The felt boots

Comment

Recorded from Nikolaj Lixachev in 1986. This tale is otherwise unknown and was probably made up by Nikolaj Likhachev himself.

Translation

(13-1) Last year a hunter went down the river. (13-2) He walked around, setting up traps on the bank of the lake. (13-3) He set them up, went hunting and in spring in May he went back home. (13-4) He went back and threw his felt boots on the ground. Having thrown them on the ground he took his blanket and his skis and went back home. (13-5) That's what happened. (13-6) The next day the other people came. (13-7) Two men came. (13-8) One young man and one old man came. (13-9) They came and the old man said: "Eh, there are trees here. (13-10) We should set up a tent here." (13-11) The young man said: "No, not here, this tree is too thick." (13-12) The other one said: "Here, here." (13-13) That old man said: "We will take water. The bank of the lake is close to here. We shall take water from there if we need to drink tea." (13-14) So he started digging into the snow. (13-15) The snow was reaching his knees. He picked up the snow with his shovel. (13-16) When he dug, he dug up all sort of grass and a boot. (13-17) He looked at that boot. (13-18) It was all torn, hardly anything was left at all. (13-19) The whole sole was completely torn. (13-20) So he threw away that boot. (13-21) Digging he said to the young man: "Go and cut wood to set up the tent." (13-22) Let it be so. (13-23) While he was digging he suddenly heard a voice. (13-24) He stood up, set aside his shovel and said: "Where is this voice heard from?" (13-25) He went there. (13-26) He came closer and heard the voice. (13-27) He said: "Oh, what's wrong with me?" (13-28) And the boot said: "Last year my master wore me, trampling down the ground and the roads with my face. (13-29) When the evening came, he threw me by the oven. (13-30) He threw me by the oven and all my face got burnt. (13-31) It was burnt, but the next day when I got up, he put me on again, and again he started to trample me down. (13-32) Again. (13-33) He trampled me down again and again. (13-34) Then he went home and threw me on the wet ground. (13-35) So I am lying and rotting here," it said. (13-36) Then a voice from the old man was heard. He was speaking from somewhere. (13-37) What is this? (13-38) It hadn't been like this before. (13-39) Why is it speaking? (13-40) What happened, is it a tale perhaps? (13-41) He wrapped up his head. (13-42) He wrapped it up so tightly. (13-43) The other man came: "Eh, old man, what's wrong with you? (13-44) What, is your stomach hurting?" he said. (13-45) "No, the boot is speaking. The boot is speaking and my penis is also speaking. (13-46) Yes. (13-47) I pressed it so from beneath." (13-48) "How?" (13-49) The old man said: "Look, come here, listen." (13-50) That man listened. (13-51) Indeed they were both speaking. (13-52) The boot stopped speaking, and the penis said to the boot: "Eh, friend, where is your other half? (13-53) Only one half is here. (13-54) Don't you have a face? (13-55) You don't have a sole. (13-56) Yes, your sole is also torn," it said. (13-57) Let it be so. (13-58) That old man's penis said: "Oh, my master is a very bad person. (13-59) A very bad person. (13-60) I can't stand him. (13-61) Your master is bad. Last year he trampled you, then threw you away, and went home. (13-62) My master is also a very bad person. (13-63) I am very angry with him", it said. (13-64) The boot said: "Why?" (13-65) The penis said: "Eh, I will tell you now. (13-66) I will tell you. (13-67) Why I am angry with him. (13-68) I am stuck to him. (13-69) And he always dresses and always early in the day. (13-70) He leaves in the morning and walks around till the night. I walk with my head down. (13-71) So I am hanging head down and I get swollen. (13-72) And when the night comes, he lies down next to his wife and puts me into some flat hole. (13-73) He doesn't take me out until I spit out saliva, only then. (13-74) Then in the morning he gets up and leaves again, and again I am hanging with my head down. (13-75) That is why my master is very bad. (13-76) He doesn't give me a rest. (13-77) That's how it is. (13-78) It is not only bad for you, but for me as well," it said. (13-79) The boot said: "Then we must kill him. (13-80) In the night when he is sleeping, hit him on his head." (13-81) The penis said: "No, because I am stuck to him. If I kill him, we shall die together." (13-82) That's the end.