One morning, Ivanushka announced he was leaving to find
"You are a strange one," the Wolf said, shaking out its fur. "Where are you headed?""In search of W," Ivanushka said."Hop on," the Wolf replied. "I know the way to the ." How Ivanushka the Fool Travelled in Search of W...
"W?" his brothers scoffed. "Wealth? Wisdom? Wives?""Just W," Ivanushka replied, packing nothing but a crust of bread and a wooden flute. One morning, Ivanushka announced he was leaving to
Next, the Wolf took him to the , an old woman sitting on a cloud, spinning gales into silk."Are you W?" Ivanushka asked."I am the Weaver," she sighed, her voice a gale. "I give the world its breath, but I am not your destination."Ivanushka gave her his flute. "You need a song to match your silk," he said. "Wealth
They rode like a streak of smoke across the steppe until they reached a well made of black glass. "Is this W?" Ivanushka asked the water."I am the Well," the water rippled. "I hold the world’s secrets, but I am not the end of your search.""Then take a secret for your trouble," Ivanushka said, dropping his crust of bread into the depths so the small fish below could feast.
He walked until the road turned into a whisper and the trees grew tall enough to scratch the belly of the moon. He came upon a caught in a thicket of silver briars. Instead of running, Ivanushka sat down and played a tune so gentle the thorns uncurled like waking kittens.