Once upon a time there lived three brothers. One day they were sitting in the tent and talking. One of them said this:
- Let’s guess, will we live richly or poorly? The elder brother said:
“I made a wish that I would have a lot, a lot of flour and all kinds of food.”
Middle brother said:
“And I wished that I had a whole pile of gold money as high as my mouth.”
The younger brother, named Kengersel, said this:
“And I made a wish that you both would live poorly: you would have neither flour nor gold.” When you come to me, you will ask me for bran.
The brothers got angry:
- You wish us bad things! Killing you is not enough! But how can we kill our brother? We'll move away from here, and leave you here alone under the tree. Live alone as you please.
They left and left Kengersel alone. So he lived alone for a long time.
One day he heard that the prince of their land had ordered this; whoever makes a large boat with seven tops and lands it at the prince’s palace, he will give his daughter as his wife. Kengerseli still has a magic ring from her mother. He hid this ring from his brothers; Everyone thought that the ring was lost. So Kengersel came to the prince and said:
“I can make a boat with seven tops!” Kengersel went to the river bank, chewed the ring and threw it into the river. Immediately such a beautiful seven-topped boat docked! The prince was very happy and gave his daughter Kengersele as his wife. They began to live. One evening Kengerselya went down to the river. He approached the ice hole and began to listen. He hears, at the bottom of the river, on the seventh river rapids, the heroes are talking about him:
“I hear that Kengersel found a wife somewhere and became rich.” We need to go to him and fight with him.
Kengerselya went up to the shore, came home and spent the night. The next morning I got ready. He and his wife went down to the river and said:
“If you don’t hear anything about me in the next three years, it means I’m dead.”
And he left. I approached the lower river rift on foot. He looks like the old devil is fishing for pike. I caught a big pike. Kengersel approached him quietly and said:
- Grandpa, what are you doing? The old vine got scared and shouted:
“What brings you here, son of a wheezing throat?” What called you back from long ago? On our land there are no animals that swim in water and fly on wings. Where are you from?
Kengerselya replied:
- Why are you shouting in vain? I came to visit you. Feed me first.
Grandfather took him into the house; He fed him pike ear and caviar, then said:
- If you go further, at the bottom, on the river rift, my brother is sitting, fishing; go see him.
He went again and saw that the river was blocked with a fence (tackle). But the constipation was not done in a human way. With scales on its back and fins like wings, small fish swim in the water. Scales and fins ruffled like feathers. A dirt path has been laid from the river up to the bank. I followed it. He sees that it’s worth it. He entered the chum. An old woman sits in the tent. The eyes are red and sore. Kengerselya saw and said:
“Neither an animal swimming in water nor flying on wings lives on our land!” What brought you? My sons will eat you.
Kengerselya replied:
- One of your sons fed me and sent me to you. Don't scold me, but feed me too.
The old woman fed him and said:
- So I fed you. I feel sorry for you. Why did you come here, stupid? My sons will eat you anyway. Where can I hide you from them?
The old woman took a down pillow and stuffed it into it for Kengersel. She laid her head on the pillow.
There was a noise on the street. It was her sons who all came together. They entered the tent and asked the stepmother:
- We sent Kengersel here. Didn't he come to you? Haven't you seen him?
The stepmother answers:
- What Kengersel are you talking about? On this earth there is neither a beast that swims in water nor a beast that flies on wings. I don’t know any Kengersel.
- Don't deceive us. The folds around the edges of your mouth have become dirty because you are telling lies.
They grabbed the old woman and began searching everywhere. The pillow was found and torn to shreds. They pulled out Kengersel, threw him on the floor, and began to eat themselves. They ate, then they stood on either side of the tent and began tossing Kengersel to each other like a ball. Bad for the guy. He thinks to himself: “If only I could jump out of their hands when I’m at the door.” So I did. The old man who stood at the door did not catch Kengersel. He slipped out of his hands and ran out into the street. He ran to the river, dived into the hole, and turned around like a small pike. The vines chased him, ran up to the ice hole, dived, and turned into burbots. They make noise, they catch up with Kengersel. Kengersel swam to the shore, became a man, and went on foot. Suddenly he sees something creakingly approaching. He came closer, and this was the son of Numa the hero dragging seven islands along the river. Kengerselya told him:
- Bogatyr, you could at least help me out of trouble, the vines are chasing me, they want to kill me. The son of Numa replied:
- If only someone would free me. Many years ago, at my sister’s wedding, I grabbed food from the table before all the elders. My father Num punished me for my greed. I've been carrying these seven islands for many years now.
Kengerselya replied:
- You help me, and I will help you.
Then the son of Numa lightly stepped on Kengersel with the sole of his right boot. He picked up the seven-pound stone and is waiting. All the vines are coming towards him. The son of Numa asked:
-Where are you going, old people?
- It’s as if you haven’t seen Kengersel?
“What Kengersel are you talking about, I don’t know.”
- Don't deceive us. The folds around your mouth have become dirty.
The son of Numa threw a seven-pound stone at them. It was as if there were no vines, not a single bone crumb remained from them. He raised his leg and released Kengersel.
- Well, now you go help me.
Kengersel turned into a falcon and flew into the sky. He approached Numu and said:
- What did your son do that you punished him so much? Have you forgotten him? And he just saved me from trouble. You should have forgiven him.
Num paused and said:
- Okay, where did you take your islands, let them leave them there. Kengersel joyfully descended to the ground and said to his son Numa:
- Your punishment is over, leave your islands here.
The son of Numa abandoned the seven islands.
These islands still stand on the Yenisei.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru