Not far from Palermo there are two villages on two hills: Isnello and Chiana. Ask any resident of Chiana at random - he will tell you that Iznello is a good village, but it’s a long walk by water. Any resident of Iznello will tell you the same thing about Chiana. And this will be the absolute truth.
It’s a well-known fact that if you’re higher, you’ll be closer to the sun, and the sun in those parts is hot. So it dried up the hills like two crackers. Even if you dig right through them, you won’t get to the moisture. For every drop of water, both the Kyanians and the Iznellians had to go down into the valley between the hills.
There was a well there, so deep and clean that there was enough water in it for three more villages.
Needless to say, it’s not so pleasant to trudge such a distance – downhill empty, uphill with water. The mules, as soon as barrels or wineskins began to be attached to their sides, began to roar loudly. Well, what about the people? People, imagine, did not complain. After all, everyone is interested in finding out what news is happening in the neighboring village. So, you can’t easily go to your neighbors on weekdays - there’s no time, and they don’t visit guests without an invitation. And every day residents of both villages met at the well. The women gossiped about various women's trifles, the men, sucking on their pipes, discussed more important matters. The laziest girl was ready at any moment to run to the well with a clay jug braided with twigs; the most idle guy just wanted to harness the mule and go for water. How many weddings took place near the well, how many quarrels he saw, how many reconciliations - and it’s difficult to count! And for children's games there is no better place.
Early one morning, the residents of Iznello were the first to arrive for water. And what did they see? A large flock of crows was camped near the well. The crows screamed so deafeningly that if both the Kyanians and the Iznellians began to scream all at once, they would not have heard their voices. The birds jumped, fought and flapped their wings. But all this is not so bad! The most important thing is that feathers, wood chips and debris floated on the clear water of the well, and the ground around was covered with bird droppings.
Whatever the Iznell people did - they persuaded the crows, and shamed them, and threatened them. . . But no, the damned birds did not even think of flying away. Then one of the experienced people who had seen the world suggested placing a scarecrow at the well.
No sooner said than done. The people of Iznell spared no poles, no straw, no rags. Oh, what a scarecrow it turned out to be! Huge, tall! It stood over the well and waved its torn sleeves. The crows got scared and scattered, and the Iznell people took water and left.
Do you think that's the end of it? No, this is just the beginning. As soon as the Iznellians left, the Kyanians began to descend from the opposite hill. From a distance they saw a terrible giant. The head is like a barrel, the body is like three barrels, the arms are like mill wings. How can you not be scared! The Chians tried to reassure the giant:
- Hey, you! Move away from the well. Give people some water.
But the giant was silent and only waved his arms, threatening the Kyanians.
Under the hot sun, people are born with a hot temperament. Anger went to the heads of the Kyan daredevils. They oiled their rusty guns, lay down on the slopes of the hill and began to fire. The echo echoed between the hills.
What a commotion there was in Iznello! Apparently, the enemies attacked Chiana, robbed and ruined! We, the people of Iznell, cannot escape trouble. We must save ourselves before it's too late! The husbands ordered their wives:
- Tie up your belongings, take out the cattle! Let's leave now.
Here the women started howling and crying. You can’t carry everything, but it’s a pity to throw away what you’ve acquired.
Women were screaming, men were screaming, and suddenly someone came up with an idea.
– Why throw away what you’ve acquired when you can move away from a terrible place with the village together.
Work immediately began to boil. They tied all the ropes that were found in the village. Bridles, belts, and shoe laces were used. As soon as the rope was ready, the Iznell people tied the hill and began to drag it towards the sea.
Meanwhile, the Kyanians were tired of firing, and they had run out of gunpowder. And the giant still stands as he stood!
“We need to call the people of Iznello for help,” the Kyanians decided. - After all, the well is common!
The three most courageous and dexterous guys went from Chiana to Iznello, far avoiding the well with the giant. They returned pale, even more frightened than before.
- It’s all over! Quite a disaster! – they started talking, interrupting each other. – There is no one in Iznello. The hill is tied with a thick rope, and behind the hill you can hear: “Pull harder, pull harder!” Iznell residents are leaving for a new place. Apparently, no one can defeat this giant. We need to leave too.
The Kyanians also got down to business. They made a rope and began to drag their hill in the other direction.
How it all would have ended is unknown if it weren’t for Chicco and Beppo. Both of them lived in the world, counting between them, for exactly eighteen years and there were guys everywhere. Cicco lived in Chiana, and Beppo in Isnello, but this did not stop them from being bosom friends. If the boys attacked Beppo, Chicco stood up for him. If Chicco was attacked, Beppo would intervene. Well, if no one attacked, the friends fought among themselves.
Three days before the terrible events, Chicco and Beppo together found a priceless treasure - an old hoop from a crumbling barrel. They chased him, threw him up, and made him spin like a top. And in the evening, when everyone had to return to their village, they decided to hide the common treasure so that no one would be offended. They buried him in the sand not far from the well.
And so, as soon as both villages were about to move, the boys remembered the treasure.
“You should definitely take the hoop with you!” - thought Chicco.
“Don’t forget the hoop!” - Beppo thought.
And both ran to the well. How come they weren’t afraid? Eh, at nine years old they are afraid of things that adults are afraid of.
Chicco and Beppo met at the well and argued over who would get the hoop. They argued, argued and, of course, fought. Yes, like we have never fought before. In the end they broke the hoop and each ran roaring to his mother.
- Where have you been when you need to move? - they asked Chicco.
“At the well,” replied Chicco.
- Like at a well! And the giant didn't eat you? - the Kyanians were surprised.
- What a giant! There's a straw man there. The people of Iznell set out to drive away the crows.
The rope fell out of the hands of the Kyanians.
-Where have you been? - they asked Beppo.
“At the well,” Beppo answered.
- Like at a well! And the enemy troops didn’t take you prisoner?
- What kind of enemies are there! It was the Kyanians who fired at our effigy.
The Iznell residents looked at each other and silently went home. So everyone remained in their places: Chiana, Iznello, and the scarecrow at the well.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru