Once upon a time, there lived a man called Hetscho who was so lazy that everyone called him "the lazy one". Because Hetscho didn't want to work, he didn't earn any money and so he often had to go to bed hungry. However, he had heard that up in the mountains lived the wise Gerbatu, who watched over the fate of the people. He decided to seek him out and ask him for help so that he could be full without having to work.

The journey was long and Hetscho passed through a forest. There he met a wolf who asked: "Hetscho, where are you going?"

"I want to go to the wise Gerbatu and ask him for advice."

"Please, Hetscho, ask the wise Gerbatu why I am getting thinner and thinner and never full."

Hetscho promised and walked on past an apple tree. He wanted to pick an apple when the tree rustled: "Hetscho, where are you going?"

"I want to go to the wise Gerbatu and ask him for advice."

"Please, Hetscho, ask the wise Gerbatu why my apples are so bitter."

Hetscho promised and walked on. He came to a stream and wanted to drink some water, but a fish was lying in the water with its mouth open and said: "Hetscho, where are you going?"

"I want to go to the wise Gerbatu and ask him for advice."

"Please, Hetscho, ask the wise Gerbatu why I can't close my mouth."

Hetscho promised and went on his way. It was almost evening when he finally arrived at the wise old man's hut.

Gerbatu opened the door and said in astonishment: "Hetscho, you have come all this way to see me, what is your wish?"

"Dear Gerbatu, please help me so that I can get enough to eat without having to work."

The wise Gerbatu looked at Hetscho for a long time, then he said: "You know that only those who work don't have to go hungry. But I still want to give you a present. Go home, great wealth awaits you."

Hetscho thanked him and was about to leave in a hurry when Gerbatu asked: "Didn't you meet anyone on the way?"

"Oh, yes, I saw a fish that can't close its mouth. And a tree whose apples are bitter, and a wolf that never gets full."

"Listen carefully," said Gerbatu, "the fish can't close its mouth because there is a gemstone under its tongue. If you take the gemstone out of the fish's mouth, it can close it again. There is a treasure buried under the apple tree that makes the apples turn bitter. If you dig up the treasure, the apples will become sweet again. But you can tell the wolf that he will be satisfied if he eats the stupidest person he meets. And now go!"

Hetscho hurriedly made his way home and as he passed the stream, the fish called out: "Hetscho, what did the wise Gerbatu say?"

Hetscho called out: "He said that you have to take the gemstone out from under your tongue, then you can close your mouth again."

"Oh please, dear Hetscho, take the gemstone out, you can keep it too!"

But Hetscho hurried on and said: "I don't need gemstones, Gerbatu has promised me great riches."

He soon came to the apple tree and it called out: "Hetscho, what did the wise Gerbatu say?"

"There is a treasure under your roots, if you dig it up, your apples will be sweet," replied Hetscho.

"Oh please, dear Hetscho, dig up the treasure, you can keep it too."

But Hetscho shouted: "Why should I get my hands dirty? Gerbatu has promised me great riches," then he hurried on.

The wolf was waiting for him in the forest and asked: "What did the wise Gerbatu say?"

Hetscho, tired from the long walk, sat down on the ground and began to tell his story. He talked about the fish and the gemstone, the apple tree and the treasure, and finally he said: "You will be full when you eat the stupidest person you meet."

The wolf had listened carefully, then asked: "And you didn't take the gemstone with you, or the treasure under the apple tree?"

"No," said Hetscho, "why should I? Gerbatu promised me great riches!"

Then the wolf sighed and said: "It seems to me that I have the most stupid person right in front of me." He opened his big mouth and swallowed Hetscho in one gulp.

Fassung Djamila Jaenike, nach: Die Wunderblume. Hundert Märchen aus der Sowjetunion, Berlin 1961, englische Fassung Lysander Jaenik ©Mutabor Märchenstiftung