The Secret Legend of Belovodye - Part II, translated by Timofey Reshetov

Forty-nine years after the seventh embassy had gone out, an old monk came from Tsargrad to Kiev and lived there for seven years as a hermit. At that point, anticipating his near decease, he revealed at a confession the following secret story, to be transmitted by word of mouth as a hidden revelation. This saga was to become the property of all the peoples of the Earth only after the right time had come for it.

And that time was now approaching.

"I am that same Father Sergiy," the old monk said, "who, 56 years ago, was sent by the Grand Duke Vladimir the Red Sun to search for Belovodye.

The first year, we traveled well. A few of the people and cattle died in skirmishes or on passages.

In the second year, having passed many foreign lands and two seas, on our advance became more complicated: People and cattle were dying, roads became impassible, and none of our inquiries yielded information. The people in our embassey were becoming discontent, grumbling because they could not see the goal of our journey approaching.

By the end of the second year, the path led through a desert. The further we went, the more bones of people, horses, camels, donkeys, and other animals we encountered. Then we reached a place that was completely covered with bones throughout a wide area, and people refused to go any further.

In a common council, it was decided that those who wished to go back could do so, and the rest would continue on with me. Only two persons agreed to keep going.

By the end of the third year, first one and then the other of my two companions became sick and needed to be left at settlements.

While caring for the last sick one, I happened to learn that, approximately thirty years ago, one other seeker of the Wonder Land had passed this way. He had a caravan of camels with him, and the guide of this caravan was still alive and only lived only three days' journey from where I was.

I sent for him, and he agreed to lead me until I should find another guide.

Continually changing guides in this way, I proceeded slowly. One of the next guides confided that, according to stories, other seekers of the Secret Country in the East used to pass that way. I rejoiced at this information and passionately prayed, begging the Lord to lead me further.

My guides changed several more times, until I found one who told me that he knew, from the words of those who had come from the East, that somewhere out there, in the highest mountains and within about seventy days of travel, there was a wondrous country that many had aspired to visit. But only rarely, he said, did someone pass through to it — and only a very few of those returned.

The further, I went the more information I received. There could be no doubt that the country I was headed for indeed existed. Some called it the Forbidden Country, or the Country of White Waters and High Mountains. Others called it the Country of Light Spirits, the Country of Living Fire, the Country of Living Gods, Wonder Land... there were many other different names relating to this same country.

Finally, we reached a settlement where I was told that I was now only three days journey away from the borders of the Forbidden Country. I would be taken to these borders, I was but no farther. For any guide would die. The traveler had to proceed alone.

After a prayer, with the last guide, I started off.

The road climbed and became narrower. Sometimes, only one person could pass, and that with difficulty.

High mountains with snowy peaks were all around us.

On the third morning, after waking up at dawn and going a bit further along, the guide said that he could no longer accompany me.

According to different legends, he said, there was a settlement within three to seven days of journey toward the peak of the highest mountain. But only few had ever reached it.

And the guide left me. His steps faded away...

[Continued — The Secret Legend, Part III]