THE¡¡FLYING¡¡SHIP£§24£§
£§24£§¡¡From¡¡the¡¡Russian¡£
Once¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡time¡¡there¡¡lived¡¡an¡¡old¡¡couple¡¡who¡¡had¡¡three¡¡sons£»
the¡¡two¡¡elder¡¡were¡¡clever£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡third¡¡was¡¡a¡¡regular¡¡dunce¡£¡¡
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clothes£»¡¡and¡¡always¡¡spoke¡¡pleasantly¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡youngest¡¡was
always¡¡getting¡¡in¡¡her¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡no¡¡patience¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡
Now£»¡¡one¡¡day¡¡it¡¡was¡¡announced¡¡in¡¡the¡¡village¡¡that¡¡the¡¡King¡¡had
issued¡¡a¡¡decree£»¡¡offering¡¡his¡¡daughter£»¡¡the¡¡Princess£»¡¡in¡¡marriage
to¡¡whoever¡¡should¡¡build¡¡a¡¡ship¡¡that¡¡could¡¡fly¡£¡¡¡¡Immediately¡¡the
two¡¡elder¡¡brothers¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡try¡¡their¡¡luck£»¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡their
parents'¡¡blessing¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡the¡¡old¡¡mother¡¡smartened¡¡up¡¡their¡¡clothes£»
and¡¡gave¡¡them¡¡a¡¡store¡¡of¡¡provisions¡¡for¡¡their¡¡journey£»¡¡not
forgetting¡¡to¡¡add¡¡a¡¡bottle¡¡of¡¡brandy¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡they¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡the
poor¡¡Simpleton¡¡began¡¡to¡¡tease¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡to¡¡smarten¡¡him¡¡up¡¡and
let¡¡him¡¡start¡¡off¡£
'What¡¡would¡¡become¡¡of¡¡a¡¡dolt¡¡like¡¡you£¿'¡¡she¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¡'Why£»¡¡you
would¡¡be¡¡eaten¡¡up¡¡by¡¡wolves¡£'
But¡¡the¡¡foolish¡¡youth¡¡kept¡¡repeating£»¡¡'I¡¡will¡¡go£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡go£»¡¡I
will¡¡go£¡'
Seeing¡¡that¡¡she¡¡could¡¡do¡¡nothing¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡the¡¡mother¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡a
crust¡¡of¡¡bread¡¡and¡¡a¡¡bottle¡¡of¡¡water£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡no¡¡further¡¡heed¡¡of
him¡£
So¡¡the¡¡Simpleton¡¡set¡¡off¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡a¡¡short
distance¡¡he¡¡met¡¡a¡¡little¡¡old¡¡manikin¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡greeted¡¡one¡¡another£»
and¡¡the¡¡manikin¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡where¡¡he¡¡was¡¡going¡£
'I¡¡am¡¡off¡¡to¡¡the¡¡King's¡¡Court£»'¡¡he¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¡'He¡¡has¡¡promised¡¡to
give¡¡his¡¡daughter¡¡to¡¡whoever¡¡can¡¡make¡¡a¡¡flying¡¡ship¡£'
'And¡¡can¡¡you¡¡make¡¡such¡¡a¡¡ship£¿'
'Not¡¡I¡£'
'Then¡¡why¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡are¡¡you¡¡going£¿'
'Can't¡¡tell£»'¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡Simpleton¡£
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me£»¡¡we¡¡can¡¡rest¡¡for¡¡a¡¡little¡¡and¡¡have¡¡something¡¡to¡¡eat¡£¡¡¡¡Give¡¡me
what¡¡you¡¡have¡¡got¡¡in¡¡your¡¡satchel¡£'
Now£»¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡Simpleton¡¡was¡¡ashamed¡¡to¡¡show¡¡what¡¡was¡¡in¡¡it¡£¡¡
However£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡best¡¡not¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡fuss£»¡¡so¡¡he¡¡opened¡¡the
satchel£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡scarcely¡¡believe¡¡his¡¡own¡¡eyes£»¡¡for£»¡¡instead¡¡of
the¡¡hard¡¡crust£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡two¡¡beautiful¡¡fresh¡¡rolls¡¡and¡¡some¡¡cold
meat¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡shared¡¡them¡¡with¡¡the¡¡manikin£»¡¡who¡¡licked¡¡his¡¡lips¡¡and
said£º
'Now£»¡¡go¡¡into¡¡that¡¡wood£»¡¡and¡¡stop¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡tree£»¡¡bow
three¡¡times£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡strike¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡with¡¡your¡¡axe£»¡¡fall¡¡on¡¡your
knees¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡with¡¡your¡¡face¡¡on¡¡the¡¡earth£»¡¡and¡¡remain
there¡¡till¡¡you¡¡are¡¡raised¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡will¡¡then¡¡find¡¡a¡¡ship¡¡at¡¡your
side£»¡¡step¡¡into¡¡it¡¡and¡¡fly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡King's¡¡Palace¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡you¡¡meet
anyone¡¡on¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¡take¡¡him¡¡with¡¡you¡£'
The¡¡Simpleton¡¡thanked¡¡the¡¡manikin¡¡very¡¡kindly£»¡¡bade¡¡him¡¡farewell£»
and¡¡went¡¡into¡¡the¡¡road¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡got¡¡to¡¡the¡¡first¡¡tree¡¡he¡¡stopped
in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡did¡¡everything¡¡just¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡told£»¡¡and£»
kneeling¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡with¡¡his¡¡face¡¡to¡¡the¡¡earth£»¡¡fell¡¡asleep¡£¡¡
After¡¡a¡¡little¡¡time¡¡he¡¡was¡¡aroused£»¡¡he¡¡awoke¡¡and£»¡¡rubbing¡¡his
eyes£»¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡ready¡made¡¡ship¡¡at¡¡his¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡once¡¡got¡¡into¡¡it¡£
And¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡rose¡¡and¡¡rose£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡another¡¡minute¡¡was¡¡flying
through¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Simpleton£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡look¡¡out£»
cast¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡man¡¡beneath¡¡him¡¡on¡¡the
road£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡kneeling¡¡with¡¡his¡¡ear¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡damp¡¡ground¡£
'Hallo£¡'¡¡he¡¡called¡¡out£»¡¡'what¡¡are¡¡you¡¡doing¡¡down¡¡there£¿'
'I¡¡am¡¡listening¡¡to¡¡what¡¡is¡¡going¡¡on¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world£»'¡¡replied¡¡the
man¡£
'Come¡¡with¡¡me¡¡in¡¡my¡¡ship£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Simpleton¡£
So¡¡the¡¡man¡¡was¡¡only¡¡too¡¡glad£»¡¡and¡¡got¡¡in¡¡beside¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ship
flew£»¡¡and¡¡flew£»¡¡and¡¡flew¡¡through¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡till¡¡again¡¡from¡¡his
outlook¡¡the¡¡Simpleton¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡man¡¡on¡¡the¡¡road¡¡below£»¡¡who¡¡was
hopping¡¡on¡¡one¡¡leg£»¡¡while¡¡his¡¡other¡¡leg¡¡was¡¡tied¡¡up¡¡behind¡¡his
ear¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡he¡¡hailed¡¡him£»¡¡calling¡¡out£º
'Hallo£¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡are¡¡you¡¡doing£»¡¡hopping¡¡on¡¡one¡¡leg£¿'
'I¡¡can't¡¡help¡¡it£»'¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡walk¡¡so¡¡fast¡¡that¡¡unless
I¡¡tied¡¡up¡¡one¡¡leg¡¡I¡¡should¡¡be¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡in¡¡a
bound¡£'
'Come¡¡with¡¡us¡¡on¡¡my¡¡ship£»'¡¡he¡¡answered£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡man¡¡made¡¡no
objections£»¡¡but¡¡joined¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡flew¡¡on£»¡¡and¡¡on£»¡¡and
on£»¡¡till¡¡suddenly¡¡the¡¡Simpleton£»¡¡looking¡¡down¡¡on¡¡the¡¡road¡¡below£»
beheld¡¡a¡¡man¡¡aiming¡¡with¡¡a¡¡gun¡¡into¡¡the¡¡distance¡£
'Hallo£¡'¡¡he¡¡shouted¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡'what¡¡are¡¡you¡¡aiming¡¡at£¿¡¡¡¡As¡¡far¡¡as
eye¡¡can¡¡see£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡bird¡¡in¡¡sight¡£'
'What¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡good¡¡of¡¡my¡¡taking¡¡a¡¡near¡¡shot£¿'¡¡replied¡¡the
man£»¡¡'I¡¡can¡¡hit¡¡beast¡¡or¡¡bird¡¡at¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡miles'¡¡distance¡£¡¡¡¡That
is¡¡the¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡shot¡¡I¡¡enjoy¡£'
'Come¡¡into¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡with¡¡us£»'¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡Simpleton£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡man
was¡¡only¡¡too¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡join¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡got¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡flew
on£»¡¡farther¡¡and¡¡farther£»¡¡till¡¡again¡¡the¡¡Simpleton¡¡from¡¡his
outlook¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡man¡¡on¡¡the¡¡road¡¡below£»¡¡carrying¡¡on¡¡his¡¡back¡¡a
basket¡¡full¡¡of¡¡bread¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡he¡¡waved¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡calling¡¡out£º
'Hallo£¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡are¡¡you¡¡going£¿'
'To¡¡fetch¡¡bread¡¡for¡¡my¡¡breakfast¡£'
'Bread£¿¡¡¡¡Why£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡got¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡basket¡load¡¡of¡¡it¡¡on¡¡your
back¡£'
'That's¡¡nothing£»'¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡man£»¡¡'I¡¡should¡¡finish¡¡that¡¡in¡¡one
mouthful¡£'
'Come¡¡along¡¡with¡¡us¡¡in¡¡my¡¡ship£»¡¡then¡£'
And¡¡so¡¡the¡¡glutton¡¡joined¡¡the¡¡party£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡mounted¡¡again
into¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡and¡¡flew¡¡up¡¡and¡¡onward£»¡¡till¡¡the¡¡Simpleton¡¡from¡¡his
outlook¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡man¡¡walking¡¡by¡¡the¡¡shore¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡lake£»¡¡and
evidently¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡something¡£
'Hallo£¡'¡¡he¡¡cried¡¡to¡¡him£»'¡¡what¡¡are¡¡you¡¡seeking£¿
'I¡¡want¡¡water¡¡to¡¡drink£»¡¡I'm¡¡so¡¡thirsty£»'¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡man¡£
'Well£»¡¡there's¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡lake¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡you£»¡¡why¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡drink
some¡¡of¡¡that£¿'
'Do¡¡you¡¡call¡¡that¡¡enough£¿'¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¡'Why£»¡¡I¡¡should
drink¡¡it¡¡up¡¡in¡¡one¡¡gulp¡£'
'Well£»¡¡come¡¡with¡¡us¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ship¡£'
And¡¡so¡¡the¡¡mighty¡¡drinker¡¡was¡¡added¡¡to¡¡the¡¡company£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ship
flew¡¡farther£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡farther£»¡¡till¡¡again¡¡the¡¡Simpleton¡¡looked
out£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡time¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡man¡¡dragging¡¡a¡¡bundle¡¡of¡¡wood£»
walking¡¡through¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡beneath¡¡them¡£
'Hallo£¡'¡¡he¡¡shouted¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡'why¡¡are¡¡you¡¡carrying¡¡wood¡¡through¡¡a
forest£¿'
'This¡¡is¡¡not¡¡common¡¡wood£»'¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡other¡£
'What¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡wood¡¡is¡¡it£»¡¡then£¿'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Simpleton¡£
'If¡¡you¡¡throw¡¡it¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡ground£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡man£»¡¡'it¡¡will¡¡be
changed¡¡into¡¡an¡¡army¡¡of¡¡soldiers¡£'
'Come¡¡into¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡with¡¡us£»¡¡then¡£'¡¡
And¡¡so¡¡he¡¡too¡¡joined¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡away¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡flew¡¡on£»¡¡and¡¡on£»¡¡and
on£»¡¡and¡¡once¡¡more¡¡the¡¡Simpleton¡¡looked¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡time¡¡he¡¡saw
a¡¡man¡¡carrying¡¡straw¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡back¡£
'Hallo£¡¡¡¡¡Where¡¡are¡¡you¡¡carrying¡¡that¡¡straw¡¡to£¿'
'To¡¡the¡¡village£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡man¡£
'Do¡¡you¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡say¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡straw¡¡in¡¡the¡¡village£¿'
'Ah£¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡this¡¡is¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡peculiar¡¡straw¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡you¡¡strew¡¡it¡¡about
even¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hottest¡¡summer¡¡the¡¡air¡¡at¡¡once¡¡becomes¡¡cold£»¡¡and¡¡snow
falls£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡people¡¡freeze¡£'
Then¡¡the¡¡Simpleton¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡also¡¡to¡¡join¡¡them¡£
At¡¡last¡¡the¡¡ship£»¡¡with¡¡its¡¡strange¡¡crew£»¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡the¡¡King's
Court¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡King¡¡was¡¡having¡¡his¡¡dinner£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡at¡¡once¡¡despatched
one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡courtiers¡¡to¡¡find¡¡out¡¡what¡¡the¡¡huge£»¡¡strange¡¡new¡¡bird
could¡¡be¡¡that¡¡had¡¡come¡¡flying¡¡through¡¡the¡¡air¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡courtier
peeped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡ship£»¡¡and£»¡¡seeing¡¡what¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡instantly¡¡went
back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡King¡¡and¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡flying¡¡ship£»¡¡and¡¡that
it¡¡was¡¡manned¡¡by¡¡a¡¡few¡¡peasants¡£
Then¡¡the¡¡King¡¡remembered¡¡his¡¡royal¡¡oath£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡made¡¡up¡¡his¡¡mind
that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡never¡¡consent¡¡to¡¡let¡¡the¡¡Princess¡¡marry¡¡a¡¡poor
peasant¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡and¡¡thought£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡said¡¡to¡¡himself£º
'I¡¡will¡¡give¡¡him¡¡some¡¡impossible¡¡tasks¡¡to¡¡perform£»¡¡that¡¡will¡¡be
the¡¡best¡¡way¡¡of¡¡getting¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡him¡£'¡¡¡¡And¡¡he¡¡there¡¡and¡¡then
decided¡¡to¡¡despatch¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡courtiers¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Simpleton£»¡¡with
the¡¡command¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡to¡¡fetch¡¡the¡¡King¡¡the¡¡healing¡¡water¡¡from
the¡¡world's¡¡end¡¡before¡¡he¡¡had¡¡finished¡¡his¡¡dinner¡£
But¡¡while¡¡the¡¡King¡¡was¡¡still¡¡instructing¡¡the¡¡courtier¡¡exactly
what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡the¡¡first¡¡man¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ship's¡¡company£»¡¡the¡¡one
with¡¡the¡¡miraculous¡¡power¡¡of¡¡hearing£»¡¡had¡¡overheard¡¡the¡¡King's
words£»¡¡and¡¡hastily¡¡reported¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡Simpleton¡£
'Alas£»¡¡alas£¡'¡¡he¡¡cried£»¡¡'what¡¡am¡¡I¡¡to¡¡do¡¡now£¿¡¡¡¡It¡¡would¡¡take¡¡me
quite¡¡a¡¡year£»¡¡possibly¡¡my¡¡whole¡¡life£»¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡water¡£'
'Never¡¡fear£»'¡¡said¡¡his¡¡fleet¡footed¡¡comrade£»¡¡'I¡¡will¡¡fetch¡¡what
the¡¡King¡¡wants¡£'
Just¡¡then¡¡the¡¡courtier¡¡arrived£»¡¡bearing¡¡the¡¡King's¡¡command¡£
'Tell¡¡his¡¡Majesty£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Simpleton£»¡¡'that¡¡his¡¡orders¡¡shall¡¡be
obeyed£»¡¡'and¡¡forthwith¡¡the¡¡swift¡¡runner¡¡unbound¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡that¡¡was
strung¡¡up¡¡behind¡¡his¡¡ear¡¡and¡¡started¡¡off£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡less¡¡than¡¡no
time¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡world's¡¡end¡¡and¡¡drawn¡¡the¡¡healing¡¡water¡¡from
the¡¡well¡£
'Dear¡¡me£»'¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡'that's¡¡rather¡¡tiring£¡¡¡¡¡I'll
just¡¡rest¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡some¡¡little¡¡time¡¡yet
before¡¡the¡¡King¡¡has¡¡got¡¡to¡¡dessert¡£'¡¡¡¡So¡¡he¡¡threw¡¡himself¡¡down¡¡on
the¡¡grass£»¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡was¡¡very¡¡dazzling£»¡¡he¡¡closed¡¡his¡¡eyes£»
and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡seconds¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡sound¡¡asleep¡£
In¡¡the¡¡meantime¡¡all¡¡the¡¡ship's¡¡crew¡¡were¡¡anxiously¡¡awaiting¡¡him£»
the¡¡King's¡¡dinner¡¡would¡¡soon¡¡be¡¡finished£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡comrade¡¡had
not¡¡yet¡¡returned¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡the¡¡man¡¡with¡¡the¡¡marvellous¡¡quick¡¡hearing
lay¡¡down¡¡and£»¡¡putting¡¡his¡¡ear¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground£»
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