21st Century Bogatyr: Herring for Breakfast in Moskve

When the wagon took flight, my Great, Great (multiplied by a large number) Grandmother Mruczek climbed into the Baal Shem Tov’s lap. He stroked her, and called her endearing names which soothed her immensely. Alexei did not have the luxury of a comforting lap. Alexei's fright was palatable. He sat upright in the driver's seat, holding the reins tightly, staring with disbelief into the vast open space up ahead as well as below the soaring wagon.

The clouds and stars swirled. Space and time dissolved. Measurements of distance lost all meaning. The horses moved their legs as if they were running without any resistance. The wagon followed behind, as smoothly as could be imagined.

After a time, the Baal Shem Tov reached out, tapping Alexei on the shoulder. “Do you see that road down below us, young man?” the Baal Shem Tov asked Alexei. “Let's put the wagon down on the road. That's a little more convenient for the next phase of this voyage.”

Alexei nodded and gave the horses a signal that encouraged them in the direction of the road. The wagon naturally followed the horses. The horses and the wagon were soon on the road with Alexei once again in control of the vehicle. To the east, there was just the beginning glimmer of daylight. The road they were on was pointed in a northward direction. They were entering the outskirts of Moskve.

By the time that they truly entered the city of Moskve, the sun was in the sky and morning had begun in earnest. Vendors were preparing their stalls for shoppers, storekeepers were removing shutters and unlocking doors. Students, policemen, nobles, workers, shoppers, and people of all sorts began filling the streets on foot, in droshkies, riding horses, with push carts, all rushing about with the intensity of a bee hive, but without the common purpose of a swarm of bees. Neither Alexei nor Mruczek had ever seen such. The Baal Shem Tov climbed into the front of the wagon, and sat next to Alexei in order to better relay directions. Mruczek sat in his lap, taking in all the sights and sounds of the busy city.

The Baal Shem Tov directed Alexei to an inn and instructed him to have the horses stabled and fed and then find something for himself and the cat to eat. The Baal Shem Tov headed for a nearby shtiebel where he would find a minyan to davan shacharis. He promised to meet back at the inn before midday.

Alexei did as he was instructed. After assuring that the horses were cared for, Alexei placed Mruczek in a bag which he carried over his shoulder. Alexei found himself a seat on a stool at a counter in the dining hall of the inn.

Alexei ordered a bottle of vodka and two plates of herring. Mruczek ate all of the fish from her plate and much of the fish from Alexei’s as well. Alexei drank the bottle of vodka by himself. When the Baal Shem Tov returned to the inn, he found Alexei sleeping, his head on the counter next to the empty bottle. Mruczek was sitting on the counter, licking the second plate clean of the remnants of herring, purring contentedly.

The Baal Shem Tov woke Alexei and told him that it was time to continue on their mission. A bit groggily, Alexei went to retrieve the horses and the wagon. Mruczek and the Baal Shem Tov waited for the wagon in front of the inn, Mruczek perched on the Holy Man's shoulder.