Emelya might very well be the laziest boy in all of Russia. He lives with his two brothers and their wives on a farm, but while everyone else works, Emelya lies on the hot stove all day, and keeps himself warm and cosy. Then one day while out fishing Emelya catches a Pike. Now this is a magical Pike and it promises Emelya whatever he should desire, in exchange for its freedom – and Emelya agrees. So far Emelya has used the Pike's power to do simple things, such as fetching pails of water and chopping logs in the forest. But Emelya's new powers have not gone unnoticed – he has managed to hurt several villagers, and now there are many, many people who are very, very angry with him.

The axe had finished chopping the wood. Emelya ordered the logs to climb on to the sled and then cried out "By the will of the Pike, do as I like! Off you go home, sledge!" And the sledge drove off very fast indeed. Emelya watched nervously as the town came closer. He had knocked so many people down, would they be angry? Would they be waiting for him?

They were! As the sledge whizzed down the main street, the waiting villagers reached out and grabbed Emelya and dragged him to the ground. There they began to curse and beat him. Emelya pleaded with them, apologising profusely, but no one would listen. Suddenly, Emelya felt his head spin – someone had kicked him in the head.

Deciding that he could not afford to stay here anymore, he cried, “By the will of the Pike, do as I like! Make them all slip and slide on the ice!" And suddenly the townsfolk discovered that they could not stand. Their feet slipped out from under them and off they went, sliding in all directions. Some of them managed to grab hold of doors and windows, but everyone else went sliding out of sight. Emelya got up and dusted himself off. Then clasping his poor, aching head, he walked home.

A long time passed and then a little time, and the Tsar heard of Emelya's doings and sent one of his officers to find him and bring him to the palace.

The officer came to Emelya's village, entered his hut and asked him:
"Are you Emelya the Fool?"
And Emelya replied from the stove ledge:
"What if I am?"
"Dress quickly and I shall take you to the Tsar's palace."

Now Emelya was thoroughly fed up of the outside world. It seemed as if everywhere people waited, always ready to beat him up... Whereas, here on the stove it was warm and safe. But the officer was not quite as willing to give up. "Come Emelya,"

he said, "If you will not come willingly, then I will be forced to drag you there." But Emelya would have none of this, he said under his breath "By the will of the Pike, do as I like! Let every step this buffoon takes towards me cause him burn and fright!"

And it was as he wished. Every time the officer attempted to come close he felt his feet burn and his heart fill with fright. But the further he moved from Emelya, the more comfortable he felt. It wasn't long before he gave up and returned to the palace where the Tsar was waiting. When he told the Tsar what had occurred, the Tsar decided to change his tactics. He called one of his ministers and directed him to return to Emelya's hut, only this time with many gifts to tempt the boy.

Emelya was much more open to this new messenger, and within a day, he had set out towards the Tsar's palace.

To be continued...