yellow-green fairy tale book

Chapter 24 Goldhead Fish

Once upon a time, there was a king of Egypt who was blind because of a serious illness.He was, of course, very sad that months passed without the best doctors in the country being able to cure his eyes.His mood became worse and worse, and he became thinner and more haggard because of it.Everyone was thinking that he wouldn't live long, even the prince - his only son - thought so.

One day, a tourist went down the Nile River. When he arrived in Egypt, he saw that the people here were frowning, and asked them what was going on.After learning the reason, he claimed that he was a doctor in a distant country, and he was willing to treat the king's eyes if the king allowed it.Hearing this news, the whole country of Egypt rejoiced.Soon, the tourist was invited to the palace.After a few minutes of careful examination, he said that the king's illness, though serious, was not so hopeless as to be cured.

"Somewhere in the sea," he said, "there is a golden-headed fish. If you will find a way to catch it and bring it back to me, I can use its blood to make a salve to restore the king's sight." .I will wait here for a hundred days. If you still can't catch it after a hundred days, I have to go back to my master."

Early the next morning, the young prince set off with 100 people, each with a net in their hands, and went out together to look for the goldhead fish.A small fleet was already waiting for them to board, and they sailed to the depths of the sea.For three whole months, they worked hard to catch fish from dawn to dusk. Although they caught many fish, none of them had a golden head.

"It's useless now," said the prince on the last night, "the hundred days are still one hour away, and even if we catch goldheads tonight, when we get back to the capital of Egypt Well, the doctor is already on his way home. However, I still want to go out and try to cast a net again.” So he cast the net for the last time.At the last moment of the hundred days, he pulled the net up from the sea and caught a goldhead fish.

"At last it succeeded, but as it often does, it came too late," murmured the young man who was studying philosophy at school. Let the king know that we have tried our best." But when he got close to the fish and looked into its pitiful eyes, he began to hesitate, and really couldn't bear to kill it.He knew very well that although the doctors of this country knew nothing of the secret of the ointment, they must extract something from the blood of this fish.So he picked up the goldenhead fish he had worked so hard to catch, threw it back into the sea, and started to return.After returning to the palace, the prince found that his father had a high fever because of despair, and he couldn't believe everything his son said.

"You will pay with your head! You will pay with your head!" cried the king, and he ordered his courtiers to call the executioner immediately.

Of course, someone immediately ran to the queen with a message, telling her the king's order.She at once put the prince on the clothes of a common man, stuffed his pockets with gold coins, and bade him get on board at once, and set sail that night to a distant island.

"Your father will regret it later, when he'll be thankful to know you're alive," she said, "and I'll give you one last piece of advice: don't hire people who demand you pay every month. "

The young prince found this advice rather odd.Employers always need to pay remuneration, what is the difference between paying once a year and once a month?However, he had been taught many times that his mother was smarter than him, so he said yes.

After sailing for several weeks, he came to the island his mother had mentioned.The mountains on the island are verdant, the trees are overgrown, the flowers are blooming like brocade, and the gardens are full of beautiful white houses.

"What a charming place to live here!" thought the prince, and immediately bought the most beautiful house.

Then many people came and said they wished to be his servants, but they all said they had to be paid at the end of the month.The young man remembered his mother's orders and refused them all.Finally, one morning, an Arab came and begged the prince to hire him.

"How much wages do you want?" said the prince, after asking him some questions, and finding him quite suitable.

"I don't want wages." The Arab replied, "At the end of the year, you can see how I am doing, and you can give me as much as you want." The young man felt very satisfied, so he stayed.

From the side of Prince's Landing, no one would have guessed that the other side of the island was completely deserted.That's because a monster came up from the sea and ate all the crops and livestock there.The governor of the island sent a group of soldiers to hide there and wait, ready to kill it.But for some reason, the soldiers always fell asleep when the monster came up.Although these soldiers were severely punished, it was useless, and the same thing happened next time.Later, an announcement was issued on the island that anyone who could kill the monster would be given a large reward.

As soon as the Arabs heard the news, they immediately came to the governor's palace.

"What reward will you give my master if he can kill the monster?" he asked.

"My daughter, and anything he wants," replied the governor.But the Arab shook his head.

"Give him your daughter, and keep the property for yourself!" he said, "But from now on, whatever you get, you must share it with your daughter."

"That is very well," replied the governor, and ordered that a deed should be prepared, and signed by both parties.

That night, the Arabs sneaked to the beach to wait.Before setting off, he rubbed an oil all over his body.The oil was so irritating to the skin that it was impossible for him to fall asleep like the soldiers.He then hid behind a large rock and waited.Slowly, the sea set off waves.A few minutes later, a hideous monster—part bird, part beast, part snake—scrambled noiselessly up the rocks and stalked down the ground.But the Arab was ready, and when the monster passed by the rock, he thrust his dagger into the deadly spot behind the monster's ear.The monster staggered a few steps, roared loudly, and rolled on the ground until it died, its feet still sticking out in the sea.

The Arab still hid behind the stone and watched to see if the monster was really dead.Seeing that its huge body was motionless, he came out of his hiding place, cut off its ears and toes, and brought them back to his master.He said to the master, take these things to the governor, and say that you killed the monster by yourself.

"But you are the one who killed the monster, not me," retorted the prince.

"It doesn't matter, do as I say, I have my own reasons." The Arab replied.Although the prince didn't want to take credit for other people's work, he finally agreed.

The governor was very happy when he heard the news that the monster had been killed. He asked the prince to marry his daughter that day, but the prince refused.He said all he wanted was a boat so he could travel the world.Of course, the governor immediately granted his request.When he boarded the ship with his loyal servants, they found that the governor had secretly ordered the cabin to be filled with diamonds and jewels as a token of gratitude.

They sailed continuously on the sea, and finally came to the coast of a big country.The prince remained in the boat, and the Arab went alone into the city to see what the place was.A few hours later, he came back and told his master that he had heard that the princess here was the most beautiful princess in the world.It must be good for the prince to propose to her.

This time, the prince was happy to listen to him.He put on some of the most beautiful necklaces, mounted a handsome horse which the Arabs had bought for him, and set off towards the palace, followed by his loyal servants.

The eccentric king happened to be in a good mood that day, and he was happy to receive him.The prince placed the gift he had brought on the steps of the throne, and begged the king to give him his daughter in marriage.

The king listened in silence, and after a pause he said:
"Young man, I am willing to marry my daughter to you as you wish. But first, I must tell you that she has already held a wedding ceremony with 190 young men, but each of them has been married for twelve years after that. He died within an hour. So, think about it first! It’s too late to regret it now.”

The young man thought for a moment and was so frightened that he said nothing more.Just as he was about to withdraw his request and return to the ship, the Arab whispered in his ear:

"Don't be afraid, just marry her!"

"There will always be a time of luck," he said to the king at last. "The princess is so beautiful that there is no other in the world. Who would not risk his life to marry her?"

"Then it shall be as you wish!" said the king, "and I will at once order that the wedding shall take place this evening."

So, the wedding was held that night as scheduled.According to the local customs, after the wedding, the bride and groom should return to their rooms to have dinner.The moon was shining brightly that night, and the prince went to the window and looked out at the river and the mountains.Suddenly, his eyes fell on a silk shroud neatly folded on the couch, his name embroidered in gold thread, just as the king was willing to do.

The prince was terrified by everything in front of him, and he turned his head quickly.This time he saw a group of people under the window busy digging a hole.Why is there still someone working at this time?It's so weird.Also, what is the purpose of digging this hole?It's oddly shaped, narrow and long, sort of like... ah!Yes, it must be!They were digging his grave!
This discovery left him speechless with shock.He stood there numbly, motionless.At this moment, a little black snake spit out from the mouth of the princess sitting by the table and swam towards the prince quickly.The Arabs, however, are watching developments warily.With pliers in one hand, he clamped the snake suddenly, and with the other hand, he chopped off the snake's head with a knife.

Early the next morning, when the son-in-law asked to come to the king, the king could hardly believe his eyes.

"What! is it you?" he exclaimed, as the young man entered.

"Yes, it's me! What's the matter?" asked the bridegroom.Better to act like nothing happened, he thought.

"Do you remember what I said about timing? Look, isn't that what happens? I'm here to ask you, can you ask the gardener to fill in the hole under my window, it really kills the scenery."

"Oh! Of course! Yes! I'll send someone to do it right away!" stammered the king. "Anything else?"

"No, there is nothing else! Thank you!" replied the prince, bowed, and withdrew.

From the moment the Arabs cut off the snake's head, the magic on the princess was lifted.She and her husband live happily together.They hunted in the forest, or rowed on the wide river that flowed from the gate of the palace.After nightfall, either she played the harp and sang to her husband, or the prince told her the legends of his hometown.The days passed so quickly.

One night, a strangely dressed man with a sunburnt face came to the palace and asked to see the bridegroom.He knelt down in front of the prince, saying that he was sent by the queen of Egypt, and that the king had passed away, and the prince had been made the new king.

"Your Majesty, please take your bride back to the country immediately. The situation in the kingdom is a bit turbulent." The envoy finally said.

The prince hurriedly asked to see his father-in-law.The king was pleased to know that his son-in-law was not just a provincial governor as he had imagined, but the king of a great country.He immediately ordered a large ship to be ready.A week later, he came to the pier to say goodbye to the young couple.

Although the Queen was mourning the King's passing, she welcomed her son back with great joy.She ordered the palace to be decorated with lanterns and festoons to welcome the bride.The people placed great hopes in their new king, because the old king's strict laws made them suffer.Every morning, the common people hand in their petitions to the king in droves, hoping that the new king will grant their request.It is true that the king is busy every day, but he is happy to do these things.Until one night, the Arabs came to him and asked the king to allow him to return to his hometown.

The king was very upset and said, "Are you going to leave me? Do you really want to leave me?" The Arab bowed his head sadly.

"No! My master, I will never want to leave you, but I have received the call, and I dare not disobey the order."

The king said not a word, trying to suppress his grief at the loss of a loyal servant.

"Okay! I can't force you to stay." Finally, he choked up and said, "If I force you to stay, then I will be sorry for everything you have done for me! Everything I have is yours You can take whatever you want! Without you, I’m afraid I’d have died a long time ago!”

"I would be dead without you," said the Arab. "I am the golden-headed fish."

(End of this chapter)