:

-       Master Gutenberg, what's the use of these?

My master always has an answer.

-       Look, Mia, I will improve the press with these pieces.

-       But Master, how will you do it?

-       Let's start now, but I am uncertain if it will work. Also, don't ever say a word until this is clear, okay?

-       Okay, master, but how will this press be?

-       Let's try with you; we will see if it works together.

He dipped the metal letters into the ink. The ink was dark as night.

-       Can you pass a paper from the drawer?

I passed the paper. The paper was snow-white, like it wanted to talk.

-       Now watch carefully, Mia. Let's press the metal to paper.

Letters appeared on the paper.

-       It's marvelous!

-       I am planning to implement this to the machines. They will bring us books, and we will prepare these molds by arranging the letters. That's my plan.

My jaw dropped. How could something like this happen in the year 1435?

-       But a large amount of money is required for this machine. Nearly two thousand Gulden

That number sounded like a huge mountain to me.

-       That amount is really huge.

-       Yes, but this will change humanity. Don't forget, Mia, we keep this a secret.

-       I promise, I will even help. You know what? Let's invest my salary too.

-       Perfect. Your father was a blacksmith, right? Can he help us?

-       “Why not if he has spare time?” I said. My master winked.

-       “Now go home, rest well. We will work hard tomorrow,” he said.

When I arrived home, I rested a bit and read the letter my master gave carefully. When my father came home, I didn't explain anything. I just asked him to come with me to the workshop. At the end, I promised my master not to say a word about it. A secret is like a locked crate, which couldn't be easily opened.

The other day, my father looked at me with curious eyes. When we arrived at the workshop, Gutenberg welcomed us. He told and showed everything to my father. My master was happy as I didn’t even tell the secret to my father.

We made a fast improvement in two weeks. Spendings came close to two thousand Gulders. The prototype was almost ready. My father, being a blacksmith, made our job easier. The iron was changing form in his hands.

The time went by. Weeks passed like months. The machine was nearly finished, but it seemed a bit colorless.

-        "Master, can we paint the machine with the unused paints?"

-        "We are not sure if it works. Let's first see its heart beating."

That made sense to me, too.

My master placed the words. I watched him carefully. The machine looked like a metal rectangle, like it was a home for the letters.

The machine started...

And it really worked!

My father ran with excitement. In this way, my master's dreams came true. Knowledge was no longer be going to stay in one place.

My master Gutenberg passed away on 1468 February 3rd 

I remember him with respect and mercy here.