21st Century Bogatyr: April 2026

When Alexei brought the wagon to the front of the inn, the Baal Shem Tov climbed into the front seat beside him. Mruczek sat in the Baal Shem Tov’s lap, taking in the sights of the marvelous city. The Baal Shem Tov gave Alexei orders that weaved the wagon through the web of streets, into a rough industrial district until they arrived at the back door and loading dock of a warehouse.

Here the Baal Shem Tov disembarked. He knocked a coded message on the door. The door opened a crack, and a bearded man stood in the doorway. A hushed dialogue ensued. Then, the door was fully opened and Mruczek and Alexei were able to see a printing press inside the warehouse as well as wooden crates stacked by the door. Several cases were furtively loaded into the back of the cart. The crates were covered with woolen blankets, hiding them from the sight of prying eyes.

The Baal Shem Tov returned to his position seated next to Alexei in the front of the wagon. Mruczek returned to her position, sitting in his lap. The wagon rolled on through the streets of Moskve. From here, the wagon entered an upscale commercial district with fine shops lining the streets. Well dressed people rode in fashionable droshkies and walked about, looking in the shop windows.

The Baal Shem Tov’s directions to Alexei brought the wagon to a clock maker's shop. Here, the Baal Shem Tov once again disembarked and entered the shop, leaving Alexei and Mruczek waiting in the wagon. Minutes later, the shopkeeper's assistants carried a tall, elaborately decorative clock out through the door and placed it carefully into the wagon. The clock was quickly wrapped in woolen blankets and further protected with straw.

The Baal Shem Tov instructed Alexei to follow a broad boulevard that ran nearly due west, and to inform him when they were well clear of Moskve. The Baal Shem Tov and Mruczek rested amongst the piles of straw in the back of the cart. Alexei urged the horses forward, in the direction of the descending sun. When he brought the wagon to a rest in a meadow where he could graze the horses, the afternoon was well advanced. The Baal Shem Tov was snoring contentedly and Mruczek was comfortably resting on the Holy Man's chest and purring.

“Where are we headed from here, Reb Yisrael?” Alexei asked.

The Baal Shem Tov answered his young driver, “When the horses are done grazing and harnessed once more, we will continue westward directly to Liozna in Lithuania. We will be there shortly.”

Of course, such a trip is a very long distance, hundreds of versts and many days traveling across frontiers and borders, when traveling by horse drawn-wagon. Alexei, by this point, knew better than to question the Baal Shem Tov’s intentions. With some trepidation and a certain degree of stoicism or perhaps fatalism Alexei prepared the horses and wagon for the next phase of the expedition. The Baal Shem Tov patiently hummed a nigun while petting Mruczek, waiting for Alexei to be finished.

Alexei climbed into the driver's seat. With some trepidation, he set himself to the impossible task at hand. However, before he could snap the reins to encourage his horses forward, the Baal Shem Tov spoke up.

“Alexei, there are aspects of the voyages that we will take together that are beyond your capacity to understand. Perhaps they are even dangerous for you to experience. When we crossed the river and flew to Moskve, I recognized that was shocking and disturbing for you. It isn't, I assure you, black magic or witchcraft, chas v'shalom. There is a scientific principle to our leap of distance, the kefitzat haderech as we call it, although it is a complicated Kabbalistic science, one that you are not prepared to comprehend.”

The Baal Shem Tov once again hummed a nigun and sat swaying for a while before he began speaking again.

“So, young man,” he continued, “I believe that it is in your best interest that we spare you some of the stress. I want you, for now, to turn around and face the back of the wagon, but keep the reins in your hands.” Alexei turned himself towards the back of his wagon. The Baal Shem Tov continued speaking. “Now, take your scarf and wrap it around your head, completely covering your eyes.” Alexei did as he was told.

With their driver in this position, the horses began to walk, then trots and soon they flew amongst the clouds with the wagon comfortably following, the kefitzat haderech taking place with Alexei protected from further shock. Mruczek, perched herself in the very front of the wagon, overlooking the horses, observing the swirling of space all around. In nearly no measurable time the wagon was approaching the outskirts of Liozna.

The Baal Shem Tov once again spoke to Alexei. “Young man, you can now unwrap your eyes and once again take control of your wagon. You will need to bring it down on the road that is below us.” Alexei pulled on the reins and encouraged the horses towards the ground well below them. It is difficult to say exactly how much the blindfolding helped in reducing his stress. Nonetheless, Alexei calmly landed the vehicle and drove the horses into Liozna. Mruczek returned to the back of the wagon and the Baal Shem Tov’s lap.