I took a bucket, lowered it into the well and tried to take some water. And stumbled on a problem - everything I gathered poured out through a massive hole at the bottom. I looked inquiringly at the old woman, and she smiled sarcastically as if a leaky bucket was now my problem. Well, granny, you tried to play with the wrong person. Once I said I will do something, I will do it! I looked around and saw nearby some of the coltsfoot. I think I heard somewhere that in places where it grows, there must be clay nearby. I took the bucket and headed towards the plant. Carefully digging in, I began to deepen the hole until finally came across the clay.
I took so much I needed to seal the hole in the bucket, and then carefully tried to put the plant in its place. Looking around, I picked up different sticks and, as best I could, tried to weave a new bottom for the bucket. Strengthening this whole structure with clay. Having closed the hole, I lowered the bucket into the well and collected needed water.
"Here is some water for you, granny." I tried to be as casual as possible, but the old woman was clearly displeased.
"Oh, thank you, dear." She began somehow cold. "But I'm afraid that I won't be able to bring it home. Show the old woman mercy, help in one more case - take it to my house, and I will not be in debt." The old woman obviously wanted to lure me somewhere. It was risky to follow her. But not in every fairytale and not every witch will harm the one who was kind to her. So I took a chance.
I followed her, and it turned out that the old woman lives on the outskirts of this village, next to a strange forest. It was so dense that even a ray of sunlight couldn't find its way inside.
"Thank you, darling, for your kind heart. Put the bucket beside the doorstep to my house. I will tell you which way is what you are looking for."
I put the bucket on the threshold of the old woman's house, turned around and saw a terrible picture: the old woman was on all fours and was shaking like a leaf on a windy day. I felt so creepy that I took a step back and rested against the door. Then she got on her feet, and painfully crooked walked in my direction. She started to speak in a voice beyond the grave:
"Give me your heart, beautiful, and I will save you from torment. Give me your heart, beautiful, and you will get what you want!"
"Hell no! You won't get my organs for sale or consumption." Courage suddenly spoke in me. After all, I had a lot to lose. I still had to return home.
I grabbed a bucket of water and hit with it and all my strength on the old witch when she came close enough. The fire that had burned before in her eyes immediately extinguished and the arms that were reaching out to me immediately went limp. As soon as the old hag fell to the ground, I realized that I made a huge mistake by doing this "good deed". Why? Everything was simple - judging by the landscape around me, I ended up at the house of Baba Yaga. The skulls on the stakes were cracked with indignation that their mistress was on the ground. Behind me, there was a kind of painfully strange clucking.
"So, how was it in fairy tales? The main thing is not to look back. Otherwise, you'll be eaten." Taking some kind of stick lying nearby, I decided to leave this terrifying place as soon as possible. It seemed that the forest didn't want to let me out. Tree branches tore off my clothes, scratched my face, arms and legs. Because of the tears flowing from fear, I sometimes didn't see where I was running. When, finally, the scratching of my body stopped, I stopped and fell to my knees. Tears flowed like a river, but it took me a little time to calm down and look around.
I ran out to the swamp. It gurgled menacingly and looked frightening. Fortunately for me, between the marsh and the forest, I saw a small clearing. Tired, I decided to take a break there. What was most surprising is that the grass in this clearing, although it looked like rigid yellow, turned out to be incredibly soft, like a feather bed. Having settled comfortably, it seemed to me that all my fatigue was evaporating somewhere, all my worries and anxieties didn't matter, the only important thing was the present moment of calmness.
From a sweet slumber I was awakened by a terrible:
"How dare you lie down in our grass?"
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