picture began to slowly change its screensaver. The water began to freeze gradually, turning into icicles. The raindrops turned into flakes of snow and a blizzard began. Mara was coming into her own. The blizzard rose stronger and stronger until it turned into a tornado and abruptly stopped. After the stop, the picture disappeared, and the inhabitants of the hall, all except the gods, were covered with ice. All the servants, devils, trolls and guests in human form. They all turned into ice statues. This picture has already surfaced before my eyes. I remember this moment well. My grandmother was standing in a half-bent state and held a shaman’s tambourine in her hands. The Winter Palace was fabulously beautiful, as was its owner. Winter frowned. Mara has come into her own.
I finished my story. A doctor came into the room and interrupted him. The doctor was doing his rounds. He said rather sad words for me. My friend should be discharged soon. I had already become attached to him and I did not want to part with him. In addition, after the experience I was afraid to stay in the ward alone. The doctor left the room. There has been no talk about my discharge yet.
– Don’t be sad. We will meet again, you will see. I took a deep breath in response. How quickly you can get used to a person, I thought. I was sad because so many things happened to me in such a short period, I met a person, now everything is ending, and we will have to part. What a pity. Alternatively, maybe I really dreamed everything and nothing happened. I thought and went out into the corridor.
– Where are you going?
– Just to walk. Walk to the bathroom, I joked.
– Let’s go together. My friend never let me go alone, and I did not even think about why. We walked down the corridor, drank coffee, and I continued my story.
The inhabitants of the castle assumed their former forms. Many guests disappeared, turning into splashes of snow. So they got rid of unnecessary guests. Everything took its former form. The ice thawed a little and became much warmer, although no one felt the cold. Mara threw her gaze at my grandmother, and she turned into a young girl. Beautiful enough for her age and position, but no one could compare with Mara. The girl straightened up to her full height and carefully looked in the direction of Mara. No one dared to look her in the eye.
A moment later, the castle disappeared, and we found ourselves in the winter garden. Everything took its former form, only instead of the old woman there was a girl standing and shamanizing by the fire. The guests separated, the trolls and devils separated from the spirits and lived by themselves. Only the chosen guests remained, and this final part of the holiday was for them. They were facing each other and they were separated by fire. Only the chosen guests remained, and this final part of the holiday was dedicated to them. The gods sat invariably, as they sat originally in the castle. Koschei, did not take his eyes off his wife, he admired her beauty. His eyes glittered greedily; his bony fingers fingered the handle of the throne, lined with skulls. Mara looked with her icy eyes at the fire; her gaze was cold and ruthless, and still changed color.
The old girl was still brewing a miraculous drink; it was already the third pot. My friends and I were standing under a tree and continued to watch what was happening.
– You should have approached her in the castle. However, it will not work out here. See how it turned out.
– I see.
– Then she will disappear and that is it.
– We need to catch the moment, as soon as the moment succeeds, I will immediately use it.
– We all believe in you.
The effect of the drink was beginning to end, and we began to feel cold.
– Do you feel the same as me?
– You will not believe it, but yes! Same as you.
– She is brewing a new potion. If you drink it, then the action will last.
– And how will we do it?
– Let’s hope for a miracle.
The girl continued to cook and shamanize at the same time. In addition, every time the shamanic words intensified, she became older. First, it was a girl, then a girl-woman, then a young woman, and so gradually, she turned back into a poor old woman. She stood hunched over by the fire and continued to brew a potion.
The drink was ready. The old woman poured it into the same wooden cups and distributed it to the servants. They drank and assumed human form. Then the servants carried it to the others. First to souls, then to demons and trolls. Everything went smoothly. I saw how the drink remained in the pot. Fumes were coming from it. After drinking the drink, the Sabbath began. Demons, trolls and souls were having fun. The old woman and the servants stood aside, they could not take part. The fun was in full swing. In addition, I decided that this was a chance and I should take it.
We walked around the tall fir trees, the holiday remained ahead. After walking a little forward, I got as close as possible to the grandmother. The three of us were shaking from the cold. She had her back to us. I plucked up the courage and called her in a low voice. She heard me from the first call, but did not dare to look back. I realized this and waited. She exchanged a glance with one of the servants. This dead man sneaked into our Christmas trees and brought a cup of drink. We drank it one for three, forgetting that we were drinking from the hands of a dead man. The gods were watching the Sabbath and did not notice what was happening. The fire was blazing with a bright flame and we were not visible. The old woman took a few steps back and without turning to face us began a dialogue.
– Why are there three of you here?
– We do not know ourselves. A friend replied.
– Well, he is fine, and what are you doing here? With three, it will be more difficult.
– «Don’t they know we’re here?»
– I think they know; only the three of you will be more difficult to save.
– How to understand?
– It means that he died alone and dragged his tail behind him. You should not be here.
– And what should I do now?
– Rescue drowning people.
The potion began to work, and we felt a surge of strength and stopped feeling cold.
– You have been here too long; you have already spent too much time. It is time for you to get back. In addition, in order not to get into the court again, you need to close the passage to the other world. It is an unmarked grave. You need to make it personalized, install an obelisk and a fence. In addition, no more going to the cemetery at this time of year. It is better in spring or summer. This grave has taken away many lonely souls. I will try to send you back. However, this Koschei is a powerful sorcerer. No, matter how he enchanted you.
I looked around. We were in a beautiful garden. It was night all around, snow and a bonfire lit up the clearing. I had no idea where I could go or run away here. Devils and trolls were having fun; this holiday was to their liking. The souls stood aside and watched the fun. They adopted the image of ghosts; probably it was more convenient for them. The celebration was in full swing.
– Actually, we came to save you. I said firmly. Grandma could not stand it and looked around.
– Have you come to save a dead soul? My place is here. I am already dead. However, you need to run away from here; otherwise you will find yourself in my place.
– I have been thinking about it. She did not see our faces and talked to the Christmas trees. Turning away from us, she resumed her former pose.
– Do you want to take my place? In addition, where do you want to send me?
– In the bright Iriy.
– What he wanted. Who will let me in there? In addition, how long have you known about Iriy?
– My