by Katarzyna Manikowska |
1/400 Fairy Tale of River (Oriol/BM)
Once upon a time little, agile tankers swam on broad rivers.
The tankers like this one.
'Sheksna' (it is name of one tributary of the Volga, on which the tanker had swam), built in 1914, transported oil from oil ports of the Caspian Sea. Ecquipped with two small support sails it swam down- or upstream, it was on monotonous duty.
Sometimes, (remember: Russia is an extensive, fabulous land, shadows, scraps of old Russian fairy tales, living fragments of stories, Gorynycz the Dragon and Baba-Jaga witch with her hut on crow's feet wandering around the world appear along its broadsides. There is also a big elephant sized pike, which is taking its head out of the water and a fisher who is talking with the pike. Of course his fishing rod is put aside. Baba-Jaga witch, bundled herself up in 'young-and-beauty' spell (and a red tight mini), is waving for the crew of 'Szeksna'. Her premises is being guarded by a little elephant sized Black Cat. Two rascals are getting into mischief on a wreck of a tugboat. On the Szeksna's bow we can see a cook (with a pan in his hand) looking dreamily at the pike.
A bit closer to the stern, but still on bow, a captain and two crewmen are feeling a great astonishment because of a view over the hut streching in front of their eyes... They didn't drink too much last night... What's going on?! Few sailors are mooning about the board, silence, sleepy quiteness.
The Volga is carrying 'Sheksna' noiselessly deep into the tale...