Спасти Кощея / Save Koschei, стр. 15
Zmey Gorynych frowned, rubbing his belly with his huge paws and waving his tail at the same time. Confused Koschei was standing near the house, observing this very amusing scene, and had no idea what to do. For the first time 47
in hundreds of years, he met a person who wasn’t a bit afraid of him or rushing at him and shouting that his time has come.
Watching him, teapots, plates and brooms grew even bolder and started to slowly getting out into the clearing, gathering around the little funny guest with a snubby nose and curious eyes. No one like her hadn’t dropped in on them for a long time. They were stumbling and running into each other – the plates jangled, hitting the cups, and the forks clinked, touching the spoons and a ladle.
Gorynych was openly enjoying the undivided attention, literally bathing in the beams of kindness and care.
– So, patient, – Hope started to talk and everyone focused on her words, –
what did you eat today?
Gorynych even made a hiccup in amazement and started to list his numerous meals, bending his plumpy fingers.
– No-no-no, – Hope interrupted him. – That’s unacceptable! The diet should be healthy, balanced and full of vitamins… – She thought to herself for a moment, trying to remember what else her mother told her in such cases, as she had been a nutritionist for many years. – Would you like to lie down?
– Oh, yes! – Gorynych nodded joyfully with all his heads and lied down immediately.
Little Hope could hardly keep from laughing, looking at his amusing happy snouts.
– I also want to do this… – Gorynych said with his deep voice and began chafing against the grass. – And I also want to drink… And as for eating… I don’t really want to eat... – he added sadly. Apparently, the absence of appetite was a new but not the most pleasant feeling for him.
– Sit down immediately! – Hope ordered strictly and even tried to help him, what made Koschey's brows go up in astonishment, and a sort of smile 48
flashed across his face. Having noticed that, all magic household utensils froze, afraid to move. The last time the owner smiled ... Yes, no one really remembered when it was!
– But I want to lie down… – whined Gorynych, refusing to move.
The little girl kept pushing him in the back, trying to seat him.
– Now I have to brew some sage for you and... – Hope forgot what other herb she would need, but she headed confidently to the mysterious house, hoping to find everything needed there. For some reason she thought that the herbs would definitely be in this house. Along the way, she kept talking but much quieter, so it might seem she was talking to herself. – And you should take 10 grams of propolis on an empty stomach . Yes, absolutely... And it would be better to take vitamins for healthy development and growth. Or has he already grown up?
A string of plates, forks, teapots and other residents of the house followed her every step of the way. Koschei even had to stand aside so that this funny parade could sail into the house.
Gorynych suffered from colic daily, because he stubbornly kept eating the herbs he shouldn’t have to eat. And Koschei warned him about this several times. But after cutting out meat from his ration and turning into a vegetarian, Zmey insisted that only this herb was so surprisingly tasty. So every day Koschei had to brew the herbs for his three-headed friend to alleviate the sufferings of this diehard.
He thought about telling the girl this, but decided that it would be more interesting to observe her behavior. After all, he’s immortal, he has plenty of time and not so many entertainments. So why not await the ending and then figure out where she came from.
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Before he had time to think about it, the loud clattering sound of crockery came from the kitchen, much different from the usual muted fuss. When he entered the house, an unusual scene materialized before him: the plates were swashing in the sink like young ladies in the waterfall splashes, putting under water one side or the other. And for many years it was the first time when he could see again the drawing on the plates he made once himself.
No, no, you can’t think about it, Koschei was trying to convince himself not to show his weakness to the unknown guest who immediately won the attention of all his housemates. What if