Once upon a time there lived a husband and wife. And they had two children: a boy and a girl. The boy was already quite old, and the girl was still very young. From the time the girl was five months old, something strange began to happen: when no one but the girl was in the house, food began to disappear. Milk and matsun disappeared from the jugs, bread from the bread bin, and butter from the pots. Other things were also missing. They began to think that thieves had gotten into the habit of breaking into the house. Only the boy had his own thoughts on this matter.
But he did not dare to tell anyone about them. One day, when his parents left home, he hid in a dark corner. And what did he see? His sister got out of bed and swallowed all the food that was left on the table. Then she went to the bread bin. She saw that there was no bread, but only dough, but still: she greedily pounced on it and swallowed it. Then she started searching all the shelves. She looked and sniffed for food and when she realized that it was no longer there, she lay back in bed with the look of an innocent child.
Returning home, the mother warmed up the tonir and was about to take the dough to bake bread, when she saw: there was no dough. The boy came out of his hiding place, took his mother aside and told her everything he saw with his own eyes. He said: “You know better.” For you and your daughter. Do as you please, but I won't stay in the house anymore. When it grows up, it will swallow us all. This is not a person, but a demon, a real dragon. Having said this, the boy left the house. He left the village and, when it was out of sight, sat down to rest on the side of the road. He was very tired and hungry. After searching his pockets thoroughly, he found three dried apricots. He ate them and buried the pits by the road: then let them grow into three large apricot trees.
And this boy's name was Tatuk. Tatuk decided to go to distant lands to find a new home there. But on the way he did not meet any cities or villages. Instead, he met a flock of sheep and goats on his way. He walked straight towards them. He looked around: the shepherd was nowhere to be seen. Having waited until dusk, Tatuk followed the flock, which slowly wandered home. When the herd reached its enclosure, two people came out of a nearby house: a man and a woman. They were a husband and wife, both already old and both blind. They started milking the goats. Having milked as much as they needed, the old men crumbled bread into the milk and began to eat. Slowly approaching the pot of food, Tatuk began to eat along with everyone. Blind old people. Of course, they couldn’t see that now someone was sharing food with them. They were blind, but they were not fools: suspecting something was wrong, they decided to wait to see what would happen next.
After some time, the husband says to his wife: “Listen, wife.” I've been hungry for several days now. But we take as much milk as always. - Listen, hubby. But I thought that you were eating a little more than usual. I'm still hungry too. So, only one thing remains: someone is eating with us. - Surely this is so. I noticed something else: before we often had to corral the flock ourselves, but now it comes into the pen on its own.
Someone is probably driving them in. Who could it be? Come on, when we have lunch, I’ll give a sign: I’ll cough. And you immediately extend both hands around the table. I will do the same. If someone is sitting between us, we will catch him and see who he is. As we agreed, this is what we did: in the evening the old men caught Tatuk. “Who are you?” - they asked. “And why are you hiding from us?” Tatuk replied: “I am a stranger in your area.” Be my father and mother, and I will become your son. I will shepherd your flock and take care of you.” “Okay,” the old men agreed. “Probably God himself sent you to us.” We don't have children, so be our son.
In the morning, the father called Tatuk and said: “Listen to me, son.” When you drive your flock to graze, do not under any circumstances allow the sheep and goats to wander onto the left or right hill. Only the hill in the middle is a safe pasture. “Okay,” said Tatuk. But curiosity got the better of him. Already on the second day, Tatuk drove the flock to the hill that was on the right hand of the house. He looks, and there the devils are playing a wedding! They gathered in a circle, having fun, playing the zurna and dool. They saw Tatuk, they rushed to him, dragged him into their circle and started dancing in circles. Then they say: “You know what, guy, we’re having a holiday now.” Wedding. So chop up some firewood for us, and plenty of it.
Tatuk agreed. He took an ax and began to split a huge log. He made a gap in it, strengthened it with wedges and called the devils: “Hey, everyone here!” Hurry up, I'll show you a trick! This is to make your wedding more fun. The devils all came, including the bride and groom: “Come on, where is your trick?” Tatuk says: “Put your hands in the gap, otherwise the trick won’t work.” All the devils put their hands into the crack and began to wait for the trick. It was then that Tatuk knocked the wedges out of the log. The devils screamed: - Oh! Oh-oh! What have you done? You pinched our hands. Are you joking with us, or what? What is this, some kind of trick?
And Tatuk says: “This is just the beginning.” Wait, the main joke is coming. In the meantime, tell me which of you blinded my father and my mother? Give me back their clear eyes or you will all be finished at once! - Yes, yes! Oh-oh! - said one devil, wincing in pain. - There they are, under the bush. Take them and let us go.” Tatuk went, took the eyes and said, returning: “I found them.” But how will I restore my old people’s sight? - And you put your eyes into their sockets and wipe them with the bride’s veil. They will see the light right away.
Tatuk took the veil from the bride. “Let us go now!” - the devils shouted. “I could do it, but who the devil knows?” What if you then tear me into pieces. There is no point in creating the illusion that devils can be trusted. Get ready for what fate has in store for you, and I don’t make deals with devils.
The devils groaned. Their pleas and requests had no effect on Tatuk. But can you be so stupid as to trust devils? Tatuk took an ax in his hands and cut off their heads. So this hill got rid of evil spirits. And in the evening, returning home, he inserted the eyes of the old men into the eye sockets and wiped them with the veil of the damn bride. The old men immediately saw the light. They thanked Tatuk and kissed him. Their joy was so enormous that they did not even know how to express this happiness that suddenly fell upon them. Tatuk was inspired by what happened. The next day he drove the flock to the right hill. Rising to its top, Tatuk heard a terrible howl. The sheep and goats also heard the howl and, trembling, rushed to run back. Tatuk did not stop them, but decided to see what kind of animal it was that was howling so terribly. He followed the sound. He walked until he reached the cave in which this strange beast was sitting. It looked like a lion, but it was not a lion. It looked like a tiger, but it was not a tiger. It looked like a boar, but it was not a boar either. Most of all the animal looked like a dog. And this dog was the size of ten ordinary large dogs.
While Tatuk was hiding behind a rock, looking at the dog, she noticed him: “Hey, guy,” she called him in a human voice. “I can barely stand the pain and can’t move.” Help me, come, don't be afraid. I will not harm you. When the dog spoke in a human voice, Tatuk was happy. He thought: “He who can speak like a man can be humane like a man.” As soon as he approached the dog, she said: “If I now give birth to an even number of puppies, then I will swallow you.” And if it’s odd, then so be it, live.” “You know better,” said Tatuk. And he himself thought: “What happens, cannot be avoided.” Tatuk hid the first puppy that the dog gave birth to in his shepherd's purse. He did the same with the second puppy. And when the third one was born and it became clear that there would be no others, Tatuk put him in front of the dog and said: “Only one was born.” And you should have moaned so much because of one puppy! The dog felt uncomfortable that she was shamed: “Okay, go ahead,” she said. - I give you life. And if you have to wander into these places again, then do not be afraid of me anymore. I will not harm you or your flock.
And Tatuk took with him the two puppies that were in the bag. He fed them sheep's milk and took care of them. And when the puppies grew up, they turned into the most loyal dogs in the world. Tatuk named one Zangi, and the other Zrangi. Wherever he went, he always took his dogs with him. And at home he put them on a chain so that they would not play around. Ten years passed like this, if not more. Tatuk decided to visit his native place, to see his father and mother. He told the old people about this. They agreed, only asked to return as soon as possible. Tatuk poured milk into a bowl, put it on the shelf and said: “Keep an eye on this milk.” As soon as you notice that it has changed its color, turned red or darkened, then know: trouble has happened to me. Then untie Zangi and Zrangi - they will come to my aid. He said so and went to the village in which he was born. He reached the place where he buried apricot pits in the ground. He looks: there are three apricot trees, tall and spreading. He stopped, rested in the shade of the trees, and very soon after that he reached his native village. And what does he see? There is not a single living soul in the village! Empty - empty. He headed the horse straight to the porch, got off it, went into the house, and saw his sister sitting by the fireplace. And there is no one else around.
The sister stood up, raised her hand in greeting and said: “Welcome back, brother, the light of my eyes.” Where have you been all this time? Why haven’t you come for so long? With these words, the sister left the house, saw the horse, looked: a bag was tied to the saddle, and in the bag were the food that Tatuk had brought with him. The sister swallowed the whole bag whole, and then returned to the house and said: “Listen, brother, you came without a bag?” “Yes,” says Tatuk. He immediately realized that she had just swallowed the bag.
The sister left the house again, bit off one of the horse’s legs and ate it. She returned and asked: “Brother, my soul, did you really come on a three-legged horse?” “Yes,” says Tatuk. The sister came out and bit off the horse’s second leg. She ate it and went into the house: “My brother, my soul, did you really come on a two-legged horse?” “Yes,” answers Tatuk.
The sister came out again. She ate the horse's third leg. She returned and said: “Dear brother, did you really come on a one-legged horse?” “Yes,” says Tatuk. The sister came out again. She bit off the last leg of the horse, ate it, returned and said: “Dear brother, did you really come on a legless horse?” “Yes,” Tatuk answers. And his heart began to beat: “As soon as she finishes the horse, she will take on me.” What should I do?” he thought.
The sister came out again, for the fourth time. She ate the last leg of the horse and returned to the house: “Dear brother, didn’t you come on foot?” “Yes, sister.” I came on foot. I’ll leave on foot, if you don’t mind. “Well, brother, how can I let you go?” I’ve been waiting for you for so long that your coming here simply filled my heart with joy. And you must be hungry from the road. I’ll go now and bring you some bread to eat.
As soon as the sister left, a rooster jumped into the room from a dark corner and said to Tatuk: “Listen, guy, your sister came out to sharpen her teeth.” She will come back and eat you. Save yourself! - How can I be saved? I don’t know what to do! - Tatuk answers him. And the rooster says: - Take off your clothes, fill them with ash and hang them from the ceiling. And run away from here without looking back. As soon as your sister returns and attacks the clothes, the ash will fill her eyes. By the time she wipes them and can see them again, you will be far away!
Tatuk took the advice and did just that. He had already left the village when he heard his sister catching up with him. Tatuk, meanwhile, reached the place where three apricot trees grew and climbed up one of them. I just climbed up, and my sister was already right there. She also climbed the tree, but she couldn’t climb. Then she began to chew on the trunk. She gnawed and gnawed and gnawed - the tree began to fall. But Tatuk jumped to the second tree. My sister started gnawing on him too. It gnawed and gnawed and the tree fell down. Tatuk barely managed to jump to the very top of the third and last tree. The sister rushed to him and began to gnaw on the trunk.
At that moment, Tatuk’s father and mother looked at the bowl of milk that he had left before he left. They look: the milk has turned red. And they immediately released Zangi and Zrangi. Zangi and Zrangi took the trail of their master and rushed with huge leaps to run along the road along which Tatuk had left. Very soon they were there. Tatuk saw them and shouted: “Zangi – Zrangi, quickly swallow it.” Swallow it until only a drop of blood remains.
The dogs swallowed their sister just as Tatuk asked: only one drop of blood fell on the apricot leaf. Having freed their master, Zangi and Zrangi, wagging their tails, lay down at his feet. They were happy that they managed to save Tatuk. And he, meanwhile, took a leaf with a drop of blood, put it in his bosom and walked away from this place. He walked and walked and finally met a caravan on his way.
When the merchant - the owner of the caravan saw Tatuk's dogs, he immediately wanted to get them for himself. “If these lion-like dogs are mine, I will no longer have to fear the raids of robbers. Even if there are a hundred of them, these two dogs will defeat them,” he thought. And he turned to Tatuk and said: “Listen, guy, give me these dogs.” Ask for as many mules as you want for them. Take them straight with all the luggage that is on them.” “Even if you gave me your entire caravan, I still wouldn’t exchange my dogs for it.” “Are you saying that with these two dogs you are richer than me, with my entire caravan?” “It turns out that this is so,” answered Tatuk. – This whole huge caravan will not save your life. On the contrary, it may happen that he will become bait for robbers who can take away not only your property, but also your life itself. And my life is safe. So they traveled further, talking with each other. Finally, the merchant says: “If you don’t want to part with your dogs for any money, let’s do this: I’ll tell you a riddle.” If you guess it, the caravan is yours. If you don’t guess, I’ll take the dogs. “I agree,” says Tatuk. - Go ahead, make a wish. - Do you see this cane? If you can guess what kind of wood it is made of, then take the caravan. Well, if not, then the dogs are mine.” “Okay,” said Tatuk and began to name the types of trees he knew, “Cedar, pear, ash... He named all the trees he knew.” But all his answers were wrong. “Well, if so, then give up the dogs,” said the merchant. “Wait a little.” Let me think for a minute,” said Tatuk, “I know another type of tree.” The name is on the tip of your tongue... At that moment something began to scratch and squeak: - Wild dogwood... wild dogwood... These sounds were made by a drop of blood that was on an apricot leaf hidden in his bosom. - I know! I know! - exclaimed Tatuk. “This cane is made of wild dogwood!” “Yes, you’re right,” says the merchant. “Well, now you can take the caravan from me.” “I don’t need your caravan,” answered Tatuk. - I am a simple shepherd, not a merchant. Just give me some good clothes so I can go and woo my bride. This will be enough.
The merchant chose the best clothes, added jewelry and other decorations that would be needed for the wedding, loaded it all on a mule and gave it to the young man. Tatuk took the mule loaded with goods and went home. As soon as the caravan disappeared from sight, he felt something moving in his bosom. He put his hand in there, pulled it out, looked, and it was a huge snake. This drop of blood that was on the leaf turned into a snake. And she herself was already aiming to sting Tatuk in the throat.
The young man disdainfully shook the snake from his hands, and meanwhile it became bigger and bigger. And now in front of him is not a snake, but a whole dragon. - Zangi - Zrangi! Here! Swallow this monster so that not even a drop of blood remains from it! The dogs did just that. The sister dragon disappeared forever, and Tatuk, along with a mule loaded with wedding gifts, arrived home safely. He wooed a beautiful girl, got married and now lives happily with her. Their dreams came true, so let yours come true too.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru