Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #12 March 2015 | Page 54

Excerpts from “A field guide to the Russian Wilds” Valery Riddle Several pages found scattered in a forest glade. Author unknown. much as talks. Worthy heroes meet her, and she helps Flying creatures them find the right way to solve a problem, or tells them the future or shares her infinite knowledge. She Alkonost is also the messenger of our Slavic gods and often Everybody wants to be happy. But boundless happicomes to tell their wish to the humans. ness is known to be harmful. If you see a bird with light-coloured feathers and the head of a woman, Firebird then you might soon find out why. When Alkonost If I told you that the feathers of this bird can light up starts singing in her heavenly voice, humans know no the darkest room, and its singing cures blindness and trouble or grief. They can’t diseases, would you want stop listening to her and to have one of your own? it soon drives them crazy. In that case, bring a gold You might try closing your cage with some apples ears, of course, but if you inside as a bait because you are still looking at Alcan’t catch it with your bare konost, it won’t help. The hands. It also hurts to look mere sight of her makes at its plumage which burns people want to listen. brighter than any fire. UnBecause who in their right fortunately, there’s only one mind can refuse to be hapof its kind in the world, and py even for a split second? it lives in a highly secured garden. The Firebird itself Sirin guards something else—the Sirin’s voice is just as Apples of Youth—so it’s no pleasant, and she looks wonder many brave heroes like Alkonost, except that have tried to acquire either her feathers are black. But and failed, one after anothbeware.However, whilst er. just as captivating, listening to her will make you lose Zmey Gorynych your memory. But choose your own fate, because what You know when you think you have one problem, Sirin really makes you forget is the sadness and the and you try to solve it but it turns out there are more sorrow of your life. However, she always flies away, where that came from? This creature causes the same indifferent to human future. A person who has once trouble to passing travellers. At first glance you’d listened to her soon dies, as troubles start following think it’s a dragon, and if you are brave enough, you him or her everywhere. might try to chop its head off. Except then it turns out it has three. Or five. Or seven. Or nine. Or twelve. Gamayun Clearly the people who lived to tell the tale were Unlike the previous two birds, meeting Gamayun is sensible enough to run away instead of wasting time a stroke of luck. You can tell her apart from the othon the math. Zmey Gorynych’s hobbies are burning ers by her multi-colored feathers. She doesn’t sing so villages and snacking on young girls while it’s at it. PAGE 54