“But why did you need to get here?” interrupted Vovka.
“You don’t understand. They have everything here that one can only imagine. I thought that I could get to their world and take what I would like, because I also wanted to have everything. And what I don’t need, I’ll sell.”
“But this is stealing!”
“Don’t pity them. They won’t be any the worse for it. Everything here is gets done by itself. If they need more, they’ll do it.”
“It does not get done by itself! Everything here exists according to special fairy-tale rules. And if you need that much, why haven’t you worked yourself?”
“I haven’t worked?! I couldn’t sleep at nights, thinking of how I could get here! And I’ve found the means of doing it, as you can see,” said the Villain proudly.
“So, you found yourself in a fairy-tale land, but what happened to you afterwards?”
“I started to look closely at all the creatures, making a list of those that could be bought in the first place. I decided to transport ordinary animals first: cows, sheep and goats. I found a herd that was suitable and started to take the animals away. I thought that it wouldn’t be wise to steal the cattle in the villages. There were many people there, and I was afraid they could beat me up. And then I saw that old woman who lived only with a cat and a mouse. I had no idea that she wasn’t that simple. I had already got several cows and sheep and was going to take them to the human world, but then suddenly that granny appeared. And such a lively woman she was, because she set off with my cows instead of me.”
“Not with your, but with her cows, she owns them. But how did she set off?”
“I am telling you, I was ready to go to our world, drove together all the animals, and then suddenly that old woman appeared, pushed me away and – hop! – was among people in a split second.”
“Did you try to follow her?”
“I did, but it hadn’t worked. I guess she took my place. We have changed places, she is there and I am stuck here. But just wait,” the sloven became angry again. “When she becomes homesick, we’ll exchange again.”
“It won’t be so,” there came a small voice.
“Cheese-eater, dearest, you’ve come to yourself!” Vovka was happy.
“Everything went dark before my eyes because of this poisonous stuff, and I felt really bad. But now I am better and so glad that this wicked man will stay here and won’t get home.”
And then there was the Wolf in the window, who asked pleadingly, “Vova, may I come in? I can’t hear everything and don’t want to miss the most interesting part.”
