Atondido Stories
“Hermit,” he said to Raduz, “have you seen two travelers go
by here, a girl and a youth?”
“As long as I’ve been preaching here,” Raduz said, “I’ve had
only flies for a congregation. But I do remember that while the
chapel was building two such people did go by. But now I must
beg you, good sir, to go out, for you are letting in so much cold
that my congregation is freezing.”
At that the old man mounted his steed and flew back home
on the gray cloud.
Old Yezibaba was waiting for him. When she saw him com-
ing she called out:
“Again you bring no one, you good-for-nothing! Where did
you leave them this time?”
“Where did I leave them?” the old man said. “How could I
leave them when I didn’t even see them? All I saw was a little
chapel and a hermit preaching to a congregation of flies. I almost
froze the congregation to death!”
“Oh, what a booby you are!” Yezibaba cried. “Raduz was the
hermit and Ludmila one of the flies! Why didn’t you bring me
just one shingle from the roof of the chapel? I see I’ll have to go
after them myself!”
In a rage she mounted the third magic steed and flew off.
In the meantime Raduz and Ludmila were hurrying on. Sud-
denly Ludmila said:
“I wonder why my left cheek burns? Look back, dear Raduz,
again, and see if there is any one following us.”
Raduz turned and looked. “There’s nothing following us but
a red cloud in the sky.”
“A red cloud? That must be Yezibaba herself on the steed of
fire. Now indeed we must be careful. Up to this it has been easy
enough but it won’t be easy to deceive her. Here we are beside a
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