The Two Corpses
by W. R. S. Ralston · from Russian Folk Tales
Original Story
The Two Corpses
THE TWO CORPSES.[409]
A soldier had obtained leave to go home on furlough--to pray
to the holy images, and to bow down before his parents. And
as he was going his way, at a time when the sun had long set,
and all was dark around, it chanced that he had to pass by a
graveyard. Just then he heard that some one was running after
him, and crying:
"Stop! you can't escape!"
He looked back and there was a corpse running and gnashing
its teeth. The Soldier sprang on one side with all his
might to get away from it, caught sight of a little chapel,[410] and
bolted straight into it.
There wasn't a soul in the chapel, but stretched out on a
table there lay another corpse, with tapers burning in front of
it. The Soldier hid himself in a corner, and remained there,
hardly knowing whether he was alive or dead, but waiting to see
what would happen. Presently up ran the first corpse--the one
that had chased the Soldier--and dashed into the chapel. Thereupon
the one that was lying on the table jumped up, and cried
to it:
"What hast thou come here for?"
"I've chased a soldier in here, so I'm going to eat him."
"Come now, brother! he's run into my house. I shall eat
him myself."
"No, I shall!"
"No, I shall!"
And they set to work fighting; the dust flew like anything.
They'd have gone on fighting ever so much longer, only the
cocks began to crow. Then both the corpses fell lifeless to
the ground, and the Soldier went on his way homeward in peace,
saying:
"Glory be to Thee, O Lord! I am saved from the wizards!"
Even the possession of arms and the presence of a dog will not always,
it seems, render a man secure from this terrible species of
cut-throat.
Story DNA
Moral
Even in the face of overwhelming supernatural danger, unexpected circumstances or divine intervention can lead to salvation.
Plot Summary
A soldier, traveling home at night, is chased by a reanimated corpse from a graveyard. He takes refuge in a chapel, only to find another corpse already inside. The two corpses then argue and fight over who gets to eat the soldier, but their battle is abruptly ended by the crowing of cocks at dawn, causing them both to fall lifeless. The soldier, saved by this unexpected turn of events, continues his journey home in peace.
Themes
Emotional Arc
fear to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Ralston's collection 'Russian Folk Tales' (1873) compiled stories from various Russian sources, reflecting common peasant beliefs and superstitions of the time.
Plot Beats (11)
- A soldier is on furlough, returning home to his parents.
- He travels at night and passes by a graveyard.
- A corpse emerges from the graveyard and chases him, threatening to eat him.
- The soldier flees in terror and finds refuge in a small, deserted chapel.
- Inside the chapel, he sees another corpse laid out on a table with tapers burning.
- The chasing corpse enters the chapel and confronts the corpse on the table.
- The two corpses argue vehemently, each claiming the right to eat the soldier.
- They begin to fight violently, creating a great commotion.
- Cocks begin to crow, signaling the approach of dawn.
- Both corpses immediately fall lifeless to the ground.
- The soldier, relieved and grateful, continues his journey home in peace, attributing his salvation to divine intervention.
Characters
The Soldier ★ protagonist
Implied to be physically capable, able to run and spring aside quickly.
Attire: Military uniform, appropriate for a soldier on furlough in the given period.
Fearful, quick-thinking, pious, relieved.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young adult soldier in a traditional bright red uniform with brass buttons, dark trousers, and polished black boots. He stands at attention with a straight posture, one hand resting on the hilt of a sheathed sword at his hip. His expression is determined and hopeful, with short brown hair neatly combed. The uniform is clean and well-fitted, suggesting readiness for a journey. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
First Corpse ⚔ antagonist
A reanimated dead body, capable of running and gnashing teeth.
Attire: Implied burial shrouds or tattered clothing.
Aggressive, predatory, persistent, argumentative.
Image Prompt & Upload
An ancient, gaunt figure with hollow, glowing eyes and ashen, cracked skin. Dressed in the tattered, rotting remnants of a royal burial shroud, adorned with tarnished, dark metal clasps. The posture is predatory, leaning forward with one bony hand outstretched, fingers curled like claws. Expression is a silent, eternal snarl of malice. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Second Corpse ⚔ antagonist
A reanimated dead body, initially lying on a table, capable of jumping up and fighting.
Attire: Implied burial shrouds or tattered clothing, lying on a table with tapers burning around it.
Possessive, aggressive, argumentative.
Image Prompt & Upload
A gaunt, skeletal figure with hollow, shadowed eyes and bone-white skin stretched tight over sharp cheekbones. Long, greasy black hair hangs in tangled strands around a face twisted into a cruel, knowing smirk. Dressed in tattered, dark grey robes that are frayed and moth-eaten, with sleeves that hang past bony, claw-like fingers. The posture is rigid and unnaturally upright, one hand raised with fingers curled into a threatening gesture. The overall atmosphere is one of decay and ancient malice. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Graveyard Path
A dark path leading through a graveyard, with the sun long set and all around dark.
Mood: Eerie, frightening, desolate
The soldier is chased by the first corpse.
Image Prompt & Upload
A narrow, overgrown stone path winds through an ancient graveyard under a moonless, starless night sky. The air is thick with a cold, low-lying mist that clings to the ground, swirling around weathered, crooked tombstones and leaning iron fences. Gnarled, leafless trees with twisted branches claw at the dark sky, their silhouettes stark against the deep indigo and charcoal gray clouds. The only light is a faint, eerie phosphorescence from moss and fungi growing on the stones, casting a weak, ghostly green glow on the damp earth and gravel path. The atmosphere is profoundly silent, still, and heavy with forgotten time. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Little Chapel
A small, empty chapel with a corpse stretched out on a table and tapers burning in front of it. The soldier hides in a corner.
Mood: Eerie, tense, claustrophobic, supernatural
The two corpses fight over the soldier, who is hiding. The climax of the story occurs here.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, ancient stone chapel at night, its wooden door slightly ajar. Inside, a single wooden table holds a draped form, illuminated by the warm, flickering glow of tall, thin beeswax tapers in iron holders. Deep shadows cling to the rough-hewn timber ceiling and the cold flagstone floor. A narrow, arched window lets in a sliver of pale moonlight, cutting through the incense-heavy air. The atmosphere is solemn, silent, and heavy with mystery. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
