The House with Chicken Legs

Marinka is horrified to see the house in disarray. The porch is breaking down, and the house’s legs are splintering because of the wire Marinka used to tie it up. She apologizes to the house through tears and tries tending to its wounds. While she works, she tells Jack all about the Old Yaga, Salma, and Lamya. When the house is more settled, Marinka realizes the house is suffering because she hasn’t guided the dead. She longs for Baba’s return.

Marinka returns to the Old Yaga’s and begs her for help with the bonding ceremony. The Old Yaga explains that the ceremony connects the Yaga and her house for the Yaga’s entire life—which could be hundreds or thousands of years. Marinka is shocked, but pretends she is certain of her choice. Then the Old Yaga makes plans for the bonding ceremony party. All the other Yagas and their houses will attend. The Old Yaga’s house is retired—and now fixed on the outskirts of the market—and won’t attend, but she promises to come herself. They agree to host the party at the Russian steppes. On her way home, Marinka wonders about the life of a Yaga and the adventures the Old Yaga has had.