The Fox Skin

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Ира Шилова. The Fox Skin

Lelya girl

The family of Lelya

The Friend

The Pay

The Advice

The Truth

The Escape

The Border

For Humankind

The Mute on a Boulder

The truth of miserable

The Fox Skin

The Tale about Lelya

GLOSSARY

Отрывок из книги

Lelya's family did not clean the hut. The family did not heat the stove. The family did not keep a broom, a vat, or an oven fork in the household. However, the family's dwelling was always neat and warm, and dishes from the womb of the forest appeared on the table every sunset, as if invisible servants carried the dust, laid beds, fed the hidden fire, and slaughtered wild boars and grouse.

Lelya's family never went to see people. Yet, once in awhile, when people came to see them, Lelya saw disorder in those visits: no one had invited the human guests to the hut, the humans' gifts were rejected, and only the mother spoke calmly to those who came, as if they were not the visitors but the danger.

.....

"People are not some bizarre creatures!" the fox sniffed the edge of Lelya's dress with a sharp nose. "They live like everyone else in this world. They sleep, they eat, like all of us. They like packs and friendly company," the fox said as his black, tight moustache touched the girl's hands. "While the elders are whispering, call her, call the girl and make sure there is nothing bad about people."

Lelya did not answer anything, only nodded timidly. And this nod pleased the wild red companion, the desires of Lelya, and the curiosity of stranger-girl, who, fascinated by the sight of a tame fox, was slowly approaching unfamiliar children and her pet.

.....