“That,” said she, “is no small task,—nine years to go there, and nine to come back, eighteen in all. Will good come of it? God knows. But pray to the Lord and lie down to sleep; the morning is wiser than the evening. To-morrow thou’lt know all.”
After Fedot had lain down, his wife opened her magic book and asked the two unknown youths if they knew how to go to the verge of destruction and bring back Shmat-Razum. They answered: “We know not.” In the morning she roused her husband and said, “Go to the king and ask for the road golden treasure,—thou hast eighteen years to wander; when thou hast the money come home for the parting.”
Fedot got the money from the king and returned to take farewell of his wife. She gave him a towel and a ball, and said: “When thou goest out of the town throw the ball down before thee, and wherever it rolls do thou follow. Here is a towel of my own work; no matter where thou art, wipe thy face with it after washing.”
Fedot took farewell of his wife and comrades, bowed down on all four sides, and went beyond the barrier. He threw down the ball before him; it rolled, rolled on, and he followed after.
About a month had passed, when the king summoned the mayor and said: “The sharpshooter has gone to wander over the white world for eighteen years; it is evident that he will not come back alive. Eighteen years, as thou knowest, are not two weeks; many a thing may happen on the road. He has much money, and robbers will fall upon him perhaps, strip him, and give him to a savage death. I think we can begin at his wife now. Take my carriage, drive to the soldier’s quarters, and bring her to the palace.”
The mayor drove to Fedot’s house, entered, saluted the sharpshooter’s wife, and said: “Hail, witty woman, the king has ordered us to present thee at the palace.”
She went. The king received her with gladness, led her to a golden chamber, and spoke these words: “Dost thou wish to be queen? I will take thee in marriage.”
“Where has it ever been seen or heard of,” asked she, “that a wife was taken from her living husband? Though he is a simple soldier he is my lawful husband.”
“If thou wilt not yield of thy free will, I will take thee by force.”
The beautiful woman laughed, struck the floor, became a blue dove, and flew out through the window.