Yes, yes, you heard me, I had a story like that once. Another real-life encounter with a fairy tale character.
- Well, okay Ivan the Fool, - you will probably say - you can meet him in our city (and not only in the city), but where could one-eyed Likho come from?
Let me explain.
***
This story happened when my host and I were visiting his grandmother in the village. Our grandmother is by no means the only one whose grandchildren come here for vacations. And here she has a neighbor, Sofia Nikolaevna, to whom her granddaughter Yana comes for the summer. Yana is five years old, and she doesn't go to school yet. Like all children, Yana likes to visit her grandmother, and she likes to communicate with animals. But because of a recent story, Jana was almost taken home early.
That morning I caught a conversation between Grandma Anja and Janina's grandmother. The latter was overcome with grief.
- Oh, Andreevna, what's going on! - She was almost crying - if it goes on like this, tomorrow we'll have to send Janochka to her parents, and then we'll have to move to the city ourselves!
It turned out that Jana had been kept awake all night by the screams of some monster. It could have been a nightmare if the whole village hadn't heard the screams.
- What was he yelling? - Grandma Anya asked. Sofya Nikolayevna hesitated.
- Some strange sound, not like any animal - she finally answered - Whoa! Whoa! - that's how it screamed.
- Yes, it doesn't look like a wolf," agreed Grandma Anya. "You know what, Nikolaevna: we'll ask Tomas, my grandson's cat, for help. He has a better sense of smell than any dog, he is our detective, he has investigated many cases. Maybe he'll help us catch your monster.
- Oh, Andreevna, if only you were right," sighed Sofya Nikolayevna.
When they told me what the case was about, I realized that it would be one of the most unusual cases, because the only evidence in it was a scream. Therefore, I wouldn't need my sense of smell in this case. Just my hearing.
So my host and I had no choice but to go in search of him. We went to the distant houses of the village, for none of grandmother's neighbors had not only seen the one who had shouted, but had no idea who it might be.
We were already near the forest when suddenly I heard something that none of Grandma's neighbors had heard. They all said that the monster was yelling "Woo-oo!", but in fact the whole time he was yelling "R-woo-oo!". I began to guess what was wrong. We got even closer... and saw a tree where a huge ginger cat with only one eye was sitting and screaming frantically!
Seeing him, Valera called his grandfather.
- Grandpa! Okay, I found Licho. But you have to come with a ladder. Can you do that?
So Valera sent the grandfather the address. The grandfather came, brought the ladder, and as soon as the cat saw it, instantly went downstairs and ran away in an unknown direction! No, of course, I am a brave cat, and I have seen different animals, but with this Lich I would not want to meet a second time! And I wish you that no one prevented you to sleep well and I wish you good dreams! Your Thomas.
The end