One day, two men from the village of Tugodumovo, Howatta and Matti, gathered to go fishing. It was summer. The day is hot and sunny. They boarded the raft, reached the middle of the lake and cast out their fishing rods. They sit and wait for the fish to bite. Hot. They wanted to drink. Howatta says:
- Mattie, I'm thirsty!
Matti answers:
- Be patient, there is no water.
They sit and fish. Fishing has already become unbearable. And as soon as the fish splashes on the water, they only lick their dry lips.
- Drink! Howatta says again.
- Where will you get water? She's gone!
They want to drink so much that they can’t even fish, they don’t have the strength. We lay down on the raft. Mattie is still saying something, but Howatta can’t even speak, everything in her mouth is dry, her tongue won’t move.
“Now,” says Matti, “I don’t even need fish, just to find a sip of water.”
And Howatta mumbles something in response that I can’t make out.
A slight breeze has arisen, the water is rippling, and the raft is slowly driven towards the shore. The raft washed up on the shore, and they still lay there, unable to get up. The caftans are wet, but they don't feel anything.
A man walks along the shore, approaches them, and is surprised:
- What kind of miracle is this, two huge men lying on a raft and not getting up? Why are you lying here?
“Yes, we’re thirsty,” says Matti, “we’re dying to die, we can’t move!”
And Howatta just nods his head.
- So why don’t you drink?
-Where can I get water?
- Bow your heads and drink your fill! They got drunk and it became easy for them. We thanked the passerby and went home.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru