Darrun, a night heron, lived near the river. At the bottom of the river lay a huge hollow log, in the middle of which Darrun cut a hole. He used the log as a trap for fish and people because he was a banna, or man-eater.
When Daen came to his camp, Darrun invited him to go fishing with him. Daen had to drive the fish from one end of the log to the other, where Darrun stood ready. After all, Darrun said, he is like a lonely emu, and he cannot cope without a comrade, or mullai.
Realizing the reasonableness of this, Daen agreed, and they went fishing. Darrun armed himself with a spear in order, as he said, to hit the fish when it approached his end of the log. As soon as Daen went to the far end of the log, Darrun hurried to the hole in the middle.
Daen, unaware of the treachery, advanced inside the hollow log, chasing the fish in front of him. When he was under the hole, Darrun instantly plunged his spear into him, killing him on the spot. Then he pulled out his victim and, having cut it, cooked it.
So many people disappeared, until finally the wise Virinun Raven decided to unravel the mystery of their disappearance.
Van-raven went to Darrun's camp, and he invited him to go fishing with him, but first he offered him a piece of tasty and fatty cod.
Van agreed, but when they had eaten, the raven said:
— I ate too much cod, it was very fatty. Therefore, before I go fishing, I have to sleep.
“Okay, there’s enough time,” Darrun agreed, looking forward to dinner from human meat.
And Van fell asleep in order to send his spirit of sleep Mulli-Mulli to find out what kind of trap Darrun had set in the river. Mulli-Mulli found out everything about the hole in the log and returned. Hearing his story, Van woke up and said he was ready; they set off. Darrun showed Van where he should enter the hollow log.
Van was a great virinun and Darrun could not harm him, so Van fearlessly stepped inside the log. Darrun waited until Van appeared under the hole and struck him with his spear. Van shouted: “Wa! wow! wa!” - but continued to walk and came out from the other end of the log.
- Why did you hit me? - he asked, pulling out the spear that was stuck in it.
“I didn’t mean to spear you,” Darrun replied. “I thought it was a big cod.”
“Okay, let’s go, I’ve had enough fishing,” said Van. “You might be wrong again.”
Darrun decided that Van actually believed his words and approached him. At that very moment, Van pierced him to death with a spear.
At this time, Giger-Giger - a cold western wind blew with such force that it uprooted trees and moved the raven huts from place to place. “We must,” thought Van, “grab Gichger-Giger and lock him in this big hollow log, but first we need to remove the water from him,” and he began to prepare for this.
A few days later, when Giger-Giger had grown weary of knocking down trees for miles and injuring people with his cold blasts, Van suddenly attacked him and forced him inside a hollow log, sealing the holes at its ends and in the middle.
In vain Giger-Giger thundered and howled inside.
“You bring only destruction everywhere, so you will stay here,” said Van.
Giger-Giger promised to be less impetuous if Van let him out from time to time. For a long time, Van did not believe him and kept him tightly locked, but then he began to sometimes let him out when he promised not to create hurricanes.
At times the wind broke its word and blew with the same destructive force as before. Then Van grabbed him again and imprisoned him in a log.
Now there are holes in the log, and the Giger-Giger breath penetrates through them. If Van doesn't find a new prison for the wind, it will someday break out and create a hurricane the likes of which the western plains have never seen. Giger-Giger will destroy everything in his path, rushing towards his beloved Yarraga - the spring wind blowing from Camburan - the east Yarra-Giger is used to meeting the Giger-Giger appearing from Dinyerra - the west and warming it with its fragrant warmth.
Twice a year all the winds meet and create a great corroboree and wild celebrations. Duran-Duran comes with his sultry breath from Garbar-ku - the north to meet his beloved Gan-ya-mu, who comes from Buli-midi-mundi - the southeast, to refresh the soft, cool breath of Gan-ya-mu until his heat decreases and he stops scorching those who come his way. Then the wind Nuru-nuru-bin blows from Nuru-buan - the south to meet Mundi-wanda - the north-west wind.
After a big corroboree, the winds part and everyone returns to their own country in the hope of meeting again in a few months and having another corroboree.
That is why Giger-Giger is worried in the hollow log, that is why he howls - because he cannot break out of prison and rush forward to mix his icy breath with the fragrant breath of Yarraga.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru