Branches Book

BRANCHES

Chapter 5: About a Little Bandit Gerda rode forth into a dark forest full of bandits. “Look how rich this girl is!” yelled one of them, noticing the royal carriage. He jumped out on the road and stopped the horses. Gerda was terrified and could not bring herself to exit the carriage. In no time, the thief ran up to the carriage and pulled out the girl. “Oh what a weak girl you are! What if we were to eat you?” said an old bandit as she took out a shiny sharp knife. How terrible! Just then, out of nowhere, a little girl ran up to the old woman—her daughter, also a little thief—and bit her on the ear so hard that the old woman shrieked. “Don’t you dare touch her! She is mine and will play with me!” declared the little bandit. She took Gerda by the hand and they went to the castle of the bandits. The girl was led to a huge room. Two doves were perched on a high ledge in the room. “These are mine!” proudly stated the thief. All of a sudden, the doves cooed amongst themselves: “Coo-coo! We saw how Kay rushed to Laplandia in the Snow Queen’s sleigh.” “My dear Kay!” gasped Gerda. “You will go nowhere outside of here or else I will stab you with a knife!” threatened the bandit. Yet, come morning, she took pity on poor Gerda. “Fine, it is what it is! I’ll let you go!” she said, and then asked her reindeer, “Do you happen to know where Laplandia is?” “How could I not know, it is my homeland!” answered the reindeer. “So then listen to me,” said the little bandit, turning her attention to Gerda, “When my mother falls asleep, I will try my best to do something for you!” Later that night, the old woman took a big swig from her bottle and immediately fell asleep. Approaching the reindeer, the little bandit said, “I don’t really want to let you go, but you need to take this girl to Laplandia. Her brother is there, the one she is searching for.” As she helped Gerda sit down on the reindeer, she said, “Fine, I will give you back your warm mittens, but I’m keeping the muff for myself. It’d hurt me to give up something so nice!” Gerda began to cry tears of joy at the thought of soon seeing Kay again. The little bandit was moved by her tears but tried not to show it. “I can’t stand girls who whine! Here, take some bread and ham with you so you don’t die of hunger,” said the little bandit, shoving the food in Gerda’s hands and sending her off on her way. The reindeer ran through the forests and fields to faraway Laplandia. As they rode, a strange noise broke out from the sky. It was as if a fire crackled behind the clouds.

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