The Secret of Kata"

The Story of My Great-Grandfather and the Witch Kata

My great-grandfather was a forest keeper; he guarded the forest. What happened to him, I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. In one village, he had a neighbor named Kata. While my great-grandfather was guarding the forest one evening, he saw Kata carrying wood on her shoulder. She dropped the wood on the ground, placed a rope in a circle, lay down, rolled around in that circle, and turned into a wolf.

My great-grandfather Ivan approached and asked, "Kata, what are you doing for God's sake? I will tell everyone what you are doing." She said, "Just try, and not a single soul will remain in your house." She continued on her way. My great-grandfather Ivan couldn't endure not telling the village because that same wolf was always attacking the village and killing sheep.

Kata found out that Ivan told them. One of his children got a high fever and died the next day. The second child was crushed by a carriage. His wife hanged herself, but she left him alive to suffer. My great-grandfather then started drinking, lost his job, until one evening he sat alone and thought, "What am I doing to myself?"

He went to Kata's house, knocked frantically on the door. She opened it and said rudely, "Why did you come? You got what you deserved." Blood rushed to his eyes, and he started to choke her and curse at her. A neighbor named Ante ran in and stopped him so he wouldn't dirty his hands and his honor.

But the witch Kata got what was coming to her. They say she died in great pain, seeing the devil standing around her and torturing her. My great-grandfather Ivan married again, had 5 children, and found a job. He lived for many years, and Kata ended up as she should have—with the devil.

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