Kotygoroshko

There lived a man and a woman, and they had six sons and an only daughter, their beloved Alenka. They lived in harmony until one day a fierce Serpent flew into their home. He kidnapped Alenka, and when the brothers rushed to save him, he took all the brothers to his castle thirty-nine lands away.

The father and mother were left alone, crying and sobbing. One day the mother went to the well to get water. She scooped it up with a bucket - and then she saw: a single pea was rolling along the path. The mother was delighted, picked it up, looked at it and swallowed it with the water.

And a miracle happened - a little son was born to her. But not an ordinary one, but one that grows not by days, but by hours. In a day he grew up like others in five years, in a week - like a grown man. And they called him Kotygoroshka, because he appeared from a pea.

Kotygoroshko grew up to be a hero - broad shoulders, strong arms, a kind heart. His father and mother told him about their grief, about their kidnapped sons and daughter. "Don't worry, dad and mom," said Kotygoroshko, "I will go through thirty-nine lands, I will free my brothers and sister.".

Kotygoroshko went to the blacksmith. "Forge for me, blacksmith, a mace worth twenty poods." The blacksmith was surprised, and set to work. They forged for seven days and seven nights until they had forged it. Kotygoroshko threw the mace up, right under the clouds, put his knee down - and it only rang and did not bend. "This one is good," said the hero, and set off on his way.

Kotygoroshko walked the world beyond his eyes, over high mountains, over wide rivers. Until he came to the Snake Castle, which stood black on a black rock. He looked - and in the courtyard his brothers were standing like slaves, chopping wood, carrying water. And in the window Alenka was crying.

The little sister saw Kotygoroshka and rushed to him: «My dear brother, run away quickly, because the Snake will eat you!» And Kotygoroshka only smiled: «Don't cry, little sister, I've come for you.» He called the Snake to his senses.

The Serpent came out - terrible, three-headed, with flames shooting from his mouth, smoke pouring from his nostrils. He roared: "Who dared to disturb me?" "I, Kotygoroshko, have come for my brothers and sister!" The battle boiled up so much that the earth shook and the trees bent.

When Kotygoroshko swung his mace, the first head of the Snake fell. The Snake roared in pain, breathed flames, but the hero was not afraid. He swung a second time, and the second head fell. He struck with all his might a third time, until the rock shook, and the third head of the Snake rolled down. Thus ended the life of the fierce Snake.

Kotygoroshko rushed to his brothers, hugged them, ran to Alenka, and carried her out of the dark castle in his arms. They took the gold and silver that the Snake had robbed, and all seven of them went home. And the father and mother no longer expected to see their children again. When they saw them, they cried with happiness. They began to live and prosper together, to gain good things and not know misfortune. And Kotygoroshko's mace was displayed in the village for a long time - as a memory of his heroic courage.