- Grandma! - Annika shouted - Look! Eiko found the ice needles!
- Stay back! Don't even go near them! - The grandmother said fearfully and grabbed both her grandchildren's hands.
- But why? - Eiko asked - I think they're beautiful.
- And they look like normal Christmas tree or pine needles," Annika added, "Only they're white.
- Maybe so," agreed Grandma, "but they are much more dangerous. When we get home, I'll tell you what they can do to a person.
And so, already at home, the grandchildren began to ask their grandmother:
- So, what's the story about the ice needles? Tell me, Grandma!
- All right," she replied, "I'll tell you the story. But you should know that this is not a fun story.
Many, many years ago, when my sister Ylva and I were no older than you, we went for a walk. It was winter, and suddenly Ilva cried out:
- Ouch!
- What happened? - I rushed over to her.
- I pricked my finger - replied Ylva and showed her hand, in which was one of those icy needles.
I examined my sister's hand, saw that there was no blood and the needle was not stuck in the finger, and said:
- Throw that needle away, Ylva, and put on some gloves.
We walked around some more, came home, and in the evening we noticed that Ylva became lethargic. She did not want to do anything, and to all our suggestions she answered only:
- I don't feel like it.
And she didn't want to do anything: from some chores to playing games. In the end, Ilva said:
- I'm sleepy.
- Sleep? - Mom was surprised - But we haven't even had dinner yet!
- And I don't feel like eating," replied Ylva indifferently.
- Are you sick? - Mom asked worriedly, "Let's take your temperature.
- I don't have any pain," Ylva said in a monotone voice.
- It's not a bad idea to take your temperature anyway - mom replied - Come on, don't be cranky!
But not only was Ilva's temperature not high, it was even lower than usual. Once she was sure, her mother decided that Ilva was just tired and sent her to bed.
- What's wrong with Ylva, mom? - I asked worriedly
- Don't worry, Thelma," she reassured me. - In the morning, Ylva would be just as active and cheerful, and her lethargy would be gone.
In the morning, however, things got much worse: I couldn't wake Ylva up.
- Mom! Dad! I rushed into the kitchen.
- What happened? - They came rushing to me--Ilva, she--
- She won't wake up - crying, I said - Is she dying?
- Don't worry baby, we'll do everything we can to save her! - and with these words Daddy went to our room. But he came back very quickly and asked me sternly:
- Thelma, remember immediately: did you do anything unusual in the street yesterday? - He added more softly, "Your sister's life depends on what you say now.
- And-Ilva found an ice needle. Here," I replied, stammering.
- Did she touch her?
- Yeah. She was holding it in her hand. And pricked her finger, I remembered.
- I understand now. They're the only ones who can save Ylva. - Dad said, after listening to my story. "Pack up, we're going to the dwarves.
So we set off for the mountains. We drove for a long time until we were at the foot of the highest mountain. There was a red door, and we knocked on it. Almost immediately a dwarf in a red-brown suit and a red cap opened it.
- What happened? - He asked, and after listening to our story he said sadly, "Ah, the needle. I will tell Master Knut and he will see you.
I couldn't understand how Ylva could be helped by dwarves who were blacksmiths. Nevertheless, we were soon summoned by Alaricus Knut. He said:
- It's a good thing you brought Ylva in almost immediately. You see, these needles are very insidious. A person who gets a needle in his body loses interest in everything and then falls asleep.
- Like Ylva," I put in.
- Yes, they are all the same," Knut nodded. "The only difference is that some fall asleep at once, and some after a week, or a little earlier. And some may become angry or aggressive at the beginning of the illness. But Ilva is a good girl. Don't worry - he reassured us - she'll be back to you soon.
I didn't see Ilva undergo surgery, but I saw a large room where there were many others like her. After the operation, Ilva slept for a long time, but her face was pink instead of white. Then she recovered, and soon she was as kind and cheerful as ever. We remembered this story forever, and now we knew to be very careful with ice needles.
Annika and Eiko remembered the story too. Now they knew how dangerous ice needles could be.
The end