Galinka, the Wild Goose

Translated by SK Lederer
Illustrated by Barbara Domroe

All winter long Galinka, the wild barnacle goose, had been content to stay in Misha’s backyard.

But now spring had come and she felt the call of the wild. She wanted to fly away to the North, along with the rest of the flock, and find her mate, the gan-der, again. She had become separated from him the previous fall, when they were flying south, and had come to rest near the shore in the Gulf of Fin-land. There she had caught her leg in a fisherman’s net and been captured.

This thrilling “true” story, written by a noted Russian writer of nature tales, tells what happened when Misha and his father gave Galinka her freedom. How she found her way back to the Great Sea Route. How the dread falcon spotted her and followed her day and night, determined to make her his prey. How, all unaware that she was being pursued, she at last caught up with her own family and found her mate again.

And then, one day, the falcon struck. Just at that moment, as he swooped down on her, a shot rang out.

The end of the rifle began turning, always remaining directed at her. The sun’s rays played brightly on the smooth surface of the steel and the suspicious gleam caught the goose’s eye. Terror conquered curiosity, and she rose from the water and flew back to the flock. The hunter swore aloud, he was so annoyed. His game had once again wriggled out of his hands, for now the goose was completely out of range.

It was at that moment that the falcon rushed upon her from his lookout. He caught up with her in a few seconds and like a whirlwind dashed right over her back. Galinka felt as if she were being torn in half, when the falcon clawed her with the sharp talons of his hind claws, cutting the skin on her back as though with a knife. From pain and horror the light grew dim in her eyes. As she was falling, she spread her wings wide and stretched her neck. The falcon came back at her and extended his claws so as to seize the bird while she was still in the air.