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Dedicated to Alexander Kolmogorov
This fairy tale unfolds in a fantastical world where owls rule, werewolves roam, and humans – warriors of light – uphold the balance of existence.
Svyatoshar and his team of geologists are among these guardians of harmony.
One day, the werewolves decide to trigger a catastrophe on Earth. Unintentionally, their sphere of influence captures Zarina – a young woman carrying out her father’s final command in the Valley of Tusi-Pa.
Demons lure Zarina into a trap.
Can she follow her father’s wisdom and escape the demons’ snare?
Chapter 1. Black and White
In one mountain valley, autumn had arrived.
The copper mountains, fastened together like pyramid rivets on spikes holding heaps of giant boulders with the spacious valley, now seemed like black silver. Evenly shaded on one side by larches and cedars, they tried to see their reflection in the waters of the river winding through the valley like a snake, but this seemed impossible due to the fast, rumbling current.
The monotonous hum of the swiftly flowing water over the pebbles was clearly audible even in the white stone house standing on the outskirts of the village.
Zarina woke up early and realized that today was the "Sun Trine Moon" position. Now she liked everything in this house:
the windows covered with carved shutters, where pots of red geraniums could be seen;
the washbasin with a towel hanging on it, located next to the massive front door painted blue from the inside.
She liked that this massive door opened into spacious vestibules, with walls lined with varnished wooden boards. Part of the walls was decorated with a selection of ballet posters. On the nearest poster sat the dance master Mahmud Esambayev in an Indian costume as the Golden God, in the middle – a pair supporting each other from the ballet "Don Quixote," and on the far one – an incredibly airy beauty in a white tutu from the ballet "Swan Lake." On the opposite wall was a whole collection of greeting postcards glued to the wall with clay. Following the postcards was a picture gallery made from the center pages of women's magazines, whose illustrations were masterpieces of world painting. Further, Zarina’s eyes were presented with a selection of beautiful pictures cut from candy box lids. There was a trio of horses harnessed to a sleigh, a girl named Marysya in a romantic outfit of ruffles, lace, and a hat, and a view of a capital theater. There were also several bouquet compositions.
Along the vestibule walls stood several long homemade tables covered with oilcloths, on which stood a battery of both washed three-liter jars turned upside down, and "to-go" jars closed with lids and filled with fresh milk.
Next to the separator, Zarina saw a tub filled with shanyga pastries stuffed with potatoes and fresh dill. This tub was covered with a linen towel.
Casually grabbing one shanyga, Zarina walked through the vestibule and out the veranda door into the yard and smiled. Something was moving past her along the garden paths from the barn to the exit. A creature with a black furry body, a short neck, and small paws was adorned with a practically ballet tutu of black-and-white quills at the waist and a similarly whitish halo around the head. The shuffling pink nose of the creature seemed snub-nosed in profile. Sadly half-closed eyelids, glancing at Zarina, flashed with the glow of the rising sun and indifferently slid further, searching for a suitable exit from the yard.
A terribly silly grimace appeared on the hedgehog’s face. Then the creature proceeded past the porch with an unruffled, simple-mindedly puzzled expression, muttering a song Zarina had never heard before: "Hawks psedo ije gla," and, turning off the paths into the juniper bushes, disappeared.
– A talking hedgehog! Wow! – Zarina cried out in surprise and ran after it.
She ran out onto an open small clearing, heralding the very beginning of the long valley, looked around. The hedgehog was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she saw a crow sitting on a large freshly cut larch stump in the clearing. The crow’s elegant appearance was perfectly black. Only with bold turns of the head or the entire body of the bird did emerald-ruby flashes of reflected light appear, and the deep violet sheen of the lower part of the plumage revealed the aristocracy of its owner.
She carefully approached this stump with its accidental rider and heard the crow slowly musing:
– And what about Swish? Yes, I am Swish. I’ve lived for over a thousand years, but such a natural turn is a complete surprise for me. Are we moving toward the end or the beginning? That’s the question. Global changes scare me. A catastrophe is coming! This is a fact. We need to run, fly, move from here and quickly. But where?
– What’s happening? By the way, what do people ride here, travel with? Tell me, please, – Zarina asked, squinting her eyes as if from the bright sun.
– People say summer doesn’t come twice a year. Now look around. What do you see, girl? Kkaarrr-kkaarrr, – the crow Swish frowned and asked Zarina. Then he continued: – We cannot neglect our interests even in these new conditions. As for me, I’m only interested in expensive, absolutely unfashionable, tin or gold, possibly worn-out items.
Zarina pushed back several light strands of hair that had escaped from her hairstyle, tucked them behind her delicate small ear, and began to look carefully around and deep into the valley with her gray, large eyes. The crow continued:
– That’s how it should be! Girl, I want to remind you that your father, and now you in his place, would not tolerate any flaw in executing his plan. Please also note that you not only replace your father in business matters but also have the opportunity to have a good time where you’ve never been before. Forward! Papa’s little golden girl, forward! Kkarr, kaarr, kaarr.
Chapter 2. Big and Small
– Oh, what a wonder! The bog myrtle bloomed in October… And the meadow flowers too? Wonderful! – Zarina exclaimed.
“Hawks psedo, ije gla,” something crackled in the air.
– Is this really a wonder? Look over there, the mammoths have awakened, and there are many of them, a whole family. Sleepy ones – they’re harmless. Shall we get closer and look at them? Think for yourself, with your tiny little steps, you won’t get far. But here, sofas with furry cushions walk by themselves through the valley. There’s your transport, – the crow said slyly.
– But Swish! They’re so big and dirty, – Zarina said uncertainly.
– Whoever is afraid of everything gets nothing, kid. Just make a deal, that’s all, – the crow replied and soared upward.
– Maybe I’ll approach the smaller one, – Zarina said after him and ran toward the slowly moving group of animals in the valley.
– Oh! Who are you? – the baby mammoth asked, seeing the girl. – I am Monton First Beautiful, son of Mont Second Brave, – he added.
– My name is Zarina. My dad is a gamekeeper. I’m looking for someone who will help me find the sunniest sand in the world! That’s why my dad sent me on this journey, – Zarina replied.
– Exactly! We’re playing on a journey, mu-um. Will there be treats and dances? Mu-um?! – asked Monton Beautiful.
– Oh, yes, of course! Especially tasty treats! – Zarina replied.
– But I can’t play with you. I’m resting and won’t do anything! – Monton Beautiful said, frowning.
– Well then, I’ll eat everything myself, got it? – Zarina countered, raising her sharp chin and licking a bright lollipop on a stick.
– Don’t eat everything, I agree, – Monton Beautiful smiled at the girl.
– How about I sit on your back, and we’ll go on the journey? On the way, I’ll throw lollipops for you. You’ll catch and eat them. Agreed? – Zarina asked Monton Beautiful.
– Monton First Beautiful, son of Mont Second Brave, agrees. But you must remember, I’m resting and won’t do anything! – the baby mammoth replied.
– I remember, I remember. We’ll count steps along the way, – Zarina said.
Again, “hawks psedo, hawks psedo” was heard in the air.
– Well, climb onto my back and give me a salty lollipop for fuel, mu-um, – Monton First Beautiful urged impatiently.
– Three swirls on the lollipop, three steps. That’s all. Let’s go! Monton, forward! – Zarina politely asked. – One, two, three, catch the lollipop! – she shouted from above.
– Mu-um, how delicious, mu-um… – she heard a little later in response. – Agreed! I’m going, count yourself! Mu-um! – the baby mammoth Monton First Beautiful shouted and strode forward.
– Now I see five swirls on the lollipop, make five wide steps, counting, – Zarina shouted to the baby mammoth.
– I’ll be like my dad Mont Second, just as brave, and get a whole cave of lollipops and strong tusks, – Monton First Beautiful said dreamily.
And suddenly, “Boom!” against a tree trunk, and he stopped.
– Muuna, help me, pull me out of here, Muuna! Mu-um, mu-um… – Monton Beautiful cried.
– My baby is stuck among the branches! Mammoths, pull him out quickly! – Muuna, Monton Beautiful’s mother, asked.
“Chpok!” a crisp sound and the rustle of falling small branches and leaves from the tree. The mammoths helped the baby mammoth, freeing him.
“Gi epsi sookh ot ije,” the sounds came slightly faster than before.
– I’m not stuck. I’m resting and won’t do anything! But what are these black-and-white sticks on the trail, huh? – Monton Beautiful asked Muuna.
– These are hedgehog quills that broke off when he tumbled down from somewhere. This happens with them, – Muuna explained to her son.
– Where’s Zara? I want to play a journey with her, – Monton Beautiful told his mother Muuna.
– There she is! Picking up her lollipops from the ground, – Muuna replied to her son.
Chapter 3. Monta Second the Brave
Meanwhile, the crow Swish crossed the valley and reached its far edge, where a herd of wisents grazed peacefully.
– Hmm, esteemed ones! While you rested each in your own pose, he has appeared – the mighty mammoth Monta Second the Brave. But! Only the great wisent Mo-ha truly knows where the Salt Cave lies in the valley. Salt for growing strong tusks, yes, friends, – the crow Swish said solemnly, perched on a large rocky stone among a group of adult wisents.
– Em, Emma, what’s that noise? – asked the noble wisent his companion.
– Oh, Great Wisent Mo-ha! A herd of mammoths has arrived in the valley, – replied the beauty Em-ma.
– What? Mammoths?! – the wisent Mo-ha exclaimed in surprise.
– Yes, oh Great Wisent Mo-ha. Among them is the one drawn on the cliffs – and perhaps you won’t be able to defeat him, – said the hedgehog who had just arrived along the path.
– Really? Show me him! Today I’m ready to fight him and find out! Where is he? – the Great Wisent Mo-ha roared furiously.
– Greetings, wisent Mo-ha. I am the descendant of the mighty Monta First the Brave – Monta Second the Brave. If I win this battle, you will tell me where the Salt Cave is! – the mammoth roared.
– I am the Great Wisent Mo-ha – leader of the wisents. If I win, I’ll take all your younglings as mine, emmm! – the wisent Mo-ha replied.
– How terrible! – sighed the mother of the young mammoth Monton First the Beautiful as he pressed close to her.
– We’ll see what you’re made of, wisent Mo-ha, – the mammoth Monta Second the Brave accepted the challenge.
– Come closer, stranger, I’ll teach you proper manners, – the Great Wisent Mo-ha answered.
Then the Great Wisent Mo-ha charged at the mammoth Monta Second the Brave and struck him with his horns. ”Boom!” – the animals nearby heard. The wisent stepped back, pulling his horns from the mammoth’s fur, then darted around to attack from another side. In silence, the watching creatures heard the rapid movement of the wisent: ”Ty-gy-dym, ty-gy-dym…” He snorted with effort, raising dust from the valley floor with his hooves.
”Ba-tz! Hhh…” – suddenly came a sharp sound before the gathering. The mammoth Monta Second the Brave had slammed his entire body into the Great Wisent Mo-ha and crushed him. Then the mammoth stood up, turned toward the great wisent’s face, placed his foot on his chest, and said:
– You’ve lost, Great Wisent Mo-ha. Tell me where the Salt Cave is – or I’ll stomp your body into the sand up to your mane.
“Hawks psedo, hawks psedo…” – a quiet voice buzzed faintly.
– Em-em. I agree. You’ve won. Now go to the lone cedar that survived the fire. The steppe fox Tuna-khi will show you the way to the Salt Cave… – those were the last words the Great Wisent Mo-ha spoke – leader of the wisents.
Climbing onto the young mammoth Monton First the Beautiful, Zarina and her companions continued their journey.
Chapter 4. The Owl King Under the Bright Moon
Only after midnight did the mammoth caravan reach the mountains where the Salt Cave was located. The sky had been painted with bright stars, and between rare clouds emerged a radiant moon. Majestic mountains, partly still covered in snow, loomed above the valley and its trails, along which life flowed without pause.
– Well, we’ve finally arrived! Dawn is near. Let’s go inside, – suggested the fox Tuna-khi.
Zarina and her companions entered. They passed through a wide corridor that had been walked for centuries by animals seeking salt, and just below, they saw a spacious hall. On its walls shone white, rough like sandpaper, tongues of salt sprinkled with transparent crystals. In the center of the hall, seated on the roots of an ancient tree, sat the Owl King. Opposite him, perched on a fallen log, sat a bat.
– Who owns the night? Bat Sona, answer! – startled by the sudden question, the bat bowed to the Owl King.
– Your Majesty! Hoo-hoo-hoo! – replied the bat Sona.
– Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. You speak the truth, well done! – approved the Owl King.
– Whose eyes are the most yellow, literally golden? Of course, the Owl King’s! – the Owl King mused.
– No, Your Majesty. The most sunlit sand lies at the bottom of the stream now flowing from the other side of the mountain and turning into the neighboring valley. Gollies guard that stream. The charr fish know the way, – answered the bat Sona to the Owl King.
– The charr know the way. But how do we find them? Your Majesty, please advise! – Zarina accidentally spoke up.
– What are you doing here, mm-hmm-mm-hmm? – asked the surprised Owl King.
“Hawks psedo, hawks psedo…” – echoed through the cave.
– Mammoths have come for salt. And I’ve come to ask your advice, O Owl King. How can I find someone who will help me get the most golden sand in the world? – Zarina replied.
– Mm-hmm-mm-hmm. Sona, little bat, sing the charr a song over the pool. Summon them here. Bring the girl to the stream with golden sand before dawn. Let her take as much sand as she can carry. And the mammoths will also receive their measure of salt for growing strong tusks. Go in peace, – ordered the Owl King.
The bat Sona flew out of the cave into the night sky, followed by the crow Swish.
“Hawks psedo…” – echoed past.
The mammoths decided to help Zarina and carried her to the river’s pool.
– Friends, ahead is the river. Let’s build a raft for Zarina.
“Hawks psedo, hawks psedo…” – crackled in the air.
”Crack! Boom! Boom!” – the sound of tree trunks falling echoed around, crushed under the mammoths’ strength.
– Oops! – cried Monton First, grabbed another trunk with his trunk and cheerfully carried it to the shore.
– Muuna! – the young mammoth called to his mother: – Let’s tie the trunks together – help!
– Friends! – said Monta Second the Brave to all. – The raft for Zarina is ready. We did it quickly.
Chapter 5. The Knight Black Charr
The bat Sona sang her song to summon the charr:
"Knight Charr, Black Charr, appear,
A handful of grasshoppers, flies, and butterflies – feast!"
At the riverbank, the Black Charr leaped from the water and addressed the bat Sona:
– Greetings, bat Sona! I hear your request.
– The Owl King asks you to swiftly carry this raft with its passengers into the neighboring valley, O knight Black Charr, – replied the bat Sona.
– That can be done, bat Sona. We’ll guide the raft to the shore and leave it as is, – said the Black Charr and dove beneath the surface to join his troop.
– My troop! – the Black Charr called to his companions. – Let’s pull the raft into the neighboring valley and leave it by the bank.
– What a clear river! And how fast the raft moves! How beautiful! – Zarina marveled.
Near the pool, close to the bank where the raft had just passed upstream, a large catfish stirred in agitation from the river’s commotion, and muttered upward:
– Oops! Is it Svyatoshar again with his fishing gear? Oh, trickster, trying to catch me. Catfish Licon isn’t so simple! Bloop-bloop-bloop… Ah, no, missed it… And what a pity!
Chapter 6. Treasures of the Tusi-Pa Valley
Finally, the raft docked at the shore. On the bank, like sturdy sentinels guarding the river’s timeless peace from all fleeting things, stood wise willows. It was clear that the noisy swarm of yellow leaves had already thinned and drifted away from their hanging branches. Willow leaves could be seen on the sandy banks of the river and around the thorny rosehip bushes, adorned with ripe red berries.
– Oh, it’s morning already! – Zarina exclaimed joyfully. – I wonder who lives on this shore?
A young man approached her and helped her step onto the shore:
– Hello, beauty. You’re truly a rolling stone!
– Good day. What place is this? – Zarina asked the young man.
– Tusi-Pa Valley. Are you here for business or just for fun? – the young man continued.
– Well, I’m just taking a stroll. To be honest, I’m searching for the most golden sand in the world, – Zarina replied with a smile.
– Seriously? There’s plenty of it right now. After the snow melted in the mountains, this sand lies on the surface, and useful stones are also available. Collect and enjoy!
– You’re kidding me? – Zarina asked, doubting her companion.
– The only difficulty is the dust. Everything around us needs to be cleaned from dust, – the young man continued, ignoring Zarina’s disbelief.
– Really? Just everything? – Zarina interrupted, adding her own question.
The young man pointed to the surroundings and concluded:
– Only thorny plants grow around. There are almost no delicate flowers.
At that moment, another young man approached the group.
– Here he is, the one you need. Meet my brother Velislav, – the first young man said, clapping his brother on the shoulder, and introduced himself: – Yes, I’m Vitoslav, and he’s Velislav. That’s it!
– Wow! Such a beauty! And you’re all alone? What’s your name? – Velislav joined the conversation, bombarding Zarina with questions.
– Seriously? – confused about who to answer, Zarina repeated, then turned to Velislav: – Nice to meet you, Zarina.
– My team will arrive soon, – Zarina said, shifting her gaze from Velislav to Vitoslav. – What rare and useful items can you offer us?
– There are stones, sand, various trinkets. Take them, – Vitoslav answered for his brother, paused briefly, removed a pendant from himself as if offering Velislav a chance to speak, and continued: – Of course, not for free. For example, this pendant. A professor invented it.
Zarina took the pendant from Vitoslav’s hands and exclaimed with enthusiasm, examining it:
– Oh, how beautiful! New material. Did you make this yourself, Velislav? – she asked, shifting her gaze from the pendant to Velislav’s face, addressing both brothers. – Velislav, what are you selling?
– You can take it with the chain or just the pendant, – Vitoslav said, taking the pendant from Zarina’s hands.
– What do you want from me? I don’t make decisions that quickly, – Zarina stated firmly.
– Do you like it? Want to buy it? You have to decide immediately! It’s one of a kind, – Vitoslav countered with a question and, answering for her, added: – Of course. I really like it. Such items are always in demand.
Zarina stared coldly and angrily at Vitoslav. He put the pendant around his neck and left. Turning back to the girl, he raised his hands with palms facing outward, as if distancing himself from the situation, and murmured to his brother:
– I’m leaving quietly, without hurry.
He turned and ran toward the nearest building. Only later did Zarina realize he had disappeared through the door of the geological team’s office. Out of curiosity, she followed in the same direction.
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