Legend of the rejuvenating apples summary. About rejuvenating apples and living water. Other retellings and reviews for the reader's diary

The tale of rejuvenating apples and living water is one of the most interesting and magical tales of Russian folk art. It is quite long, filled with an exciting plot and unusual turns of events. The fairy tale About rejuvenating apples and living water can be read online in full or download the text in PDF and DOC format. You will find the full text here, summary and thematic proverbs to the fairy tale.
Summary of the tale you can start with how in a certain kingdom, in a certain state, there lived a king with three sons. Everything was fine with them, until the moment when the old tsar took it into his head that it would not start to look younger again. For this, his sons had to get rejuvenating apples and living water. The first to set off was the eldest son Fedor. Soon his road diverged into three ways: You go to the right - you will save yourself, you will lose a horse, You will go to the left - you will save a horse, you will lose yourself, You will go straight - you will be married. Fedor long without thinking went along the path of where to be married. I drove, drove and came to the tower, and a beautiful girl comes out of it, offers bread, salt. The hero could not stand the temptation, went after the girl, she gave him drink, fed him, began to put him to sleep, turned the bed, and Fyodor flew underground, into a deep hole. Soon the tsar's middle son, Vasily, set off on the road, and the same story happened to him. The third youngest son Ivan, the tsarevich, set off on a journey, stopped at a crossroads and chose the road To the left, you will save the horse, you will lose yourself. He rode for a long, short time and ran into a hut on chicken legs, in which Baba Yaga lives. Ivan Tsarevich spoke to her politely and courteously, so she did not eat it, but told how to get rejuvenating apples and living water. Ivan did everything as Baba Yaga said, got to Sineglazka, the owner of magical attributes, and secretly took possession of them. Sineglazka set up a pursuit for Ivan Tsarevich, and after catching up with him, she arranged a duel with him. And everything would have ended badly for Ivan if he had not asked her for mercy. Sineglazka lifted Ivan, the tsarevich, from the damp earth, kissed the sugar ones on the lips, and they immediately got married. But the tale does not end there. Ivan Tsarevich goes home to his kingdom, and on the way turns to the road to Married to be to help his brothers out of trouble. He pulled them out of the pit, washed them with live water, and they all drove home together. And the brothers, instead of gratitude, think: We will return without living water, without rejuvenating apples - we will have little honor, our father will send us geese to graze. They took away everything that was from Ivan Tsarevich, they threw him into a deep abyss, and themselves went to his father to present other people's gifts. Tsarevich Ivan would have perished if Nagai, the bird that raised him from the seaside to his native land, had not saved him. Meanwhile, Sineglazka took her sons, gathered troops, and went to look for Ivan - Tsarevich in the kingdom. The tsar did not expect such a turn, he was frightened and sent for Fyodor - Tsarevich and Vasily Tsarevich, orders them to find his brother. It was then that they confessed how the rejuvenating apples and living water were taken from the sleeping brother, and he was thrown into the abyss. The tsar shed tears, and Sineglazka found Ivan Tsarevich among the drunks and the tavern, washed, combed, changed clothes. The next day they were already celebrating a wedding in the palace, and the brothers Fyodor and Vasily were driven away from the courtyard.
The main meaning of the tale about rejuvenating apples and living water, of course: Good always triumphs over evil. But if you analyze the tale in more detail, then you can reveal not one morality, but several. For example, when the king wants to rejuvenate, the sons, without any questions, go to no one knows where, in order to satisfy the seemingly delusional request of their father. This suggests that the time is coming when children should take care of their parents and thank for their upbringing. When Ivan Tsarevich stands at a crossroads, he chooses the road. You will ride a horse to the left, you will save yourself, you will lose yourself. He chose the most difficult path, since the easy path is not always correct, you should not look for easy paths to your intended goal, there is no easy path at all if you really started a big business. Ivan Tsarevich meets Baba Yaga, but she does not eat him, but rather tells how to get what he is looking for. This suggests that a polite and sociable person can always negotiate with anyone and about anything. Having passed all the tests and rightfully mastered the rejuvenating apples and living water, Ivan Tsarevich returned home happy, but he could not pass by, and saved his brothers from trouble. This speaks of his kind heart, and the need to help his family and friends. Unfortunately, the brothers did not appreciate this, out of their envy and self-interest, they got rid of Ivan in a mean way and took possession of his things. But soon this deception was revealed, the brothers paid in full, and having lost everything, they were expelled in disgrace. Truth always comes true, and all evil deeds done must return back a hundredfold.
Read the Tale of rejuvenating apples and living water not only very interesting, but also instructive. A good fairy tale with a happy ending, teaches goodness, respect for elders, courage, honesty, justice. Each hero of the fairy tale personifies human vices that can be seen in yourself, analyze your behavior, and draw certain conclusions.
The tale of rejuvenating apples and living water is a vivid example of many folk proverbs: Whoever respects parents, that century does not perish, What is the father, such is the fellow, Helping parents is our direct duty, Respect for the young is a duty, respect for the elder is a duty, Even if you starve for six days, but honor your father, Obedient son, fathers order not aching back, parental blessing on fire does not burn in water does not sink, There will be no good, if there is enmity in the family, brotherly love is better than stone walls, he is my brother, and he has his own mind, climbed into riches - forgot the brotherhood, brother, brother , but don’t take money! My brother, but eat your bread, It's easier to live without truth, but it's hard to die, In whom there is no good, there is little truth in that, Fill up the truth with gold, trample it into the mud, and everything will come out, You will go through the whole world crooked , but you will not go back, Wrong acquired for future use will not go, Secret always becomes obvious, Happiness is built on truth.

A king lived in a certain kingdom-state, he wanted to be young again. The king sent his three sons in turn for rejuvenating apples and living water. And only the youngest son, with the help of Baba Yaga, reached the wonderful garden of Sineglazka. There is a lot of magic and miracles in the fairy tale that kids will like.

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In a certain kingdom, in a certain state, there was a king, and he had three sons: the eldest was called Fyodor, the second was Vasily, and the younger was Ivan.

The tsar was very outdated and became impoverished with his eyes, but he heard that there was a garden with rejuvenating apples and a well with living water in the thirty-ninth kingdom. If an old man eats this apple, he will rejuvenate, and wash the eyes of a blind man with this water - he will see.

The king gathers a feast for the whole world, invites princes and boyars to the feast and says to them:

Who, children, would have gotten out of the chosen ones, got out of the hunters, traveled to distant lands, to the thirtieth kingdom, would have brought rejuvenating apples and living water a jug of twelve stigmas? I would write off my kingdom to this rider.

Then the bigger one began to be buried for the middle one, and the middle one for the smaller one, and the smaller one did not answer.

Tsarevich Fyodor comes out and says:

Reluctance to give us the kingdom to people. I will go to this path, I will bring you, the king-father, rejuvenating apples and living water a jug of twelve stigmas.

Fyodor-Tsarevich went to the stable yard, chooses an unkempt horse for himself, bridles an unbridled bridle, takes an unbroken whip, puts twelve girths with a girth - not for the sake of beauty, but for the sake of the fortress ... Fyodor-Tsarevich set off for the path. They saw that he was sitting down, but did not see in which direction he rolled away ...

Whether he rode close, whether far, whether low, whether high, rode the day until evening - the sun is red until sunset. And it reaches the rostants, up to three roads. There is a stone slab on the risers, on it the inscription is written:

"You will go to the right - to save yourself, to lose a horse. If you go to the left - to save a horse, to lose yourself. If you go straight, you will be married."

Fyodor-Tsarevich reflected: - "Let's go - where to be married."

And he turned onto the path where a married man should be. He drove, drove and reached the tower under the golden roof. Then a beautiful girl runs out and says to him:

Tsar's son, I will take you out of the saddle, go with me to eat bread and salt and sleep and rest.

No, girl, I don't want bread and salt, and I can't while away the road with sleep. I need to move forward.

Tsar's son, do not rush to go, but hurry to do what is dear to you.

Then the beautiful maiden took him out of the saddle and led him into the tower. She fed him, gave him drink and put him to sleep on the bed.

As soon as Fyodor-Tsarevich lay down against the wall, this girl quickly turned the bed, and he flew underground, into a deep hole ...

Whether for a long time or a short time, the tsar again gathers a feast, calls the princes and boyars and says to them:

Here, guys, who would get out of the hunters - bring me rejuvenating apples and living water a jug of twelve stigmas? I would write off my kingdom to this rider.

Here again, the larger one is buried for the middle one, and the middle one for the smaller one, and the smaller one does not answer.

The second son, Vasily Tsarevich, comes out:

Father, I don't want to give the kingdom into the wrong hands. I will go to the track, bring these things, hand them over to you.

Vasily the Tsarevich goes to the stable yard, chooses an unused horse, bridles an unbridled bridle, takes an unbroken whip, puts twelve girths with a girth.

Tsarevich Vasily went. We saw how he sat down, but did not see in which direction he drove away ... So he reaches the growths, where the slab-stone lies, and sees:

"You go to the right, save yourself, lose your horse. Go to the left, save the horse, lose yourself. If you go straight, you will be married."

Thought, thought Vasily the Tsarevich, and "drove off the road where he should be married. I reached a tower with a golden roof. A beautiful girl runs out to him and asks him to have some bread and salt and go to rest.

Tsar's son, do not rush to go, but hurry to do whatever is dear to you ...

Then she took him out of the saddle, led him into the tower, fed him, gave him drink and put him to sleep.

Only Vasily Tsarevich lay down against the wall, she turned the bed again, and he flew underground.

And there they ask:

Who is flying?

Vasily Tsarevich. And who is sitting?

Fyodor the Tsarevich.

Here, bro, hit!

Whether for a long time or a short time - for the third time the tsar gathers a feast, calls the princes and boyars:

Who would get out of the hunters to bring rejuvenating apples and living water a jug of twelve stigmas? I would write off my kingdom to this rider.

Here again the bigger one is buried for the middle one, the middle one for the smaller one, and the smaller one doesn't answer.

Ivan Tsarevich comes out and says:

Let me, father, blessing, from a wild head to brisk feet, to go to the thirtieth kingdom - to look for you rejuvenating apples and living water, but also look for my brothers.

The king gave him a blessing. Ivan Tsarevich went to the stable yard - to choose a horse according to his reason. Whichever horse does not look, he trembles, on whom he puts his hand - he falls off his feet ...

Ivan Tsarevich could not choose a horse according to reason. Goes hung a riot head. A backward grandmother was meeting him.

Hello, little child, Ivan Tsarevich! That you are sad and grievous?

How can I, grandmother, not be sad - I cannot find a horse by reason.

You should have asked me long ago. A good horse stands chained in a cellar, on an iron chain. If you can take it, you will have a horse in mind.

Ivan Tsarevich comes to the cellar, kicked the iron plate, rolled the plate from the cellar. He jumped to the good horse, the horse stood with its front legs on its shoulders. Ivan Tsarevich stands - does not move. The horse tore off the iron chain, jumped out of the cellar and pulled out Tsarevich Ivan. And then Ivan Tsarevich bridled him with an unbridled bridle, saddled him with an unused saddle, put twelve girths with a girth - not for the sake of beauty, for the sake of a young woman.

Ivan Tsarevich set off on a journey. They saw that he was sitting down, but did not see in which direction he drove away ... He drove up to the heights and reflected:

"To go to the right - to lose a horse, - where can I go without a horse? To go straight - to be married, - I set off on the wrong way. To go to the left - save the horse, - this road is the best for me."

And he turned along the road where to save the horse - to lose himself. Whether he rode for a long time, whether short, low, or high, through green meadows, over stone mountains, he rode the day until evening - the sun is red until sunset - and runs into the hut.

There is a hut on a chicken leg, about one window.

The hut turned its back to the forest, to Ivan Tsarevich in front. He went into it, and there sits a Baba Yaga, old years. A silk tow sweeps, and shaves threads through the beds.

Fu, fu, - he says, - the Russian spirit has not heard, it has not been seen by sight, but now the Russian spirit has come by itself.

And Ivan Tsarevich to her:

Oh, you, Baba Yaga, a bone leg, without catching a bird - you fiddle with, not recognizing the fellow - you blaspheme. You would just jump up and me, a good fellow, a traveling man, feed and drink and put together a bed for the night. I would lie down, you would sit at the head of the bed, would ask, and I would begin to tell - whose and where.

Baba Yaga did it all - she fed Ivan Tsarevich, gave him drink and put him on the bed. She sat down at the headboard and began to ask:

Whose are you, a road man, good fellow, but where are you from? What kind of land are you? What kind of father, mother's son?

I, grandmother, from such and such a kingdom, from such and such a state, the tsar's son Ivan Tsarevich. I am going to distant lands, to distant lakes, to the thirtieth kingdom for living water and rejuvenating apples.

Well, my dear child, it’s a long way for you to go: living water and rejuvenating apples are at the strong heroic girl Sineglazka, she is my own niece. I don’t know if you’ll get good ...

Many fellows drove by, but not many spoke politely. Take my horse, child. My horse will be faster, he will take you to my middle sister, she will teach you.

Ivan Tsarevich gets up early in the morning, washes himself white. He thanks Baba Yaga for the night and rode her horse.

Suddenly he says to the horse:

Stop! He dropped the glove.

And the horse answers:

At which time you spoke, I galloped two hundred miles ...

Ivan Tsarevich is traveling near or far. Day to night passes by. And he saw in front of him a hut on a chicken leg, about one window.

Hut, hut, turn your back to the forest, in front of me! As I enter you, and exit.

The hut turned back to the forest, in front of it. Suddenly you can hear - the horse whinnied, and the horse under Ivan Tsarevich responded.

The horses were one-shot. Baba Yaga heard this - even older than that - and says:

Apparently my sister came to visit me.

And goes out onto the porch:

Fu-fu, the Russian spirit has never been heard, the sight has not been seen, but now the Russian spirit has come by itself.

And Ivan Tsarevich to her:

Oh, you, baba-yaga, bone leg, meet the guest by dress, escort him through the mind. You would remove my horse, you would feed me, give me drink and put me to sleep, a good fellow, a traveling man ...

Baba Yaga coped with this matter - she removed the horse, and fed Ivan Tsarevich, made him drink, put him on the bed and began to ask who he was and where and where he was going.

I, grandmother, from such and such a kingdom, from such and such a state, the tsar's son Ivan Tsarevich. I am going for living water and rejuvenating apples to a strong hero, the girl Sineglazka ...

Well, dear child, I don’t know if you’ll get good.

It is wise for you, it is wise to reach the Sineglazka damsel!

And you, grandmother, give your head to my mighty shoulders, direct me to the mind-mind.

Many fellows drove by, but not many spoke politely. Take my horse, child, go to my older sister. She will teach me better what to do.

Here Ivan Tsarevich spent the night with this old woman, in the morning he gets up early, washes himself white. He thanks Baba Yaga for the night and rode her horse. And this horse is still better than that.

Suddenly Ivan Tsarevich says:

Stop! He dropped the glove.

And the horse answers:

At which time you spoke, I galloped three hundred miles ...

It is not soon that the deed is done, soon the fairy tale tells. Ivan Tsarevich is going from day to evening - the sun is red until sunset. Runs into the hut on a chicken leg, about one window.

Hut, hut, turn your back to the forest, in front of me! I am not a century old, but one night to sleep.

Suddenly the horse whinnied, and under Ivan Tsarevich the horse responded. Baba Yaga comes out onto the porch, old years, even older than that. She looked - her sister's horse, and a strange rider, a fine fellow ...

Then Ivan Tsarevich bowed to her politely and asked to spend the night. Nothing to do! They do not carry an overnight stay with them - everyone: both on foot and on horseback, and the poor and the rich.

Baba Yaga did the whole thing - she removed the horse, and fed Ivan Tsarevich, gave him drink and began to ask who he was and where he was from and where he was going.

I, grandmother, of such and such a kingdom, such and such a state, the tsar's son Ivan Tsarevich. I visited your little sister, she sent to the middle one, and the middle one sent to you. Give your head to my mighty shoulders, direct me to the mind-mind, how can I get living water and rejuvenating apples from the Sineglazka girl.

So be it, I'll help you, Ivan Tsarevich. The girl Sineglazka, my niece, is a strong and powerful hero. Around her kingdom is a wall three fathoms in height, fathoms in thickness, at the gate of the guard there are thirty heroes. They won't let you through the gate. You need to ride in the middle of the night, ride my good horse. When you reach the wall, beat the horse on the sides with a lash that is not whipped. The horse will jump over the wall. Tie your horse and go into the garden. You will see an apple tree with rejuvenating apples, and a well under the apple tree. Pick three apples, but don't take any more. And scoop up a pitcher of twelve stigmas from the well of living water. The girl Sineglazka will sleep, you do not go into her house, but sit on the horse and beat him on the steep sides. He will carry you over the wall.

Ivan Tsarevich did not spend the night with this old woman, but got on her good horse and rode off at night. This horse jumps, jumps mosses-swamps, sweeps rivers, lakes with its tail.

Whether for a long time, shortly, low, or high, Ivan Tsarevich reaches the high wall in the middle of the night. At the gates, the guard sleeps - thirty mighty heroes. He presses his good horse, hits him with a lash, not whipped. The horse got angry and jumped over the wall. Ivan Tsarevich got off his horse, enters the garden and sees - there is an apple tree with silver leaves, golden apples, and under the apple tree there is a well. Ivan Tsarevich picked three apples, and did not take any more, but scooped a jug of twelve stigmas from the well of living water. And he wanted to see for himself, a strong, mighty, heroic girl, Sineglazka.

Ivan Tsarevich enters the tower, and there they are asleep - on one side six woodpieces - maidens-heroes and on the other side six, and in the middle the maiden Sineglazka is scattered about, asleep like a strong river rapide.

Ivan Tsarevich could not bear it, he kissed her, kissed her and went out ... He sat on a good horse, and the horse spoke to him in a human voice:

You didn’t obey, you, Ivan Tsarevich, entered the tower to the girl Sineglazka. Now I can't jump the walls.

Ivan Tsarevich beats the horse with a lash not whipped.

Oh, you horse, wolf sack, grass sack, we don't spend the night here, but lose our heads!

The horse got angry more than ever and jumped over the wall, but hit it with one horseshoe - the strings on the wall began to sing and the bells rang.

Sineglazka girl woke up and saw the theft:

Get up, we have a big theft!

She ordered her to saddle her heroic horse and rushed with twelve pieces of wood in pursuit of Ivan Tsarevich.

Ivan Tsarevich is chasing at full speed, and the maiden Sineglazka chases after him. He reaches the elder Baba Yaga, and she has a horse already bred, ready. He - from his horse to this and again drove forward ... Ivan then the prince out the door, and the girl Sineglazka - through the door and asks Baba Yaga:

Grandma, did the beast sprout here?

No, child.

Grandma, did you drive through here?

No, child. And you are eating milk from the road.

I would eat, grandmother, but milk the cow for a long time.

That you, child, can quickly cope ...

Baba Yaga went to milk the cow - she was milking, she was in no hurry. The maiden Sineglazka ate the milk and again chased after Ivan Tsarevich.

Ivan Tsarevich reaches the middle Baba Yaga, changed his horse and again drove. He is out the door, and the Sineglazka girl is out the door:

Grandma, did the beast skip past, did the good fellow go by?

No, child. And you would have eaten blinks out of the way.

Yes, you will bake for a long time.

Baba Yaga baked blinks - she bakes, in no hurry. The girl Sineglazka ate and again chased after Ivan Tsarevich.

He reaches the youngest Baba Yaga, dismounted from his horse, mounted his heroic horse and again drove. He - out the door, the girl Sineglazka - at the door and asks Baba Yaga if a good fellow had passed by.

No, child. And you would take a steam bath out of the way.

Yes, you will drown for a long time.

What are you, child, I can quickly celebrate ...

Baba Yaga heated the bathhouse, made everything. The girl Sineglazka took a steam bath, rolled around and again drove into the drift. Her horse jumps from hill to hill, sweeps rivers and lakes with its tail. She began to overtake Ivan Tsarevich.

He sees a pursuit: twelve heroes with the thirteenth - the girl Sineglazka - get along with him, take off their heads from their shoulders. He began to pause the horse, the maiden Sineglazka jumped up and shouted to him:

Why, thief, you drank from my well without asking but didn’t close the well!

Well, let's go for three horse jumps, let's try the strength.

Then Ivan Tsarevich and the maiden Sineglazka galloped for three horse jumps, took battle clubs, long-measuring spears, sharp sabers. And they came together three times, the clubs broke, the spears-sabers depleted - they could not knock each other off the horse. There was no need for them to leave on good horses, they jumped off their horses and grabbed their arms.

We fought from morning to evening - the sun is red until sunset. Ivan Tsarevich's playful leg turned up, he fell on the damp ground. Maiden Sineglazka knelt on his white chest and pulled out a damask dagger - to smack his white chest. Ivan Tsarevich and says to her:

Don't ruin me, girl Sineglazka, better take it by the white hands, lift me from the damp earth, kiss on the sugar lips.

Then the maiden Sineglazka raised Ivan Tsarevich from the damp earth and kissed the sugar lips. And they pitched a tent in an open field, in a wide expanse, in green meadows. Here they walked for three days and three nights. Here they got engaged and exchanged rings.

Maiden Sineglazka says to him:

I'll go home - and you go home, but don't turn off anywhere ... In three years, wait for me in your kingdom.

They got on their horses and drove away ... How long, shortly, not soon, the work is done, soon the fairy tale tells itself, - Ivan Tsarevich arrives to the rostans, to three roads, where the slab is a stone, and thinks:

"That's not good! I'm going home, and my brothers are missing."

And he disobeyed the Sineglazka girl, turned on the road where he would be married ... And he runs into a tower under a golden roof. Here under Ivan Tsarevich the horse whinnied, and the brothers' horses responded. The horses were one-shot ...

Ivan Tsarevich went up to the porch, banged the ring - the domes on the tower swayed, the windows crooked. A beautiful girl runs out.

Oh, Ivan Tsarevich, I've been waiting for you for a long time! Come with me to eat bread and salt and sleep and rest.

She took him to the tower and began to regale him. Ivan Tsarevich, not so much eating as throwing under the table, not so much drinking as pouring under the table. The beautiful girl led him into the bedroom:

Lie down, Ivan Tsarevich, sleep, sleep.

And Ivan Tsarevich pushed her onto the bed, quickly turned the bed, the girl and flew underground, into a deep hole.

Ivan Tsarevich bent over the pit and shouts:

Who's alive there?

And from the pit they answer:

Fyodor Tsarevich and Vasily Tsarevich.

He took them out of the pit - they are black with their faces, the earth has already begun to grow. Ivan Tsarevich washed the brothers with living water - they became the same again.

They got on their horses and rode ... How long or short it took to reach the rostans. Ivan Tsarevich says to his brothers:

Guard my horse, and I will lie down to rest.

He lay down on the silk grass and fell asleep in a heroic dream. And Fyodor Tsarevich says to Vasily Tsarevich:

We will return without living water, without rejuvenating apples - there will be little honor for us, our father will send us geese to graze.

Vasily Tsarevich answers:

Let us lower Ivan Tsarevich into the abyss, and we will take these things and hand them over to our father.

So they took out rejuvenating apples and a jug of living water from his bosom, and they took him and threw him into the abyss. Ivan Tsarevich flew there for three days and three nights.

Ivan Tsarevich fell on the very seaside, came to his senses and saw - only sky and water, and under the old oak by the sea chicks squeak - the weather beats them.

Ivan Tsarevich took off his caftan and covered the chicks, while he took refuge under an oak tree.

The weather has calmed down, the big bird Nagai is flying. She flew in, sat under an oak tree and asked the chicks:

My dear children, did the bad weather kill you?

Don't shout, mother, a Russian man saved us, covered us with his caftan.

The bird Nagai asks Ivan Tsarevich:

Why did you come here, dear man?

My brothers threw me into the abyss for rejuvenating apples and living water.

You saved my children, ask me what you want: gold, silver, or precious stone.

Nothing, Nagai-bird, I do not need: neither gold, nor silver, nor a precious stone. Is it possible for me to get home?

The nagai-bird answers him:

Get me two vats - twelve poods each - of meat.

Here Ivan Tsarevich shot geese and swans on the seashore, laid them in two vats, put one vat for the Nagai-bird on his right shoulder, and the other vat on his left, sat on her ridge himself. Nagai began to feed the bird, it rose and flies high.

She flies, and he gives her and gives her ... How long, how short they flew, Ivan Tsarevich fed both vats. And the bird Nagai turns around again. He took a knife, cut off a piece from his leg and handed it to the bird. She flies, flies and turns around again. He cut off the meat from the other leg and served it. It was already not far left to fly. The nagai bird turns around again. He cut the meat off his chest and served it to her.

Then Nagai the bird brought Ivan Tsarevich to his homeland.

You fed me well all the way, but never tasted sweeter than the last bite.

Ivan Tsarevich shows her wounds. The nagai bird belched, vomited three pieces:

Put it in place.

Ivan Tsarevich put it - the meat has grown to the bones.

Now get off me, Ivan Tsarevich, I will fly home.

The Nagai-bird rose to the height, and Ivan Tsarevich went his way to his native side.

He came to the capital and learns that Fyodor Tsarevich and Vasily Tsarevich brought his father living water and rejuvenating apples and the Tsar was healed: he was still strong in health and sharp-sighted.

Ivan Tsarevich did not go to his father, to his mother, but he gathered the drunks, tavern goli and let’s walk around the taverns.

At that time, beyond the distant lands, in the thirtieth kingdom, the strong hero Sineglazka gave birth to two sons. They grow by leaps and bounds. Soon the fairy tale has its effect, not soon the work is done - three years have passed. Sineglazka took her sons, gathered an army and went to look for Ivan Tsarevich.

She came to his kingdom and in an open field, in a wide expanse, on green meadows, she spread a white-canvas tent. From the tent the road was covered with colored cloth. And he sends the king to the capital to say:

Tsar, hand over the prince. If you do not give it up, I will trample the whole kingdom, I will burn it, I will take you to the full.

The tsar got scared and sent the eldest - Fyodor Tsarevich. Fyodor the Tsarevich walks on colored cloth, approaches the white-cloth tent. Two boys run out:

No, kids, this is your uncle.

What do you order to do with it?

And you kids, treat him well.

Then these two boys took canes and started whipping Fyodor-Tsarevich from the lower back. They beat, beat, he barely took his legs.

And Sineglazka again sends to the king:

Give back the prince ...

The tsar was more frightened and sent the middle one - Tsarevich Vasily. He comes to the tent. Two boys run out:

Mother, mother, is this not our father coming?

No, kids, this is your uncle. Treat him well.

Two lads, let's scratch uncle with canes again. They beat, beat, Vasily Tsarevich barely took his feet.

And Sineglazka for the third time sends to the king:

Go, look for the third son, Ivan Tsarevich. If you do not find it, I will trample and burn the whole kingdom.

The Tsar was even more frightened, sent for Fyodor Tsarevich and Vasily Tsarevich, ordered them to find his brother, Ivan Tsarevich. Then the brothers fell at their father's feet and obeyed everything: as they took living water and rejuvenating apples from the sleepy Ivan Tsarevich, and threw himself into the abyss.

The king heard this and burst into tears. And at that time, Ivan Tsarevich himself went to Sineglazka, and with him was the tavern's gol. They tear the cloth under their feet and toss to the sides.

He walks up to the white-canvas tent. Two boys run out:

Mother, mother, some drunkard is coming to us with a tavern!

And Sineglazka to them:

Take him by the white hands, lead him into the tent. This is your dear father. He suffered innocently for three years.

Then they took Tsarevich Ivan by the white hands and led him into the tent. Sineglazka washed him and combed his hair, changed his clothes and put him to bed. And I brought the heads of the tavern a glass, and they went home.

The next day Sineglazka and Ivan Tsarevich arrived at the palace. Here began a feast for the whole world - an honest feast and for a wedding. Fyodor Tsarevich and Vasily Tsarevich had little honor, they drove them out of the courtyard - where night, where two, and the third and nowhere to sleep ...

Ivan Tsarevich did not stay here, but went with Sineglazka to her maiden kingdom.

This is the end of the fairy tale.

You can recall a summary of the "Tale of the rejuvenating apples" in 5 minutes.

"The tale of rejuvenating apples and living water" summary for the reader's diary

The aged and blind king, hearing about rejuvenating apples and living water, sends his sons to get them. For this they were to receive half the kingdom.

The eldest son Fedor, was deceived by an evil beautiful girl and went underground. The same fate befell the middle brother Vasily.

The youngest son Ivan, on the advice of a counter grandmother, found himself a heroic horse and also went to get apples and water.

On the way, he met three Baba Yagas, who suggested where to get apples and water, and helped him.

Ivan Tsarevich steals rejuvenating apples and living water from strong girl Blue eyes.

Sineglazka caught up with Ivan and they began to fight. Sineglazka defeated Ivan and they got married, exchanged rings and said goodbye - Ivan went after his brothers, and Sineglazka went to her kingdom.

Ivan saves the brothers, but they betray him and throw him into the abyss. And his finds are brought to his father and rewarded.

The big bird helps Ivan and brings him to the surface, and he goes for a walk in taverns.

Three years later, Sineglazka returns with two sons and asks that Ivan Tsarevich be delivered to her.

The brothers confess to the tsar that they killed Ivan, but Ivan himself comes to Sineglazka. They marry, the envious brothers are expelled from the kingdom, and Ivan and Sineglazka leave for her kingdom.

"The tale of rejuvenating apples" summary

Once upon a time there was a king, he had three sons. The eldest is Fedor, the middle is Vasily and the younger is Ivan. The tsar got older, but he learned that there was a distant land, an apple tree with rejuvenating apples was growing and there was a well with living water. He promised the man who brought him these gifts into the possession of half the kingdom.

The eldest son Fyodor took the inevitable horse and was the first to go for wonderful gifts. At the crossroads of three roads he saw a huge stone on which it was written: "If you go to the right, you will lose your horse, if you go straight, you will be married, if you go to the left, you will save your horse, you will lose yourself." He walked straight ahead and soon saw a tower with a gilded roof. A red girl came out of him, fed him, offered him to rest, and then threw him into a deep hole.

The middle brother Vasily chose the same path as the elder. And together they awaited their release in the girl's dark pit.

Ivan Tsarevich decided to go for rejuvenating water for the priest, and to find the brothers. On the advice of his grandmother, he took a heroic horse.

Ivan set off along the path "to save the horse, and to lose yourself." He rode for a long time, or for a short time, but at sunset he came across a hut on chicken legs where Baba Yaga lived. He told her where he was going. It turned out that the threshing water was at her own niece, the girl Sineglazka, a strong hero. But it is almost impossible to find her. And she sent him to her middle sister and gave her horse. He quickly got to her, but she did not know how to find the girl Sineglazka either. He sent him to his older, most knowledgeable sister. She told Ivan Tsarevich how to find Sineglazka. She gave the young man her battle horse, which could fly over the wall.

Ivan reached the kingdom, Sineglazka, jumped over the wall. In the Magic Garden there was an apple tree with rejuvenating apples, and under it was a well with water. He plucked apples, took some water and wanted to look at Sineglazka. Ivan Tsarevich kissed her, as he was fascinated by her beauty. But when he was leaving, the horse hooked on a horseshoe wall and from this ringing Sineglazka woke up and chased the thief.

But she did not dare to punish him, since she liked this good fellow. And he began to kiss her sugar mouth. They walked for three days and three nights. And then she ordered him to go home, without turning anywhere, and wait for her for three years. But Ivan did not listen to her and went to rescue his brothers from trouble.

Their brother Ivan rescued them, and they deceived him, took the apples and water jug, and threw himself into the abyss.

Bird Nagai helped him get out of the cave and took him straight to his home side. He learned that the brothers had brought magic gifts to the priest-tsar, and he became healthy. Ivan Tsarevich did not want to return home, but began to drink and walk in taverns.

And Sineglazka gave birth to two sons. They grew by leaps and bounds. She came to the kingdom of Ivan Tsarevich. The tsar sent Fyodor to her first, then Vasily. But she did not recognize her Ivan Tsarevich in them, but ordered her sons to flog them with a cane for treachery and deception. Yes, I ordered them to tell the whole truth to their father and find Ivan.

At this time, Ivan himself goes to Sineglazka. She recognized Sineglazka in the drunkard Ivan Tsarevich - the father of his children - and told his sons to take him and take him to the tent to change his clothes and give him a break after three years of innocent suffering.

Sineglazka and Ivan Tsarevich had a merry wedding feast. Fyodor and Vasily were driven out of the yard. Themselves left for the kingdom of Sineglazka. Where they lived and did not grieve.

Alexey Mikhailovich Domnin

Living water

The happiest people spend the night in a barn or in a hayloft during the summer. Natasha and I also slept in the barn among old furniture and shavings. It smelled of dry bast and lonely mosquitoes rang.

Natasha is a great inventor. She has surprised blue eyes, three freckles on her nose and soft, bread-white hair. Bruises and abrasions do not leave the elbows and knees: stumbling, she will certainly hurt her elbows and knees. I lived in the North for a long time, I missed her and now I tried to do everything so that she felt good.

Climbing under the covers, we put out the flashlight, came up with adventures and listened to the boysek.

Fears Natasha called frogs. They lived in a pond under the mountain and at night they shouted at different voices, like fighting kids. Natasha did not believe that these were frogs, she insisted that they looked like a hedgehog and that they had ears and a tail.

Once we came up with a fairy tale about how the fears came to our barn and ate all the cookies. Suddenly someone stomped on the roof. Then he sneezed, got down and knocked on the door. Natasha covered her head with a blanket and did not dare to breathe.

Who's there? she asked, stammering with fear.

It was the fat son of Nyura's neighbor. He is shaved bald, and this makes his ears seem too big. They are dark from sunburn, and his nose and cheeks are light, because the skin has peeled off from them. He's a funny man, this Booba. He calls fairy tales dunnocks, and teases me a dreamer. He believes only what he knows and has seen.

Sason! - said Booba. - Let's shoot from the slingshot.

Why are you stomping on the roof? - asked Natasha.

But nothing. We are not going anywhere, and do not bother us to sleep.

Here's another!

Booba stepped back and began firing pebbles with a slingshot at the walls and roof.

How stubborn he is, that Booba! Recently, someone broke the glass of the neighbors, and they complained about Bubu. Mother nibbled it and put it in a corner. Booba stood until dark, and fell asleep in the corner behind the chest, but he never wanted to ask for forgiveness. With Natasha, they sometimes play, then fight, and after half an hour they again forget about the quarrel.

The slingshot firing finally stopped. Buba rustled behind the barn, entangled in the bushes, yelped - apparently, hit something. Falling asleep, I thought that he probably ran out of pebbles.

I woke up with a click in my nostril. I opened my eyes and for a long time could not understand where I was. Thin sun rays... They pierced the half-light of the barn like light swords. Booba was busy outside the door; he slipped a green pican pipe into the crack and spat chewed paper balls. I quietly crept to the door and, opening it, grabbed Buba by the collar.

Well, give me a pican, ”I said sternly.

Booba closed his eyes and sat down, expecting a cuff.

Natasha ran out, naked, in her red panties. She hadn't woken up yet and was rubbing her eyes with her fists. Her tangled hair stuck out like horns.

What are you playing? she asked in surprise.

Who will overrun whom, ”I sighed and let go of Buba.

Let's go feed the crucians, - Natasha called him.

He looked at me timidly and took out a jar of worms from his pocket.

Just look, don't give more than two worms, - I punished.

And they ran into the house.

Boubet really liked our aquarium with two scientists carp. We put it on the window, in fact sunny place... If you knock on the glass with your finger, the crucian carp will swim out and stick their noses into the surface of the water.

Karasiki are special here. I caught them with my boot when I worked in the taiga with geologists. He crossed the lake - it dried up, there were only pits of liquid mud - and stumbled into the pit. Barely got out of it. Someone was fluttering in the bootleg. I thought it was a snake, and I went cold with fear. I shook my foot. Together with the mud, two golden crucians splashed out of the bootleg. They began to live with us in a bucket, and geologists took turns getting worms for them. And then I brought them home for Natasha. On the plane, they got sick and swam in a glass jar, belly up. But at home I transplanted them into an aquarium, and they quickly came to life.

Natasha allowed Booba to feed the crucians himself. He threw the worms into the aquarium. The Karasiki got scared and hid in the grass. Booba pressed his face against the glass so that his nose and cheeks were flattened. He laughed and lured the crucians like a dog:

Few, lip slaps, foo ...

Then they played with Natasha in a trolleybus and never quarreled.

Dad, let Buba sleep with us, ”Natasha asked. - It's good with us.

Let it be, - I agreed.

And he was even delighted. That evening I was just going to tell Natasha about Ants - how they milk their cows, raise mushrooms and store honey in special ants-barrels. Booba, of course, won't believe it and will say that I made it up. And I will show him a book where it is written about it. I immediately imagined how he would open his mouth in surprise and blink his light eyelashes for a long time.

Booba said he wasn't used to going to bed early. It was already dark, we sat on the hill and looked at the pond. The moon dozed in the dark water, as bright and ruddy as in the sky.

Now, if you could scoop the moon out of the pond and transplant it into our aquarium ... - Natasha was dreaming. - Will it be round or square in the aquarium?

I pictured carp in the ruddy moonlit water and laughed softly.

It will be triangular! Booba chuckled. He began to rake in the dust with his bare feet. - You are chemists. Grandma's fairy tales with pictures.

And not fairy tales, and not with pictures, - Natasha was offended. “We’ll get it anyway.”

Very simple, I replied. - Bucket.

Natasha stuck out her tongue at Booba and galloped on one leg:

Bucket-core-core, bucket-core-core ... And I'm afraid? she asked suddenly. - They won't touch us?

Of course not. They are small and kind. You will see for yourself.

Booba laughed hesitantly.

Dreamers!

Natasha, humming "bucket-drome-core", galloped off to the house. She brought a bucket and a flashlight and we went down to the pond. Booba first walked in front, then fell behind. Natasha was holding onto my pocket.

Are you afraid?

The moon swayed quietly in the pond. The darkness grew thicker, and the frogs screamed even more desperately. And suddenly they fell silent.

We were standing right next to the water. Inaudible shadows moved in the bushes. Natasha could not stand this silence and shouted:

Why are you silent, hey!

Something rustled at her feet, she gasped and sat down, covering herself with a bucket. I turned on the flashlight abruptly. A frog jumped into the water. And frogs were sitting around - on the sand, on the grass, on the leaves of water lilies. Blinded by the light, they fell into the water.

A word about the writer

The prose of Vladimir Krupin is something special in our literature, something outstanding and surprisingly simple.

Literature is a living process and, like all living things, has not only its own laws, but also its own habits. For all the wide scope of prose of different directions and genres, different manners and styles, it is sustained or close to being sustained in the classical spirit, in a sense it is conservative and for revealing the character, outlining the landscape and plot movement uses, in essence, the same receptions. It is descriptive - in the notion that its word has a prepared meaning and place, and rhythmically and artistically exists in level horizons, without sharp rises and falls. A literary, descriptive word is precisely cemented in a common row and is inactive, its magic is achieved by a common row and general mood. The spoken word in the same, let's say, folklore recordings is free - not standing, but constantly moving, looking out of the row and has a more independent meaning.

Vladimir Krupin combined in himself both manners - both written and oral, in his prose there is a very strong storytelling element. The impression is that the letter comes easily to him: he sat down at the table and, telling the prospective listeners about how he traveled to his homeland or to the homeland of a friend, he writes down by himself and barely has time to write down events in the sequence and details as they happened. But he tells and writes with concentration, picturesque and emotional, without losing the liveliness and spontaneity of rigor and artistry. And this means that the apparent lightness of the word is actually not easy to achieve, in the same painful search as for any writer who treats the word with respect. This also means that a word, having entered the written row and accepting its rules, somehow knows how to preserve the will of the oral row, that it becomes wider and more confident. In fiction, it is very important that the word stands joyfully, an experienced reader will always see this joy from accurate use and the desired work - this is how Krupin most often has it.

The distance between the reader and the writer in the book is a real thing, and it depends on the heart with which, cold or sympathetic and aching, the book is written, how much warmed it is by the warmth of the author's expenses. Cold, albeit performed at a high professional level, the work is read with mental violence, and this, as a rule, is "mental" reading, it is not a need that speaks in us, but stubbornness to reach the goal in order to breathe a sigh of relief over our feat. In this sense, Vladimir Krupin is unusually close to the reader, and such closeness is achieved, side by side with direct interviews, rare frankness and openness, a lively appeal to a person equally interested in their common cause. Whether he writes from the first or from the third person, his hero is in full view and does not know how to hide anything in himself, for Vladimir Krupin the personality is not in withdrawing into himself, but in unselfishly coming to people.

One of the most famous and remarkable works of Krupin is the story "Living Water". Main character her - Kirpikov, philosophizing in the simplicity of his unexplored mind. A commoner is nowhere to go, embroidered with bast, must be from the first to the last generation, he is nevertheless a noticeable personality in the village environment, firstly, thanks to his independent mind and, secondly, thanks to the "form" of property: Kirpikov is the owner of the only in the village of gelding. The horses were taken out, and the gardens must be plowed in the spring, whether you like it or not, bow to Kirpikov. What to do?

The world will be simplified into a rogue and unclear crowd. And Kirpikov is honest, hardworking, he conquered the Great Patriotic War, raised children. “Oh, more than one European state would have settled on a field plowed by Kirpikov, what kind of climber would have climbed onto a haystack and straw sketched by Kirpikov, what kind of wooden city could have been built from logs prepared by him ...” He lived his life not just as a molecule that entered into a popular body, he was taller and lived through her personality. True, with a curvaceous personality, with quirks in the name of self-assertion, like Shukshin's heroes, and with bouts of "Russian disease" in the name of self-consolation, but how little is "self" in comparison with "general", with what was done for the country and its eternity ! But old age was not late, the children left, the front-line prowess, like a swan, grew old, and Kirpikov is increasingly thinking about the meaning of life, why he lived and could the world do without him? Primitive philosophy, in the opinion of the professors, but these are inevitably the main questions of life, they are the more serious and terrible, the simpler they sound. No, this "thinker" is not so naive, who, at more than sixty years old, has undertaken to look into old school textbooks and prepares himself for every new discovery with bizarre asceticism. For a short while it seemed to him that “people had not yet grown to my understanding”: he groped, instinctively walked towards the realization of the truths of Christ and could not help but be proud of his victories - however, the days came when he had to make sure that the world was consciously established on the basis of their misunderstanding.

"Oh, poor Kirpikov!" - I wanted to exclaim after this hero, who was wrecked in his hopes first on the miracle of the moral resurrection of man, and then on the miracle of "living water" that gushed out of the ground and is able to cure physical and spiritual ailments. "Oh, happy Kirpikov!" - can be exclaimed today, two, three decades after his search for the meaning of life. Today, when it is more and more difficult to answer questions about the meaning of human existence as a whole.

But about this, about the losses and pillars of present life, the second story with the deliberately naked title "Love me as I love you."

In a person who changes with age, the artist also changes. He changes, even remaining himself in views and in writing. The soul is different. Nothing speaks so accurately and completely about a person, and even more so about a writer, as a soul. In a true creator, every word passes through the soul; not his pen is dipped into an inkwell, but into his soul. She will surely say without concealment about his talent, and about faith, and about the intentions with which he sits down at his desk, and about his attitude to his native land and a loved one who lives on this land ... And what Vladimir spiritually gained By the time of the second story, Krupin illuminates it with a different light - one that has passed through a fuller truth than it was with Kirpikov, but also more alarming, for the world has reached the last revolt directed against itself. But one must live by the truth. Or not to live. This choice in front of our poor and beautiful Motherland is so inevitable that it sometimes becomes scary.

A young reader of this book will also find in it the stories of Vladimir Krupin. He is a wonderful storyteller, sometimes witty, cheerful, “bacchanal”, sometimes serious, leading the action slowly and thoroughly, sometimes “documentary”, for whom a case of life, supplemented by imagination, turns into a case of literature.

Childhood, adolescence ... Childhood in the stories of Vladimir Krupin is happy, first of all, in the circle that makes up his native land - nature, communication with "lesser brothers", the first labors and worries, the first difficulties and constant joy to be around every day. Kindness is invested in a child's soul not so much with a word and parting words, as with the environment and environment, their integrity and strength - the spiritual and moral strength of the family and the physical protection of the earth. It is one thing to discover the world by climbing into a century-old grove cut down next to the village, and to see open and displaced spaces around behind the cleared forests, which have lost their mystery and attractiveness, and quite another thing is to dream of adulthood, travel and exploits from the middle of the carefully preserved fatherland. Lost children, from whom bad people grow up, accustomed to ruin as the norm of life, are also the result of bad management, when the past and the future have neither value nor value.

In the poetry of childhood, there is a serious, without any belittling, respect for childhood, the recollection of it as our pure and good principles.

Youth ... Most of all in this romantic time, when a young man chokes on the sensations and possibilities of life, when he realizes himself with strength and ecstasy from the first independence, the author is most worried about in such a young man the structure of his soul, the harmony between the physical and the spiritual. In adolescence, a personality already realized in its basic features appears to us. Of course, not sufficiently strengthened and not quite firmly established in her views, eagerly absorbing impressions and moods, but already precisely directed towards what she ultimately will be. The author does not teach, remembering that youth does not tolerate teachings, but gently and unobtrusively, almost imperceptibly for the reader, leads to the foundations of human existence - to responsiveness, selflessness, love for one's neighbor and expression of oneself in open actions, to the gradual realization of the ultimate truth: for genuine freedom and happiness, for a comforting existence, a person needs to give more than take. Youth seeks novelty and discoveries in everything; leaving behind her the right to an external, physical novelty, expanding the world of feelings and knowledge, the author again quietly reminds that the main discoveries await a person in himself, in self-knowledge, in the deepening of his inner, spiritual world, which is no less huge than the world external. There is nothing more tragic and irreplaceable for each of us, how to pass by ourselves, to get rid of ourselves aside from ourselves, not to realize ourselves in the beauty that is destined for a person by birth. Each generation counts on its own special mission in the world; no need to say whether this is good or bad, but each generation, in turn, must be prepared for disappointment: every order is not so easy to change. Perhaps the most important thing in the present state of affairs in the world is the spiritual restoration of a person both on the old and on the new principles, their organic and useful combination.

I don’t know anyone from the authors of the second half of the 20th century who would have so masterfully handled the fact, with what happens every day, transforming it with the help of the available means into perfect forms. One of two things: either something interesting happens to the writer Krupin, almost at every step he meets nugget personalities, or the writer Krupin is so interesting himself that he is able to transform any ordinary event into a revelation. More important than pure imagination for him is the transformation of the material, its retelling in its own, incomparable way.

And in a letter, you should not confuse him with anyone. This is some kind of special style of storytelling - lively, even lively, bright, inspired, imaginative, in which the Russian language “plays”, as sometimes the sun refracting in the clouds “plays” merrily and recklessly. For the reader, this is driving on a shaky, but very picturesque and entertaining road, where you laugh, and grieve, and admire, so that you will not notice any inconveniences from the ride and with chagrin you will find that the journey is over. One is over, but there are still more to come.

Truly: life on the Vyatka land, where the writer comes from, was difficult, but how fruitful! It has never been easy anywhere in Russia, which is why the best literature in the world shone with us. Difficult - consisting of works, teaching, leaving a full-fledged trace of a person on earth.

Valentin Rasputin

Stories

Living water

As a keepsake for you, as a stone for me.

- Once upon a time ... - Kirpikov began, but Masha shouted:

- Oh, just not a grandfather and a woman!

- Mother, do you hear?

- What? - answered Varvara from the kitchen.

- What the granddaughter says, enough, says, lived.

- Live, - Masha allowed. - You do not tell me a fairy tale, but about yourself.

- Inwardly? - Kirpikov opened the newspaper, pretended to study it, and reported: - Nothing has been written about me.

- How little you were, - ordered Masha. - As I went for living water.

- I walked and walked.

- Well, grandfather, well, the last time! Well! "The Vyatka peasants lived badly, but they did not know this ..." Grandpa! Further!

- We lived and lived. And they thought that they were living well, no worse than others, but a similar person came and said: “Why are you living so badly? Didn't you drink living water? "

Kirpikov himself, Masha and Varvara knew that he would tell the story to the end. For Masha! She turned them around as she wanted. And he was glad. Mashenka also ran after him like a tail, like a tied one. And it was impossible to make out which of them was a child. Mashenka resurrected the beginning of his life. It seemed to go away for fifty years, and now it came back.

It was not an old man's fall into childhood, no, these memories were sealed with seven seals of adult labor, shortages, hardships, war, labor again, deafness to the childhood of their own children, but Masha came, put her hands on these seals, and they disappeared, doors fell to dust, and - my God! - as there was no whole life, but only childhood.

How, it turns out, he knew a lot of fairy tales! As if he himself had composed all the tales about fools, both Babu Yaga and Koschei, he walked freely along an unfamiliar road, confident that he would come out to the right place. And the songs! Why, Varvara is a songstress, and she was amazed as her hubby sang "Oh, don’t hang around, light brown curls ...", "On Saturday, a rainy day ..." , "June 22, exactly at four o'clock ...". And how many quite printed ditties suddenly poured from Kirpikov's memory onto the admiring Maria.

She did not remain in debt and treated the old people to newfangled songs, which she knew many. "Don't cry, girl ...", "Snowfalls are very, very good ...", "Whether there will be more ..." and others, forced my grandfather to play kindergarten... Varvara laughed once when her old man portrayed a boy-boy. “Don't be afraid, boy,” Masha said, starting treatment, “now the machine will buzz a little, we’ll blow off the dust from the teeth, and that’s all.” Kirpikov, remembering pulling out the remains of teeth without freezing and making an artificial jaw, sincerely showed horror. I had to be a tutor for him and his aunt, and Masha came to his group with a check. “You have something, Alexandra Ivanovna (Kirpikov put on Varvarin's apron), your discipline is lame. Make conclusions. " And Kirpikov did it. He held a meeting and frightened the disobedient kindergarten puppets by shouting: "You work for Hitler!" That's what Masha laughs at.

“Well, grandfather,” Masha reminded them, “a similar person said to them: why are you living this way, that no one lives worse than you?”

- The men say: "You just get out in the cold, and we'll figure it out ourselves." Well, he got away, and the men started thinking. They think for a day, two, a week: what if they really live the worst of all? Conversely, they did not drink living water. I have to ask. It is necessary as it is not necessary! Whom to ask! How whom? God, there is nobody else ...

Masha sat down more comfortably. Kirpikov understood that he was harnessed to history and had to be pulled to the end.

- Who should I send? Whoever you touch, nobody wants. This one is afraid, this has no time. This is the sin, this is two. I was spinning right there. The men decided: we'll send Sanka. Young, they won't look at him. “Vali, Sanya, find out how and what. And ask for living water. If anything, we will work for nothing. " Okay, I say. And I want to see it myself. The men took me by the hands, by the legs, rocked me and threw me into the sky. Only the apostles tucked his shirt into his pants: “Who is this? Where? ... ”So and so, to himself. And there they have it so adjusted, everything is so sparkling that it is a shame in rags. Yes, barefoot. One says: "Maybe not let me in?" The other is still for letting in - how much, they say, the jerk knows, and all the same the connection with the people. Let go! Before I could blink, they changed their clothes, shod them, introduced them. Here, I say, they sent to ask. "Where from?" - "Vyatsky". - "What kind of people?" “Nothing,” he is told, “within the framework of tolerance. Temples are only erected wooden, but otherwise endure. And they live well, the kids wear shoes even in summer. Here is a good example. " - "What other request?" Here, I say, I was ordered to ask, as if living water, at least a sip. There are many conversations, but have not tried it. “Issue! Everything?" Not all of them, and they poke them in the back - bow down. I went out into the hall, I can’t wake up, I’m thinking how to remember: this is how I stood, this is how he sat, but why didn’t he ask whether we were living worse or better? I look, and I'm barefoot back. The apostles say: "Come on to your own people, go still bear it." And how, I say, living water, after all, they promised. "Will be. Payback later. " They brought me to the edge, shoved me off. Yes cleverly calculated, fell on the straw, I clap my eyes, and in my hands a hefty bottle. There are men all around. "Brought?" - "Here." They began to try. Yes, everyone liked it painfully. Yes, once they let it go in a circle, and then another, and they sang a song.

- Which song? - Masha asked.

- Which one? "Steppe and steppe all around, the way is far ...".

- And at that time they sang "Glorious sea, sacred Baikal ...".

- Not one, they sang a lot. Sing it out, they look - the bottle is empty. "Come on, Sanya, a short business, fly for more." I'm waiting for the swing and throw it into the sky. "No," they say, "it's closer, run to the general store, no difference ..."

- And then you wake up? - Masha asked.

- And then I wake up.

1

Not in the Velvet season, as the poet said, our hero came into the world, lived his life as ordered, and can anyone really condemn that at these moments he is sitting with a glass of beer? Rather, he does not sit, but stands and speaks. And everyone listens to him, although at the closing hour of the pub it is impossible to grab everyone's attention. For example, a certain Vasya Zyukin wanted to sing out of the delight of his soul, but then the barmaid Larisa threw out the singer. And again silence. If flies could survive in the pub, you could hear them flying by.

“We scratch in the back of our heads, but we go bald from our foreheads,” Kirpikov said. - And that's exactly how it is. Therefore, even if we jumped from more than one tree or came out of more than one cave, we were still brothers and sisters. At least second or fourth cousins. And if you do, you will find your relatives everywhere. Even in Africa, perhaps, they are not recognized ...

I wonder what attracted Kirpikov's general attention? The key was the season: spring was coming. The palms of the hills were already sticking out of the snow mittens, the owners were already looking at the gardens. Everyone had vegetable gardens - only Kirpikov had a horse. The horse was an unnamed gelding of the lumber yard. Kirpikov was listed as a forestry guard, but considered himself a groom. “The word 'watchman', - he said, - shames our reality. Since there is a watchman, then there are thieves. But whoever needs it will steal from the watchman, but there is nothing to guard against the honest. " In the spring, on the days of planting potatoes, and in the fall, on the days of harvesting Bricks, it became desirable for everyone. He was vied with each other, it would be better to say - given to drink in advance, and what is more important for him - they listened. He ceased to be Sasha, I remembered him full name.

“Speak, Alexander Ivanovich,” the timid voice of pensioner Delyarov arose.

- I order the word "woman" to be deleted from all lists! Ordered Kirpikov. “Note in the margin: women. Get started!

- There are no lists, - said Delyarov, - there is nowhere to cross out.

"You are a fool," Kirpikov told him.

- I'm a fool?! Delyarov asked cowardly, recruiting witnesses with a glance.

- You, you, - the driver Afanasyev reassured him, in common parlance Afonya.

- Only without hands! - shouted Larissa.

“All fools,” Kirpikov summed up.

“Well, if that's all,” Delyarov calmed down.

“… Except for my gelding. There are many of us - he is one. He is the last horse, I am the last groom. He will die and I will die. We write further: beauty is the nature of life. But you are all blind.

The dictum about beauty disappeared unnoticed, and the peasants did not accept the blame for blindness - what kind of blind they were if they walked home on their own, and if they stumbled, it was not because of blindness, but because there was no strength to get around the obstacle.

- Life history teaches ... - Kirpikov continued.

But what the history of life teaches, no one found out. Sorry. What to do - gravity prevailed. Kirpikov collapsed. The artificial jaw snapped abruptly.

- Home! Home! - shouted Larissa.

They began to disperse one by one and in groups.

Vasya Zyukin met those who were leaving and happily asked:

- Have you seen everything? Well Lariska, well woman! Open your ear and eye, and both at once! How me, huh ?! Up to three times, no less, turned over. I stood at four points. My wife doesn’t work out that often. Most importantly, he boasted, not a single glass container was broken, even if there was a crack.

The pensioner Delyarov, who had not drunk a single gram, came out, numb with alcohol fumes. He took off his shoes and jogged. From a heart attack, he thought, and away from the pub. Of course, without the need to plow the garden, he would not bow to Kirpikov. But don't dig with a shovel. "Monotonous physical work stupefies, ”thought Delyarov.

Afonya brought Kirpikov out and balanced him.

- Will you get there?

- Where to? - Kirpikov asked, having poor orientation.

- To home.

- Which way?

“This one,” Afonya showed.

"I'll get there," Kirpikov answered.

They shook hands at parting. It was a handshake of people of equal status in the village. If Kirpikov had a gelding, Afoni had a truck. They went to Athos to bring hay, toss up some wood. The difference was in payment. He received half a liter of bricks for his work with a snack, Afonya took money.

Afonya, and Vasya Zyukin with him, left. Vasya, shaking the bottles in his bosom, began to sing. The bottles jingled two octaves higher - Vasya did not pull.

“The woman will disconnect your head,” Afonya said half-jokingly, half-dismissive.

- Not today, - Vasya answered cheerfully, - she doesn't care about anything today, our dog is dead. Tomorrow is the funeral, come and remember.

Soon the tinkling died down, and Kirpikov, everyone the right person, was left alone, abandoned by all. He was given so much that he had overloaded.

He should have known that satiety is punished, but we are all strong in hindsight.

Past by railroadTrains flew by with a temporary necklace clasping the throat of the village. During the day, passengers could see a tiny train station, a station buffet, several dozen houses, a timber yard fence, stacks of firewood, a metal pipe of a public bath; at night a few lights flashed, and that was all.

But how can one reproach passengers of soft, compartment and second-class cars for the fact that at the foot of the station buffet that flashed outside the window of the station buffet, their neighbor suffers, and they are in no hurry to help. Moreover, he suffered deservedly. He could not get drunk. But again, how to blame Kirpikov: they asked for a drink - he could not refuse. He just had to sleep it off and work off the advance.

Long-distance trains flew past, but a suburban train stopped twice a day. The only passenger who got off in the village stumbled over Kirpikov.

- Who's there? Kirpikov asked, sleepily. - I'll harness it now. - And he woke up: a man in uniform was standing over him.

Kirpikov overcame gravity and only then saw that the uniform was not a militia.

“I ran into the wrong one,” he said, intending to lie down again.

But the man shook him violently, and Kirpikov recognized the forester Smyshlyaev. Let's go together. Kirpikov walked in zigzags, as if he was entangling the tracks.

- Well, - he asked the forester, - has the state got rich from my five?

- If you have grown wiser, then you have become rich.

“A fine is not food for thought,” Kirpikov said edifyingly. - Take it on a pencil. For the brooms! He exclaimed, addressing the heavens. - For brooms I was punished for fifty rubles for old money!

- There is nothing to meddle in the nursery! I can't breathe for every sprout!

- They are breaking everything there, - Kirpikov naively thought that the reference to the majority justified, - but they spotted me. Do you think I'm poorer because of your five?

- You won't drink too much.

- I am already respected tenfold. And who will bring you? Let's go to the glass and check it out. Wrap it up. No one will cry, where is your grave ...

The dogs barked. They pursued two goals, and quite successfully: they justified the leftovers from the master's table and passed along the street as a baton for the partying Kirpikov and his savior.

Hops began to emerge from Kirpikov, and he tapped finely with his false teeth.

- And why was the person disturbed? - he said resentfully. - I would lie to myself and lie. No, get up. You can’t, you can see, that people live peacefully. And I considered you a friend.

- Again, not right, - the forester grinned. - I fined - bad, saved from a cold - bad. You broke golden brooms. These are plantings of Karelian birch, from which the best furniture.

“And we don't need furniture,” Kirpikov said, taking the puddle for a piece of asphalt. - I am without a bed, I sleep on the floor - there is nowhere to fall.

The forester led him ashore.

“And in general,” Kirpikov said, “if someone has a fire, I won't go to extinguish it - let it all burn out. What you can do without is unnecessary and harmful. They just don't know how to get money out of the people. How much does Karelian birch furniture cost?

- Thousand two, two and a half.

- Two and a half ?! - At such a transcendental figure Kirpikov gasped so shocked that the dogs were bewilderedly silent. - That's when you revealed yourself! That's where I got you! Two and a half! You work for speculators. Furniture, horse furniture, restaurants. Some are parasites. There is no one to work. Shutting down restaurants is the labor force.

- No, Alexander Ivanovich, a beautiful thing is good. Just imagine, you did ...

- Not going to…

- Yes, and there is no time. We got it.

- I can see it myself. Come on! You were good to me, you screwed up yourself. Don't teach people on me. Don't turn your back on the people, ”Kirpikov said edifyingly.

- You have lived your life, but you haven’t made your mind.

- How did you live it? - Kirpikov jumped up. - What did I prevent whom? I take up a little space, so let me live!

The forester shrugged his shoulders and went on his way. It was not close to go. A poor self-seeding forest rustled in the wind, and even a person accustomed to the forest shuddered when the wind suddenly blocked the road with a branch.

2

- Painting by Repin "They Didn't Expect!" - This is how Kirpikov commented on his crossing the threshold. - I see no joy.

Varvara sighed and turned away. It was possible, after waiting for her husband, to go to bed, but she knew from experience that until he spoke out, she would not fall asleep. There was a remedy - to pull out the denture, but the husband was on the alert.

“Don't move,” he warned, lying down in the corner under the icon. He lay down on the floor as a matter of principle, as if in absentia proving to the forester that his words did not differ from his deeds.

“Well, harrow, harrow,” sighed Varvara. - And when will you come to your senses? After all, bald, you goblin, you goblin, you pour in four gulps, but when at least you fill up to the top, when at least you untie my hands, you devil, Satan.

- Answer the question, - Kirpikov said to this and lit a cigarette, - are there beds in the grave? No. Three points. Second question: when will I die? The answer is: never. In spring and autumn I am worth my weight in gold, they will not let me die. Summer is excluded. Winter remains. I find a way out - to leave for Africa for the winter.

Varvara went into the kitchen and poured water into a glass.

“You don’t dare under the icon,” Kirpikov said coolly. - It's even beneficial for me that you believe. I don’t believe. I can bubble up with obscenities.

- Lord, your will, forgive the unreasonable. Do not lead to sin.

Bricks fired up:

- What to forgive? For breaking the backbone all my life, for this? For educating five children? For fighting? AND? That someone else did not take a penny? For this? Don't come close! Stand still! The sight is permanent!

Varvara, lulling her vigilance, took up the darning.

“I see darkness in front of me, that is, you. And must educate. I give an oral reference to the question. To begin with, God was, I do not argue. He started his life here, said: multiply - and flew away. And we got busy. Tell me who created your children? No answer. Me or who else? Uncover the secret. Is it me? And remember: I created them - I am God. Check it out. Hit with a stool - I'll survive. It's too late to change the planet.

Varvara spat and left. Brick, pretending to wipe himself off, jumped up.

- You spit ?! He said. - It won't bother me. I ask you to speak: a Russian woman spat at me. The limit is over.

Still, today he was not in good shape. I felt some kind of weakness. Either the drunkenness was passing, or the conversation with the forester had an effect. Previously, he made things worse, for example, rehearsed how to lie in a coffin (which means he was going to die after all).

- The next number of our program, - Kirpikov announced and went to the loudspeaker ...

The number was called: “Would you like to talk to me? Very good! I have to talk to Moscow. "

- What are those, devil, radio, time two hours! - Varvara shouted almost crying from the kitchen. - All the others have been sleeping for a long time, Lord, why am I punished?

- So! On the air of Kirpikov. Local time ... Mother, did the gelding feed?

- Let him die, your gelding.

- We apologize to the audience. This is the machinations of an alien element. Did you feed on command? I'm asking seriously.

- Fed!

- Thanks in the order. So. Comrades! A simple ordinary worker, an outwardly unremarkable woman, turned to us with a request. It's you. We perform a song for her.

Kirpikov sang:

When I was the boss
Wore striped pants ...
Keep calm,
Give me a cigarette.

As befits art in general, Kirpikov's art was true. I wanted to smoke, I ran out of cigarettes, I wore out my striped pants, and I was not alone, and I was the boss. Here, on the site of the timber yard, there were collective farm fields, and Kirpikov, returning from the hospital, was the brigadier. As far as the call for calmness is concerned, it can be interpreted in different ways. Kirpikov, as a realist, did not put any second meaning into it - he simply called for calmness. In the most extreme case, someone could be found and say that it doesn't matter what pants the hero wore, but you can't please everyone.

But art is not cheap - Kirpikov paid the price: Varvara crept up behind, grabbed the head and pulled out the denture.

Kirpikov could not even finish the transmission decently - you will not mumble with your toothless mouth.

Varvara, hiding the prey, sat down on a chair and watched with compassion for a long time as her husband offendedly breastfeed the rugs and piled on them.

- Sanya, Sanya, - she said sadly, - what have you reached, my God, you have reduced half my life with your drunkenness. There was a man, now Sashka. After all, you can't see the white light because of the damned vodka! After all, you didn’t drink like that before, so they brought Masha, didn’t drink. You don’t put me at all, you mock me, you’ve exhausted all your nerves, your eyes wouldn’t look! I'll leave you, I'll go to one of the guys.

“Buzzing shy sham,” Kirpikov said.

- I don’t need it, so I won’t come back anyway. I’ll go under the windows, and that’s easier. Eh, Sanya, - said Varvara, - and who needs you? Your gelding will die, and who will remember you besides his own? I worked out my pension, live, rejoice. Who's going to love your booze? She said, shaking her head. - Who forbids you to drink on holidays or after the bath, who? After all, you can drink, drink is a sin. When did I look into your mouth or tore the glass out? After all, the dirty one was lying around, to which he reached, there is absolutely no man left of you.

To look at my wife was to face the truth. I looked at Kirpikov. Such a sudden fatigue propped up, my heart ached, my head began to spin.

- On! Said Varvara, suddenly taking out a full bottle and banging on the table. - Here, fill up. - And brought false teeth.