The next day, Nushka was asking Yurek about things in the village. She wanted to understand the system there, hoping it would ease her spirit a bit, but the more she knew, the more confused she felt. This time they talked about the rules of sentencing villagers to death, which was given the name of “being sent on a journey.”
– Old Bolek “went on a journey” for not wanting to give his favorite cow for a big celebration of something – Yurko said the last words with rich gestures
Nushka’s eyes widened. At the same time, she remembered how often she had heard talk in the village about people going on a journey. She had no idea what that meant back then.
– Well – Yurko added, noticing her surprise – and why do you think I was constantly wandering around the forest?’ I’m a bad hunter, but men in this village have a shitty life.
– What about me?
– There are rumors that this husband of Magnificent died because he allowed himself to be lured by Vila. So first she got laid him and then killed him, can you believe it? – Yurek seemed to be very amused by this anecdote, because he had barely finished speaking and he had to lean his elbow on the grass to let out a thunderous laugh – can you guess how humiliating it is for our Magnificent?
Nudhka burst into uncontrollable giggles, and they laughed together for a while.
– I’ve wanted to take you out of there for a long time
– Why?
– Somehow I have a mission to save those who don’t fit in there.
– Have you saved anyone before?
– You’re third. The former ones I abducted more quietly. Now I can’t go back there. People don’t want to run away. Either they are afraid or they absorb quickly what they are taught.
– So you could have died many times
– What’s left of this life for me? Everyone died in my area, I don’t have any kids…
Yurko looked at Nushka inquisitively:
– Aren’t you too old to be that slow-witted?” 90 years old, girl…
Nushka laughed, put her hand on the grass and said:
– My wisdom is not words. It’s water, earth, wind. I am talking with them. I just stopped doing it in the village…
– So what are they telling you now? – Yurek spontaneously leaned towards Nushka in the hope that he would receive an answer right away
Nushka combed the blades of grass with her hand and, sighing, replied:
– The thing is, they don’t tell me much now. I think I’ve lost connection with them…
– Oh, they were angry with you because you didn’t talk to them?
– Because I didn’t listen to them.
Yurek narrowed his eyes, estimating in his head the chances of understanding this topic, even with an in-depth explanation. After a moment, however, he whistled lingeringly:
– We’ve had a chat, now it’s time to go!
– Where?
– To the city.
Nushka felt her heart start to pound like crazy. She knew the city only from stories in which it was described as a place of soullessness, separation from nature and huge concentrations of people. The very thought of it made her queasy. Wanting to anticipate her protests, Yurek said, already making preparations for the journey:
– You escaped, you are free. Now I want to lie down on my back and sleep peacefully without worrying about being torn apart or stabbed in the night. Your earth, grass and air have stopped talking to you, so I am your only guide – Yurek spread his hands – decidion has been made.
***
Walking through the forest, with time, the change of vegetation and character of the forest was noticeable. Previously, around them, birches intertwined with spruces, beeches and pines, now there was nothing but birch trees shooting thickly into the sky like black and white needles. Along with the road covered, fog began to emerge here and there, taking on a bluish color in places, which ambiguously indicated a different than ordinary origin of this phenomenon. The chirping of the birds took on a more melodious tone, no longer sounding like random chirps, but more like a finesse song. Even Yurek did not remain indifferent to this sound, looking around again and again in search of the owners of these voices. Nushka inhaled the air of this unusual atmosphere and suddenly felt that there was something familiar about it. Glad that she was beginning to recognize the tiny clues again, she strained her senses even more. But even though everything was becoming more familiar with each step, a strange uneasiness was growing in her at the same rate. The chirping of the birds seemed to pass more and more into the melodious waves of a high-pitched female voice, until the words were heard in an intoxicating song:
Sweetheart, where does your path lead?
What will’o’the-wish has brought you here?
I owe him gratitude, because I am tormented by fear,
That I will always be poisoned with sadness.
Do not shun like other boys,
From my grace and readiness,
My heat will no longer be a stranger to you,
Let’s taste divinity together today.
Let your foot know no rest,
Dear wanderer, don’t let me alone
If you are ready to do this,
I am yours, grab me and let’s go dancing!
The song faded into the wild chirping of birds, which was rhythmized by the roar of creaking birches, and Nushka could only see Yurek going farther and farther away. She ducked to the side to see where he was going. In the distance, she saw a laughing figure swaying gracefully on the branches of black and white trees.
– I knew it! – barked Nuszka, whose voice, however, was irretrievably lost in the chaos of loud sounds of nature manipulated by the power of Viła.
