10-the norka-第1部分

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THE　NORKA



ONCE　upon　a　time　there　lived　a　King　and　Queen。　They　had　three

sons；　two　of　them　with　their　wits　about　them；　but　the　third　a

simpleton。　Now　the　King　had　a　deer　park　in　which　were　quantities

of　wild　animals　of　different　kinds。　Into　that　park　there　used　to

come　a　huge　beastNorka　was　its　nameand　do　fearful　mischief；

devouring　some　of　the　animals　every　night。　The　King　did　all　he

could；　but　he　was　unable　to　destroy　it。　So　at　last　he　called　his

sons　together　and　said；　‘Whoever　will　destroy　the　Norka；　to　him

will　I　give　the　half　of　my　kingdom。'



Well；　the　eldest　son　undertook　the　task。　As　soon　as　it　was　night；

he　took　his　weapons　and　set　out。　But　before　he　reached　the　park；

he　went　into　a　traktir　（or　tavern）；　and　there　he　spent　the　whole

night　in　revelry。　When　he　came　to　his　senses　it　was　too　late；　the

day　had　already　dawned。　He　felt　himself　disgraced　in　the　eyes　of

his　father；　but　there　was　no　help　for　it。　The　next　day　the　second

son　went；　and　did　just　the　same。　Their　father　scolded　them　both

soundly；　and　there　was　an　end　of　it。



Well；　on　the　third　day　the　youngest　son　undertook　the　task。

They　all　laughed　him　to　scorn；　because　he　was　so　stupid；　feeling

sure　he　wouldn't　do　anything。　But　he　took　his　arms；　and　went

straight　into　the　park；　and　sat　down　on　the　grass　in　such　a　position

that　the　moment　he　went　asleep　his　weapons　would　prick　him；　and

he　would　awake。



Presently　the　midnight　hour　sounded。　The　earth　began　to

shake；　and　the　Norka　came　rushing　up；　and　burst　right　through

the　fence　into　the　park；　so　huge　was　it。　The　Prince　pulled　himself

together；　leapt　to　his　feet；　crossed　himself；　and　went　straight　at　the

beast。　It　fled　back；　and　the　Prince　ran　after　it。　But　he　soon　saw

that　he　couldn't　catch　it　on　foot；　so　he　hastened　to　the　stable；　laid

his　hands　on　the　best　horse　there；　and　set　off　in　pursuit。　Presently

he　came　up　with　the　beast；　and　they　began　a　fight。　They　fought

and　fought；　the　Prince　gave　the　beast　three　wounds。　At　last　they

were　both　utterly　exhausted；　so　they　lay　down　to　take　a　short　rest。

But　the　moment　the　Prince　closed　his　eyes；　up　jumped　the　beast

and　took　to　flight。　The　Prince's　horse　awoke　him；　up　he　jumped

in　a　moment；　and　set　off　again　in　pursuit；　caught　up　the　beast；　and

again　began　fighting　with　it。　Again　the　Prince　gave　the　beast

three　wounds；　and　then　he　and　the　beast　lay　down　again　to　rest。

Thereupon　away　fled　the　beast　as　before。　The　Prince　caught　it　up；

and　again　gave　it　three　wounds。　But　all　of　a　sudden；　just　as　the

Prince　began　chasing　it　for　the　fourth　time；　the　beast　fled　to　a　great

white　stone；　tilted　it　up；　and　escaped　into　the　other　world；　crying

out　to　the　Prince：　‘Then　only　will　you　overcome　me；　when　you

enter　here。'



The　Prince　went　home；　told　his　father　all　that　had　happened；

and　asked　him　to　have　a　leather　rope　plaited；　long　enough　to　reach

to　the　other　world。　His　father　ordered　this　to　be　done。　When　the

rope　was　made；　the　Prince　called　for　his　brothers；　and　he　and　they；

having　taken　servants　with　them；　and　everything　that　was　needed

for　a　whole　year；　set　out　for　the　place　where　the　beast　had　disappeared

under　the　stone。　When　they　got　there；　they　built　a　palace

on　the　spot；　and　lived　in　it　for　some　time。　But　when　everything

was　ready；　the　youngest　brother　said　to　the　others：　‘Now；　brothers；

who　is　going　to　lift　this　stone？'



Neither　of　them　could　so　much　as　stir　it；　but　as　soon　as　he

touched　it；　away　it　flew　to　a　distance；　though　it　was　ever　so　big

big　as　a　hill。　And　when　he　had　flung　the　stone　aside；　he　spoke　a

second　time　to　his　brothers；　saying：



‘Who　is　going　into　the　other　world；　to　overcome　the　Norka？'



Neither　of　them　offered　to　do　so。　Then　he　laughed　at　them　for

being　such　cowards；　and　said：



‘Well；　brothers；　farewell！　Lower　me　into　the　other　world；　and

don't　go　away　from　here；　but　as　soon　as　the　cord　is　jerked；　pull　it

up。'



His　brothers　lowered　him　accordingly；　and　when　he　had

reached　the　other　world；　underneath　the　earth；　he　went　on　his　way。

He　walked　and　walked。　Presently　he　espied　a　horse　with　rich

trappings；　and　it　said　to　him：



‘Hail；　Prince　Ivan！　Long　have　I　awaited　thee！'



He　mounted　the　horse　and　rode　onrode　and　rode；　until　he　saw

standing　before　him　a　palace　made　of　copper。　He　entered　the

courtyard；　tied　up　his　horse；　and　went　indoors。　In　one　of　the　rooms

a　dinner　was　laid　out。　He　sat　down　and　dined；　and　then　went　into

a　bedroom。　There　he　found　a　bed；　on　which　he　lay　down　to　rest。

Presently　there　came　in　a　lady；　more　beautiful　than　can　be　imagined

anywhere　but　in　a　fairy　tale；　who　said：



‘Thou　who　art　in　my　house；　name　thyself！　If　thou　art　an　old

man；　thou　shalt　be　my　father；　if　a　middle…aged　man；　my　brother；

but　if　a　young　man；　thou　shalt　be　my　husband　dear。　And　if　thou

art　a　woman；　and　an　old　one；　thou　shalt　be　my　grandmother；　if

middle…aged；　my　mother；　and　if　a　girl；　thou　shalt　be　my　own

sister。'



Thereupon　he　came　forth。　And　when　she　saw　him　she　was

delighted　with　him；　and　said：



‘Wherefore；　O　Prince　Ivanmy　husband　dear　shalt　thou　be！

wherefore　hast　thou　come　hither？'



Then　he　told　her　all　that　had　happened；　and　she　said：



‘That　beast　which　thou　wishest　to　overcome　is　my　brother。

He　is　staying　just　now　with　my　second　sister；　who　lives　not　far　from

here　in　a　silver　palace。　I　bound　up　three　of　the　wounds　which　thou

didst　give　him。'



Well；　after　this　they　drank；　and　enjoyed　themselves；　and　held

sweet　converse　together；　and　then　the　Prince　took　leave　of　her；　and

went　on　to　the　second　sister；　the　one　who　lived　in　the　silver　palace；

and　with　her　also　he　stayed　awhile。　She　told　him　that　her　brother

Norka　was　then　at　her　youngest　sister's。　So　he　went　on　to　the

youngest　sister；　who　lived　in　a　golden　palace。　She　told　him　that

her　brother　was　at　that　time　asleep　on　the　blue　sea；　and　she　gave

him　a　sword　of　steel　and　a　draught　of　the　Water　of　Strength；　and

she　told　him　to　cut　off　her　brother's　head　at　a　single　stroke。　And

when　he　had　heard　these　things；　he　went　his　way。



And　when　the　Prince　came　to　the　blue　sea；　he　lookedthere

slept　the　Norka　on　a　stone　in　the　middle　of　the　sea；　and　when　it

snored；　the　water　was　agitated　for　seven　miles　around。　The　Prince

crossed　himself；　went　up　to　it；　and　smote　it　on　the　head　with　his

sword。　The　head　jumped　off；　saying　the　while；　‘Well；　I'm　done

for　now！'　and　rolled　far　away　into　the　sea。



After　killing　the　beast；　the　Prince　went　back　again；　picking　up

all　the　three　sisters　by　the　way；　with　the　intention　of　taking　them

out　into　the　upper　world：　for　they　all　loved　him　and　would　not　be

separated　from　him。　Each　of　them　turned　her　palace　into　an　egg

for　they　were　all　enchantressesand　they　taught　him　how　to

turn　the　eggs　into　palaces；　and　back　again；　and　they　handed　over

the　eggs　to　him。　And　then　they　all　went　to　the　place　from　which

they　had　to　be　hoisted　into　the　upper　world。　And　when　they　came

to　where　the　rope　was；　the　Prince　took　hold　of　it　and　made　the

maidens　fast　to　it。　Then　he　jerked　away　at　the　rope　and　his

brothers　began　to　haul　it　up。　And　when　they　had　hauled　it　up；

and　had　set　eyes　on　the　wondrous　maidens；　they　went　aside　and

said：　‘Let's　lower　the　rope；　pull　our　brother　part　of　the　way　up；

and　then　cut　the　rope。　Perhaps　he'll　be　killed；　but　then　if　he　isn't；

he'll　never　give　us　these　beauties　as　wives。'



So　when　they　had　agreed　on　this；　they　lowered　the　rope。　But

their　brother　was　no　fool；　he　guessed　what　they　were　at；　so　he

fastened　the　rope　to　a　stone；　and　then　gave　it　a　pull。　His　brothers

hoisted　the　stone　to　a　great　height；　and　then　cut　the　rope。　Down

fell　the　stone　and　broke　in　pieces；　the　Prince　poured　forth　tears

and　went　away。　Well；　he　walked　and　walked。　Presently　a　storm

arose；　the　lightning　flashed；　the　thunder　roared；　the　rain　fell　in

torrents。　He　went　up　to　a　tree　in　order　to　take　shelter　under　it；

and　on　that　tree　he　saw　some　young　birds　which　were　being

thoroughly　drenched。　So　he　took　off　his　coat　and　covered　them

over　with　it；　and　he　himself　sat　down　under　the　tree。　Presently

there　came　flying　a　birdsuch　a　big　one　that　the　light　was　blotted

out　by　it。　It　had　been　dark　there　before；　but　now　it　became　darker

still。　Now　this　was　the　mother　of　those　small　birds　which　the

Prince　had　covered　up。　And　when　the　bird　had　come　flying　up；

she　perceived　that　her　little　ones　were　covered　over；　and　she　said；

‘Who　has　wrapped　up　my　nestlings？'　and　presently；　seeing　the

Prince；　she　added：　‘Didst　thou　do　that？　Thanks！　In　return；　ask

of　me　anything　thou　desirest。　I　will　do　anything　for　thee。'



‘Then　carry　me　into　the　other　world；'　he　replied。



‘Make　me　a　large　vessel　with　a　partition　in　the　middle；'　she

said；　‘catch　all　sorts　of　game；　and　put　them　into　one　half　of　it；

and　into　the　other　half　pour　water；　so　that　there　may　be　meat　and

drink　for　me。'



All　this　the　Prince　did。　Then　the　birdhaving　taken　the

vessel　on　her　back；　with　the　Prince　sitting　in　the　middle　of　it

began　to　fly。　And　after　flying　some　distance　she　brought　him　to

his　journey's　end；　took　leave　of　him；　and　flew　away　back。　But　he

went　to　the　house　of　a　certain　tailor；　and　engaged　himself　as　his

servant。　So　much　the　worse　for　wear　was　he；　so　thoroughly　had　he

altered　in　appearance；　that　nobody　would　have　suspected　him　of

being　a　Prince。



Having　entered　into　the　service　of　this　master；　the　Prince　began

to　ask　what　was　going　on　in　that　country。　And　his　master　replied：

‘Our　two　Princesfor　the　third　one　has　disappearedhave　brought

away　brides　from　the　other　world；　and　want　to　marry　them；　but

those　brides　refuse。　For　they　insist　on　having　all　their　wedding…

clothes　made　for　them　first；　exactly　like　those　which　they　used　to

have　in　the　other　world；　and　that　without　being　measured　for　them。

The　King　has　called　all　the　workmen　together；　but　not　one　of　them

will　undertake　to　do　it。'



The　Prince；　having　heard　all　this；　said；　‘Go