ALL HALLOW'S READ - Stingy Jack: The Man Who Stole the Devil's Wallet by zteve t. evans

This All Hallow's Read is a re-telling of an Irish folktale by author, zteve t. evans, of the infamous, Stingy Jack, (also known as Jack the Smith, Flaky Jack, or Jack of the Lantern)- a character associated with Halloween. The pumpkin jack-o-lantern may have derived from this colorful character and his interaction with the Prince of Darkness.

Way back in old Ireland several centuries ago, there was a well known character in many towns and villages across the country known as Stingy Jack. He had a silver tongue and could be very persuasive and charming yet was unquestionably a drunkard, trickster, blaggard and a man of all round devious character. 

According to legend, the Devil heard all about Jack’s tricks and deviousness and decided to see if he lived up to his evil reputation. It also has to be said, although he would never admit it, that he may have been more than a little envious of his notoriety. Maybe he thought Jack was getting too big for his boots and stealing his thunder, but anyway he decided it was time he paid him a visit, intending to carry him back to Hell.

When he arrived at Jack’s door on a Saturday night, Jack was out in the bars and pubs boozing and carousing with anyone and everyone.  Eventually, deeply inebriated and skint, he staggered homewards. After knocking on Jack’s front door several times the Devil realized it was Saturday night and Jack would surely be out on the town. He knocked one last time just in case, and as he did so, he heard someone stumbling up the garden path. As Jack staggered up the path, he suddenly became aware of a dark figure knocking loudly upon his door. 

“Hey! Who is that a-knocking on my door at this time of night when I am not in?” he drunkenly inquired.  The dark figure slowly turned and looked at Jack square in the face. Despite his drunkenness, Jack knew it was the Devil, and he had come to take him back to Hell.  

“Well now, seeing as my time is up would you oblige me with one last request?” he asked. 

The Devil, who was in no hurry, asked him what the request was.

“Well now, I would rather like a drink of good ale before I go,” replied Jack.

This seemed reasonable and perfectly harmless, so the Devil agreed, and Jack led him to a nearby inn. The Devil was still not in any hurry and allowed Jack to drink many jars of good ale. After Jack had drank his fill, the Devil was surprised when Jack told him it was time for him to pay the bill.  

The Devil was a little taken aback. Nevertheless, he put his in hand in his pocket for his wallet that issues a never ending supply of money, but had a shock. His wallet was well and truly gone.

“Jack!” exclaimed the Devil in panic, “My wallet has gone!”

He was feeling mighty embarrassed and wished the floor would open up and swallow him. People were staring, and he looked at Jack for help, but Jack was looking the other way and nonchalantly whistling.

“Er, Jack,” said the Devil grinning nervously, “Could you, er, you know, see your way to help me out, please?”

“Well now, it so happens I have an idea,” replied Jack amicably.

“I would be most grateful!” replied the Devil.

Using all his charm and silver tongue, Jack suggested that he turn himself into a coin of gold to pay the bill. The Devil was so deeply embarrassed and flustered by his predicament that he readily agreed and quickly turned himself into a coin of suitable value.  

As quick as a flash, Jack took up the coin and placed it in his pocket. As he did so, the Devil was shocked to see his missing wallet as Jack deftly took it out. Almost unbelievably, it happened that Jack, of all people, kept a small silver crucifix in that pocket. Small though it was, it had sufficient power to prevent the Devil returning to his true form. Jack quickly paid the landlord from the Devil’s wallet and with the Evil One now trapped in his pocket, left the pub for home.  

To his bemusement and irritation the Devil now found himself trapped in coin form. Once again, he found himself agreeing to another demand from Jack who proposed that if he should not come for his soul for ten years, then he would remove the crucifix, allowing him to return to his true shape. With more than a sneaking admiration for Jack’s deviousness, the Devil agreed, but silently vowed revenge.

“That was a dirty trick, Jack!” said the Devil indignantly, “Now, my wallet please.”

“Why thank you sir, I am glad I impressed you!” replied Jack handing the Devil his wallet and grinning. 

Ten years passed and once again, as Jack staggered down the path to his front door after a night on the town, the Devil appeared to him. Jack told him he had not forgotten and seemed to be prepared to accompany him, but then suddenly begged a favor.

“Well now," said Jack, “Before we go, could you see yourself providing me with a single apple to ease my hunger, if you please? You can see I am not in a fit state to go climbing trees,” he said pointing at his apple tree.

Foolishly, the Devil agreed and looking up saw an apple right at the top of the tree. Naively, he climbed up to bring it down. Seizing his chance Jack quickly laid a ring of crucifixes made from twigs around the bottom of the tree trunk containing the Devil to the tree.

The Devil was angry with Jack and even angrier he had been taken in. Indignantly, he demanded his release. However, Jack proposed that he would remove the crucifixes on the condition that he, the Devil, should never allow his soul to enter into Hell. Muttering dire curses under his breath, the Devil was forced to agree. Climbing down, he quickly checked for his wallet and found it gone.

“Jack my wallet, please!” demanded the Devil.

“Well now, sir,” said Jack, “It fell out of your pocket while you were climbing the tree, and I caught it for you.  No need to thank me!”

Snatching his wallet from Jack, the Devil quickly returned to Hell determined to have no more to do with the devious and untrustworthy Stingy Jack.

Maybe you might have expected Jack to change his ways, but he never did. He carried on drinking and cheating, but one day his body could not take the strain of such a debauched lifestyle any longer.  His soul went up to the Pearly Gates, but as he was about to enter Saint Peter stopped him. Sternly, he told him he could not enter because God had been watching and knew all about his drunken life and sinful ways. Therefore Jack went down to the Gates of the Underworld begging entry into Hell. 

The Devil, with an amused look on his evil face, reminded him of his pact that he could never allow his soul to enter Hell. He gave Jack an ember which signified that he was now a dweller of the netherworld. That is why Jack must roam between the realms of good and evil until Judgement Day, carrying an ember from Hell which he carries in a hollowed out turnip. This acts to warn others of his approach and to light his way in the netherworld. However, as Jack wandered off, the Devil put his hand in his pocket and was aghast to find his wallet was gone, but he could not enter the netherworld to retrieve it.  

Now you might think Jack was happy to have the Devil’s wallet with its never ending supply of money, but you see, there are no pubs and bars in the netherworld and nothing to spend all that money on, and that really broke Jack’s heart!

In April 2013, zteve launched his first blog that focused on legends, myths and folktales from around the world at Under the influence!. This has has grown steadily receiving visitors from 200 countries around the world so far. He has published a Kindle ebook, Havelock the Dane:Hero-King of Two Realms and has contributed  articles to the #FolkloreThursday website regularly since its launch and haunts Twitter here, @ztevetevans 

Image: Vintage illustration via Wikimedia Commons

SOONGOORA THE HARE: An African Folktale by zteve t evans

Who is in my tree,
eating my honey?...

Soongoora the Hare was hungry, and wandering through the forest, came across a huge calabash tree. Hearing a strong humming sound, he looked and saw buzzing in and out of large hole in the trunk, many bees.Thinking he would like some honey, he went into town looking for someone to help him.

He met a big rat name Bookoo, who was in fact a very respectable citizen of the town. Smiling, Bookoo invited him to sit down and rest in his house. 

Soongoora thanked him, and sitting down sighed,“Sadly, my father has recently passed away and left me in his will, a bee’s nest of honey. Would you like to help me eat it?”

Bookoo loved honey and readily accepted the invitation and accompanied Soongoora to the calabash tree. Soongoora pointed up to the hole where the bees were buzzing in and out and said, “There, we must climb up.”  

First, both cut a bundle of dried grass and climbed up to the hole where they set the grass alight, causing lots of smoke. The bees became too sleepy to bother them, allowing Soongoora and Bookoo to tuck into the honey.

As they were enjoying the feast, out of the forest sauntered Simba the Lion who sat at the bottom of the tree looking up at them and growled, “Who is in my tree, eating my honey, looking down on me while I look up at them?”

Soongoora whispered to Bookoo, “Shhh - keep quiet! He is old and crazy. Keep quiet, and he will go away.”  

Simba did not go away and grew angry roaring, “Tell me who you are, now!”

This terrified poor Bookoo who stammered, “It is only us, only us!,”  

Soongoora rolled his eyes and shook his head.  He knew this meant trouble and whispered to his friend,“Wrap the grass around me and shout down that you are going to throw grass down.  Tell him to stand back, well out of the way. Then slowly climb down the tree.”

Quickly, Bookoo wrapped the dry grass around Soongoora. Then he shouted down, “Watch out down there! Stand well back!  I will throw this bundle of grass down and then come down myself.”  

Hearing this, Simba moved away from the tree, and Bookoo threw the bundle down and then began slowly climbing down.  As Simba looked up watching Bookoo climb down, Soongoora crept silently from the bundle of hay and sneaked off into the forest without being seen.

As soon as Bookoo set foot on the ground, Simba pounced upon him saying, “Who else was up there with you?  Where are they?”

Poor Bookoo was terrified and stammered, “It was Soongoora the Hare.  He is down here with you now.”

Simba looked all around him and then growled, “There is no one else here!”  

Panicking Bookoo insisted, “But I wrapped him up in a bundle of dry grass and threw him down to you! Can’t you see him?”

“Of course I cannot see him...so I will eat you!” said Simba angrily and without any further talk, ate poor Bookoo. Then, Simba began looking round for Soongoora, but after searching high and low and not finding him, gave up, but did not forget.

While Simba had been distracted eating Bookoo, the wily hare had slipped away into the forest.

A few days later, Soongoora fancied some honey and went to see his neighbor, Kobay the Tortoise, saying, “Hey, Kobay, my friend, I know where there is some good honey. Why not come with me and have some?”

“Who does the honey belong to?” asked Kobay warily.

“It is my father’s, and he has given me permission.” replied the hare.

“Good, let’s go and get some!” said Kobay eagerly.

Arriving at the great calabash tree, they gathered up dry grass from all around and climbed up to the hole where the bees had their nest. Setting fire to the hay, the bees soon became sleepy from the smoke and Soongoora and Kobay were soon feasting. As they were enjoying the honey, they heard a voice growl up to them saying, “Who is that up my tree?”

“Sssshhhh! It’s only Simba” said Soongoora to Kobay. “Say nothing and he will go away.”

“Come down from my tree now!” roared the lion angrily.

Kobay looked suspiciously at Soongoora and said, “You have deceived me! This tree and honey is the property of Simba.”

The lion roared, “Who are you?”

“There is no one - only me and Soongoora.” answered Kobay as Soongoora rolled his eyes.

Simba had not forgotten his encounter with Soongoora, and he was sure he had him trapped and was determined to catch and eat him.

“Come down right now!”  demanded the lion

“We are on our way!” shouted Kobay.

Soongoora  said, “Quick, Kobay, wrap me up in a bundle of that hay. Then shout down to Simba to move away and throw me down. Then, you slowly climb down, and I will be waiting for you on the ground.  Don’t worry, he is old and harmless!”

Kobay did as instructed, but began to think he could not trust the hare, realizing he would leave him alone to face the angry lion. Throwing down the bundle, he shouted out, “Look out below, I am throwing Soongoora down!”

As soon as the bundle hit the ground, Simba pounced upon it saying, “Ha, Soongoora the Hare, now I have you!”

Holding the hare by his ears, Simba picked him up and looked him in the eyes saying, “Now I have you, what shall I do with you?”

“Well,”  said Soongoora, “Whatever you do, I would not try to eat me. I am terribly tough and taste awful.”

“Hmmm,” said the lion, “how can I make you taste better and become tender?”

“The only way  I know is for you to grab my tail, whirl me around your head three times, and then beat me upon the ground. That will be make me less tough and taste much better.”

Simba grasped the hare by its short tale and whirled him around his head three times. As he attempted to beat him against the ground, the tail slipped from his grasp, and the hare ran off into the forest, much to the anger and disappointment of Simba. Knowing he could not catch him, Simba turned his attention to Kobay who had now reached the ground.

“You have a hard shell. What can I do to make you more palatable?” asked the lion.

“Well, that is easy. All you have to do is place me in some mud and keep rubbing all over hard until my shell falls off,” replied the tortoise.

Simba carried the tortoise down to the waterhole and began rubbing mud all over him. He did not notice that the tortoise had slipped away as he had been fetching mud and began rubbing it all over a rock instead.  He rubbed and rubbed until his paws bled and realized he had been tricked again. This made him very angry, and he focused his anger on Soongoora the Hare, deciding he would find him and eat him.

Angrily, Simba went off in search of him, asking each person he met along the way where Soongoora the Hare lived. No one knew because as soon as Soongoora had got home after his encounter with Simba, he had persuaded his wife that they should move to another district, so no one now knew where he lived.  At last, Simba came across someone who pointed and told him, “There on top of the mountain is the new home of Soongoora the Hare.”

Simba wasted no time in climbing up the path to the house, but to his disappointment, found Soongoora was not at home, and the house was empty. Therefore, he decided he would hide and when Soongoora and his wife came home, he would jump out and eat them both. Soon after, Soongoora and his wife came walking up the path to their new home.  The ever alert Soongoora noticed strange tracks going up the path and realizing it was probably Simba come looking for him, told his wife of his suspicions.

“I think it would be best if you went and stayed with our friends as I  believe Simba is looking for me!” he told her.

“Oh, no,” she said, “My place is with my husband.  I will stay with you, come what may!”

“No, you must go and stay with our friends - Go now!” but Soongoora was very touched and pleased by his wife’s display of loyalty, and he watched affectionately as she trudged reluctantly back down the path. As soon as she was gone, he followed the tracks up to the house. He suspected Simba was inside waiting for him, but was not absolutely certain.

He stopped to think of what to do, and having an idea shouted, “Good day to you house!  How do ye do?”

Hidden inside the house, Simba heard him, but not wanting to give any hint he was there, said nothing.

Then Soongoora shouted, “Well, this is very strange! Everyday I pass this house and shout ‘Good day to you house! How do ye do?' and the house always answers back, saying ‘Good day and how do ye do yourself?’ perhaps there is someone inside today?”

On hearing this, Simba thinking it would be suspicious if the house did not answer, shouted, “Good day and how do ye do yourself?”

With that, Soongoora laughed saying, “Ha, ha, Simba the Lion, now I know you are inside! Who has ever heard of a talking house?”

“Soongoora the Hare wait until I catch you!” roared the lion.

But Soongoora laughed and said, “Ha, ha, you are all huff and no puff, you will never catch me!”

Simba ran out the house and gave chase, but Soongoora easily out paced him, laughing as he ran. Simba soon grew out of breath and knew he had been beaten. Therefore, he mustered all his pride and dignity and walked in his most stately fashion back to the calabash tree. Lying down and falling asleep in its shade, he vowed to have nothing more to do with Soongoora the tricky hare.

In April 2013, zteve t evans launched his first blog that focused on legends, myths and folktales from around the world at Under the influence!. This has has grown steadily receiving visitors from 200 countries around the world so far. He has published a Kindle ebook, Havelock the Dane:Hero-King of Two Realms and has contributed  articles to the #FolkloreThursday website regularly since its launch and haunts Twitter here @ztevetevans

Cover: Amanda Bergloff @AmandaBergloff

Grateful Dead Tales - SILA TSAREVICH & IVASHKA with the WHITE SMOCK: A Russian Folktale by zteve t. evans

On reaching the open sea a strange sight
was seen by those on board the three ships,
for floating and bobbing in the water,
was a stone coffin...

Grateful Dead tales fascinate us, so we're leading up to All Hallow's Eve this month with a Russian folktale re-telling by one of our favorite authors, zteve t evans, that was originally published on his blog, Under the Influence, (a fantastic source for myths, legends, folklore and tales from around the world.)

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The Grateful Dead is a type 505 tale as classified Stories of The Grateful Dead under the Aarne–Thompson–Uther classification system used by folklorists to categorize folktales. Grateful Dead tales usually share a basic structure of where a debtor dies leaving the debt unpaid and is thus refused a proper burial, or in this case, floated out to sea in a coffin. In this case, the dead person did not receive a proper burial and was held in a state perhaps similar to purgatory until he received one. In gratitude, his ghost or soul returns to Earth to help the person who took the trouble to ensure he had a proper burial. There are several other motifs and themes interwoven in the story that are also found in tales around the world. Presented below is a rewrite of Sila Tsarevich and Ivashka with the White Smock, from The Russian Garland, edited by Robert Steele, which is a collection of stories collected from Russian Chap-books.

Sila Tsarevich and Ivashka with the White Smock

This story begins in a time when Russia was ruled by a tsar by the name of Chotei who had three sons. The eldest was named Aspar Tsarevich, the next eldest was named Adam Tsarevich and the youngest was named Sila Tsarevich. There came a day that the two eldest brothers went to their father and asked his permission to travel the world. They wanted to journey abroad and see all the foreign countries and meet all the different people who lived outside Russia and see strange and wonderful things. On hearing their request, Sila Tsarevich, the youngest of the three, was also filled with a yearning to see strange and wonderful things and travel to foreign climes and also begged permission from his father to travel like his two brothers. However, although his father granted the two eldest permission, he was reluctant to grant Sila permission due to the immaturity of his years telling him,

“Unfortunately you are too young to go wandering the world.  You are not used to traveling and there are many difficulties and dangers that can be encountered.  Drive this idea from your mind. Wait until you are older, wiser and stronger!”

Despite what his father said, the yearning to see new lands and people had awoken the wanderlust in Sila Tsarevich. He could think of nothing else, talk of nothing else and repeatedly asked for permission. Eventually, he wore his father down, and he reluctantly consented to his request.

The Floating Coffin

Tsar Chotei had given each son a ship manned by skilled mariners and eventually all the ships were laden with provisions and goods and made ready to sail. The first to sail was Aspar Tsarevich, the eldest brother, followed by Adam Tsarevich the next eldest. The last to set sail was Sila Tsarevich. On reaching the open sea a strange sight was seen by those on board the three ships, for floating and bobbing in the water, was a stone coffin. When Aspar saw this he immediately ordered the ship to chart a wide berth around it and continued on his way. When Adam Tsarevich saw the coffin floating in the water he too ordered his sailors to keep clear of it and continued on his way. When Sila Tsarevich saw the floating coffin he had it be brought aboard and then ordered the ship to continue on it way.

The next day dawned, the wind blew and a violent storm was whipped up, and the ship bearing Sila was taken by the storm and driven to a strange unknown country where it was thrown upon a sandy shore. Sila ordered his men to carry the coffin on shore where he then told them to dig a grave and give a proper burial.

Then Sila Tsarevich informed the captain that he was going off alone and told him that he and the crew must stay with the ship. If he did not return after three years, the captain and crew were free to sail back home without him

Sila then left them to journey on into the land beyond.

Ivashka

Long he roamed and had traveled many miles from his ship. One day as he was walking along, he heard the sound of someone running up behind him. Startled, he turned and saw a man dressed all in white who was waving and hurrying up to him. Instinctively he drew his sword both for his own protection and to give fair warning that he was armed and prepared should the need arise to fight. However, no sooner had the man reached him, than he fell upon his knees and thanked Sila, showing great gratitude and respect.

Bemused, Sila asked the man what he had done to deserve such great praise and thanks and the man replied,

“Sila Tsarevich, I am deeply indebted to you and can never thank you enough.  Do you remember the coffin you found in the sea and took on board your ship? I had been laid in that coffin a hundred years before you came to pick it up. Had you not done so, I could have been left to float alone in the ocean for another hundred years, or more, but for you.”

“Who are you and how was it you came to be in that coffin?” asked Sila surprised.

“My name is Ivashka. When I was born, it was discovered I had great magical arts.  As I grew up, I became a great magician, but my powers did not please my mother who accused me of making mischief and misusing them.  She ordered her servant to put me in that stone coffin. Then they took me and set me adrift in the sea, thinking I would sink in the coffin.  I did not sink, but I did die of suffocation. Ever since, I have floated around in the sea for a hundred years before you passed by. Then you came along and rescued me, and now it is my duty to serve you in return and help you obtain your heart’s desire.  If it is marriage you desire, I can tell you I know of Queen Truda who is a most beauteous and gracious woman who would make a worthy wife for you. Perhaps you are interested?”

Sila agreed he was interested, and if she was as beautiful and gracious as he said then, yes, he would like to marry her. He asked him to take him to her country so that he may court and woo her. Ivashka readily agreed, and the two set off on the long journey to the country of Queen Truda.

The Country of Queen Truda

Ivashka led Sila many miles through forests and over mountains for many many days. They saw many strange and wonderful things along the way that Sila had never seen before. Eventually, at last they reached the country of Queen Truda, but Sila had a shock. The entire realm of Queen Truda was surrounded by a palisade. Upon each and every one of the sharpened posts there was a human head impaled. There was just one stake that had no head impaled upon it. Sila looked at the heads in horror then turned to Ivashka and asked him what had happened here. Ivashka then explained that the heads had all belonged to the suitors who had come to court Queen Truda.  Sila looked on in horror and turned to Ivashka and told him he no longer wanted to present himself to Truda’s father and wished instead to go home. Ivashka promised him he had nothing to fear and urged him to proceed with courage to the father of Queen Truda to ask for her hand in marriage.

As soon as Sila and Ivashka had passed beyond the terrible palisade, Ivashka turned to Sila and said,

“Listen closely to what I’m saying!  You must now go before King Salom and speak most politely and humbly. Tell him what your business is and tell him who your father is and that that I am your faithful servant. You must not try to conceal anything from him as he will see straight through you. Then ask for his permission to marry his daughter, and he will be delighted and agree.”

King Salom

With this advice fresh in his mind, Sila Tsarevich went directly to the palace. As soon as he saw him, King Salom jumped to his feet and rushed across the room to greet him. He took Sila by the hand and led him into the marbled halls of his beautiful palace chatting to him all the way. He seated him in a splendid chair next to his throne, then sat down himself, and begged that Sila tell him all about himself saying, “Now my friend, please tell me where you are from, who is your father, your name and your business.”

“My father is named Tsar Chotei the ruler of of all of Russia, and I have come to ask your permission to court your beautiful daughter, Queen Truda,” said Sila politely and humbly.

The Wedding

This pleased King Salom greatly. He was delighted with the idea of a son of the tzar of all of Russia being his son-in-law and agreed immediately.  He sent for his daughter and told her the news, and she began the preparations for her wedding. The day of the marriage soon came around, and the King and all of his knights, noblemen and courtiers met at the palace. When all was ready, they formed a grand procession to the church where Sila Tsarevich, the son of Tsar Chotei of Russia, married King Salom’s beautiful daughter, Queen Truda. After the wedding ceremony, they all returned for a grand banquet thrown by the King to celebrate the marriage of his daughter to such a worthy husband. There was music and singing and jesters, acrobats and jugglers and entertainment of all kinds and the best food and drink his kingdom could provide and a merry evening was had by all.

When at at last the feasting and entertainments came to an end and it was time for everyone to go to their beds, Ivashka came to Sila and whispered in his ear,

“Listen to me Sila Tsarevich when you go to rest with your wife, beware!  You must not speak a single word to her or you will not live out the night.  Your head will be severed from your body and placed on the last stake on the palisade.  Your wife will try her hardest to make you speak and to make you embrace her but if you wish to live, you will not utter a word or fall for her embraces.  Listen well or die!”

Shocked at this revelation, Sila demanded to know what this all meant. Ivashka told him,

“Queen Truda is possessed by an evil spirit that can take the shape of a six headed dragon and fly through the night.  It appears each night to her in the form of a man. I warn you that when the time comes and she lays her hand upon your breast and pushes down, you must leap up and shake her with all your might.  You must continue to shake her until all your strength has gone. Throughout the night I will remain awake and on watch at the door of your room.”

The First Night

So Sila went to bed with his new wife with this strange warning going around in his head.  As Ivashka had warned, Queen Truda tried her hardest to kiss and embrace him, but he lay still and silent throughout. At last, his wife placed her hand on his heart and pressed hard against it. Remembering Ivashka’s warning, Sila jumped up and shook her hard.

Outside in the darkness of night, a storm arose and a six-headed dragon flew in through the window. It was about to attack and eat Sila, when Ivashka leapt through the door with his sword in his hand and attacked it. The two fought ferociously together for three hours, and then Sila managed to cut two of its heads off. This caused the beast to withdraw from the fight and escape through the window. Ivashka then turned to Sila and told him it was now time to sleep and need fear nothing more. At this, Sila laid himself back in bed and went to sleep.

The next morning the king called his servants to him asking them if his new son-in-law was still alive and was told Sila was indeed alive and well.  The king was delighted and rejoiced because Sila was the first of his daughter’s husbands to survive a night with her. He requested that Sila be brought to him, and the rest of the day was spent celebrating.

The Second Night

The next night, before Sila went to bed with his wife, Ivashka again gave him the exact instructions and warnings he had given him the previous night and hid by the door to keep watch. That night, everything unfolded exactly as it had done the previous night. As Sila shook his wife, the dragon flew in through the window and was about to eat him. Ivashka leapt from his hiding place with his sword drawn and fought the dragon and managed to sever two more of its heads before the dragon escaped through the window.

The Third Night

On the third night, Ivashka gave the same warnings to Sila and again hid himself by the door to watch. Again his wife tried to make Sila speak and embrace her, and again, he would neither speak or respond to her entreaties to embrace her. Once again, she pushed down upon his heart, and he began shaking her. Once again, the dragon flew in through the window and attempted to devour him, but was attacked by Ivashka who cut off the remaining two of its heads and burnt the remains of the dragon scattering the ashes across the fields.

The Journey Home

Sila continued living with his wife at the palace of KIng Salom for one year, but through all that time, he continued to refrain from speaking to her or win her love. One day, Ivashka went to him and told him it was time to go to King Salom and request permission to return to his own land. The king gave his permission and provided two companies of his soldiers to escort him home. So Sila, taking his wife and Ivashka with him, set off with his escort on the journey back to the ship and to his homeland.

The Freeing of Queen Truda

When they reached halfway, Ivashka told Sila to make camp for the night. The next morning Ivashka collected pieces of wood to make a fire and then brought Queen Truda near to it. Then he took out his sword and cut her into pieces.

This shocked Sila and he began to weep and wring his hands but Ivashka said, “Have trust, my friend and stop your weeping! I tell you she will return again to life.”

Sila stopped weeping, but watched in horror as all manner of vile and evils things crept and slithered from her body. Ivashka threw each and every one of these on the fire and said, “Now you see for yourself the evil things that have possessed your wife, but now she is free from them!”

When all the evil things had left her and been burnt, Ivashka placed the pieces of her together to form a new body. Then taking out a vial he said contained the water of life, he sprinkled this over the reassembled body and Queen Truda instantly sprang to life whole and free from evil. With that, he turned to Sila Tsarevich and said,

“Now my task for you is done, and I have repaid my debt to you for saving me from the water and giving me a proper burial.  You will soon discover that your wife loves you above all things and that you will have great happiness together until the end of your days.  You will never see me again, and now I bid you farewell.”

With that, the smiling figure of Ivashka dissolved into the the thin air before the eyes of Sila Tsarevich and his wife, Queen Truda. Sila and his wife continued on the journey to his homeland. When he reached the place he had left his ship, the captain and crew were still faithfully waiting, and he and his wife went aboard after dismissing his escort.

The ship met with a fair wind which carried them quickly and safely to the port Sila had previously set sail from. On news of his arrival, his father, Tsar Chotei, was delighted and welcomed them with a spectacular volley of cannons and fireworks. He came down to the ship and led them back to his palace and threw a lavish banquet to celebrate the return of his youngest son and his wife.

Heart’s Desire

Sila Tsarevich was pleased to find that his wife seemed to love him more and more every day. He felt the same about her, and they were very happy together. After two years living with his father, Sila decided he and his wife would return to her homeland. On their return, King Salom abdicated and handed the crown to Sila, who with Queen Truda beside him, ruled the kingdom for many years in peace and happiness. Let us remember that, and all of this came about because Sila had stopped to take in an abandoned coffin floating in the sea and give the dead a decent and proper burial, and because of that, he received the help of the Grateful Dead to achieve his heart’s desire.

© 08/08/2018 zteve t evans

References, Attributions and Further Reading

The Grateful Dead: Folktales of Type 505
Original source Robert Steele, The Russian Garland of Fairy Tales: Being Russian Folk Legends Translated from a Collection of Chapbooks Made in Moscow (New York: Robert M. McBride and Co., 1916), pp. 194-201.
The Russian Garland, Being Russian Folk Tales by Steele and Rosciszewski
The Grateful Dead: The History of a Folk Story – By Gordon Hall Gerould
Grateful dead (folklore) – Wikipedia
The Grateful Dead: folktales of Aarne-Thompson-Uther type 505
File:Бой Ивана Царевича со Змеем.jpg – Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

In April 2013, zteve launched his first blog that focused on legends, myths and folktales from around the world at Under the influence!. This has has grown steadily receiving visitors from 189 countries around the world so far. He has contributed  articles to the #FolkloreThursday website regularly since its launch and haunts Twitter here, @ztevetevans

Cover Art: Ivan Billibin
Layout: Amanda Bergloff

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Havelock the Dane:
Hero-King of Two Realms