High up the ridge, lightning from the dry storm the night before had ignited a patch of scrub brush near his neighbor’s barn. Because of the cuckoo’s "alarm," Ion was the first to see it. He grabbed his buckets and ran, shouting for the other villagers to wake up.
Curiosity overrode his exhaustion. Ion stepped onto the porch and saw the bird fluttering wildly toward the high pasture. Then he smelled it: . Cover Canta alarma (Canta cucu bata-l vina)
"Canta cucu, bata-l vina," Ion muttered into his pillow, quoting the old folk song. Cuckoo bird, may its fault be cursed. High up the ridge, lightning from the dry
Ion laughed, wiping ash from his forehead. "Alright, little one. I take it back. Sing all you want." Curiosity overrode his exhaustion
He dragged himself out of bed, but as he reached for his boots, he noticed something strange. The cuckoo didn't stop after its usual three calls. It kept going—louder, more frantic, almost like it was screaming.