Gamayun Tales I: An Anthology of Modern Russian Folk Tales
the quarrel NOW THEN BEST BELOVED I WILL TELL YOU AN AMAZING TALE THE KING OF BIRDS IT ALL STARTED WITH AN APPLE NO ORDINARY APPLE BUT A GOLDEN APPLE THAT GREW ON A MAGIC TREE IN THE GARDEN OF A WARRIOR PRINCESS THE GARDEN LAY FAR FAR AWAY IN THE NORTH HIDDEN BEHIND IMPENETRABLE WALLS ANYONE WHO ATE A GOLDEN APPLE WOULD BECOME YOUNG AND MIGHTY AGAIN 11
THE WARRIOR PRINCESS SET OFF IN PURSUIT BUT IN THE COMMOTION AN APPLE WAS DROPPED AND WHAT HAPPENED NEXT BEST BELOVED DID IVAN TSAREVICH SHAKE OFF HIS PURSUER AND HEAL HIS FATHER I WILL TELL YOU ANOTHER TIME UNTIL THEN ONE DAY IVAN TSAREVICH SNUCK INTO THE WONDERFUL GARDEN AND STOLE SOME APPLES FOR HIS SICKLY FATHER 12
BACK TO THE CASTLE WHERE THERE LIVED A MOUSE AND A SPARROW FOR 30 YEARS THEY LIVED IN HARMONY AND SHARED EVERY CRUMB BUT MOUSE FOUND THE APPLE AND DECIDED TO KEEP IT FOR HERSELF EATING 13 GREETINGS MY FRIEND HOW ARE YOU HOODWINKED I WILL FLY TO YOUR KING THE LION SOMEONE SHOULD PUNISH YOU FOR YOUR GREED
