dare walk in and check, but there’s nothing good for sure…
- Stay here then, take the salt in your hand and wait. I’m off to check.
- Go, and take care, you are strong, but you’re not the strongest…
----
Peter snuck up quietly, but without bending or hiding. Anyway, it would be futile to hide from something able to drag such a shadow upon entire watermill. He came in silently, holding the door open while he looked around. In one of the corners, the darjest one, something moved a bit.
- Welcome, little Dragon! Have no fear of me; I’m dangerous only to mortal men!
- Show yourself then, let me see you and know you!
- Please, just close the door, sunlight hurts my eyes, be so kind.
Peter closed the door, fearing a little, for he was aware that this thing before him Is powerful, but the greeting gave him some courage. He knew he’s just part Dragon and, as such, no less mortal than any other human but this creature didn’t seem to know it.
- Now show yourself, let me see you!
A strange horned creature slithered from the corner with a horrible sound. The massive and ugly thing covered with formidable scars all over its scaly body. Gnarly horns and six legs were encrusted in iron, and its eyes were just small pools of black fluid, like spiders eyes, only less of them. Peter remembered his great-grandfather’s book.
- So, Bukavac! What are you doing outside the lake?
- The Ala chased me; she says I wake her up at night while drowning passers-by.
- And how did you get here?
- River floods the corner around this mill, it’s enough for me. I’m here during the day and go there at night…
- And why are the watermen sneaking in my village during the night?
- Fools! They remember being dragged into the water by my relatives while they were alive, and now fear me. As if I hold any interest in them, now they are ghosts!
- What happens now?
- Nothing. I’m fine; they don’t bother; only there are no villagers or cattle for me to drown ever since I came. Tell me, is there anyone living here? Can I even have the miller?
- There’s no one in the village but me, I chased them all – Peter lied – and the miller is in league with the watermen so they told him about you.
- Oh! That’s no good. What can a Bukavac do in an empty village?
- Nothing, I’d recommend another moving…
- And how about if you help me a bit? You could chase the Ala from my lake so I could return home? There’s a rich village, many people, and cattle on the lake…
- That’s why Ala took it away, to be godmother to people, and eat their cattle. I can’t help, but you must leave this place…
- Not in a million years!
- Well, then escort me out and bid me farewell. I’ve finished this conversation.
- But I havent’!
Bukavac jumped from his corner and crashed with full force into Peter. Zduchach felt no fear, fierce as his granddad Radosh, caught Bukavac in an embrace and squeezed him strongly across the chest. They carried each other for the better part of an hour, none prevailed the other. All six legs in vain, the force is strong in Dragon’s descendant. At one moment, Bukavac eased up just a bit, and Peter managed to carry him out. There was still a shadow above, but Peter had it easier now.
- Now you’ll see what a Zduchach does best!
It dawned upon Bukavac who he wrestled with, recognized his opponent’s mortality. He doubled his efforts trying to drag him into the river, but all was over. Peter just glanced to the sky, the shadow vanished as if erased, and sunshine shone on the beast.
- Let go of me mortal! The Sun burns me up!
- I’m not letting go until you’ve promised to leave forever and free this place!
- I promise! I promise whatever just let go, my skin is drying and cracking, you’ll kill me!
- I know you cannot die, I want your promise!
- I can’t die, but the pain is overwhelming, if you hold me long enough I could lose my strength forever! No recuperation can help me then! There, you know my greatest secret and greatest weakness, let me go mortal, don’t take my strength!
Peter loosened his grip, releasing the Bukavac, he couldn’t destroy him entirely for it was not in his nature. The beast moved a bit and asked:
- Tell me your name, I wish to know whom to watch myself of.
- Peter’s my name, I’m the Dragon’s great-grandson, and you may stay here until dark. When the morning comes I don’t want to see you in my realm. If I see you again, I’ll chain you to the ground to dry out!
- Have no worries Peter, you’ll never meet me without your intention. But know this, you’ve made me a great mercy for not destroying me. I can’t escape my nature, but I promise not to drown people anymore. The cattle that wonders to me is something else…
- Even that is enough from you. Just leave this village.
----
The old miller flinched when Peter appeared, he dropped his paper and tobacco he prepared to make a roll-up, but Peter picked it up and told him not to fear.
- Here, uncle Milan, we solved your trouble. Be at your house until morning, and tomorrow you can use your watermill again. Tell your friends their water shall be free tomorrow to return in peace.
- Thank you, Peter, had I known you can help I’d call you the first day!
- It’s better this way, Bukavac was in your mill, he would be suspicious on the first day and very hard to subdue.
- Whatever you say, and tomorrow come by my house around lunchtime, my wife will make you something extra to take home…
----
At dawn, Peter opened the door to, as accustomed, do his chores. Had he not accidentally glanced, he would have stepped on. At the doorstep, there was a basket made of water grass, filled with berries, plants, and fruit. Even ones that don’t grow at this time of year, and there was more than a dozen varieties of mushrooms. To himself, enough food to last for days.
- Whitey? Where’s that Emperor of threshing floor and king of all chicken?
- Sleeping again, I don’t know his excuse for today since he was silent all night…
- I’m not sleeping, you goat, I told you so yesterday!
- Come on, stop arguing! Tell me what’s this in front of the house and who left it?
- Watermen came by last night, the whole bunch of them as if they’re making a wedding, offering gratitude for the return of their home. That is a gift from them, and they also said you don’t need to water your garden anymore, it’ll never go dry as long as they exist. Furthermore, they said that, if you’re ever in danger near water, just shout your name and help shall be given. And now enough, I’m off to nap a bit, someone must stay awake tonight, who knows what’s gonna visit you tonight!
Peter just laughed and went inside the house. Great-granddad’s science is vast, there’s so much more to learn.
###
About the author:
Radoslav B. Chugaly (a good query at google or any other net browser) - brick mason, carpenter, tile layer, concrete worker, poet, writer, performance artist, Dudeist, graduated as Bachelor with honors in economics. He is currently working as an accountant at public elementary school in Serbia. These are dry facts.
These are two short stories that helped create my novel “The Book of Answers”, sort of a template for it. Thank you for reading my prose, I love you all. If you enjoyed it, won’t you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favorite retailer?
Discover other titles by Radoslav B Chugaly
The Book of Answers
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Writer: https://chugaly.simplesite.com
Contact: https://www.facebook.com/radoslav.cugalj
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