Chapters:
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1
Do you remember about the orchard of Fairy Vevea? To tell you the truth, my friends, this orchard was one of the most beautiful places in Flowergarden. Many different sorts of apples, peaches, apricots, plums, grapes, pears and cherries grew in it. The orchard was large and needed constant care. Two inseparable friends, Evsei and a dog named Jump, helped the sorceress in the orchard. Even after the friends moved to President Sviatoslav, they continued to help Vevea and visited her every Saturday.One summer day Evsei and Jump picked ripe fruits and put them in baskets. Then the friends were going to treat Flowergarden`s children to the fruits. Evsei and Jump were very busy, when they saw two butterflies flying to meet them. The butterflies sat on the apple-tree`s branch and after that one of them applied to the boy and dog,
“Hello! We heard a lot about your victory over King Merpod. We are from the Kingdom of Butterflies, a country, where winter never comes. We were very happy and lived at peace and friendship. But recently a black scorpion attacked our kingdom. Thirty days we fought with it, thousands of us were killed in the unequal fight. Unfortunately, the cruel scorpion conquered us. Now we must pay a tribute to it: the monster eats forty butterflies every day. Gulina, our queen, asks you to help our country. We can`t do anything without your help.”“Cheer up!” Evsei said to butterflies. “We`ll try to help. Sit on my shoulder and we`ll go to Fairy Vevea.”
At the same time the kind sorceress was in another part of the orchard and also picked the fruits. Having seen Evsei and Jump, Vevea asked anxiously,
“What`s up, my friends? Why are you so agitated?”
“The black scorpion seized the Kingdom of Butterflies”, the dog answered. “We must help them.”
“Vevea, please, send Evsei and Jump to us”, the butterflies began to entreat.
“All right”, sighed the sorceress. “Mel-del, moboti-sopoti.”
When Vevea pronounced these words, a tiny sable and two red plums appeared in her hands.
“Evsei”, continued the fairy, “take this sable. It will help you to conquer the scorpion. And after you and Jump eat the magic plums you will diminish and will be able to fly on the butterflies. Be careful, my friends! I`ll keep an eye on you by my crystal ball.”
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2
Having eaten the plums, Evsei and Jump sat on the butterflies and flew over the high mountains to a wonderful magic country. Soon swift rivers, blue lakes stayed behind and the Kingdom of Butterflies showed itself. The country was in profound mourning. A lot of flowers faded and every butterfly mourned for its friends and relatives, which were killed by the cruel scorpion. After a short rest Evsei and Jump went to Queen Gulina.The beautiful queen sat majestically on a white rose, which was its throne. It had a green gown embroidered with flowers and a gold crown on. Forty butterflies, which wore red and blue clothers, sat on fragrant tulips near the queen.
“Welcome to our kingdom!” the queen said to the friends. “Sit on these violets, please. They are for our most honourable guests... I must say that the scorpion is very strong and perfidious. The monster winds the net round its sacrifice and strangles it, and then the killer sucks out its blood. Evsei, Jump, be careful, don`t approach to it too near!”“A good beginning makes a good ending”, Evsei answered calmly. “We`d like to see where the scorpion lives.”
“I will show you this gloomy place and will send the bravest butterflies, which can help you.”
Gulina took wing from its throne and flew to the low hill, which rose above the kingdom. Having sat on two butterflies, Evsei and Jump followed it.
Having landed near the foot`s low hill, the queen said, “The scorpion lives on the top`s low hill. I wish you good luck, my friends!”
The low hill was steep and high, covered with weeds and prickles. Evsei and Jump began to climb up the top slowly. There they saw the loathsome black scorpion, which stired its hairy paws with threat. Yes, it was terrible! But the boy and dog were bold and resolute.
“Jump”, whispered Evsei, “distract the scorpion`s attention.”
Jump ran to another side and began to bark. At that very instant the boy took out his sable from the sheath and approached to the scorpion closely. Then he waved the sable and cut off the monster`s head. The scorpion was dead.The friends came down from the low hill and informed the happy news to butterflies. And a great holiday started. All butterflies endeavored to treat Evsei and Jump to the best dishes; they covered them with flowers and invited to stay in the kingdom for a few days. But the boy and dog wanted to come back home. Then Queen Gulina fited out a caravan of butterflies, where each of them carried a small barrel with nectar. Jump and Evsei said good-bye to the beautiful queen, set on a small stretcher, which butterflies carried, and all the caravan flied high over the mountains.
On their return Fairy Vevea gave the friends a bit of a yellow plum and they became as before.
“Well done! I`m proud of you”, the sorceress smiled. “Now you can go home and have a good rest.”
“But what about the orchard?” Jump was surprised.
“Orchard? I think we`ll be occupied with it next time.”
Evsei and Jump said good-bye to the fairy, but next day they came back and continued their work in the orchard.
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