Fossilized kingdom
In some kingdom, in some state there lived-was the soldier; it served long and faultlessly, service knew well, on reviews, on came is pure and . There was last year - as on a trouble, has taken a dislike to its heads, not only big, and small: continually under sticks be answerable.
It became heavy to the soldier, and he has conceived to run; the satchel through a shoulder, a gun on a shoulder also has started to say goodbye to companions, and those to ask it:
- Where you go? demands?
- Do not ask, brothers! Tighten a satchel more strong yes dashing do not remember!
Also it has gone, the kind good fellow where eyes look.
Whether it is a lot of, whether went a little - it has appeared in other state, has seen the sentry and asks:
- Whether it is impossible where to stop and have a rest? The sentry has told to the corporal, the corporal - to the officer, the officer - to the general, the general has reported on the king.
The king has ordered to call before the light eyes.
Here the soldier was - as follows, at the form, has made a gun on sentry and became as driven. The king speaks to it:
- Tell to me on conscience, whence and where you go?
- Your royal majesty, do not order to execute, order to utter a word.
Admitted in all to the king on conscience and began to ask on service.
- Well, - the king has told, - employ at me a garden to watch. At me now in a garden it is unsuccessful - someone breaks my favourite trees, - so you try, save up it, and for work I will give you a payment considerable. The soldier has agreed, began to hold in a garden sentry.
Year and two serves - all at it regularly; here and the third year on an outcome, has gone once a garden to inspect and sees: half that is the best trees is broken.
“My God! - thinks. - here what trouble has happened! As will notice it the king, now orders to seize me and to hang up”.
Took a gun in hands, has leant against a tree and has strong-strong become thoughtful.
Suddenly the crash and noise was heard; the kind good fellow has regained consciousness, lo and behold - the huge, terrible bird has arrived in a garden and well to bring down trees! The soldier has shot at it from a gun, to kill has not killed, but only has wounded it in the right wing; has dropped out from this a wing three feathers, and the bird by the ground was started up. The soldier - behind it. Feet at a bird fast, has reached to and has disappeared from eyes.
The soldier was not frightened and after it has rushed in that : has fallen in a deep-deep precipice, to itself all and the whole days laid without memory.
After has come round, has risen, has looked round. What? - And under the earth the same light.
“So, - thinks, - here again there are people!”
- Went, went - before it the big city, at gate , at it the sentry; began to ask it - the sentry is silent, does not move; took it for a hand - and it absolutely stone!
The soldier in has entered. To the people it is a lot of - also stand and sit, - only all fossilized; it was let to wander on streets - everywhere the same: is not present uniform live soul human, all as is a stone! Here and a palace - painted, cut. The march there, looks - rooms rich, on tables of snack and drinks everyones, and around silently and is empty.
The soldier has had a snack, has drunk, villages was to have a rest, and was heard to it as if who has approached on a porch; it has seized a gun and became at doors.
Fine tsarevna with , with nurses enters into chamber. The soldier has saluted it, and she has tenderly bowed to it.
- Hi, ! Tell, - speaks, - what destinies you here have got?
The soldier has started to tell:
- I was employed-de an imperial garden to watch, and there the big bird to fly yes trees to break. Here I have trapped her, have shot from a gun and have beaten out at it from a wing three feathers; has rushed behind it to a pursuit and has come to be here.
- This bird - me native sister; much it creates any harm and on my kingdom a trouble has sent - all my people . Listen: here to you the book, become here and read it since evening until cocks will not start singing. Whatever passions to you seemed, you know the - read the book yes hold it more strong that have not pulled out, not that will not be live! If you will stay three nights I will marry you.
- All right! - the soldier answered.
Only has darkened, took it the book and has started to read.
Has suddenly begun to knock, has rung out - the whole army was in a palace, its former chiefs have risen to the soldier and scold him and threaten for runaway by death; here and guns charge, aim. But the soldier does not look at that, the book from hands does not let out, know to itself reads.
Cocks have cried! - and all has at once disappeared!
For other night it was more terrible, and on the third and that more: executioners with saws, axes, hammers have come running, wish a bone to split up to it, veins to pull, on its fire to burn down, and only and think, as though the book from hands to snatch out. Such passions were, that hardly the soldier has sustained.
Cocks have started singing - the delusion has disappeared!
At that o'clock all kingdom has revived, on streets and in houses the people have begun to fuss, in a palace a tsarevna with generals, with was, and steels all to the soldier and to call its sovereign.
For other day he married a fine tsarevna and has begun to live with it in love and pleasure.