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Once polished smooth surface of the mirror was framed with a carved wooden frame and covered with dust. It stood on quaint curled legs, proudly sticking out the handles one could carry the mirror with. But it stayed untouched for a long time. This could be seen by a layer of dust and an angry Koschei’s look over Hope’s head. But should you blame the mirror if the reflection is not to your liking?..</p>
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The girl was viewing delightedly the incredibly sophisticated, refined figures of forest inhabitants carved from wood. She carefully touched the frame with her hand, keeping at respectful distance as if afraid to harm a vintage, though inanimate object. </p>
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But not only the woodcarver and mirror maker’s mastership amazed her – there was another thing. While Koschei was coming behind her back, she saw in the mirror not his reflection, but a young and handsome, like her father in old photocards, man. </p>
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The girl frowned in confusion. Does the mirror lie for some reason or, vice versa, reflects the truth? She wondered, how old was Koschei? Do the immortals get old? Then why do they need immortality?</p>
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And why is he so angry with the mirror, if it reflects a handsome man? Or is it unrealizability that irritates him?</p>
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Hope remembered how her neighbor, an old woman, was constantly lamenting, if she had been immortal, she would have stayed young forever. And how much this old woman was scared of every new gray hair.</p>
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– Dad, why is our neighbor so scared of grey hair? When I grow older, will I be scared of it too? – a curious girl once asked, climbing on her father’s lap. Stained with brand-new paints for drawing, the girl cuddled up to the parent, as she knew it is always warm and cozy in his arms. </p>
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The father sighed heavily.</p>
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– My little Hope, this woman is not scared of hair, she is scared of time and clock that is ticking in her thatch and paints it grey, just like you do with your brush. This is how clock hands mark their territory.</p>
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– But why is she scared of time? Is it so terrible? – the girl huddled up against her father, imagining the time as a living being that wishes to harm.</p>
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– It depends, – the father chuckled thoughtfully, running his hand down the daughter’s petite shoulders comforting. – For many, time is not enough. Just like for you when drawing.</p>
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– But this woman doesn’t draw! – the baby exclaimed in a fit of anger, since she understood the father’s response in her own way. – She does nothing but sit on a bench and nibble sunflower seeds!</p>
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– Nobody has enough time when it comes to some own purposes, don’t be so eager to judge. Better have a look at your mom, she isn’t scared of time at all…</p>
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The early childhood memories crossed Hope’s mind and fade away, leaving a strange taste and anxiety.</p>
<p align="center" style="margin-left:1.0cm;">
Chapter 5</p>
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– What a miracle! – the girl exclaimed, looking at Koschei’s reflection. The curiosity got the best of her, leaving the fear behind, and the girl asked bravely. – Is this also a magic mirror?</p>
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Koschei stopped, shifting his gaze in astonishment from the mirror, where he saw a freak, at the girl who was peering at him as at something strange and glancing at the mirror occasionally.</p>
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– A simple mirror, – Koschei finally grumbled, casting a glance at the mirror once again.</p>
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– Not at all! – Hope persisted. – There, – she waved her hand towards the mirror, – and here, – she pointed at Koschei, – are two different people!</p>
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Gorynych looked in surprise at the mirror with his three heads, each after each, because he couldn’t fit all them in a room at once. He was shuffling his feet awkwardly, hovering on the doorstep. But he could see only himself and Koschei in the mirror. Zmey-Gorynych frowned displeased, as if a toy had been taken from him.</p>
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But the brooms turned out to be much defter. They gracefully swang their twig-skirts several times, sweeping away all the piled up dust from the large man-sized mirror. The mops also got down to work right away, piping huge basins of water like they were on a deck. The last of the brooms also ran by and looked in the mirror, and saw nothing but itself. It seemed like a mirror couldn’t place in everybody at once and reflected only one object at a time.</p>
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– Are you hazing me?! – Koshei yelled and Hope got really worried that he was running out of patience. – What other two people are you talking about! Admit, somebody sent you here! – and he bent to her viciously, throwing his clawed hand in the air.</p>
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Wait a minute. Where are the claws?!</p>
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Koschei froze in amazement and began to view hands. Terrible, long, yellowed claws disappeared, and beautiful almond-shaped nails appeared in their place. </p>
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