Wizard of the Emerald City
The fairy tale "The Wizard of the Emerald City" tells about amazing adventures Ellie and her friends - the Straw Scarecrow, the Brave Lion and the Tin Woodman - in Fairyland.
The book, first published in 1939, is still loved by millions of children and adults.
Among the vast Kansas steppe, in a small house-van, removed from its wheels and placed on the ground, the girl Ellie lived with her farmer parents. One summer evening, a strong wind suddenly rose and a terrible hurricane broke out, caused by the evil and insidious sorceress Gingema, who decided to use it to destroy the entire human race. A whirlwind swirled the house along with Ellie and her favorite dog Totoshka and carried him to the Magic Land, where he fell right on the head of the evil witch, thus freeing the Blue Country from the cruel ruler. So Ellie and Totoshka found themselves far, far from home, in an unfamiliar country, separated from the whole world by a desert and huge mountains, through which not a single person had ever crossed. Having learned that only the Great Wizard Goodwin can return them home, the girl and the dog go to him in Emerald City. During the journey, our heroes meet the Straw Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion, who become their faithful and good friends, and together with them they continue their journey full of dangerous adventures along the road paved with yellow bricks...
Alexander Melentyevich Volkov born July 14, 1891 - children's writer
The favorite children's fairy tale of many generations of the writer Alexander Volkov was called “The Emerald City” - it personified all the most wonderful and magical things in life.
It all started with the fact that he, a great expert foreign languages, decided to learn English. And for practice I tried to translate the fairy tale American writer Frank Baum's "The Wise Man of OZ" He liked the book. He began to retell it to his two sons. At the same time, redoing something, adding something. The girl began to be called Ellie. Totoshka, having found himself in the Magic Land, spoke. And the Sage from the Land of Oz acquired a name and title - the Great and Terrible Wizard Goodwin... Many other cute, funny, sometimes almost imperceptible changes appeared. And when the translation, or, more precisely, the retelling, was completed, it suddenly became clear that this was no longer quite Baum’s “The Sage.” The American fairy tale has become just a fairy tale. And her heroes spoke Russian as naturally and cheerfully as they had spoken English half a century before.
Samuil Yakovlevich Marshak soon became acquainted with the manuscript of "The Wizard", and then with the translator, and strongly advised him to take up literature professionally. Volkov heeded the advice. "The Wizard" was published in 1939. "The Wizard of the Emerald City" came into the hands of our generation only in the early 60s, already in a revised form, with wonderful pictures artist L. Vladimirsky. Since then, it has been republished almost every year and enjoys continued success. And young readers again set off on a journey along the road paved with yellow brick...
A. Volkov
Wizard of the Emerald City
Ellie lived among the great Kansas steppe. Her uncle, farmer John, worked in the field all day, and Aunt Anna was busy with the housework.
They lived in a van, taken off its wheels and placed on the ground.
The furnishings of the house were poor: an iron stove, a wardrobe, a table, three chairs and two beds. There was a hatch in the middle of the floor through which one could go down into the “hurricane cellar.” The family holed up in the cellar during storms.
Kansas hurricanes have toppled Uncle John's home more than once. But John did not lose heart: when the wind died down, he raised the light house, the stove and beds were put in place, Ellie collected tin plates and mugs - and everything was in order until the next hurricane.
All around, the boring, gray steppe stretched all the way to the horizon. The owner of the house matched the dull steppe.
Aunt Anna never smiled: Ellie’s laughter and noisy games with her cheerful dog Toto surprised her. She did not understand how she could play and laugh in such a boring country.
Kansas was Ellie's homeland. She was born in the same small house, and the same steppe was around, and in the same way, during a storm, her parents holed up in the “hurricane cellar.” And when Ellie was orphaned, Uncle John took her in.
Ellie helped Aunt Anna with the housework. Uncle John taught her to read, write and count. He promised to take her to a fair in a neighboring town, and the girl was looking forward to the trip. More than once in her dreams she saw fairground booths with toys and sweets, a circus, cages of a wandering menagerie with monkeys and lions.
The girl loved to play with Toto. It was a black dog with long silky hair, a shaggy muzzle, pointy ears and small, funny sparkling black eyes. Toto was always cheerful. He was ready to play with the girl all day.
But today Ellie had no time for him. Uncle John sat on the threshold and looked restlessly at the sky, grayer than usual. Ellie stood near her uncle with Toto in her arms. Aunt Anna was washing dishes in the house. Soon Uncle John and Ellie heard the rumble of the wind from the north. The grass lay flat to the ground, and waves ran across it. At the same time, an approaching wind noise was heard from the south. Uncle John jumped up.
There will be a hurricane! I'll go get the cattle into the barn! - he hurried.
Aunt Anna ran to the door.
Hurry up, Ellie! - she screamed shrilly. - To the cellar!
Aunt Anna threw back the cellar door and went down into the dark pit. Toto slipped out of the girl’s arms and hid under the bed. Ellie tried in vain to get him out of there. Finally she caught Totoshka and was already near the hatch, but a gust of hurricane shook the house so much that the girl involuntarily sat down on the floor.
A strange thing happened.
The house turned over two or three times, like a carousel, and slowly rose up. The north and south winds collided where the light house stood. He found himself in the center of a cyclone. The whirlwind spun him, lifted him up and carried him through the air.
The room was semi-dark, and the wind howled around. The house, swaying, rushed through the air. Totoshka was unhappy. He ran around the room barking excitedly, dissatisfied with what was happening around him. Ellie sat on the floor in confusion. Suddenly Totoshka ran to the open hatch and fell into it. The girl screamed in horror and grief. But soon the pointy ears of a dog appeared from the hole. The air pressure pushed Toto back, and he floated among the hatch, squealing in fear. The girl crawled to the hole, pulled the dog out by the ear and slammed the door.
Ellie felt very lonely. The wind roared so loudly that it deafened her. It seemed to her that the house was about to fall and break. But time passed, and the house was still flying. Ellie climbed onto the bed and lay down, holding Toto close to her. Under the roar of the wind, gently rocking the house, Ellie fell fast asleep.
Ellie in the land of Munchkins
Ellie woke up from a strong jolt and remembered what happened. Toto licked Ellie’s face with a hot, wet tongue and whined. The girl jumped out of bed. The house didn't move. The sun was shining brightly through the window. Ellie ran to the door, opened it - and screamed in surprise.
The hurricane brought the house into the country extraordinary beauty. There were green lawns all around; along their edges grew trees with ripe, juicy fruits; flowerbeds were visible in the clearings beautiful flowers. Unprecedented, brightly feathered birds fluttered and sang. Not far away a clear stream gurgled; Silver fish frolicked in the water.
This picture amazed Ellie. It seemed to her that she was seeing an amazing dream. Ellie even rubbed her eyes, but everything remained in its place.
While the girl stood hesitantly on the threshold, the funniest and sweetest people imaginable appeared from behind the trees. They were no taller than Ellie. The men were dressed in blue velvet caftans and tight trousers; blue boots with cuffs glittered on his feet. But most of all, Ellie liked the pointed hats: their tops were decorated with crystal balls, and small bells tinkled gently under the wide brims.
An old woman, all in white, walked importantly in front of the three men; Tiny stars sparkled on her pointed hat and on her robe. The old woman's gray hair fell onto her shoulders.
In the distance, behind the fruit trees, a whole crowd of little people could be seen; They stood whispering and exchanging glances, but did not dare to come closer.
The ambassadors of these timid little people smiled warmly and somewhat timidly at Ellie. Then they moved forward together and took off their hats at once. “Ding-ding-ding!” the bells rang. Ellie noticed that the little people's jaws were constantly moving, as if chewing something.
The old woman turned to Ellie:
Mighty Fairy! Welcome to the country of the East! You killed the evil sorceress Gingema and freed the Munchkins!
Ellie was amazed. Why is she called a fairy and who could she destroy, Ellie, who has not even killed a sparrow in her life?!
The little old lady was waiting for an answer.
Ellie said:
You are very kind, but there is a mistake: I didn’t kill anyone.
The house did this, but, of course, on your orders,” said the old white woman.
And the little men exclaimed in chorus:
This is your house - crack! crack! - killed the evil sorceress Gingema! - and waved their hats at once.
“Ding-ding-ding!” the bells rang.
Look! - the old woman pointed to the corner of the house. - There are her legs!
Ellie recoiled with a cry of horror. A pair of legs in pretty silver shoes stuck out from under the house.
Oh, what grief! - Ellie cried, clenching her hands. - It's all the ugly hurricane's fault! What to do?
Wizard of the Emerald City(1939)
The girl Ellie and her faithful dog Totoshka from Kansas find themselves in a magical land. To return home, Ellie must go on a journey through the Magic Land. She must help three beings fulfill their deepest desires. Having met the revived scarecrow Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and Cowardly Lion, they all go together to the Emerald City to the great wizard Great and Terrible Goodwin to ask him to fulfill their cherished desires. But, having experienced a lot of adventures, they expose Goodwin, who turned out to be a simple aeronaut from Kansas, brought here by a hurricane. But still he manages to fulfill the wishes of all three friends, and Ellie is helped to return home by silver slippers. 
Volkov Alexander Melentievich(06/14/1891 - July 3, 1977), Russian writer. A mathematician by training. He is best known as the author of a series of fairy tales for children: “The Wizard of the Emerald City” (based on a book by the American children's writer F. Baum “The Sage from Oz”), “Oorfene Deuce and his wooden soldiers”, “Seven Underground Kings”, “Fiery God of the Marrans”, “Yellow Fog”, “The Mystery of the Abandoned Castle”. Stories (“Two Brothers”, “The Adventures of Two Friends in the Land of the Past”, “The Captive of Constantinople”) and novels (“Architects”, “Wanderings”, about G. Bruno) on historical subjects. Books of popular science stories (“Earth and Sky”, etc.).
Preface to the publication of the books “The Wizard of the Emerald City” and “Oorfene Deuce and His Wooden Soldiers.” Publishing house " Soviet Russia» Moscow – 1971.
The author of this book, Alexander Melentyevich Volkov, turns 80 years old in 1971. Alexander Melentyevich is familiar not only with writing - he taught mathematics for almost half a century, and was an assistant professor at the Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals in the department of higher mathematics.
The fairy tale “The Wizard of the Emerald City” was first published in 1939. Here is what A.M. Volkov writes about this: “I wrote the fairy tale “The Wizard of Oz” based on the tale of the American writer Lyman Frank Baum (1856-1919), called “The Wise Man from Oz.”
The magical country invented by Baum and the homeland of Goodwin, and in general the whole world in which the heroes of his fairy tales live and act - all this is very similar to the capitalist world familiar to the writer, where the well-being of the minority is built on the exploitation and deception of the majority. That is why Goodwin saw in deceiving the inhabitants of a magical land the only way to save himself.
I changed a lot in Frank Baum’s fairy tale, wrote new chapters - about the meeting with the cannibal, about the flood.
The American writer Totoshka is mute. But it seemed to me that in a magical land, where not only birds and animals talk, but even people made of iron and straw, the smart and faithful Totoshka should speak, and he spoke to me.”
Readers fell in love with the courageous and selfless heroes of the fairy tale, who passed with honor through dangerous fairy-tale adventures and unexpected trials, of which there are so many in A. M. Volkov’s fairy tale. A. M. Volkov received a lot of letters from the guys asking them to tell about the new adventures of the heroes, about their future fate. Alexander Melentyevich himself did not want to part with his heroes. And following the fairy tale “The Wizard of the Emerald City,” Alexander Melentyevich Volkov wrote his own original fairy tales, where familiar and new heroes act.
This book includes the fairy tale “Oorfene Deuce and His Wooden Soldiers,” which was previously published separately.
The fairy tale “Seven Underground Kings” was published in our publishing house. In 1971, the fairy tale “The Fire God of the Marrans” was published. The fairy tale “Yellow Fog” was published in the journal “Science and Life” for 1970. A. M. Volkov is working on the sixth fairy tale of this cycle, “The Secret of the Abandoned Castle.” 
Artist Leonid Vladimirsky illustrates fairy tales. Almost half a century ago, in the book “The Golden Key,” he drew his Pinocchio in a striped cap. Now this image has become a classic. The artist’s second success was drawings for A. Volkov’s fairy tales about the Emerald City. The artist's list includes: "Ruslan and Lyudmila" by A. Pushkin, "Three Fat Men" by Y. Olesha, "Russian Fairy Tales" and many other books.
L. Vladimirsky is a laureate of the children's reading competition, an Honored Artist of Russia.
The oldest children's book artist Leonid Viktorovich Vladimirsky was born in Moscow on Arbat on September 21, 1920.
After graduating from school, he entered the Civil Engineering Institute (MISI), where he managed to complete three courses before the war. In August 1941 he was drafted into the army and sent to courses at the Military Engineering Academy. Kuibysheva. Then he served in engineering units, and ended the war with the rank of senior lieutenant. He has a medal “For Victory over Germany.”
In 1945, after demobilization, he entered the first year of the art faculty of the Institute of Cinematographers (VGIK) in the animation department, from which he graduated with honors in 1951. He was sent to the “Filmstrip” studio, where he drew 10 children’s filmstrips, including “The Adventures of Pinocchio” (1953) based on the fairy tale by A.K. Tolstoy. In it, the artist created his own image of a wooden hero in a striped cap, which is now well-known and considered classic. In 1956, the publishing house “Iskusstvo” published a book under the same title, and from that time Vladimirsky began to engage only in illustrating books for children. Second famous work artist, which brought him national recognition - illustrations for six fairy tales A. Volkova. The first book, “The Wizard of the Emerald City,” was published in 1959. According to the Book Chamber, since then, with drawings by L. Vladimirsky, it has been reprinted more than 110 times.
The artist illustrated: the poem “Ruslan and Lyudmila” by A.S. Pushkin, fairy tales “Three Fat Men” by Y. Olesha, “The Adventures of Parsley” by M. Fadeeva and A. Smirnov, “Journey of the Blue Arrow” by J. Rodari, “Russian Fairy Tales” and many other books. Their total circulation is more than 20 million copies. In 1961, L. Vladimirsky was accepted into the creative unions of artist and journalists. From numerous trips around the country and abroad, he brought back art essays that were published in the central press. In 1967, his book “Australia. Travel album."
In 1974, for his services in the field of fine arts, he was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR. He won the All-Russian Children's Reader's Choice Competition in 1996.
Currently, L. Vladimirsky continues to be active social activities. He headed the art studio at the Republican Children's Library (RGDL) for six years and participates in the work of the jury of competitions children's drawing, performs in schools and libraries. He is one of the organizers of the family club “Friends of the Emerald City,” which is now successfully expanding its activities. Unanimously elected chairman of the club's board.
Married, has a daughter, granddaughter and great-grandson. Text from a wonderful site: http://emeraldcity.ru
Among the vast Kansas steppe lived a girl named Ellie. Her father, farmer John, worked in the field all day, and her mother Anna was busy with the housework.
They lived in a small van, taken off its wheels and placed on the ground.
The furnishings of the house were poor: an iron stove, a wardrobe, a table, three chairs and two beds. A “hurricane cellar” was dug next to the house, right next to the door. The family holed up in the cellar during storms.
Steppe hurricanes more than once overturned the light dwelling of farmer John. But John did not lose heart: when the wind died down, he raised the house, the stove and beds fell into place. Ellie collected tin plates and mugs from the floor - and everything was in order until the next hurricane.
The steppe, smooth as a tablecloth, stretched all the way to the horizon. Here and there one could see houses as poor as John’s house. Around them were arable fields where farmers sowed wheat and corn.
Ellie knew all the neighbors well for three miles around. Uncle Robert lived in the west with his sons Bob and Dick. Old Rolf lived in a house in the north. He made wonderful windmills for children.
The wide steppe did not seem dull to Ellie: after all, this was her homeland. Ellie didn't know any other places. She saw mountains and forests only in pictures, and they did not attract her, perhaps because they were poorly drawn in Ellen’s cheap books.
When Ellie got bored, she called the cheerful dog Toto and went to visit Dick and Bob or went to grandpa Rolf, from whom she never returned without a homemade toy.
Totoshka jumped across the steppe, barking, chasing crows and was infinitely pleased with himself and his little mistress. Toto had black fur, pointy ears and small, funny sparkling eyes. Toto was never bored and could play with the girl all day long.
Ellie had a lot to worry about. She helped her mother with the housework, and her father taught her to read, write and count, because the school was far away and the girl was too young to go there every day.
One summer evening, Ellie sat on the porch and read aloud a story. Anna was washing clothes.
- “And then strong, mighty hero Arnaulf saw a wizard as tall as a tower,” Ellie intoned, running her finger along the lines. “Fire flew out of the wizard’s mouth and nostrils...” Mommy,” Ellie asked, looking up from the book, “are there wizards now?”
- No, my dear. There were wizards in the old days, and then they disappeared. And what are they for? And without them it’s quite a hassle...
Ellie wrinkled her nose funny:
– Still, it’s boring without wizards. If I suddenly became queen, I would definitely order that there be a wizard in every city and every village. And so that he performs all sorts of miracles for children.
– What kind, for example? – the mother asked smiling.
“Well, what kind... So that every girl and every boy, waking up in the morning, finds a big sweet gingerbread under their pillow... Or...” Ellie looked sadly at her rough, worn shoes. “Or so that all children have nice, lightweight shoes.”
“You’ll get the shoes even without the wizard,” Anna objected. - If you go with dad to the fair, he’ll buy...
While the girl was talking to her mother, the weather began to deteriorate.
Just at this very time, in a distant country, behind the high mountains, she was conjuring in a gloomy deep cave evil sorceress Gingema.
It was scary in Gingema's cave. There, hanging from the ceiling was a stuffed huge crocodile. Large eagle owls sat on high poles, and bundles of dried mice, tied to strings by their tails like onions, hung from the ceiling. A long, thick snake coiled itself around the post and shook its flat head evenly. And there were many other strange and creepy things in the vast cave of Gingema.
Gingema was brewing a magic potion in a large, smoky cauldron. She threw mice into the cauldron, tearing one by one from the bunch.
-Where did the snake heads go? – Gingema grumbled angrily. – I didn’t eat everything at breakfast!.. And, here they are, in a green pot! Well, now the potion will be a success!.. These damned people will get it! I hate them! Spread around the world! The swamps have been drained! They cut down the thickets!.. All the frogs were taken out!.. The snakes are destroyed! There is nothing tasty left on earth! Unless you just eat a worm!..
Gingema shook her bony, withered fist into space and began throwing snake heads into the cauldron.
- Wow, hateful people! So my potion is ready for your destruction! I will sprinkle the forests and fields, and a storm will arise, such as has never happened in the world!
Gingema grabbed the cauldron by the “ears” and with effort pulled it out of the cave. She put a large broom into the cauldron and began to splash her brew around.
- Break out, hurricane! Fly around the world like a mad beast! Tear, break, destroy! Knock over houses, lift them into the air! Susaka, masaka, lema, rema, gema!.. Burido, furido, sama, pema, fema!..
She shouted magic words and splashed a disheveled broom around, and the sky darkened, clouds gathered, and the wind began to whistle. Lightning flashed in the distance...
- Smash, tear, break! – the witch screamed wildly. - Susaka, masaka, burido, furido! Destroy, hurricane, people, animals, birds! Just don’t touch the frogs, mice, snakes, spiders, hurricane! Let them multiply all over the world to the joy of me, the mighty sorceress Gingema! Burido, furido, susaka, masaka!
And the whirlwind howled stronger and stronger, lightning flashed, thunder rumbled deafeningly.
Gingema spun on the spot in wild delight, and the wind fluttered the hem of her long robe...
The hurricane caused by Gingema's magic reached Kansas and was approaching John's house every minute. In the distance, clouds were gathering on the horizon and lightning was flashing.
Toto ran restlessly, raising his head, and barked provocatively at the clouds that were quickly rushing across the sky.
“Oh, Totoshka, how funny you are,” said Ellie. - You scare the clouds, but you yourself are a coward!
The dog was indeed very afraid of thunderstorms. He had already seen a lot of them in his short life. Anna became worried.
“I’ve been chatting with you, daughter, but look, a real hurricane is approaching...
The menacing rumble of the wind was already clearly audible. The wheat in the field lay flat to the ground, and waves rolled along it, like a river. An excited farmer John came running from the field.
- Storm, a terrible storm is coming! - he shouted. - Hide in the cellar quickly, and I’ll run and drive the cattle into the barn!
Anna rushed to the cellar and threw back the lid.
- Ellie, Ellie! Hurry here! - she shouted.
But Totoshka, frightened by the roar of the storm and the incessant peals of thunder, ran into the house and hid there under the bed, in the farthest corner. Ellie didn’t want to leave her pet alone and rushed into the van after him.
And at this time an amazing thing happened.
The house turned two or three times, like a carousel. He found himself in the middle of a hurricane. The whirlwind spun him, lifted him up and carried him through the air.
A frightened Ellie appeared at the door of the van with Toto in her arms. What to do? Jump to the ground? But it was too late: the house was flying high above the ground...
The wind ruffled Anna's hair. She stood near the cellar, stretched out her hands and screamed desperately. Farmer John came running from the barn and rushed to the place where the wagon stood. The orphaned father and mother looked for a long time into the dark sky, constantly illuminated by the brilliance of lightning...
Page 1 of 19
HURRICANE
Among the vast Kansas steppe lived a girl named Ellie. Her father, farmer John, worked in the field all day, and her mother, Anna, worked around the house.
They lived in a small van, removed from its wheels and placed on the ground.
The furnishings of the house were poor: an iron stove, a wardrobe, a table, three chairs and two beds. A “hurricane cellar” was dug next to the house, right next to the door. The family holed up in the cellar during storms.
Steppe hurricanes have more than once overturned the light dwelling of farmer John. But John did not lose heart: when the wind died down, he raised the house, the stove and beds were put in place, Ellie collected tin plates and mugs from the floor - and everything was in order until the next hurricane.
All around, the steppe, smooth as a tablecloth, stretched all the way to the horizon. Here and there one could see houses as poor as John’s house. Around them were arable fields where farmers sowed wheat and corn.
Ellie knew all the neighbors well for three miles around. Uncle Robert lived in the west with his sons Bob and Dick. In a house in the north lived old Rolf, who made wonderful windmills for children.
The wide steppe did not seem dull to Ellie: after all, this was her homeland. Ellie didn't know any other places. She saw mountains and forests only in pictures, and they did not attract her, perhaps because they were poorly drawn in the cheap Hellenic books.
When Ellie got bored, she called the cheerful dog Totoshka and went to visit Dick and Bob, or went to grandpa Rolf, from whom she never returned without a homemade toy.
Totoshka jumped across the steppe, barking, chasing crows and was infinitely pleased with himself and his little mistress. Toto had black fur, pointy ears and small, funny sparkling eyes. Toto was never bored and could play with the girl all day long.
Ellie had a lot to worry about. She helped her mother with the housework, and her father taught her to read, write and count, because the school was far away, and the girl was still too young to go there every day.
One summer evening, Ellie sat on the porch and read aloud a story. Anna was washing clothes.
“And then the strong, mighty hero Arnaulf saw a wizard as tall as a tower,” Ellie intoned, running her finger along the lines. “Fire flew out of the wizard’s mouth and nostrils...”
“Mommy,” Ellie asked, looking up from her book. -Are there any wizards now?
- No, my dear. There were wizards in the old days, but now they have disappeared. And what are they for? There will be enough trouble without them.
Ellie wrinkled her nose funny:
– Still, it’s boring without wizards. If I suddenly became queen, I would definitely order that there be a wizard in every city and every village. And so that he performs various miracles for children.
– What kind, for example? – the mother asked smiling.
“Well, what kind... So that every girl and every boy, waking up in the morning, finds a big sweet gingerbread under their pillow... Or...” Ellie looked reproachfully at her rough, worn shoes. - Or so that all children have nice, light shoes...
“You’ll get the shoes even without the wizard,” Anna objected. - If you go with dad to the fair, he’ll buy...
While the girl was talking to her mother, the weather began to deteriorate.
Just at this very time, in a distant country, behind the high mountains, the evil sorceress Gingema was casting a spell in a gloomy deep cave.
It was scary in Gingema's cave. There, hanging from the ceiling was a stuffed huge crocodile. Large eagle owls sat on high poles, and bundles of dried mice, tied to strings by their tails like onions, hung from the ceiling. A long, thick snake coiled itself around the post and shook its motley and flat head evenly. And there were many other strange and creepy things in the vast cave of Gingema.
Gingema was brewing a magic potion in a large, smoky cauldron. She threw mice into the cauldron, tearing one by one from the bunch.
-Where did the snake heads go? - Gingema grumbled angrily, - I didn’t eat everything at breakfast!.. And, here they are, in a green pot! Well, now the potion will be a success!.. These damned people will get it! I hate them... They spread all over the world! The swamps have been drained! They cut down the thickets!.. All the frogs were taken out!.. The snakes are destroyed! There is nothing tasty left on earth! Unless you can just feast on a worm or a spider!..
Gingema shook her bony, withered fist into space and began throwing snake heads into the cauldron.
- Wow, hateful people! So my potion is ready for your destruction! I will sprinkle the forests and fields, and a storm will arise, such as has never happened in the world!
Gingema forcefully grabbed the cauldron by the ears and pulled it out of the cave. She put a large broom into the cauldron and began to splash her brew around.
- Break out, hurricane! Fly around the world like a mad beast! Tear, break, destroy! Knock over houses, lift them into the air! Susaka, masaka, lema, rema, gema!.. Burido, furido, sema, pema, fema!..
She shouted magic words and splashed a disheveled broom around, and the sky darkened, clouds gathered, and the wind began to whistle. Lightning flashed in the distance...
- Smash, tear, break! – the witch screamed wildly. - Susaka, masaka, burido, furido! Destroy, hurricane, people, animals, birds! Just don’t touch the frogs, mice, snakes, spiders, hurricane! Let them multiply all over the world to the joy of me, the mighty sorceress Gingema! Burido, furido, susaka, masaka!
And the whirlwind howled stronger and stronger, lightning flashed, thunder roared deafeningly.
Gingema spun on the spot in wild delight and the wind blew the hem of her long black robe...
Caused by Gingema's magic, the hurricane reached Kansas and was approaching John's house every minute. In the distance, clouds were gathering on the horizon, with lightning flashing among them.
Toto ran restlessly, raising his head and barking provocatively at the clouds that were quickly rushing across the sky.
“Oh, Totoshka, how funny you are,” said Ellie. - You scare the clouds, but you yourself are a coward!
The dog was indeed very afraid of thunderstorms, of which he had already seen quite a few in his short life.
Anna became worried.
“I’ve been chatting with you, daughter, but look, a real hurricane is approaching...
The menacing rumble of the wind was already clearly audible. The wheat in the field lay flat to the ground, and waves rolled along it like a river. An excited farmer John came running from the field.
- Storm, a terrible storm is coming! - he shouted. “Hurry up and hide in the cellar, and I’ll run and drive the cattle into the barn!”
Anna rushed to the cellar and threw back the lid.
- Ellie, Ellie! Hurry here! - she shouted.
But Totoshka, frightened by the roar of the storm and the incessant peals of thunder, ran into the house and hid there under the bed, in the farthest corner. Ellie did not want to leave her pet alone and rushed into the van after him.
And at this time an amazing thing happened.
The house turned two or three times, like a carousel. He found himself in the middle of a hurricane. The whirlwind swirled him, lifted him up and carried him through the air.
A frightened Ellie appeared at the door of the van with Toto in her arms. What to do? Jump to the ground? But it was already too late: the house was flying high above the ground...
The wind ruffled the hair of Anna, who stood near the cellar, stretched out her hands and screamed desperately. Farmer John came running from the barn and, in despair, rushed to the place where the wagon stood. The orphaned father and mother looked for a long time into the dark sky, constantly illuminated by the brilliance of lightning...
The hurricane continued to rage, and the house, swaying, rushed through the air. Totoshka, dissatisfied with what was happening around him, ran around the dark room barking in fear. Ellie, confused, sat on the floor, clutching her head in her hands. She felt very lonely. The wind roared so loudly that it deafened her. It seemed to her that the house was about to fall and break. But time passed, and the house was still flying. Ellie climbed onto the bed and lay down, holding Toto close to her. Under the roar of the wind, gently rocking the house, Ellie fell fast asleep.
