“Indeed, let’s take him home!” said Vovka. “He will guard the house.”
“Believe your eyes only and not what he’s saying boldly. Listen to him, if you want to, but don’t believe! He’s lying as if he’s pan cakes frying – only too much noise,” said Cheese-eater and turned her back to the Wolf. “Don’t lie any more; it will help you in the days to come. You’re playing a fox, thinking that if your strength has failed you, your cunning won’t,” snorted the mouse scornfully. “They tell not without reason – a wolf has its tail between the legs in a kennel. You will never live in piece with a dog! If you are as meek as a sheep, then a bear is a shepherd, and a pig can do a gardener’s job.”
“If you don’t like what I’m saying, you may not listen, but don’t hinder my lying,” snarled the Wolf. “Why is everybody trying to make unfounded accusations against me?”
“Bewail or not, there is no trust in you any more. Answer at once – what have you done to the Cheese Fairy? Have you eaten her? If you don’t answer, we’ll leave you here for the rest of your days. Let’s go, Vova!” And Cheese-eater pretended that she wanted to go back.
“Wait! Don’t leave me alone here! I’ll tell you everything!” pleaded the Wolf.
Cheese-eater turned to him and the Wolf started to talk as fast as he could.
“My dearest, my most precious ones, have mercy on me! Don’t leave the old man to perish from midges and mosquitoes in this thick forest! I’ll do anything you say, I’ll tell everything that I know. The only thing is, I know nothing,” he said in a sad voice.
“What words we hear from you now! Even gnats, whose stings are painful rather, keep company only with each other.” Cheese-eater screwed up her eyes. “Do you think you can deceive us? If you don’t help, you’ll stay here forever. There is no use in deceiving yourself.”
“Oh, I will help – if only I can… I was only joking. I didn’t know you were so serious. I thought that maybe we could laugh a little.”
“Your jokes are so queer, so you’d better stay here,” said Cheese-eater and climbed on Vovka’s shoulder.
“Cheese-eater, dearest,” whispered the boy, “I feel so sorry for the Wolf. Are we really going to leave him here? Nobody will save him; he played his tricks on almost everyone. Let’s free him, ah? Shall we?”
“Look at this tender-hearted boy! Do you know that the Wolf is only waiting for that? You’ll free him and then he’ll – snap! – seize you at once and swallow. Though he is so greedy and rude, I pity him, too. But we shouldn’t show that to him, or he’ll never change his ways. You have to be hard on the Wolf, only then he’ll understand. And now,” she turned to the Wolf, “have a nice day, the joke-lover! Good-bye!”
