It Could Happen Here - CZM Book Club: A Bunch of Stories About Russian Witches

Episode Date: November 3, 2024

Margaret reads you folklore about witches in Russia, because she likes witches and it's still sort of Halloween.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey, I'm Jack Peace Thomas, the host of a brand new Black Effect original series, Black Lit, the podcast for diving deep into the rich world of Black literature. Black Lit is for the page turners, for those who listen to audiobooks while running errands or at the end of a busy day. From thought-provoking novels to powerful poetry, we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. poetry, we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. Listen to Black Lit on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. AT&T, connecting changes everything. Curious about queer sexuality, cruising, and expanding your horizons? Hit play on the sex-positive and deeply entertaining podcast Sniffy's Cruising Confessions. Join hosts Gabe Gonzalez

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You can listen to Sniffy's Cruising Confessions sponsored by Gilead now on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday. Hi, I'm Ed Zitron, host of the Better Offline podcast. And we're kicking off our second season digging into tech's elite and how they've turned Silicon Valley into a playground for billionaires.

From the chaotic world of generative AI to the destruction of Google search, AI to the destruction of Google search. Better Offline is your unvarnished and at times unhinged look at the underbelly of tech brought to you by an industry veteran with nothing to lose. Listen to Better Offline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever else you get your podcasts from. The 2025 iHeart Podcast Awards are coming. This is the chance to nominate your podcast for the industry's biggest award. Submit your podcast for nomination now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards. But hurry, submissions close on December 8th. Hey, you've been doing all that talking.

It's time to get rewarded for it. Submit your podcast today at iHeart.com slash podcast awards. That's iHeart.com slash podcast awards. That's iHeart.com slash podcast awards. Welcome to Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German, where we get real and dive straight into todo lo actual y viral. We're talking music, los premios, el chisme, and all things trending in my cultura. I'm bringing you all the latest happening in our entertainment world and some fun and impactful interviews with your favorite Latin artists, comedians, actors, and influencers.

Each week, we get deep and raw life stories, combos on the issues that matter to us, and it's all packed with gems, fun, straight-up comedia, and that's a song that only nuestra gente can sprinkle. Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. come again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Cool Zone Media. Book Club. Book Club. Book Club. Book Club.

Book Club. Hello, and welcome to Cool Zone Media Book Club, your weekly book club that you don't have to do the reading for, because I do it for you. I'm your host, Margaret Kiljoy, and it's spooky month. You're thinking to yourself, but Margaret, it's November. And you're thinking incorrectly, you're thinking correctly that it's November, but you're incorrect that that means that spooky month has to be over. Because while I'm recording this on All Saints Day, and the veil is still thin, although I saw a really good meme today that was like, the veil is always thin, that's why it's called a veil. And I like that. I like the idea that the other world is always right there next to us, so close that we can almost reach out and touch it.

But then we can't. But that's why we have fiction and things to kind of explore those ideas, whatever. Anyway, next week on Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff, my other podcast, I'm going to talk about witches and the story of the witch hunts in Europe. So check that out Monday and Wednesday on Cool Zone Media. But I figured to close out spooky month here on book club, I would read you some of the stories about, you know, witches. And I went through and I found a bunch of different ones. I was really excited about some of them. And some of them talk about like some of my favorite things. I love the washer at the Ford, the Scottish folklore idea that there's this strange woman with long saggy breasts that hangs out and washes clothes in the Ford.

And if you see her, you have to like grab her breast and then she'll tell you if you're going to die in battle. Cause it's so weird. But you want to know why I didn't read you that one today? Because it has so many Scottish Gaelic words and I would have to look them all up and I'm on a very tight deadline. So maybe I'll read that one to you soon. I really liked it. Well, honestly, it was a whatever. I liked it because I like some of the concepts in it. I love the idea of the washer at the Ford, but it's not really a witch, is it? I mean, it's kind of a witch, whatever, which is whatever. I'm going to do a whole two weeks worth of content about witches and what is and is no witch. But instead I'm going to read you about Russian witches, which is cool.

I thought that like, you know, most Russian witches are sort of conflated down to Baba Yaga, which we've done a whole series of episodes about. If you want to hear me read Baba Yaga stories and tell you about Baba Yaga, go back a couple of Halloweens when I talked to Jamie Loftus about it. But I found Russian fairy tales talking about witches that are just sort of different witches. And some of them like clearly relate into the Baba Yaga story, but they're not Baba Yaga. And I find that really interesting. So you might find it interesting too. Who knows? And if you don't, hopefully you'll at least be entertained. I know at least I've talked to a couple of people who listen to this to go to sleep. So if that's you, get ready to put on your sleeping mask. And if it's not you, get ready to not fall asleep while you're driving.

That would be bad. These three stories that I'm going to read to you today are from a book from 1872 called Russian Fairy Tales, A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folklore by W.R.S. Ralston, who is mostly known as a Russian translator. This first story is called The Dead Witch. There was once an old woman who was a terrible witch, and she had a daughter and a granddaughter. The time came for the old crone to die, so she had a daughter and a granddaughter. The time came for the old crone to die, so she summoned her daughter and gave her these instructions.

Mind, daughter, when I'm dead, don't you wash my body with lukewarm water, but fill a cauldron, make it boil its very hottest, and then with that boiling water, regularly scald me all over. and then with that boiling water regularly scald me all over. After saying this, the witch lay ill two or three days and then died. The daughter ran round to all her neighbors, begging them to come and help her wash the old woman. And meantime, the little granddaughter was left all alone in the cottage. And this is what she saw there. All of a sudden, there crept out from beneath the stove two demons, a big one and a tiny one, and they ran up to the dead witch. The old demon seized her by the feet and tore away at her so that he stripped off all her skin at one pull. Then he said to the little demon, take the flesh for yourself and lug it under the stove.

So the little demon flung his arms round the carcass and dragged it under the stove. Nothing was left of the old woman but her skin. Into it the old demon inserted himself, and then he lay there just where the witch had been lying. Presently the daughter came back, bringing a dozen other women with her, and they all set to work laying out the corpse. Mammy, says the child, they've pulled granny's skin off while you were away. What do you mean by telling such lies? It's quite true, mammy. There was ever such a blackie came from under the stove, and he pulled the skin off and got into it himself.

such a blackie came from under the stove, and he pulled the skin off and got into it himself. Hold your tongue, naughty child. You're talking nonsense, cried the old crone's daughter. Then she fetched a big cauldron, filled it with cold water, put it on the stove, and heated it until it boiled furiously. Then the women lifted up the old crone, laid her in a trough, took hold of the cauldron, and poured the whole of the boiling water over her at once. The demon couldn't stand it. He leaped out of the trough, dashed through the doorway, and disappeared, skin and all. The women stared. What marvel is this? they cried. Here was the dead woman, and now she isn't here there's nobody left to lay out or to bury the demons have carried her off before our very eyes and that's the end of the story

it's a real short one and okay the thing i like about it is that here you've got this witch who's like a wicked witch what do they call her a terrible witch but she's like well she cares about her family and she knows that you know she's made all these packs with demons. So after she dies, like real bad stuff's going to happen. So she's still just like looking out for her kids. You know, she's not like on the demon side here. And I think that's sweet. Much like I find it entertaining to be interrupted by advertisers like these ones. by advertisers like these ones. to join me and a vibrant community of literary enthusiasts dedicated to protecting and celebrating our stories. Black Lit is for the page turners,

for those who listen to audiobooks while commuting or running errands, for those who find themselves seeking solace, wisdom, and refuge between the chapters. From thought-provoking novels to powerful poetry, we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. Together, we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. Together, we'll dissect classics and contemporary works while uncovering the stories of the brilliant writers behind them. Blacklit is here to amplify the voices of Black writers and to bring their words to life. Listen to Blacklit on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. is your unvarnished and at times unhinged look at the underbelly of tech from an industry veteran with nothing to lose. This season, I'm going to be joined by everyone from Nobel-winning economists to leading journalists in the field, and I'll be digging into why the products you love keep getting worse and naming and shaming those responsible. Don't get me wrong, though. I

love technology. I just hate the people in charge and want them to get back to building things that actually do things to help real people. I swear to God things can change if we're loud enough. So join me every week to understand what's happening in the tech industry and what could be done to make things better. Listen to Better Offline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever else you get your podcasts. Check out betteroffline.com. Hola mi gente, it's Honey German and I'm bringing you Gracias, Come Again. Thank you. We're talking real conversations with our Latin stars, from actors and artists to musicians and creators sharing their stories, struggles, and

successes. You know it's going to be filled with chisme laughs and all the vibes that you love. Each week we'll explore everything from music and pop culture to deeper topics like identity, community, and breaking down barriers in all sorts of industries. Don't miss out on the fun, el té caliente, and life

stories. Join me for Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German, where we get into todo lo actual y viral. Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On Thanksgiving Day, 1999, a five-year-old boy floated alone in the ocean. He had lost his mother trying to reach Florida from Cuba. He looked like a little angel. I mean, he looked so fresh. And his name, Elian Gonzalez, will make headlines everywhere. Elian Gonzalez.

Elian. Elian. Elian. Elian. Elian. Elian Gonzalez. At the heart of the story is a young boy and the question of who he belongs with. His father in Cuba.

Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home and he wanted to take his son with him. Or his relatives in Miami. Imagine that your mother died trying to get you to freedom. At the heart of it all is still this painful family separation. Something that as a Cuban, I know all too well. Listen to Chess Peace, the Elian Gonzalez story as part of the My Cultura podcast network available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Gianna Parente. And I'm Jimei Jackson-Gadsden. We're the hosts of Let's Talk Offline,

the early career podcast from LinkedIn News and iHeart Podcasts. One of the most exciting things about having your first real job is that first real paycheck. You're probably thinking, yay, I can finally buy a new phone. But you also have a lot of questions,

like how should I be investing this money? I mean, how much do I save? And what about my 401k? Well, we're talking with finance expert Vivian Tu, aka Your Rich BFF, to break it all down. I always get roasted on the internet when I say this out loud, but I'm like, every single year you need to be asking for a raise of somewhere between 10 to 15%. I'm not saying you're going to get 15% every single year, but if you ask for 10 to 15 and you end up getting eight, that is actually a true raise. Listen to this week's episode of Let's Talk Offline

on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And we're back okay this next story is just called the witch but not with two v's it's a different story there once lived an old couple who had one son called Ivashko. No one could tell how fond they were of him. Well, one day, Ivashko said to his father and mother, I'll go out fishing if you let me. What are you thinking about? You're still very small. Suppose you get drowned. What good will there be in that? No, no, I shan't get drowned. I'll catch you some fish. Do let me go. So his mother put a white shirt on him, tied a red girdle around him, and let him go. Out in a boat he sat and said, canoe, canoe, float a little farther,

canoe, canoe, float a little farther. Then the canoe floated on farther and farther, and Ivashko began to fish. When some little time had passed by, the old woman hobbled down to the riverside and called to her son, Ivashko, Ivashko, my boy, float up, float up, onto the waterside, I bring thee food and drink. And Ivashko said, canoe, canoe, float to the waterside, that is my mother calling me. The boat floated to the shore, the woman took the fish, gave her boy food and drink, changed his shirt for him and his girdle, and sent him back to his fishing. Again, he sat in his boat and said, canoe, canoe, float a little farther, canoe, canoe, float a little farther. Then the canoe floated on farther and farther and Avashko began to fish. After a little time had passed by, the old man

also hobbled down to the bank and called to his son. Ivashko, Ivashko, my boy, float up, float up, onto the water side. I bring thee food and drink. And Ivashko replied, canoe, canoe, float to the water side. That is my father calling me. The canoe floated to the shore. The old man took the fish, gave his boy food and drink, changed his shirt for him and his girdle, and sent him back to his fishing. Now, a certain witch had heard what Ivashko's parents had cried aloud to him, and she longed to get hold of the boy. So she went down to the bank and cried with a hoarse voice, So she went down to the bank and cried with a hoarse voice, Ivashko, Ivashko, my boy, float up, float up onto the water side.

I bring thee food and drink. Ivashko perceived that the voice was not his mother's, but that of a witch, and he sang, Canoe, canoe, float a little farther. Canoe, canoe, float a little farther. That is not my mother, but a witch who calls me. The witch saw that she must call to Aveshko with just such a voice as his mother had. So she hastened to a smith and said to him,

Smith, smith, make me just such a thin little voice as Aveshko's mother has. If you don't, I'll eat you. So the smith forged her a little voice just like Iveshko's mother. Then the witch went down by night to the shore and sang, Iveshko, Iveshko, my boy, float up, float up, onto the water side, I bring thee food and drink. Iveshko came, and she took the fish, and seized the boy and carried him home with her. When she arrived, she said to her daughter, Alenka,

Heat the stove as hot as you can and bake a vashko well, while I go and collect my friends for the feast. So Alenka heated the stove hot, ever so hot, and said to Aveshko, Come here and sit on this shovel. I'm still very young and foolish, answered Aveshko. I haven't yet quite got my wits about me. Please teach me how one ought to sit on a shovel. Very good, said Alenka. It won't take long to teach you. But the moment she sat down on the shovel, Aveshko instantly pitched her into the oven, slammed to the iron plate in front of it, ran out of the hut, shut the door, and hurriedly climbed ever so high

in an oak tree, which stood close by. Presently, the witch arrived with her guests and knocked at the door of the hut, but nobody opened it for her. Ah, that cursed Elenco, she cried. No doubt she's gone off somewhere to amuse herself. Then she slipped in through the window, opened the door, and let in her guests. They all sat down to table, and the witch opened the door, and let in her guests. They all sat down to table, and the witch opened the oven, took out Alenka's baked body, and served it up. They ate their fill and drank their fill, and then they went out to the courtyard and began rolling about on the grass.

I turn about, I roll about, having fed on Aveshko's flesh, cried the witch. I turn about, I roll about, having fed on Aveshko's flesh, cried the witch. I turn about, I roll about having fed on Aveshko's flesh. But Aveshko called out to her from the top of the oak. Turn about, roll about having fed on Alenka's flesh. Did I hear something, said the witch? No, it was only the noise of the leaves. Again, the witch began. I turn about, I roll about, having fed on Aveshko's flesh. And Aveshko repeated, turn about, roll about, having fed on Alenka's flesh. Then the witch looked up and saw Aveshko and immediately rushed at the oak on which Aveshko was seated and began to gnaw away at it. And she gnawed and gnawed and gnawed until at last she smashed two front teeth. Then she ran to a forge,

and when she reached it she cried, Smith, Smith, make me some iron teeth, if you don't I'll eat you. So the smith forged her two iron teeth. The witch returned and began gnawing the oak again. She gnawed and gnawed, and was just on the point of gnawing it through when Ivashko jumped out of it into another tree which stood beside it. The oak that the witch had gnawed through fell down to the ground, but then she saw that Avashko was sitting up in another tree, so she gnashed her teeth with spite and set to work afresh to gnaw that tree also. She gnawed and gnawed and gnawed and broke two lower teeth and ran off to the forge. Smith, Smith, she cried when she got there. Make me some iron teeth. If you don't, I'll eat you. The smith forged two more iron teeth for her.

She went back again and once more began to gnaw on the oak. Avashko didn't know what he was to do now. He looked out and saw that swans and geese were flying by. So he called to them imploringly. and saw that swans and geese were flying by, so he called to them imploringly, Oh, my swans and geese, take me on your pinions, bear me to my father and my mother, to the cottage of my father and my mother, there to eat and drink and live in comfort. Let those in the center carry you, said the birds. Avashko waited, a second flock flew past, and again he cried imploringly, Oh, my swans and geese,

take me on your pinions. Bear me to my father and my mother, to the cottage of my father and my mother, there to eat and drink and live in comfort. Let those in the rear carry you, said the birds. Again, Ivashko waited. A third flock came flying by. A third flock came flying up, and he cried, Oh, my swans and geese, take me on your pinions. Bear me to my father and my mother, to the cottage of my father and mother, there to eat and drink and live in comfort. And those swans and geese took hold of him and carried him back, flew up to the cottage, and dropped him in the upper room. Early the next morning, his mother set to work to bake pancakes, baked them, and all of the sudden fell to thinking about her boy. Where is my Avashko, she cried.

Would that I could see him. Were it only in a dream. Then his father said, I dreamed that swans and geese had brought our Avashko home on their wings. Now then, old man, let's divide the cakes. There's for you, father. There's for cakes. There's for you, father. There's for me. There's for you, father. There's for me. And none for me, cried Avashko. There's for you, father, went on the old woman. There's for me. And none for me, repeated the boy. Why, old man, said the wife, go and see whatever that is up there. The father climbed into the upper room and there he found a vashko. The old people were delighted and asked their boy about everything that had happened. After that, he and they lived on happily together. The moral of the story is

kill people so other people can eat them and then run home to your parents. Important lessons, you know? But what doesn't have a moral are these advertisers. Hey, I'm Jack Peace Thomas, the host of a brand new Black Effect original series, Black Lit, the podcast for diving deep into the rich world of Black literature. I'm Jack Peace Thomas,

and I'm inviting you to join me in a vibrant community of literary enthusiasts dedicated to protecting and celebrating our stories. Black Lit is for the page turners, for those who listen to audiobooks while commuting or running errands, for those who find themselves seeking solace, wisdom, and refuge between the chapters. From thought-provoking novels to powerful poetry,

we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. Together, we'll dissect classics and contemporary works while uncovering the stories of the brilliant writers behind them. Black Lit is here to amplify the voices of Black writers and to bring their words to life. Listen to Black Lit on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hola, mi gente.

It's Honey German, and I'm bringing you Gracias, Come Again, the podcast where we dive deep into the world of Latin culture, musica, peliculas, and entertainment with some of the biggest names in the game. If you love hearing real conversations with your favorite Latin celebrities, artists, and culture shifters, this is the podcast for you. We're talking real conversations with our Latin stars,

from actors and artists to musicians and creators, sharing their stories, struggles, and successes. You know it's going to be filled with chisme laughs and all the vibes that you love. Each week, we'll explore everything from music and pop culture to deeper topics like identity, community, and breaking down barriers in all sorts of industries. Don't miss out on the fun, el té caliente, and life stories. Join me for Gracias Come Again, a podcast by Honey German, where we get into todo lo actual y viral. Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi, I'm Ed Zitron, host of the Better Offline podcast, and we're kicking off our second season digging into how tech's elite has turned Silicon Valley into a playground for billionaires. From the chaotic world of generative AI to the destruction of Google search, Better Offline is your unvarnished and at times unhinged look at the underbelly of tech from an industry veteran with nothing to lose. This season, I'm going to be joined by everyone from Nobel winning economists to leading journalists in the field. And I'll be digging into why the products you love keep getting worse and naming and shaming those responsible. Don't get me wrong, though. I love technology. I just hate the people in charge and want them to get back to building things that actually do things to help real people. I swear to God things can change if we're loud enough. So join me every week to understand what's happening in the tech industry and what could be done to make things better. Listen to Better Offline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever else you get your podcasts. Check out betteroffline.com.

else you get your podcasts. Check out betteroffline.com. On Thanksgiving Day, 1999, a five-year-old boy floated alone in the ocean. He had lost his mother trying to reach Florida from Cuba. He looked like a little angel. I mean, he looked so fresh. And his name, Elian Gonzalez, will make headlines everywhere. Elian Gonzalez. Elian. Elian. Elian. Elian make headlines everywhere. Elian Gonzalez. Elian. Elian. Elian. Elian.

Elian Gonzalez. At the heart of the story is a young boy and the question of who he belongs with. His father in Cuba. Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home and he wanted to take his son with him. Or his relatives in Miami. Imagine that your mother died trying to get you to freedom. At the heart of it all is still this painful family separation. Something that as a Cuban, I know all too well. Listen to Chess Peace, the Elian Gonzalez story, as part of the My Cultura

podcast network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. about having your first real job is that first real paycheck. You're probably thinking, yay, I can finally buy a new phone. But you also have a lot of questions like, how should I be investing this money? I mean, how much do I save? And what about my 401k? Well, we're talking with finance expert Vivian Tu, aka Your Rich BFF, to break it all down.

I always get roasted on the internet when I say this out loud, but I'm like, every single year, you need to be asking for a raise of somewhere between 10 to 15%. I'm not saying you're going to get 15% every single year, but if you ask for 10 to 15 and you end up getting eight, that is actually a true raise. Listen to this week's episode of Let's Talk Offline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And we're back. I have one more story for you.

This one is called The Witch and the Sun's Sister. In a certain far-off country, there once lived a king and a queen. This one is called The Witch and the Son's Sister. That groom always used to tell him tales, and on this occasion Prince Ivan went to him expecting to hear some stories. But that wasn't what he heard. Prince Ivan said the groom, your mother will soon have a daughter and you a sister. She will be a terrible witch, and she will eat up her father and her mother and all their subjects. So go and ask your father for the best horse he has, as if you wanted a gallop, and then, if you want to be out of harm's way, ride away, whithersoever your eyes guide you. Prince Ivan ran off to his father and, for the first time in his life, began speaking to him.

At that, the king was so delighted that he never thought of asking what he wanted a good steed for, but immediately ordered the very best horse he had in his stud to be saddled for the prince. Prince Ivan mounted and rode off without caring where he went. Long, long did he ride. At length, he came to where two old women were sewing, and he begged them to let him live with them. But they said, Gladly would we do so, Prince Ivan, only we have now but a short time to live. As soon as we have broken that trunk full of needles and used up that trunk full of thread, that instant will death arrive. Prince Ivan burst into tears and rode on.

Long, long did he ride. At length he came to where the giant vertidub was, and he besought him, saying, Take me to live with you. Gladly would I have taken you, Prince Ivan, replied the giant Vertidub was, and he besought him, saying, Take me to live with you. Gladly would I have taken you, Prince Ivan, replied the giant, but now I have very little longer to live. As soon as I have pulled up all these trees by the roots, instantly will come my death. More bitterly still did the prince weep as he rode farther and farther on. By and by he came to where the giant Vertigor was, and made the same request

to him. But he replied, Gladly would I have taken you, Prince Ivan, but I myself have very little longer to live. I am set here, you know, to level mountains. The moment I have settled matters with these you see remaining. Then will my death come. Prince Ivan burst into a flood of bitter tears and rode on still farther. Long, long did he ride. At last he came to the dwelling of the son's sister. She received him into her house and gave him food and drink and treated him just as if he had been her own son. The prince now led an easy life, but it was all of no use. He couldn't help being miserable. He longed so to know what was going on at home. He often went up to the top of a high mountain and thence gazed at the palace in

which he used to live, and he could see that it was all eaten away, nothing but bare walls remained. Then he would sigh and weep. Once when he returned after he'd been thus looking and crying, the son's sister asked him, What makes your eyes so red today, Prince Ivan? Oh, the wind has been blowing in them, said he. The same thing happened a second time. Then the son's sister ordered the wind to stop blowing. Again a third time did Prince Ivan come back with a blubbered face.

This time there was no help for it. He had to confess everything. And then he took to entreating the son's sister to let him go, that he might satisfy himself about his old home. She would not let him go, but he went on urgently entreating. So at last he persuaded her, and she let him go away and find out about his home. But first she provided him for the journey with a brush, a comb, and two youth-giving apples. However old anyone might be, let him eat one of these apples. He would grow young again in an instant. Well, Prince Ivan came to where Vertigor was. There was only just one mountain left. He took his brush and cast it down upon the open plain. Immediately there rose out of the earth, goodness knows whence, high, ever so high mountains, their peaks touching the

sky, and the number of them was such that there were more than the eye could see. Vertigore rejoiced greatly and blithely recommenced his work. After a time, Prince Ivan came to where Vertidub was and found there was only three trees remaining there. So he took the comb and flung it out on the open plain. Immediately, from somewhere or other, there came the sound of trees, and forth from the ground arose dense oak forests, each stem more huge than the other. Vertidub was delighted, thanked the prince, and set to work uprooting the ancient oaks. By and by, Prince Ivan reached the old women and gave them each an apple.

They ate them and straightaway became young again. So they gave him a handkerchief. If only you had to wave it, and behind you lay a whole lake. At last Prince Ivan arrived at home. Out came running his sister to meet him, caressed him fondly. Sit thee down, my brother, she said. Play a tune on the lute while I go and get dinner ready. The prince sat down and strummed away on the lute.

Then there crept a mouse out of a hole and said to him in a human voice, Save yourself, prince. Run away quick. Your sister has gone to sharpen her teeth. Prince Ivan fled from the room, jumped on his horse, and galloped away back. Meantime, the mouse kept running over the strings of the lute. They twanged, and the sister never guessed that her brother was off.

When she had sharpened her teeth, she burst into the room. Lo and behold, not a soul was there, nothing but a mouse bolting into its hole. The witch waxed wroth, ground her teeth like anything, and set off in pursuit. Prince Ivan heard a loud noise and looked back. There was his sister chasing him, so he waved his handkerchief and a deep lake lay behind him. While the witch was swimming across the water, Prince Ivan got a long way ahead. But on she came faster than ever, and now she was close at hand. Vertidub guessed that the prince was trying to escape his sister,

so he began tearing up oaks and strewing them across the land. A regular mountain did he pile up. There was no passing by for the witch. So she set to work to clear them away. She gnawed and gnawed, and at length contrived by hard work to bore her way through. But by this time, Prince Ivan was far ahead. On she dashed in pursuit, chased and chased, just a little more, and it would be impossible for him to escape. laid hold of the very highest of all of the mountains, pitched it down with a heap on the road, and flung another mountain right on top of it, while the witch was climbing and clambering. Prince Ivan rode and rode, and found himself a long way ahead.

At last the witch got across the mountain, and once more set off in pursuit of her brother. By and by she caught sight of him, and exclaimed, You shan't get away from me this time. And now she is close and now she is just going to catch him. At that very moment, Prince Ivan dashed up to the abode of the sun's sister and cried, Son, son, open the window. The sun's sister opened the window and the prince bounded through it, horse and all. Then the witch began to ask that her brother might be given up to her for punishment. The son's sister would not listen to her, nor would she give him up. Then

the witch said, Let Prince Ivan be weighed against me, to see which is the heavier. If I am, then I will eat him. But if he is, then let him kill me. This was done prince ivan was the first to get onto the scales then the witch began to get into the other but no sooner than she has set foot in it then upshot prince ivan in the air and that with such force that he flew right up into the sky into the chamber of the sun's sister but as for witch snake, she remained down below on earth. That's the end of that story. Okay, the thing that I find most interesting about that, like, I mean, obviously, there's probably some like creation stuff going on or whatever about where the sun is and shooting up in the sky. But the thing I find really interesting is that they

were like, these poor giants, they're like, oh, I got to destroy all the trees and mountains. they were like, these poor giants, they're like, oh, I got to destroy all the trees and mountains. And then they're almost done. And then fortunately they're saved by getting to do more work. And I don't know, I kind of like that. There's weird metaphors about us destroying the earth, but we're not going to be saved by a comb or a brush. But also there's just like, I don't know, every week we push that rock up the hill imagine sisyphus happy when more rocks arrive uh much like i'm happy when i don't have to do any more ad transitions for the week and instead tell you about my other podcast cool people did cool stuff or the other podcast that this one runs on it could happen hereen Here. Both are part of Cool Zone Media. This is the Cool Zone Media book club. You probably know that. But Cool Zone Media is cool. It's in the name. It's also zone.

I'm done. Bye. It Could Happen Here is a production of Cool Zone Media. For more podcasts from Cool Zone Media, visit our website, coolzonemedia.com, or check us out on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can find sources for It Could Happen Here updated monthly at coolzonemedia.com slash sources. Thanks for listening. Hey, I'm Jacqueline Thomas, the host of a brand new Black Effect original series, Black Lit, the podcast for diving deep into the rich world of Black literature. Black Lit is for the page turners,

for those who listen to audiobooks while running errands or at the end of a busy day. From thought-provoking novels to powerful poetry, we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. Listen to Black Lit on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. AT&T, connecting changes everything. Curious about queer sexuality, cruising, and expanding your horizons?

Hit play on the sex-positive and deeply entertaining podcast Sniffy's Cruising Confessions. Join hosts Gabe Gonzalez and Chris Patterson Rosso as they explore queer sex, cruising, relationships, and culture in the new iHeart podcast, Sniffy's Cruising Confessions. Sniffy's Cruising Confessions will broaden minds and help you pursue your true goals. You can listen to Sniffy's Cruising Confessions, sponsored by Gilead, now on the iHeartRad radio app or wherever you get your podcasts new episodes every thursday welcome to gracias come again a podcast by honey german where we get real and dive straight into todo lo actual y viral we're talking musica los premios el chisme and all things trending in my cultura i'm bringing you all the latest happening in our entertainment world and some fun and impactful interviews with your favorite Latin artists, comedians, actors, and influencers.

Each week, we get deep and raw life stories, combos on the issues that matter to us, and it's all packed with gems, fun, straight-up comedia, and that's a song that only nuestra gente can sprinkle. Listen to Gracias Come Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi, I'm Ed Zitron, host of the Better Offline podcast, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Better Offline is your unvarnished and at times unhinged look at the underbelly of tech brought to you by an industry veteran with nothing to lose. Listen to Better Offline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever else you get your podcasts from. The 2025 iHeart Podcast Awards are coming. This is the chance to nominate your podcast for the industry's biggest award. Submit your podcast for nomination now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards. But hurry, submissions close on December 8th. Hey, you've been doing all that talking. It's time to get rewarded for it. Submit your podcast today at iHeart.com slash podcast awards.

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