Chapter 6
The Whole Story
Before I could stop her, the tips of her fingers touched the feather, and she yelled out in pain.
“It’s actually hot! How’s this possible?” Lisa shook her hand, then put her fingers in her mouth. “Ouch, ouch.”
“It’s the Firebird’s—you’ve gotta be careful. It’s not always hot; sometimes it’s warm to the touch,” I explained, trying to sound as if this was the most normal thing in the world. Finally, there was something I could explain to this beautiful woman.
“The Firebird? Like the ballet?”
“What?”
“Oh, never mind.” Lisa breathed out. “This is all too much. I never should have accepted this job. I knew things were weird here, of course, this resort is built on a portal, the Native Americans knew this, and there never should even have been a commercial resort. These are sacred lands, that’s what they are. ”
Lisa pushed her chair back and started pacing the room. Harry and I watched while she mumbled to herself, shaking her head in indignation, throwing confused looks and Harry and me.
“But I’m just human. Just a regular human. What is happening? I just need a clue—is this a dream?” Lisa pinched herself and yelped in pain. “No, not a dream.”
“Lisa, please have a seat. I think we can figure this out together,” Harry intervened, neighing softly.
“Of course, of course, said the talking pony! Could this get any weirder?” Lisa opened her eyes wide. “But I see your point, Harry. Let’s all try to figure this out.”
Harry gave Lisa an expectant look, and she sat back down at the table across from me.
“All right, here we go. We have a guy named Ivan. He has a feather, which glows and is warm. And he says it’s from the Firebird.
And, apparently, he had been at Baba Yaga’s hut before dropping into a portal.
Did I miss anything, Harry?” As she was speaking, Lisa was folding the fingers of her right hand and now just the thumb remained out.
Lisa turned to the horse, ignoring me. It was as if I were invisible. I was about to take offense, but then Harry neighed, throwing a side-eye my way.
“He told me his full name is Ivan the Dimwit.”
“What? Ivan the Dimwit? Wait a second. I’ve heard of that!” Lisa clapped excitedly as her eyes darted from me to Harry and back.
“Yes, Ivan the Dimwit,” Harry repeated.
“Harry!!!” I yelled out. “How could you?”
“Well, you weren’t about to tell her, were you now?” Harry bared his teeth.
I balled up my fists, rising from the table. Harry had betrayed me. Whatever chance I’d had to make a good impression on Lisa was now gone. Not only had I fainted in front of her, but now she also knew I was a dimwit.
“It’s my choice whether to tell her or not. It’s my nickname!”
“Ivan, Harry, please wait, this is actually very important.” Lisa produced a small box out of her pocket. It was just like the one I’d seen the child who rode Harry use. The box lit up, and Lisa touched it with her index finger, tapping at it with her thumbs.
“Baba Yaga, I see,” she mumbled to herself, giving me a strange stare. “And you’re actually called the Dimwit?”
“Yes.” I nodded, turning crimson red. “That’s my nickname.”
“So, you’re Ivan the Dimwit? The very one?”
“I guess you can say that. I doubt there are others.” I shrugged, looking over at the front door.
This conversation was turning rather unpleasant, and I wanted to stop it.
Neither Lisa nor Harry was going to help me capture the Firebird, that much was for sure.
“At least in my village, I’m the only one. ”
But Lisa wasn’t listening. She was tapping her fingers on the magical box. I noticed that her nails were a beautiful shade of pink, and the big pink ring on her finger sparkled. The box flashed and Lisa looked up from it.
“So, I put in all the clues, and I kind of think I’m right, it really adds up, but just to be sure—”
I nodded to show my understanding, though I felt completely lost. I would have gladly left Lisa’s place right there and then to save me from further embarrassment, but what stopped me was gratitude: I couldn’t leave so soon after Lisa had been so generous with me, sharing her food.
Though, of course, I knew I would have to continue my quest for the Firebird without Harry.
The treacherous horse was standing quietly, avoiding eye contact.
I contemplated my next move, deciding I would need to go back to the bathhouse and search for clues of the Firebird there.
I’d gotten lost in thought, but then heard Lisa say.
“Yes! I was right! Ivan, you’re a fairy-tale character. You came here from an actual fairy tale.”
“What? No! I’m a real person.”
“Look right here.” Lisa pointed at the black box, reading slowly. “‘Ivan the Dimwit is a common folktale hero. He seems simple or foolish at first, but he’s kind, brave, and ends up succeeding where smarter people fail.’ Does that describe you?”
She looked up at me curiously.
“Um, I don’t really know. I haven’t had much success in my life.”
“Look, there’s more. ‘In many stories, Ivan is sent on impossible tasks, like finding the Firebird, and with the help of a magical helper, such as the Humpbacked Horse, he succeeds and is rewarded, often becoming a hero or a tsar.’”
“Wait, I’m a magical helper? Is this about me?” Harry neighed.
“Yes, it looks like you and Ivan are in the same fairy tale, Harry.”
“But I don’t want to help him.”
“And I don’t want your help!” I cried out.
“Please, please, guys, don’t fight. I think we can work this out.
This means Ivan is actually from a fairy tale.
And you, Harry, of course you’re magical.
I should have figured it out sooner. I think it’s just that our world is changing and the separation between magical and real is no longer as pronounced.
So we’re just able to see this other reality, which has always been here.
It makes sense. It really does.” Lisa looked at the pony, then turned to me.
“So, Ivan, you’re looking for the Firebird.
Am I correct? Is that why you came here? ”
“Yes,” I said, nodding slowly. “I am looking for the Firebird.”
“Just like in the fairy tale,” Lisa exclaimed, pointing at the box.
“You’ve got fairy tales in there?” I pointed at the box. If Lisa was calling Harry magical, she was no less so, with a box that gave her answers.
“Well, I guess you could say that.” Lisa chuckled softly, and once more, I noticed how pretty she was.
“So, that means you’re also magical, Lisa,” I told her. I wasn’t sure, but she might have blushed, for her cheeks turned a rosy color.
“You’re here to make the impossible possible, Ivan. Aren’t you?” Lisa asked, looking at me expectantly.
“Well, Baba Yaga made it sound pretty straightforward. She was wicked scary at first, but I called her babushka and she was nice to me after that. She let me keep the Firebird’s feather, but I have to use it to bring her the actual Firebird.”
“And this Firebird. Is that the magical creature that makes wishes come true?” Lisa consulted her box once more.
“Yes, the Firebird, that’s the one. I need to bring it back to Baba Yaga, and then I get to use it to make one wish. I’m thinking I’ll bring it back to the village so they can decide what to do with it instead,” I rushed to tell Lisa the whole story.
“I see. Listen, Ivan, I think I can help you find the Firebird.” Lisa turned to the black box, then looked up at me.
I noticed Harry fidgeting but didn’t grace the treacherous animal with my attention.
I still couldn’t forgive him the indiscretion of sharing my nickname, embarrassing me in front of this lovely woman.
“That would be great,” I said. “I’d very much appreciate your help.”
“Very well, Ivan. But first, I will need to test you to make sure you’re actually the folktale hero.” Lisa straightened up. “My next class isn’t for another three hours, so I’ve got the whole afternoon. I can explain how to make this happen. Does that sound good?”
Lisa smiled at me. She had a beautiful, open smile, and I noticed her teeth were sparkling white. The nicest, most even-looking teeth I’d ever seen in my life.
I had to say, this turn of events was completely unexpected. I was stumped. I already owed a favor to Baba Yaga. Being tested by Lisa would complicate things even further.
“I don’t know,” I mumbled. I didn’t want to upset Lisa, but I also didn’t want to overpromise.
“Well, it’s only because you haven’t heard my offer yet. What if I told you I was fairly certain I knew where the Firebird lived? And what if I told you I could help you locate it and capture it?”
“How do you know how to catch the Firebird? It’s the most elusive creature in the world.”
“Absolutely. But this thing will give me all the answers I need.” Lisa pointed at the black box she’d been holding in her hands. “All I gotta do is add a little bit of magic to it, and you can capture the Firebird.”
“I see. And everything will come out of the box and help me get the bird?”
“Um, sure. But first, you need to help me with something. Just as we were speaking, I realized you are the answer.” Lisa gave me a shy smile. “I know this might sound weird, because we’ve just met, but you and Harry, you’re the magical pair. I just know it.”
“I’m not pairing up with him.” I threw a look full of disdain at the humpbacked horse. “Not after what he’s done.”
In response, the pony snorted. “No love lost here, either.”
“You’re the one who mentioned my nickname!”
“I was doing it to help you, you dimwit!”
“What did you just call me?” I approached, my fists balled up. “How dare you talk to me like that!”
“Isn’t that your name?” Harry stomped his hoof so hard, the table shook.
“It’s just a nickname, and it’s not even fair.
I’m the youngest in my household, so that’s why they gave me that name.
It doesn’t mean anything. And you’re kind of an ugly horse yourself,” I retorted, stepping closer.
I raised my chin high, ready for a fight.
I’d never been in one, but I’d seen the guys in the village get into it, and now that I was on the verge of one, I felt good.
Harry, too, was getting ready to fight me.
“You’ll pay for this, Dimwit,” he brayed, flaring his nostrils. He pressed his ears to his head and started to raise his right front leg.
“Hey, guys, please stop fighting!” Lisa yelled, rushing between us. “Ivan, Harry, what’s gotten into you?”
As she did this, Harry’s hoof hit her in the middle of the thigh, and Lisa fell to the ground with a loud thump.
“Lisa!” Harry and I yelled out, both rushing to her aid.
“You hit Lisa!” I screamed at Harry indignantly.
“It wasn’t on purpose, it was an accident.”
“I guess that doesn’t matter now, does it? Look what you’ve done.” I squatted down to help our hostess. She was on the ground, massaging her thigh.
“Ivan, go get me some ice, please,” she said, flinching in pain.
“Yes, Lisa, of course.” I rose to my feet and was about to leave the room to go outside when Harry stopped me.
“They don’t keep ice in the cellar, Ivan. You need to get it from the freezer.”
“I’m not speaking to you,” I uttered dismissively.
“Do you want to help Lisa or not?” Harry neighed. “Let me show you, it’s right here, in the kitchen.” The treacherous pony led me to the room where, just an hour prior, Lisa had been cooking and pointed at a tall rectangular box. “Open the top compartment. You’ll find the ice in there.”
“Thank you, Harry, and please tell Ivan where he can find a bag,” I heard Lisa say and sighed, realizing I needed Harry to help me. The pony clearly knew more about this world than I did.
“Will do,” Harry neighed to Lisa and smirked, as he turned back to me, bearing a smug expression. It took all my self-control not to fight him.
Harry showed me where to find the bags, then instructed me how to put the ice in.
I brought it to Lisa and helped her get up, walking her over to the table.
With her small hand in mine, now for the third time that day, I felt strong and powerful.
I wanted to protect her, to make her life better with my presence.
“Please, Lisa, have a seat,” I said, pulling her chair back so she could sit down. I moved another chair, positioning it next to her so she could stretch out her leg. Lisa placed the bag of ice on her thigh and sighed in relief.
“Thank you, Ivan and Harry. Do you see now why the two of you must work together? You guys definitely can become the best of friends, and together, you’re unstoppable. You see what I’m saying, right?”
“Sure,” I mumbled, averting my eyes.
“I guess so,” Harry responded reluctantly.
“Well, I’m glad we’ve got that part sorted out,” Lisa said way too cheerfully. “So, Ivan, do we have a deal? You and Harry will help me, and in return, I will help you capture the Firebird. What do you say?”
I bit my lip, still unsure of what to say.
A part of me was hopeful I could get the Firebird on my own.
I could definitely manage without the humpbacked horse.
But what if I were wrong? It was known in my village that a quest for the Firebird was a dangerous and unpredictable one.
And the Firebird itself was a tricky creature that could escape easily.
I furrowed my brow and stared at Lisa, hoping an answer would come on its own.
But it did not. The room was silent, the only sound Lisa drumming her fingers on the table.
“Please?” she begged, looking up at me.
“All right. I’ll do it.”
I didn’t agree to it because of the promise I’d made to Baba Yaga. No, it was because at that moment I realized I would do anything Lisa asked me to do. I would do anything for her. Anything in the world.
“Thank you, thank you.” She reached up to give me a hug, but dropped back onto the chair in pain. “This might sound kind of weird, but what I’m about to ask isn’t that difficult. But I also think you’re the only person in the world who can help me.”