Lister

By Linda Hansen
Translated by Ida Mari Dreijer

As Orange Press’ two field reporters enter Camp Ninja Wizards, there’s not much ninja atmosphere at all. Blue dome tents, a guy wearing a straw hat and a welter of garden furniture and trash. Suddenly the tents burst open and out jumps a veritable ninja-army. Dressed in black from head to toe so that only the eyes are visible.

Sake and throwing stars

The ninja-wizards are unusually friendly, and instead of karate chops and cries for battle, they greet us with handshakes and cosy chatting. One reason could be the fact that ninja-wizards are primarily active at night, and this is still early afternoon.

Kasper tells about the night’s activities, “We sneak in to other people’s camps, while they’re there. We’re soundless, not to forget. Secrecy is an important factor in the camp. For instance the ninjas are masked, and even though the girls are crazy about the ninja-guys, there’s no kissing etc. to be gotten for the swooning girls. Because, during a ninja-job, one does not take off the costume.  De-masking is only something that has happened once or twice, when a ninja was in need of a beer”, Ninja-Kasper says.

Also the design of the camp is planned down to details. ”Our camp doesn’t look like a ninja-camp, which is on purpuse. We are in fact secret”, is the explanation.

From Gondor to Slagelse

The name of the camp originates from Lord of The Rings. In a scene from the movie our heroes plan how to enter Gondor. Boromir says that it’s only ninja-wizards who can get through. This isn’t to be said twice. Six of the camp members are in fact active participants in Slagelse Karate- and Self-defence Club. They adopted the name right away.

To account for the wizard-part of the name, the grand wizard of the camp – beautifully dressed in a curtain and a crowned with a straw hat – shows us the magic potion which supplies energy for the ninja raids all night long. It consists of half dissolved liquorice pipes, secret magic ingredients and vodka. Mostly vodka.
 
The ninjas escape the sun by sitting in the shadow. The burning sun is tough when you’re dressed in black. After dusk they come out. Maybe they will turn up in your camp. Or, maybe, they can be found in M36.