The Russian Soldier

This is cobbled together from a half remembered Radio 4 play heard many years ago that was based on a Russian Folk Tale..............Or is it?

The Russian Soldier

Several hundred years ago a Russian soldier was returning from the wars. As he tramped along a path in the countryside he came across an old man begging by the roadside. The man looked careworn and half starved. This was not surprising as the winter had been hard and there was a shortage of food in the land. The soldier had some dry biscuits in his pockets and touched by the old man’s parlous state he took them out and gave them to him.

After he had walked another mile or so he came across another old man in a similar state to the first. He had no more food but he had a couple of pennies so he gave these to the old man instead and continued on his way.

He came to a third old man and said, “I’m sorry but I have nothing left. What I had I gave to two old men further back along the path.”

“Don’t worry my boy,” the third old man said, “I know of your charity and I also know you have given all you had, a generous act in times as difficult as these. So I have come to give something to you in return. You gave twice so I have two gifts for you. The first is this set of dice. When you play with these dice you will always win. The second gift is the more precious, it’s this bag.” And he passed the soldier a large shabby looking canvas bag with a big flap that buckled over it as a lid. “ I know the bag does not look like much but it has special properties. If you say the words ‘Into the bag’ at whatever you point it at and name when it is open, that thing will go into the bag.” The soldier took the dice and the bag, thanked the old man and continued on his way thinking to himself ‘Well mate you met a right one there. Magic dice and magic bag eh. Whatever next.’

After he had walked another mile or so he saw a fat goose waddling along in the distance. He was feeling quite hungry now; it was close to sunset and a long time since breakfast, the last time he had eaten. ‘Well it can’t do any harm to try the bag’ he thought to himself and unslinging it from his shoulder, he opened the flap, pointed it at the goose and shouted “Into the bag goose.” There was a thump, some furious thrashing and honking as the bag jumped around in his hands. Quickly he pulled the flap over and buckled it up and the goose went quiet. ‘Well that’s supper taken care of,’ he thought surprised and impressed.

He continued on his way for a bit and spotting some houses in the distance decided to see if he might get a bed there for the night in exchange for a share of the goose. Sure enough there was a small Inn at the village and, times being what they were, the Innkeeper was only too happy to cook the goose, add some vegetables and throw in a bed and a bowl of porridge for breakfast in exchange for a share of the bird.

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In the morning whilst chatting over breakfast the soldier learnt that there was a palace nearby that was owned by the Tsar. He never came there or used it any more and neither did anybody else as it was haunted by the most ferocious devils and anybody who had dared to spend the night would be found the next day gibbering, mad. The soldier was immediately interested, asked for directions and despite people begging him not to, vowed that he would spend the night there.

He went out and using his magic bag caught a pheasant and returning to the Inn bartered it for some lunch, some bread and cheese for the evening and the loan of a blanket. Then he set out for the abandoned palace. It was a magnificent building, with all its furnishings, fixtures and fittings still intact, although somewhat damp and dusty, as it had remained unused for many years. The soldier commenced a thorough exploration and eventually settled on a bedroom to spend the night. He had located some stumps of candles, the bed still had a mattress, so he ate his simple supper in the flickering candlelight then made himself comfortable on the bed.

At exactly the stroke of midnight there was a hideous cackling sound, a whoosh of air and a thunderous voice shouted, “Who dares to trespass in the Devil’s palace?” A grotesque crowd of imps and demons materialised in the room and, in their centre, the malevolent form of Beelzebub. The soldier kept his cool and replied, “That’s odd I thought it was the Tsar’s palace and I have come to get it back for him.” After some violent argument the soldier challenged the devil to a game of dice, his soul against the return of the palace. The game began and of course, as the soldier was using his own dice, he trounced the devil. Beelzebub, who had never been beaten before, rose up in fury, but quick as a flash, the soldier picked up the magic bag, pointed it at the devils and shouted the words “Into the bag devils.” Due to its magical properties all the devils were squashed into the bag and the soldier buckled them in. He then began pounding the bag with a large stick until the devils inside were pleading for mercy. At this point the soldier did a deal with Beelzebub. He was to leave and take his imps and demons with him, never to darken the door of the palace again. As he had already won this fair and square with the dice, he extracted a further promise from the devil that should he ever need help he had only to call and Beelzebub would come at once. Having got this signed and sealed he let the devils free and they rushed off swearing and cursing straight back to hell.

The soldier slept the few remaining hours of the night, and in the morning was roused by a hubbub of voices outside. The people were amazed when he came out calm, unruffled and perfectly sane. He told them he had banished the devils and the palace was perfectly safe now. Word soon got round and the Tsar, who was in the area, turned up. When he found out that the soldier had rid his palace of devils he was overwhelmed with gratitude and richly rewarded the soldier with a large farm and bags of gold. The soldier settled down and became a farmer.

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Many years passed of the soldier living in contentment when rumour spread of a dark plague travelling the land. Soon it was amongst the people where the soldier turned farmer lived. People came to him in desperation as he had a reputation for sound advice. After pondering for a while the soldier remembered the devil’s promise to help him if he called, and summoned him. He explained the problem and asked the Devil if there was anything he could do. “You cannot alter the fate of the sick people. “ said the Devil. “All I can do to help is to give you something that will allow you to know whether the sick person will die or recover, but if I do that makes things even between us and you can never call me again.” The soldier agreed and the Devil gave him a glass. “You must fill this with water and stand at the foot of the bed of the sick person and look through it. You will see a woman in the glass. If she seems to be standing at the foot of the bed the person will get well, however, if she is standing at the head of the bed then they will die.” Then with a flash the devil was gone, leaving just a whiff of sulphur in the air.

The plague dragged on with many people falling sick and the soldier who had become a farmer now got a reputation as a doctor as he was unfailing in his diagnosis of whether a person would live or die. One day the Tsar’s son fell ill with the plague and the Tsar having heard of the soldier’s reputation called him to the palace to examine his son. The soldier produced his glass, filled it with water and looked through it at the boy tossing and turning on the bed. To his horror death was standing at the head of the bed and seemed to be about to take the boys life. Without thinking the soldier unslung the bag from his shoulder and pointing it at the woman shouted “Into the bag Death”.

Taking the bag with him the soldier journeyed to the far north and just where the trees gave out he selected the highest one, climbed it and tied the bag to the top. Then turning wearily, he trudged back home.

As time went by word got around that the soldier had trapped Death. Sure enough no more people were dying and the Tsar’s son got better. However people still got older and after a few years some of the oldest began to complain. Many were living in pain and discomfort or had lost their sight, ability to move or worse. Eventually one old lady who was desperate to die, having lived well beyond her allotted span, went to the soldier and pleaded with him to bring back Death. The soldier could see that things were not quite as simple as he had thought and that there was sense in what she was saying so he agreed to go back and find Death.

He retraced his steps, taken all those years ago and climbing to the top of the tree and undid the bag and brought it down. “Death, Death are you there. Can you hear me?” He shouted to the bag. “Yes.” Came her calm reply. He explained what had happened and how people were pleading to die and then let her out of the bag. Death stood before him and looked him in the eye. “When you trapped me you did a terrible thing and upset the natural order of things.” She said. “I will now return to my work, but because of what you have done I will never come for you. You are condemned to wander the world forever and without rest.”

Which is how I come to be here to tell you this story today.