A leaflet to promote the activities of the project Let's meet under the Spots was published by the Romanian secondary school, Liceul Cu Program Sportiv, Bacău.

1. COMENIUS MULTILATERAL SCHOOL PROJECT
LET’S MEET UNDER THE SPOTS
2011-2013

2. OUR EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIP

3. ’LET’S MEET UNDER THE SPOTS’ 2011-2013
Our multilateral Comenius school project ’LET’S MEET UNDER THE SPOTS’ –
”Întâlnire sub reflectoare” (Ro), 2011-2013, received a grant of 24000 Euro from the
European Comission, within The Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP). The partnersip, two
years of fruitful cooperation, led to fulfilled objectives, to wonderful activities and
workshops at school and ‘in the worldwide classrooms’, to the development of everyone’s
key competences. The results stand proof for all the work and for all the ideals turned into
real facts.
We close the curtain and shake our hands: teachers, students, parents, management,
local community representatives from Turkey- the coordinating country, The Czech
Republic, Greece, Croatia and Romania- partner countries. We all had a lot to gain from this
partnership.
Seen as a literary journey through te classical and pupular literature of the countries
involved in the project, the themes and objectives focus on stimulating students’ interes in
reading by choosing a selection of national fairy tales- in the first year of project and folk
tales- in the second year of project, and turning them into theatre plays. Te ongoing of all
the project work, the activities, the dramatization, the European mobilities, the research led
to the development of key competences, to the shaping of everyone’s personalities, to the
discovery of new talents and abilities, to change of mentalities and to doors open towards
new cooperation and lasting friendship.

4. THE FIRST YEAR OF PROJECT
THe journey begins...
...in 2011 with the mobility in Turkey, the city of Elazig, where we all met for te first
time: students and teachers from the five participating countries. Once we got to know the
school, the city, the education system, some of the wonderful customs and traditions of the
hosting country, we familiarized with the Turkish literature by reading their fairytale and
by visiting some sites related to the project objectives.

5. Turkey, November 2011

6. In February 2012, we continued our journey in Prague, The Czech Republic to step
on the trails of classical Czech literature, to discover the fairy tale world that inspired the
people of today’s Prague. Our colleagues introduced us to their school, their city, their
educational system and together we analyzed the ongoing of our project work: objectives,
activities and results.

7. Czech Republic, February 2012
The European itinerary led us all to Greece, the town of Vonitsa, in April 2012. It was
there where legends became reality in a space bustling with history. The project guided us
on its normal path by getting to know the school, the Greek educational reality, participating
to activities and thematic visits.
Greece, Aprilie 2012

9. We arrived at the end of the first year of project. The fairytales chosen by each
country were turned into new texts. Students and teachers worked together to create new
fairytales with elements from all the European stories. The newly created fairytales were
dramatized and pedagogical drama proved to be the element that stirred our students’
interest in reading, cooperating, learning and using English while playing. Becoming actors
equaled becoming better persons indeed. The work and talent are displayed here, on the
website of te project: www.letsmeetunderthespots.weebly.com.
PRODUCTS AND RESULTS:
NATIONAL FAIRYTALES
TURKEY:The Stone of Patience
Once upon a time, an old widow woman had a daughter whose cheeks were red and she had no
rival at beauty. They lived in a neighbourhood together. Her mother was sewing and mending
clothes. The girl was doing needlework.
One day, while the beautiful girl was doing her needlework, a bird flew through the window
and it said slowly: “ Beautiful girl! You will stay near a dead person, you will wait for this dead
person for 40 days and eventually you will be happy.” When the girl heard these words, she got
excited and shocked. Suddenly, the bird flew away and disappeared. The girl became obsessed with
this situtation and began to feel depressed.
Next evening, the sun was going down and the water was getting darker. The bird flew
through the window again and uttered the words which it had said before. The girl nearly fainted
when she heard these again. And she decided to tell everything to her mother. Then they decided to
wait for the bird together. In the evening, they hid clothes for bedding and the bird came at the
same time again. The bird said the same words again. Both the girl and her mother were scared.
They hurried out and the mother told her daughter:

10. - God heavens! My poor daughter! My orphan daughter! Let’s run away from this bird. It
isn’t an ordinary bird, it is interesting! We should protect ourselves from this bird!
The girl answered:
- Alright mother. You are right.
They prepared their food in a saddle-bag. They hardly climbed up the mountains.
They passed from valleys. They walked along the stream. They walked, walked and walked. They got
tired and found themselves just opposite an amazing palace. They sat down and started to eat their
food. They decided to spend the night under a tree. While they were sleeping, the bird glided
towards them and took the girl gently. It took her away into a room in the palace and left her on the
floor. When the girl opened her eyes, she found herself in a palace. The room was dressed with
embroidery. There was a mattress and a dead person was lying on it. His arms were folded on his
chest. His eyes were closed and his face was pale. When the girl saw him, she was shocked. And she
remembered what the bird had said. She thought: “ Of course, there must be a positive thing in this
situtation. It is my destiny. I mustn’t worry. Time will clear up everything.” And she prayed all night.
Next morning, her mother woke up and found her daughter was absent then. She looked
everywhere. She asked everybody whether they saw her daughter or not. But nobody knew about
her. It was such a strange land that nobody talked or laughed. Even if the world collapsed, they
wouldn’t care. Her mother cried for a long time.
The girl never slept and occasionally she cried. She continued to pray. Finally, she spent 39
days near the dead man. Finally, the 40th day came. While she was waiting at the palace, she saw a
ship which came from Iran. While the ship was passing in front of the palace, the girl waved and
called the captain of the ship. She threw a purse full of gold in order to get a female slave. She felt
happy because finally she found a friend. Just as the 40th day came, she got tired and told the
female slave: “Sit here. I will walk around the palace and come back soon.” While the female slave

11. was waiting near the dead body, the man coughed and hecame to himself. He saw the female slave
and said:
- Oh girl! Who waited for me 40 days? Is it you?
The female slave hesitated but answered:
-Yes, my shahzadah. It is me.
Actually, this dead man was the Shahzadah of this palace. He had sworn to marry someone
who would wait for him. And then he drank a mixture and he lied for 40 days and nights. The wife
of Shahzadah, the Sultan of the country, was to be selected by a bird who would wait for him 40
days and nights. What a destiny! The selected one had gone out in order to take a walk in the palace
and the poor Shahzadah didn’t see her! He supposed that the female slave had waited for him. And
the female slave behaved like a Sultan. So, the Shahzadah decided to marry the female slave. The
Shahzadah asked:
- My Beloved Sultan! My Precious! Is there anyone here apart from you?
The Fake Sultan answered:
-Yes, I have a female slave here. She is a bit vagrant. I have told her to do something but she
hasn’t come yet. Oh, there she is coming! Come here, you idiot! The Shahzadah wants you!
The girl understood the trick that her female slave played on her but didn’t say anything. She
thought: “I must be patient. Time will clear up everything.” The Shahzadah and the Fake Sultan got
married and their wedding ceromony lasted for 40 days and nights. The Fake Sultan was cruel to the
girl. The beautiful poor girl pretended to be a female slave and served the Shahzadah and the Fake
Sultan for years.
One day the Shahzadah told the Fake Sultan: “ I will have a journey to Yemen. What do you
want from me?” The Fake Sultan wanted diamond earrings. The Shahzadah turned to the girl who
was serving and asked: “ Poor girl what about you? What do you want from me?” The girl answered:

12. “ I hope you will come back alive. And I want a stone of patience from you. But if you forget it, I hope
there will be a storm in the sea and you won’t come back here.” The Shahzadah laughed upon these
words and he didn’t care.
The next day, the Shahzadah gave a farewell to the Fake Sultan. And he left on a ship. A few
months later, he arrived in Yemen. He bought the diamond earrings for the Fake Sultan but he forgot
the Stone of patience. On the way back to his country, there occurred a storm in the sea and they
couldn’t go further. The captain of the ship asked the passangers whether anyone had a curse or had
forgotten something or not. Suddenly, the Shahzadah remembered that he had forgotten to buy a
patience stone for the female slave and went back to Yemen to buy it. Then, there was a lull in the
storm and the passanges were able to go back to their country. The Shahzadah arrived in his country
as well. He gave diamond earrings to the Fake Sultan. She was very happy and wore them at once.
The Shahzadah gave the patience stone to the female slave.
In the evening, the Shahzadah began to think deeply: “ How did all things happen? The poor
slave had told me if Iforgot what would happen, and it happened. I can’t understand. The Sultan
wanted diamond earrings from me, but the poor slave only wanted a stone. The poor slave must be
contented.”
While the Fake Sultan was snoring, curious Shahzadah went to the female slave’s room and
looked through the key hole. He saw the female slave. She was uttering these words: “ The patience
stone! , The patience stone! Do you know what happened? I was my mother’s only girl. One day
while I was doing needlework a bird flew through into the window and said to me: “Beautiful Girl!
You will wait for a dead body for 40 days and eventually, you will be happy.” All things that the bird
had said came true. I waited for 39 days and on the 40th day; I made the Fake Sultan get the
opportunity. The patience stone! I am suffering now. My heart is bleeding. If you were in my shoes,
what would you do ?”
The patience stone swelled. She continued: “On the 40th day, I called the captain of the ship
and wanted to buy a female slave. Then I went out to walk around the palace. Suddenly, I saw the

13. Shahzadah had waken up from death sleep and this female slave deceived him and convinced that
she had waited for him 40 days. And then I became a female slave. The patience stone! If you were
me, what would you do?” Upon these reprehensions, the patience stone couldn’t stand and cracked.
The girl exclaimed: “Patience stone! Even you couldn’t stand and cracked. How can I endure?”
Then, the girl attempted to commit a suicide. When the string was on her neck,
Shahzadah pulled himself together and came into the room, saved the girl from death. Then,
he lost his temper and woke the Fake Sultan up with anger and asked her:
- What would you want from me? Forty mules or forty cleavers? Make your choice.
She understood that her lies had been learnt by the Shahzadah and said;
- I would like to forty cleavers to destroy my enemies, I would like to forty mules to get
back my homeland.
When she said that, The Shahzadah gave forty mules to her, she thought that she would
go to her homeland but in fact, the Shahzadah’s plan was completely different. He wanted to
punish her but the beautiful girl didn’t want to make anybody sad and begged the
Shahzadah to forgive the slave.
In the end, the Shahzadah sent her to a place that she had deserved: with no trees, no
plants and no animals. The Shahzadah and beautiful Sultan had a big wedding ceremony
and it lasted for forty days, they lived together happily till the end of their lives…

14. THE CZECH REPUBLIC:
Goldilocks or The Gold hair maiden
by Karel Jaromír Erben
Once upon a time there was a king, who was so prudent that he could
understand to all animals speech. And now attend the way, how he had learnt this
skill.
One day, some old granny, herbalist, came to him and gave him the basket with
a snake. “Let the snake prepare as a meal, and if you eat it, you will be able to
understand everything, what animals say: in the air, in the earth, in the water.”
The king liked it, because he got a chance to know something what can´t anybody else,
so he paid the granny for her present very well. Then he immediately told to his servant to
prepare the “fish” as a lunch meal. But he warned him: “You have not taste it, nor a small
piece on you tongue. If you dare, you will be beheaded!”
But it was weird to Jiřík, that servant of the king, why the king forbids him so
much. „I´d never seen a fish like this,“ he told himself. „It looks like a snake! Why
should not a cook taste, what he is preparing?“
When it was baked, Jiřík took a bit and he tasted it. And suddenly – he is hearing
something, buzzing near his mouth: „Give us a bit too! Give us a bit too!“ Jiřík looked
around, what had been happening, but he didn´t see anything but flies, which were
flying around kitchen.
And then again! Outside he heard someone with a whistling voice, calling:
„Where are you going? Where are you going?“ And some thinner voices answered:
„To farmer´s barley! To farmer´s barley!“ Jiřík looked outside through the window, but
he saw only gooses.
„Oh!“ he thought, „That´s what the fish his like?!“ Then he understood what it is! And
he took another small bite of the fish to his mouth and then he brought the cooked snake to
his king, in the way like nothing has happened.

15. After the lunch, king ordered to Jiřík to saddle his horse, because he wanted to ride
and Jiřík had to accompany him as his first servant. King was riding ahead and Jiřík behind
him. When they were riding over the green meadow, suddenly Jiřík´s horse skipped and
neighed: „Hohohoho, brother, I´m feeling so airy and free, that I feel I would jump across
the mountains!“
„I would like to jump too,“ said king´s horse, „but on my back old man is sitting“. „If I
jump, he would trumble down like sacksful and brake his back of the neck.“
„And what´s important on that his neck will be broken?“ said Jiřík´s horse. „When old
man is dead, you will carry young man.“
Jiřík chuckled, when he heard what horses were talking about.
But the king understood to their speech very well too and he looked back. When he
saw that Jiřík was chuckling, he asked him: „What are you laughing at?“
„Nothing, my king, I just have recalled something on my mind,“ Jiřík was pleading.
But the old king began to suspect Jiřík and the horses too, so he decided to ride back to
the castle.
When they arrived back to the castle, the king commanded Jiřík to pour red wine to
his goblet. “But you will be beheaded, if you do not refill the goblet, or if you spill it!”
Jiřík took the wine kettle and began to fill king´s goblet with red wine. Suddenly two
little songbirds were flying by the window. One of them was hunting the second one and
which had three golden hairs in his beak.
“Give it to me!” the first one was crying, “they belong to me!”
“No, I will not, they are mine, because I have lifted them up!”
“But I saw how they had fallen down when the golden-hair maid was combing her
long hair in the morning sun! Give me two of them at least!”
“Neither two, nor one of them!”
“But the birdie who wanted to have golden hairs caught them by their end, so the birds
began to pull them, trying to get them only for each one.

16. But, in this fight, one of the golden hair fall on the window ledge with tender ringing.
Jiřík took a look at them, so he poured the wine over.
“”You have lost your life!” the old king yelled. “But I want to be merciful to you. If you
find the golden-hair maid for me and bring her to me as my bride and wife, I will allow to
let you live.”
What could poor Jiřík have to do? If he wanted to save his life, he would have to find
the maid, in spite of he did not know where does she live.
So he saddled his devoted, loyal horse and set out the adventurous journey.
He was riding crosswise many kingdoms, asking everywhere, where could he find the
maid with golden hair, but nobody knew.
One day Jiřík came to dark forest and suddenly he saw under the trees a bush which
was burning in fire; herdsmen have lighted it. But under the bush was an anthill, and
sparkles were falling on it, and poor ants with their ovums were running away, trying to
escape, and they began to cry: „Oh help us, Jiřík, help us,“ they were clamouring, „or we are
going to burn off here, and our youngs in ovum too!“
Jiřík dismounted immediately, he cut the burning bush and extinguished the fire.
“When you will need a help, just remember, think on us, and we will help you as well.”
After then he was riding through the forest until he arrived to tall fir-tree. There was a
raven nest in top of the fir and two little, young ravens were crying: „Father and mother
have left us, the just told us that we are able to find the food, but we are too small, we poor
nestlings, we cannot fly yet! Oh help us, Jiřík, please, help us and feed us, or we are going to
die because of hunger!“
Jiřík didn´t think about what to do too long, he dismounted from his horse and kill him
with his sword, so the nestling ravens could eat fresh meat for a long time.
„When you need a help,“ they cawed, „remember us, and we will help you too.“
After this episode, Jiřík had to go by feet. He was walking very, very long time through
dark forest, and finally, when he came to the end of the forest, he sought wide, endless sea.

17. There were two fishermen on the shore, arguing and wrangling, because they had
caught golden fish and both of them wanted it for himself only.
„My fishing net – my fish!“ cried the first fisherman.
„But you would never catch the fish without my ship and my help,“ argued the second
one.
„When we catch another gold fish, it will be yours,“ wanted the first.
„No, no, you will wait for another gold fish, and this will be mine!“ wrangled the
second one.
„I will judge you,“ told them Jiřík. „Sell the gold fish to me, and divide the money on
two same halves.“ And he gave him all coins which he had got from his old king on the way:
he did not let anything for himself.
Fishermen were happy that they had been sold the fish so well and Jiřík dismissed her
to the sea again.
The golden fish splashed cheerfully in the water, and then she plunged near the
shore once again and she raised her head from the water: „When you need me, Jiřík,
just remember me, and I will come to help you and serve you.“ And then she
vanished in the sea.
„Where are you going to?“ asked fishermen Jiřík.
„I am going for the bride for my old king and lord, the bride is the virgin with golden
hair. But I have no idea where I can find her.“
„Oh, we can tell about it very well,“ said fishermen. „She is called Zlatovláska, it means
Gold-Hair-Maid or Goldilocks, and she is the daughter of the King of the crystal palace, and
they live just on that island on the horizon. Every morning, when the light is becoming, she
combs her golden hair, and the shine of them goes into the sky and on the sea. If you want,
we can take you to the island, because you have judged us so well. But keep your attention

18. on, because of choosing the right maid: the king has got twelve daughters, but only one of
them has got golden hair.“
When Jiřík came to the island, he found the crystal palace, and he met the king
because of asking him for his daughter with golden hair, who he has to take to his king as a
bride.
„Well, lad, I will give you my golden-hair daughter,“ the king told to Jiřík, but you
must earn her: there are three task which you must carry out, every day I will give you one
task. But now you can have a rest, until tomorrow morning.“
Next morning told the king to Jiřík: „My Goldilocks had had the twine of expensive,
precious pearls, but the twine had broken off and pearls fell in high grass on great green
meadow. You have to pick every of these pearls, you cannot miss one of them!“
Jiřík came on the meadow which was so wide that he could not see its end. He fall on
his knees and began to search for Goldilocks´s pearls. He was searching all day, but he did
not found anything, nor he smallest pearl.
„If only there were my aunts, they could help me,“ he uttered a sigh.
„But we are here to help you,“ told him aunts in the grass suddenly, they just appeared
amazingly, swarming around him. „What do you need?“
„I got this task: to pick up pearls which are on this meadow, but I have not found
anything.“
„Just wait for a while, Jiřík, and we pick them up instead you.“
And in the moment aunts began to carry pearls to Jiřík and he had to put them on the
twine. When he wanted to tie the twine up, one small, crippled aunt, because his leg had
been burnt during the fire: „Wait, Jiřík, I am carrying you the lost, little pearl!“ Jiřík gave
him thanks and brought the pearls to the king.
Goldilocks´s father praised Jiřík´s good work, the pearls were all of them. „You have
completed the first task, but there is the second one for tomorrow: when Goldilocks had
been swimming in the sea, she had lost her gold ring. You have to find it and bring it.“

19. Jiřík went to the sea and he was walking around the shore very sadly. The sea was
clean, but very deep, that he couldn´t see to its bed. And what about searching for the ring at
the whole bed!
„Oh, if only there was my goldfish, she could help me!“
Suddenly something flashed in the sea and from the depth the goldfish rose to the
surface.
„But I am here to help you. What are you needing?“
„I need to find the gold ring of the Princess, which is somewhere in this deep sea, but I
even cannot see to the bed!“
The goldfish smiled. „Right now I met agile pike fish, and she has been brought the
gold ring on her fin! Just wait for a while, I am going to bring it to you.“
And it really wasn´t long waiting, the goldfish was back from depths of the sea, with
pike and ring.
The king praised Jiřík again because of well done work. Next morning, he told him
about the third task: „If you really want my goldilocks for your king, you have to bring the
dead and living water; it will be necessary.“
Jiřík didn´t know where can he find these kinds of water, so he was walking and
walking whatever his feet were carrying him, until he came to black, deep forest. „Oh, if
only there were my ravens, they could help me!“
…And suddenly there was some rush above his head and he noticed that a pair of
ravens… “We are here to help you, what do you want?”
“I am supposed to obtain live and dead water, but I do not know where I should look
for it.”
“We know it, wait a second and we will get some for you,” said the ravens. And in a
little while they were back, each of them with one bottle of water. One of them contained
the live water and the second one the dead water. George was glad for being such lucky and
he rushed back to the castle.

20. On the edge of the woods he saw a web spreading between two firs. In the middle of
the web there was a huge spider digesting a fly. George took the bottle with dead water and
splashed it on the spider. The spider dropped dead. Then Jiří splashed a little of the live
water on the dead fly. It started moving, climbed out of the web and flew away.
“Lucky you, that you saved me,” buzzed the fly around his head. “Without me you
would hardly find out which one of twelve princesses is your Goldilocks.”
When the king saw that Jiřík had accomplished the third task as well, he promised to
give Goldilocks to Jiřík… But the king had a condition: “Jiřík, you have to choose her among
her eleven sisters by yourself.”
Then he led Jiřík to a large hall and in the middle of it there was a round table with
twelve beautiful maidens sitting around it. All the maidens were looking the same and each
of them was having a long veil as white as snow so it was impossible to see the colour of
their hair.
“These are my daughters,” said the king. “If you guess correctly which one of them is
Goldilocks, you can leave with her immediately, if not, you have to leave the kingdom
alone.”
Jiří was very worried, upset and he did not know what to do. Then suddenly something
whispered in his ear. “Bzzz, walk around the table. I will tell you which one of them is
Goldilocks.”
It was the fly, which Jiřik has resurrected with living water: „This lady – she is not the
one you are searching for, nor this one, nor this one – but this one is Goldilocks!“ The fly
was advising to Jiřík.
„Give me this daughter,“ cried Jiřík, „this one I have earned for my king…“
„Yes, you are right,“ the king said, and the maid stood up from the table, removed the
headdress, and her golden hair were flowing from her head to the ground in huge torrents,
and the shining was so bright and strong, that Jiřík had to close his eyes, he felt like looking
into the morning sun.
And then the king gave his daughter equipment on her way, as right and proper, and
Jiřík take her away from her home to his lord, the old king, for marriage.

21. Old king´s eyes were sparkling and he was jumping because of joy, when he saw
Goldilocks´s beauty, and he ordered to prepare the wedding.
“I just wanted to hang you for your disobedience, that ravens would eat you,” he told to
Jiřík, “but because you have served me so well , I just cut your head off! with axe like you
were a nobleman, and then I am going to bury you honourably.”
When Jiřík was beheaded, Goldilocks began to beg the old king to donate her Jiřík´s
body. The king was not able to say „no“ to so beautiful and fairy lady.
Goldilocks put Jiřík´s head to his body directly, and then she sprinkled it with the dead
water. The head and the body has been put together like before the persecution, without any
scar.
Then she sprinkled Jiřík´s corpse with living water, and Jiřík wake upon again, like
reborn, full of power like young deer. The youth was shining from his face.
„Oh, how deeply I have been sleeping!“ said Jiřík, rubbing his eyes.
„Oh yes, you have been sleeping very, very deeply,“ said Goldilocks, „and if I had not
been, you were never waken again for ever and ever!“
When the old king saw that Jiřík has waken from the death and he is younger and
more handsome than before, he wanted to be young again. He commended his servants to
be beheaded and then to sprinkle his body with living water.
So they beheaded him and then sprinkled him with living water as he had said, and
they sprinkled it all, but the head didn´t increment to his body. Then they only just started to
pour the dead water, and in the moment the head and the body was connected as before…
But the king was still dead, and because they had no living water yet, he could not be
resurrected.
And since the kingdom could not be without a king, and anyone could be so wise as
Jiřík who was able to talk to all animals, Jiřík became the king and he married Goldilocks
because they fell in love and they were ruling with loyalty, prudence, justice, and goodness
forever and ever.

22. CROATIA: Fisherman Plunk And His Wife
RIBAR PALUNKO I NJEGOVA ZENA
(Ivana Brlic-Mazuranic)
Fisherman Plunk had had enough of his miserable life. He lived on a remote seaside
place, catching fish on a bone hook day by day, as the nets were not known at that place. But
what can you catch on a hook? "What a miserable life?" - Plunk said to himself, - "what you
catch today, you eat in the evening, there is no happiness for me in this world." Yet , Plunk
had heard, that there was the world's wealthy county and Gavan tyrants, which live in
fortune and wealth, in gold and luxury. Therefore, Plunk convinced himself that he should
see such a wealth, and live in it as well. He made a pledge to himself, that he would sit in
his canoe on the open sea for three days, but will not catch the fish, just in order to fulfil his
pledge.
So, Plunk sits for three nights and three days in his canoe on the open sea - three
days he sits, three days he fasts, and three days he doesn't catch a fish. At the dawn of the
third day, a silver canoe rose from the sea, with silver rows in it, and in the canoe, as
beautiful as a princess, stood a pale Zora.
"For three days you spared the life of my fish, but tell me, what do you want me to do for you
now?" - said Zora.
"Help me out of this misery and barren life. Here, I spend all day long on this lonely place.
What I catch during the day, I eat in the evening andthere is no happiness for me on this
world." - Plunk said.
"Go home, and you will find what you need", - said Zora to him. As she said so, she
disappeared into the sea together with the silver canoe. Plunk rushed ashore and to his
home. When he came to his house, poor girl got out in from of him, tired of long walk from
distant highlands.
The girl said: " My mother died, I have no one on this world, take me as a wife, Plunk.
Now, Plunk didn't know what to do.
"Is this that happiness that Zora has sent me?," Plunk said.

23. Plunk saw that girl was as poor as Plunk himself, but he was afraid to make a mistake
and spoil his luck.So, he agreed and took his poor girl for his wife. And she, tired of long
walk, laid down and slept through the next day. Plunk could hardly wait another day to see
what happiness will look like. But, next day, nothing had happened. Plunk took his hooks,
and went to the sea, and his wife went to the mountain to pick up some sorrel.In the
evening, Plunk came back, and his wife came back, they had dinner of fish and some sorrel.
" If this is called happiness, I could live without is as well", thought Plunk.
After dinner, the wife sat next to Plunk and told him the stories to pass the time. She
told the stories about gavans and imperial gardens,dragons that guard the treasure, and a
princess which saw the pearls in the garden. Plunk listens and his heart beats faster. Plunk
forgot about his poverty - he could listen like this for three years. But Plunk got even
happier when he thought: " This is fairy woman,she will show me that way to the treasure
dragon or princess' garden. The only thing I have to do is to be patient and don't make her
angry."
So, Plunk waits - day by day pass by, a year has passed, two years. They already got a
son - they called him Vlatko Little.
But, actually, everything remained the same: Plunk would catch the fish, and the
woman would pick the sorel during the day, in the evening she would cook the dinner, rock
the little son and tell the stories to Plunk. She told stories more and more interesting, but
Plunk was less and less patient, until one night, Plunk had enough, and when she told the
stories about great wealth and splendor of King of the Sea, angry Plunk jumped,grabbed
woman's arm and said: "There is no wait any more, you take me tomorrow to the castle of
King of the Sea."
Woman got a fright when Plunk jumped so suddenly. She told him that she didn't
know where the castle of the King of the Sea was, but Plunk beat woman angrily and
threatened her that he would kill her, if she didn't tell him the fairy secret. Now, the poor
woman, realised that was held for a fairy, cried and said:
" I am not a fairy, but a poor woman, which does not know the spells. What I tell you,
is what my heart tells you to make you happy. "

24. This enraged Plunk even more, for he was cheated for two years, so he ordered to
the wife to go next morning with the son, to the right, down the beach, whereas Plunk will
go to the left, and not to come back until they find the way to the King of The Sea. In the
morning, the woman cried and told Plunk not to separate. "Who knows, which one of two of
us will die on this rocky beach ", she said.
But Plunk attacked her again, so she took the child and left crying, as he has ordered.
Plunk, on the other hand, went the opposite way.
So, the woman walked with Vlatko Little as one week became two. She could
nowhere find the way to the King of The Sea. Tired, she fell asleep on the rock. When she
woke up, she realised that her baby, small Vlatko disappeared.
She got such a fright that and she coudn't say a word, and she got speachless. Poor
mute went down the beach and came back home. Tomorrow Plunk arrived. He didn't find
the way to the King of The Sea, and he came back angry and furious.
As he entered the house he couldn't find the son, but speachless wife. She couldn't tell
him what has happened of great sadness. From that day that was life like in their house.
The wife didn't cry, but quietly worked around the house serving Plunk, in silent and empty
house. Plunk stood this sadness for some time but then, he has had enough: he hoped for the
fortune and wealth of the King of the Sea, but he got this poverty and misfortune.
Therefore, one day, Plunk decided to take off to the sea. For three days he sat in the canoe,
he didn't eat for three days,
he didn't fish for three days. On the third day, Zora appeared in front of him.
Plunk told her what happened and opened his heart:
" This is worse misery than before. My child disappeared, my wife is mute, and my house is
empty. "To die of sadness".
"What did you wish for? I will help you once again." .

25. But, Plunk has only one crazy mind, and he was convinced that the only thing he wanted
was to see and enjoy in the fortune and wealth of the King of the Sea, so he didn't ask for his
child to come back, nor his wife to speak again, but he begs Zora :
"Please, glorious Zoro, show me the way to the King of the Sea. "
And Zora - girl did not say anything, but told to Plunk: "At the dawn of the new moon, you
sit in the canoe and wait for the wind, onwards and follow the wind towards the east. The
wind will take you to the island of Bujan, to the Alatir stone. I will wait for you there and
show you the way to the King of the Sea.Plunk went home happily.
When the new moon appeared, he didn't say anything to his wife, but he sat in the
canoe, and waits for the wind to start blowing and went towards the end. The wind took the
canoe to the unknown sea, to the island of Bujan. The green island floats like a green garden.
And in it, there was lushesgrass and vine,and blooming mandula. In the middle of the island
there was a precious gem, white glowing stone Alatir. Half of the stone glows above, and
half of the stone glows under the sea. Here on the island of Bujan, on the stone of Alatir,
Zora sits.
She kindly greeted Plunk. She showed him the way to the water - mill, near the
island, and sea - girls play the games. She thought Plunk how to convince the Mill to take
him down to the King of the Sea, and not to be swallowed by the sea whirlpools. Zora also
told him:
"You will enjoy greatly in the fortune and wealth of the King of the Sea. But
remember, you cannot go back to the earth, as there are terrible guards set up for you. The
first one is making the waves, the second one is blowing the winds, and the third one is
throwing down lightnings.
Plunk sat in the canoe happily and rowed to the water-mill, thinking:
"You do not know, Zora, what is the poverty in this world. I will not wish to come back to
earth , as I will leave only misery behind."
He came to the water-mill, to find Sea - girls playing games around it. They jump
into the waves, they play chase, their hair is splaid on the wave, silver fins glitter, and their
red lips are smiling. They sit on the mill, and splash the water around it.

26. The canoe arrived to the water-mill, and Plunk did as Zora taught him. He raised the
row above the sea, not to be swallowed by the whirlpools, and he told to the mill:
" Round wheel, please take me down, either to the Dead Dark Deep, to the Sea King."
When Plunk said that, Sea - girls jumped as a silver fish, gather around the mill and turn it
quickly as they could. Deep and deadly whirlpool appeared in the sea, and carried Plunk
down to the castle of the Sea King.
He landed on the beautiful, golden sand, looked around himself and went mad with joy.
He clapped his hands, his heart beating happily, as he ran on the sand like a child, and
made one, two, three cartwheels, like a playful child. The King of the Sea liked it and he
gave to Plunk the branch of pearls.
He then ordered to the sea girls to bring the best of food and drink to Plunk to enjoy in the
greatest honour. When Plunk finished his meal, Sea King asked him:
"What else do you want my boy?" And what would ask for a miserable poor man?
" As you asked me the Sea King, i would like a good plate of cooked sorrel."
The Sea King was surprised as the sorrel is dearer than pearl, because it grows in the
overseas land. But, I will send sea-girl to fetch some for you. In the meantime, make few
more cartweels for me.
Plunk was happy to do a favour to Sea King, and he jumped to his feet like a squirrel,
and made the whole King's household laugh hilariously. Out of all, the small child, a future
king, spoiled by the sea-girls , was playing the games. When Plunk turned over, the little
king laughed happily. Plunk looked at him and got a fright. It was Vlatko Little, his lost son.
Enraged Plunk decided not tell anyone about his son, as they would separate them. He
decided to become his son's servant, to mention him that he has a mother and father, and
hopefully, return the boy to his mother.
So, once they were alone , Plunk whispered to child's ear that he was his father, but little
kicked Plunk in his leg and said:" You are not my father, you are jester, turning around in
front of the Sea King!"

27. It bits Plunk's heart, he could die of saddness. As he cried his eyes out, the whole
King's people gathered around and concluded:" You must have been a great warrior on
earth if you cryin such a luxury."
Plunk replied:" I was like the Sea King, I had a wife, telling me fairy tales, I had a
child climbing up my beard - and a sorrel, my brother, I had as much as I wanted, without
having to do cartwheels for it.
The dwellers wandered what a big gentleman Plunk was, and allowed him to grieve
for his lost happiness. And Plunk remained as a little king's servant, pleasing him and
hoping that one day, they will run away together. But little king was every day more and
more arrogant, and he held Plunk for bigger and bigger fool.
Now all this time Plunk's wife was at home, all alone and grieving. The first evening
she made up the fire and kept the supper hot for Plunk ; but when she gave up expecting
Plunk, she let the fire go out, nor did she kindle it again.
So the poor dumb soul sat on her threshold. She neither worked, nor tidied, nor wept
just pined away with grief and sorrow. She could not take counsel with anyone, because she
was dumb ; nor could she cross the sea after Plunk, because she was all broken up with
grieving. Where could she go, poor soul ! but back one day to the far hills, where her
mother lay buried. And as she stood by her mother's grave a beautiful Hind up came to her.
And as the dumb animals speak, so the Hind spoke to the Woman:
" You must not sit there and pine away, my daughter. But every evening you must get
Plunk's supper ready for him. If Plunk does not come home, then you must take his supper
in the morning, and go up into the rocky mountain. Play upon the twin pipes ; the snakes
and their young will come and eat up the supper, and the sea-fowl will line their nests with
the hemp."
The daughter understood all that her mother said, and as she was bid so did she do. Every
evening she cooked supper, and after supper she picked hemp. Plunk did not come back ;
and so the Woman carried both supper and hemp to the rocky mountain. And as she played
on her little pipes, played softy on the right-hand pipe snakes and baby snakes came out of
the rocks. They ate up the supper and thanked the Woman in the dumb speech. And when
she played on the left- hand pipe, gulls came flying, carried off the hemp to their nests, and

28. thanked the Woman. For three months the Woman went on in this way; thrice the moon
waxed and waned, and still Plunk had not come home. Again grief overcame the poor dumb
soul, so that she went again to her mother's grave. The Hind came up, and in dumb speech
the Woman said to her :
"Well, Mother, I have done all you told me, and Plunk has not come back.
" Daughter of mine," said the Hind, " you must not fail in your trust. Your Plunk is in
grievous trouble. Now listen and hear how you may help him. In the Unknown Sea there is a
Big Bass, and that Bass has a golden fin, and on that fin grows a golden apple. If you catch
that Bass by moon- fight you will save your dear Plunk from his trouble. But on the road to
the Unknown Sea you will have to pass three caverns of cloud. In the first there is a
monstrous Snake, the Mother of All Snakes — it is she who troubles the sea and stirs up the
waves ; in the second there is a monstrous Bird, the Mother of All Birds — it is she who
raises the storm; and in the third there is a Golden Bee — it is she who flashes and wields
the lightning. Go, daughter dear, to the Unknown Sea, and take nothing with you but your
bone hook and slender twin pipes, and if you should find yourself in great trouble, rip open
your right-hand sleeve. Next day she took out the boat and put off to sea.
She drifted and sailed on the face of the sea three terrible caverns of lowering cloud !
From the entrance of the first cavern peered the head of a fearsome Snake, the Mother of All
Snakes. Her grisly head blocked up all the entrance, her body lay coiled along the cave, and
with her monstrous tail she lashed the sea, troubling the waters and stirring up the waves.
The Woman did not dare go near the terrible sight, but remembered her little pipes,
and began to play upon the right-hand pipe. And as she played, there came from the far-off
rock-bound lands snakes and baby snakes galore swimming over the sea. Great coloured
snakes and tiny little snakes all came hurrying up and scurrying up and begged the
fearsome Snake —
" Let the Woman take her boat through your cavern. Mother dear ! She has done us a
great good turn and fed us every day in the morning."
" Through my cavern I may not let her pass," answered the fearsome Snake, But if she did
you such a good turn, I will repay it with another. Would she rather have a bar of gold or
six strings of pearls ?"

29. But a true wife is not to be beguiled with gold or pearls, and so the Woman answered
in dumb speech :
" I have come here for the Bass that lives in the Unknown Sea. If I have done you a
good turn, let me pass through your cavern, fearsome Snake." So the Woman passed through
the cavern. The Woman came to the second cavern. And in the second cavern there was a
monstrous Bird, the Mother of All Birds. She craned her frightful head through the opening,
her iron beak gaped wide ; she spread her vast wings in the cavern and flapped them. The
Woman took up her twin pipes and sweetly played upon the left-hand pipe. And from the
far shore came flying gulls great and small, and begged the monstrous bird to let the
Woman pass with her boat through her cavern, for that she had been a good friend to them
and unpicked hemp for them every day.
" I can't let her pass through my cavern, for today I must raise a mighty storm. But if
she was so kind to you. From my iron beak I will give her of the Water of Life, so that the
power of speech shall be restored to her."
This is what she answered the Bird :
" It is not for my own good that I came, but for a small matter — for the Bass that
lives in the Unknown Sea. If I have done you a good turn, let me pass through your cavern."
Then the grey gulls asked the Mother Bird and also advised her to take a little nap,
and they would meanwhile raise the storm for her. The Mother Bird listened to her
children's wishes, clung to the wall of the cavern with her iron talons and went to sleep. But
the gulls, instead of raising the storm, calmed the wild winds and soothed them. So the dumb
Woman sailed through the second cavern and came to the third. In the third cavern she
found the Golden Bee. The Golden Bee buzzed in the entrance. Sea and cavern resounded ;
lightnings flashed from the clouds.
Fear seized upon the Woman. But she remembered her right sleeve; she ripped it off,
her sleeve all white, flung it over the Golden Bee and caught her in the sleeve !
The thunder and lightning were stilled at once, and the Golden Bee began to coax the
Woman :

30. " Set me free, O Woman ! and in return I will show you something. Look out over the
wide waters, and it's a joyful sight you will see."
The Woman looked out over the wide waters. And in the boat sat the Dawn-Maiden, pale
and fair as a king's daughter, and beside her a little child in a silken shirt and with a golden
apple in his hand-The Woman recognised her lost baby.
" I will show you," said the Golden Bee to the Woman, "how to get to the little King,
your son, and live with him in joy and happiness. But first set me free! "
She answered the Golden Bee :
" Don't sting me, O Golden Bee ! I shall not let you go, because I must pass through
your cavern. I have not come here for my own happiness, but for a small matter — for the
Big Bass that lives in the Unknown Sea."
When the moon rode high, the Woman sailed out upon the Un- known Sea at
midnight, and in the midst of the Sea she let down her little bone hook. That very evening
the little King bade Plunk knit him a nice set of silken reins. " First thing tomorrow morning I
shall harness you to my little carriage, and you shall give me a ride on the golden sands."
Poor me, considered poor Plunk. The willful little King slept — only Plunk was awake and
knitting away at the reins. He knitted fiercely. When it seemed to him that the strings were
strong enough. Plunk said to himself :
"I never asked anyone's advice when I was making a fool of myself, nor shall I do so
now that I have come to my senses."
And as he said this he went softly up to the cradle and started to run away with his son.
Softly Plunk strode over the golden sand — and when he came to where the sea stood
up like a wall, nothing daunted, Plunk dived into the water with his boy. Plunk swam and
swam; but how was a poor fisherman to swim when he was weighed down by the little King
— golden cradle, golden apple — on his back? Plunk felt as if the sea was piling itself up
above him, higher and higher, and heavier and heavier !
And just as Plunk was at the last gasp, he felt something scrape along the golden cradle,
something that caught in the rocker of the cradle; and when it had caught fast, it began to
haul them along apace !

31. When the Woman felt that her hook had caught, she joyfully summoned all her strength,
pulling and hauling with all her might, for fear of losing the great Big Bass.
As she began to haul in her catch the golden rocker began to show above the water. The
Woman could not distinguish it rightly by moonlight, but thought : " It is the golden fin of
the Bass."
Again the Woman thought : "It is the golden apple on the fish's fin. And as she cried
out she hauled in her catch, and when she had hauled it close alongside — why, dear mine,
how am I to tell you rightly how overjoyed were those three when they met again in the
boat, all in the moonlight, in the middle of the Unknown Sea?
But they dare not lose any time. They had to pass through the three caverns ere the
monstrous watchers should awaken. So they took out the oars and rowed with all their
might and main.
When the little King awoke and saw his mummy, he remembered her at once. He threw
both his little arms round his mummy's neck — and the golden apple fell off of his hand.
Down fell the apple into the sea, down to the very bottom and into the Sea King's Castle, and
hit the Sea King right on his shoulder !
The Sea King woke up, and bellowed with rage. All the court jumped to their feet.
They saw at once that the little King and his servant were missing ! They gave chase. The
mermaids swam out under the moonlight ; the light foam fairies flew out over the water;
runners were sent out to rouse the watchers in the caverns. But the boat had already passed
through the caverns, and so they had to pursue it farther on. Plunk and the Woman were
rowing — rowing for dear life, their pursuers close in their wake. The mermaids whipped
up the waters. For the hurricane beat upon the boat. Sea and storm whistled and roared. The
fear of death was upon Plunk, and in his dire need he cried out :
" Oh, fair Dawn-Maiden, help ! "
The Dawn-Maiden arose from the sea. She saw Plunk, but never looked at him. She
looked at the little King, but no gift had she for him; but to the faithful Wife she gave her gift
— a broidered kerchief and a pin. Quickly they hoisted the kerchief, and it became a white
sail. As soon as the land hove in sight, the pursuit slackened. The foam fairies fear the shore;
the mermaids keep away from the coast. Wind and waves stayed on the high seas, and only

32. the boat flew straight ahead to land like a child to its mother's lap. The boat flew to land over
the white sand bar, and struck on a rock. The boat hit on the rock. Plunk and his wife and
child were left alone on the beach outside their cottage. When they sat down that night to
their supper of wild spinach, they had clean forgotten all that had happened. And but for
those twin pipes, there's not a soul would remember it now. But whoever starts to play on
the pipes, the fat pipe at once begins to drone out about Plunk :
Harum-scarum Plunk would go
Where the pearls and corals grow;
There he found but grief and woe.
And then the little pipe reminds us of the Woman :
Rise, O Dawn, in loveliness !
Here is new-born happiness;
Were it three times drown'd in ill.
Faith and Love would save it still !
And that is the twin pipes' message to the wide, wide world.
GREECE: The Tortoise And The Hare
(by Aesop)
One spring morning a hare had come out of its burrow grazing fresh grass. While grazing,
he saw a tortoise passing by in the distance, and the way it walked seemed so funny, that the hare
started making fun of the tortoise that it was slower even than snails. The tortoise stopped, turned
towards the hare and said:
How about racing and seeing who is the fastest of the two? That was it! The hare fell on the
ground bursting into laughter. However, seeing that the tortoise remained solemn, the hare realized
that the tortoise was deadly serious and thus accepted the challenge. Being the most appropriate, the
fox set the starting point, the course and the finishing point.

33. The race was fixed for the next morning and, indeed, the two contestants as well as many
other animals of the forest were at the starting point early morning. The fox gave the signal and the
race started. Without losing time, the tortoise started crawling and had already covered the first
inches of the course. Seeing the pace of its opponent and being sleepy, as it was early morning, the
hare thought of taking a nap , and when it woke up it would race in its unique way and would
definitely win. Thus, the tortoise kept going along the course set by the fox, while the hare drowsed.
Time flew and at some point the hare woke up. “ Time to race” , it thought to itself and set off. It was
surprised that it didn’t find the tortoise on its way and at some point thought that the tortoise had
given up the race since it would definitely lose. However, do you know when the hare was really
taken aback? When reaching the finishing point it saw the tortoise waiting, nibbling at a small leaf
with a triumphant expression on its face.
So, the tortoise beat the hare at the race, not because it is faster but because it remained
devoted to its goal without being as arrogant as the hare.
ROMANIA: Greuceanu (The Mighty)
Once upon a time ...
There lived a ruler whose name was The Red Emperor. He was very sad because one
day some ogres stole the sun and the moon from the sky.
So he announced that whoever brought the sun and the moon back from the ogres,
would have his daughter as wife and half and his empire into the bargain, but that he who
dared return empty handed, would have his head cut off.
Many valiant young men came but none knew where to begin or where to leave off
for not all that flies make honey. And the Emperor kept his word.
In those days there lived a brave man called Greuceanu. He heard of the Emperor’s
promise and set off to see the Emperor and offer his services. Greuceanu addressed him in
honeyed words saying:
"Your Highness, may you rule this land for many years. Many valiant youths have
promised Your Highness to bring back the moon and the sun which the ogrs have stolen
from the sky, and I know they met their death because they did not keep their promise. I too
would like to try my luck hunting this ogres. Who knows, perhaps God will help me punish
them for the monstrous audacity. Even if I were to perish in the attempt, I shall not give in
before I accomplish the task I have undertaken."
A few days later Greuceanu set out for the great adventure. Greuceanu took his
brother with him and they went a long, long way until they reached Faur, the world's

34. greatest smith, who was his sworn brother. Faur, besides being the most skilled smith in the
world, was also a man who could work wonders. For three days and three nights Greuceanu
and the smith worked out on their plans.
After resting a few days Greuceanu and his brother set forth.
As soon as they left, Faur, the world's greatest, began to make an iron replica of
Greuceanu which he ordered placed in the forge where the fire was to be kept burning
night and day.
Greuceanu and his brother walked a long the endless road, until they came to a
crossing where they stopped, hugged each other, and crying like children, each went his
way.
But before parting they each chose a kerchief: if one of the kerchiefs should tear
along the edges they could still hope to meet, but if it torn down the middle then they would
know that the other had perished. They also stuck a knife into the ground and said:
"Whoever comes back first and finds the knife rusty, he need no longer wait for his brother,
for it will mean that he's dead." And Greuceanu turned to the right and his brother to the
left.
The brother, after wandering aimlessly for many days, returned to the place where
they had parted and, finding the blade of the knife clean, sat down to wait his brother. His
heart filled with joy when he saw the sun and the moon riding high in the sky again.
In the meantime, Greuceanu started out along the path that led straight to the ogre's
house, which stood at the spot where the devil had weaned his children. Once there,
Greuceanu turned three somesaults and changed into a dove. For, you see, he had listened to
the advice of Faur, the world's grestest smith. And now, in the form of a dove, he flew up
into a tree just in front of the ogre's house.
The ogre's eldest daughter came out the house and looked around, then ran back
again quickly to call her mother and her youngest sister to see the wonderful bird.
Her young sister said: "Dear mother and sister, this lovely bird does not seem to be a
good omen for our house. Its eyes are not those of a bird, but rather those of the Golden
Greuceanu. We've fared well so far! But from now on may God have pity on us and ours."
It seemed that the ogres had heard of Greuceanu.
So the three ogresses went in and took counsel together.
Greuceanu again turned thrice head over heels and became a fly, which flew in the
ogresses’ room and hid in the crack of a beam that supported the ceiling. There he listened
to everything they said and stored it in his mind. Then he left the house and followed the
road which led to the Green Forest. As he drew near he hid beneath a bridge that spanned
the road.
He had probably overheard that ogres would return that way from the Green Forest
where they had been hunting in turns, one in the evening, the other at midnight, and the

35. fiercest of the all at dawn.
And as Greuceanu was waiting there, he beheld the younger ogre coming home and,
as he approached the bridge, his house neighed and leaped backwards. But the ogre shouted
angrily:
"May the wolves devour all the horse flesh there is! I fear no one in the world except
for Greuceanu,and he I'll fell to the ground with a single blow."
When Greuceanu heard him he jumped up from under the bridge and called out:
"Come on, you brave ogre, let's fight with our swords and see who is the most skilful, or let's
wrestle and see who is the strongest."
They clutched each other and began to wrestle.
The ogre lifted up Greuceanu and thrust him into the earth up to his knees. Then
Greuceanu cought hold of the ogre and thrust him into the earth up to his neck and quickly
cut off his head. After throwing the body of the ogre and of his horse under the bridge, he
sat down to rest.
When the night was at its darkest, the elder brother came riding home and as the
horse drew near the brigde it sprang back seventeen feet. The ogre cursed his horse as his
brother had done; but Greuceanu rose and spoke to him as he had done to the first ogre.
Thereupon he came out from under the bridge and they began to wrestle. The ogre
lifted Greuceanu up and thrust him down into the earth up to his waist. But Greuceanu
jumped up quickly and, getting hold of the ogre, dashed him into the ground and buried
him up to his neck in the earth, cutting off his head. After hurling the dead bodies of the
ogre and his horse below the bridge he again sat down to rest.
At dawn came the father of the ogres, as pitch-black as the devil himself. When he
reached the bridge his horse sprang back seventy-seven feet. His master was angrier then
words can say shouted:
"May the wolves devour all the horse flash there is. I fear no one in this world except
for Greuceanu; and as for him I need only aim my arrow at his heart and that's the end of
him."
Greuceanu jumped up from under the bridge and said: "Come let us fight it out! We
will cut eatch other with swords, or pierce each other with spears, or wrestle and crush each
other with our arms."
The ogre rushed him with his sword and they fought and fought until their swords
broke; then they took up their spears and lunged at each other untiltheir spears broke too.
After that they wrestled together until the earth shook beneath them. Then the ogre god hold
of Greuceanu and tried to squeeze the life out of him, but when the ogre least expected it,
Greuceanu crushed him in his arms and pressed so hard until all the ogre's bones cracked.
A fight so terrible had never seen before. They fought and fought until the sun was
high in the sky and both were weary. A raven flew up and hovered in the sky above,

36. watching them as they fought:
Greuceanu called to him:
"O raven, raven bring me a beakful of fresh water and I'll give you three ogres and
and three horses to feed upon."
On hearing these words the raven flew to Greuceanu with his beak full of water and
quenched this thirst. With renewed strenght Greuceanu lifted up the ogre and dashed him
into the earth to his neck. Putting his feet on the ogre's head and keeping him down,he said:
"Now tell me, accursed ogre, where you have hidden the sun and the moon."
The ogre hesitated, but Greuceanu became more menacing:
"Whether you tell me or not, I'll find them, and I'll cut your head in the bargain."
Then the ogre, still hoping to save his own life, owned up:
" There is a tower in the Green Forest. They are locked up there. And they key to the tower is
the pinkie of my right hand."
As soon as Greuceanu heard this he cut off the ogre's head and then his pinkie and
took it with him.
First he gave the raven all the dead bodies as he had promised, then going up to the
tower in the Green Forest he opened the door with the ogre's pinkie and there he found the
sun and the moon in his left, he flung them back into the sky, happy to have carried out his
pledged task.
When the people saw the sun and the moon in the sky again, they were
overwhelmed with joy and thanked God for giving Greuceanu the strenght to defeat those
develish ogres who hated manking.
Greuceanu, thankful that he had brought light again into the world, started on his
way back.
He found his brother at the crossroads and they embraced warmly. Then, buying two
horses that could travel it the speed of arrows shot from bows, they took the road leading
back to the Emperor.
On thew way they saw a pear tree filled wit golden fruit. Greuceanu's brother
wanted to spot and rest for a bit in the shade and eat some pears, for he was very hundry.
Greuceanu, however, who had overheard the ogresses plotting together, agreed to rest but
did not allow his brother to pick any pears, saying that he alone would do it. Then he drew
out his scimitar and cut the pear tree down at its roots, and blood, horrible poisonous blood
began to flow from the tree, and a voice moaned: " You've trapped me, Greuceanu, as you
did my husband."
Nothing remained of that pear tree but dust and ashes; Greuceanu's brother was
struck dumb by these happenings, for he knew nothing of their hidden meaning.
Some time later, as they rode on, they came to a cold clear spring in a beautiful
garden full of flowers and butterflies.

37. The brother said: "Let's stop here, brother, and rest the horses, We'll drink some fresh
water and pick flowers."
"We will do so, dear brother," answered Greuceanu, "only if its garden was planted by
human hands and if the water comes from one of God's sources."
Pulling out his scimitar, he struck at the stem of a flower which seemed the most
beautiful and it fell to the ground. Then he plunged the tip of his scimitar into the spring
and dark blood began to bubble up, as it had from the broken stem of the flower and a sickly
smell filled the air. Dust and ashes alone remained of the ogre's eldest daughter, who had
turned herself into a beautiful garden and a spring of fresh water to poison Greuceanu.
Having escaped this danger too, they jumped on their horses and rode off as swiftly
as the wind, when, what should they see? The ogresses’ mother, mad with rage, flying in
pursuit after them to wreak her vengeance upon the man who had slain her husband,
daughters, and sons-in-law.
Greuceanu, realizing that the old ogress was on her heels, told his brother: "Look
behind you, brother. What do you see?"
"What should I see," he answered, "but a black cloud rushing up behind us."
They whiped their horses, which kept sailing as fast as the the wind and as smootly
as kind thoughts. Then Greuceanu told his brother to look behind again. This time he saw
the cloud drawing nearer in a welter of flame, but spurring on their horses, they managed to
reach Faur, the world’s greatest smith.
Here they dismounted and locked themselves inside the forge. The ogress was close
behind them and had she caught up with them it would have certainly been their end, for
she would not have left a single bone in their bodies uncracked. However, they were safely
beyond her reach.
But she tried to outwit them and asked Greuceanu to make a hole in the wall, that
she could talk to him. Faur, the world's greatest smith, was ready with Greuceanu's iron
image, the one he had heated on his forge with sparks flying in all directions. When the
ogress put her mouth to the hole to suck Greuceanu's blood, Faur quickly pushed the red hot
iron dummy down her troat. She swallowed the ronce, and swallowed twice, and at the
third gulp she burst to pieces. Her dead body turned into an iron hill, and so the world was
rid of her too.
Faur then opened the forge, and they came out and celebrated their victory for three
days and three nights. As for Faur, he was more then delighted about about the iron hill. He
oredered his apprentices to make Greuceanu a cart and three horses out of this iron. When
they were ready, he blew up them and gave them life.
Then saying goodbye to his sworn brother, Faur, Greuceanu got into the cart with his
brother and drove off to the Red Emperor to receive his reward.
A great wedding was celebrated, and the fest and merriment lasted, as it lasts at imperial

38. courts, for three long weeks...
But now I must get into saddle again
To tell others this story of wonders and bane.
THE NEWLY CREATED TEXTS
WITH ELEMENTS FROM ALL THE FAIRYTALES
TURKEY:The Power Of Love
In the country of the Red Emperor there was a girl with golden hair. When people
saw the girl, they fascinated and tongue-tied. Therefore, all of the female slaves were jealous
of the girl. On the other hand, she was privileged because she was the princess, Red
Emperor’s daughter. However,her beauty put her into trouble. Slaves of the Emporor’s
palace gossiped that the poor girl was struck by the evil eye and she was badly ill, so she was
hollow-eyed then.
The Emperor called doctors from all over his empire and a wise doctor informed him that
she could only recover if the stone of patience was with her. Even worse, the stone had been
stolen by the Ogres. The Emperor announced his subjects how he was going to reward the
person who would bring the stone of patience: he would grant half of his asset. Moreover;
the princess was going to get married with this hero! But if there would be someone who
would comeback without the stone of patience, he would be killed by the emperor…
Everybody was so much excited. Some people were also ambitious. People thought that they
could succeed. But what if they couldn’t succeed? It meant to be beheaded!
Fisherman Plunk who had been living poor life heard this event.He could do
anything for being rich. Plunk decided to go to the palace to be a volunteer in order to get
the stone of patience . When the emperor saw Plunk, he warned him about what would
happen if he would not be able to succeed. But Plunk was determined and nothing could
prevent him from starting this dangerous journey.
-“Don’t worry my dear Emperor. I’m going to bring you the stone of patience”,
he said.
-“Since you trust in yourself, get ready and set off in 2 days”, the Emporor
ordered.
Plunk got ready and set off for taking the stone of patience from Ogre’s country.
Plunk trusted in himself too much.

39. While he was walking, he was muttering himself:
“Certainly, I m going to succeed it and take half of the emperor’s asset What a
profitable task!”
Plunk came in a desolate forest after a long way. A rabbit appeared in front of him in
this forest. Rabbit, in a smug attitude asked:
-“Where are you going?”
Plunk told him about his task. With a mocking expression on his face, the rabbit explained
Plunk that it was competing with a tortoise:
-“We are racing with a tortoise. Hah! Stupid tortoise thinks that it can beat me.
Even I sleep for 2 hours, it won’t happen”.
“There isn’t anybody except me volunteer for this this task. Only I have the courage
to bring the stone of patience. I can sleep for a little time. What could happen if don’t hurry?
“ thought so he fell asleep.
But Plunk wasn’t right! A brave young man named John heard what had
happened to the Princess and decided to visit the Emperor’s country. John arrived the palace
and saw the Golden haired girl who was sleeping in her room and fell in love with her at
first sight.
-Oh my God! What a beauty! The poor girl’s problem must be solved! I will bring the
stone of patience and rescue the girl. Then, I will marry her.I don’t want the wealth. “
He ran to the Emperor to take permission fort he journey. He set off quickly and
walked a long way. At last the fearless young man arrived near Ogres. He fought with the
monsters and took the stone of patience. The strange thing about him was that he wasn’t
scared while fighting against the monsters, but he was scared of his own shadow. He walked
a long way and arrived at the palace. He gave the stone of patience to the Emperor. The
Emperor thanked him:
-I m grateful to you. Half of my asset is yours , because you accomplished the task .
My daughter will marry with you!
-Your Grace, I don’t want your fortune but I love your daughter. If I marry your
daughter, this will be the biggest present for me’’ said John.
The Emperor liked this brave young man. John and the Emperor tookthe stone of
patience and entered the room of Golden-Haired Girl.They left the stone to the bedside of
the princess. Golden-Haired Girl opened her eyes gradually. Then, she saw Jonn. And she
fell in love with him too. The Emperor gave half of his asset to John and his daughter. And
what happened to conceited Plunk? When he got up, it was too late for everything.He went
to Ogre’s country.But he couldn’t find the stone of patience. He returned to his country his
hands empty. However, the Emperor forgave him for her daughter’s sake but ordered him to
be servant in the palace forever.

40. -THE END—MESSAGE :Happiness can’t be bought with money. In a World in which
everything is temporary, you should’t be defeated by your ambitions. Real love can solve
impossibilities.
THE CZECH REPUBLIC: Breaking Of The Destiny
Once upon a time, in one kingdom, seven mountains, seven seas and seven rivers, there was
a king who had four children: three sons and, the youngest one, a daughter.
The oldest son was very brave knight and his name was Gerceanu. The middle son was
Shahzadah and he was very clever. And the youngest´s name was Jiřík, and he was humble
and he liked hard working. Their little sister was called Zlatovlaska, because her hair was
shining like a sun and flame. She was a fairy lady: as gentle as the first spring blossom, as
fragile as the snowdrop, as kind as the saint. Her eyes were blue as the evening sky with first
star, and when she smiled, it was like morning dew was clinging on the leaves of roses.
Everybody must love her: father, brothers, and all the kingdom. If here poor mother lived,
she would love her too…But she died in the night when her lovely lady was born.
In this night, three Faid Sisters visited her. The first said the prophecy: “You will be as
beautiful as your mother, but you will suffer, because she is dying now because of your
birth.” The second said: “You will be so kind and brave as your father, but you will suffer in
solitude as he will from this night because his beloved wife is dying.”
And the third one said:
“When you are 17 years old, the prophecy will be fulfilled. But if you cross the widest sea,
put the sun on sky and turn the dead man into live, you will break your destination. Here
are three gifts: the stone, the hankerchief, and the knife. They will help you, if you use them
well and for good things.”
The children grew up and the old king got older and older. He started to think: who of his
three sons will be the king after him? Gerceanu, Shahzadah, or Jiřík? All of them would be
good rules…

41. Finally, the 18th birthday of Zlatovlaska came. She really grew up into the most beautiful
and fairest maid in the whole world! Big party with ball was prepared, great tournament
with riders and noblemen on horses, and great men from neighbourhood were invited. Who
knows, Zlatovlaska is a girl for a wedding, maybe she will find her husband on the ball.
The midnight came, and the clock bell began to chime. Suddenly, during the fireworks, in
big thunderstorm the ogres appeared!
“You have not invited us to the birthday ball,” one of them cried.
“You have not thought we could be husbands for your daughter,” the other screamed.
“So you will lose your daughter, and nobody can deliver her, hahahae!” the third shouted,
grasped Zlatovlaska into his ugly huge paws and they vanished with her in the cloud of
sulphur and stink.
The heart of old king was broken. He fell on his knees and began to pray: “Oh help me, oh
God, and give me an advice and the power hot to deliver my poor beloved child!” And he
remembered the prophecy of Faid Sisters. “Sons! My sons! Where are you?”
“Here we are, our father,” three sons said as one man. “What do you want us to do?”
“Listen, sons: who delivers Zlatovlaska, he will be the king.”
Of course every of the princes wanted to rule, who does not?
“I will find my sister,” promised the brave Gerceanu.
“I will find my dear sister,” claimed the clever Shahzahad.
“I will find her and save her, my dear daddy,” humble Jiřík whispered with tears in his eyes.
They packed their haversacks, saddle their horses and set out to find their sister.
Meanwhile, Zlatovlaska was prisoned by ogres. Their giant mother wanted her to marry on
of their sons, but she refused. She cut her golden hair as the sign of sorrow, the stars in her
eyes died out, her smiled got frozen and she stopped talking with anybody. She was only
sitting in black stone tower and watching into dark with her blind eyes…

42. Three princes reach the crossroad. They threw their knives into the earth and promised to
each other: “Let us meet one year later under this signpost. If somebody of us is not here and
there is the rust on his knife, it will be the sigh of his death.” The kissed and blessed
themselves and choose their way.
Greuceanu, the brave one, rode his black horse on the right side. He travelled through deep
valleys and high mountains, and everywhere he asked people, if they saw ogres or if they
heard about Zlatovlaska. But nobody gave him an advice. Many days later, he met the Turtle
by the seashore. “You are searching for something, I think, aren´t you?” The Turtly asked
him slowly, with wisdom in her old eyes. “Yes, I am, Lady Turtle,” Gerceanu agreed with a
flash of hope in his eyes. “I wish to find my sister Zlatovlaska, but evil Ogres have kidnapped
her and I do not know where.” – “Well, prince, I can help you, if you help me,” the Turtle
winked. “Oh really? How?” The Brave prince shouted. “Do you see the island on the skyline?
There are my eggs, and evil mermaids wanted them to eat! If you swim over the sea to the
island, manage to look after my eggs for three days until little turtles are born, I will tell you
how to break the power of ogres.” Gerceanu smiled: “So easy task? Look after my horse, and I
am back in three days!” And he sprang into the water and bravely swam to the island.
It was easy for him because he was strong, well training. But mermaids came to the shore
where he was looking after the eggs: “Come with us, handsome and brave hero, come with
us! You will be the king of the whole sea!” And Gerceanu fall in love with the princess of the
mermaids…
Meanwile Zlatovlaska was feeling she is slowly dying…
The middle way was chosen by Shahzadah, the clever prince. He also travelled through
valleys, mountains, deserts and plains, but nobody told him anything about Ogres or
Zlatovlaska. When he began to be despaired, he met the Hare by the snow plain. “What are
you looking for here?” Asked him the Hare. “How do you know that I am looking for
something, Mr Hare?” Shahzadah wondered. “I know many things which were, which are,
and which could happen, dear clever prince,” the Hare winked, “if you help me, I will help
you to find and save Zlatovlaska.” Shahzadah kissed him: “O dear Mr Hare, I am able to do
everything to save my dear sister!” – “Do you see the end of the snow plain on the skyline?
There are my little hares, and the eagle wants to eat them. If you manage to cross the field
and give the evil the riddle which he could not answer, I will help you to destroy ogres and

43. take Zlatovlaska home.” Shahzadah did not hesitate, let his brown horse by the shire of the
plain and carefully went through the field. He managed to find hare´s babies and
outmanoeuvre the eagle, but when he wanted to go back, beautiful she-eagles flied to him,
changed into fairy maids and promised him: “If you come with us, you will rule to the
clouds!” And Shahzadah fall in love with the princess of the eagles…
Meanwile Zlatovlaska was feeling she is slowly dying…
Jiřík choose the left way on the crossroad. He thought about himself that he is not so brave
and so clever like his neither himself! He remembered the prophecy of Fate Sisters, and he
was hoping that it is possible to break the course; in spite of he did not know how. He rode
his dapple-grey horse, through the valleys, through the mountains, through the rivers and
plains, through the deserts, forests and snow plains, and everywhere he could he helped the
people, but nobody helped him how to find Zlatovlaska.brothers are, but he did not like
anybody more than his sister, After many days, he came to the meadow by the sea, where the
old fisherman with his family lived. But he was not only the fisherman: he was the wise man
and prophet. “What are you searching for, Jiřík?” He asked, throwing the fishing rod into the
water. “You know my name?” Jiřík was upset. “I know many thinks,” the fisherman smiled.
“If you help me, I will help you, how to find and deliver your sister. Look: there is the black
castle on the mountains behind the skyline. You cannot see it well because ogres have stolen
the sky, they have thought it will make your sister alive.” – “She is dead?” Jiřík began to cry.
“Not yet, but . “Oh how can I save her? Please, I beg you, help me, Mr Fisherman!” – “There is
only one way how to save her, and you cannot be alone. With my son Palunko you can
manage it. Listen: cross the sea, and you will find ravens on the shore. They promised me the
living water, but they do not want to bring me it. If you reach the water of life, I will borrow
you my own and beloved son Palunko. He is the fisherman of people: he knows how to reach
the truth, the justice, and the real freedom of the heart.” Jiřík kissed fisherman´s hands, let
him his horse and swam over the sea to the shore when the black castle was built by the
Ogres. He was absolutely exhausted when he reached the other shore, but he thanked to
God for the chance. she is going to, the birds have told us,” the fisherman sighed
Then Ravens flew to him. “We know why are you here,” they cawed, “Zlatovlaska is still
alive, but she is dying soon! You can save her, but you will die…” –“It does not matter to
me!” Jiřík jumped. “Only if she will live!” “Our children, little ravens, are dying because of

44. hunger, give them your flash. We will bring the living water to old Fisherman, and he will
send his son Palunko to save Zlatovlaska. Do not be afraid, your pain will help her. You are
the living stone of patience of her gift, you are the handkerchief for her tears and blooding
heart, and you are the knife who will kill the evil and who will be the instrument of
patience, brave, wisdom and true love.” – “Please tell my sister how much I love her,” Jiřík
whispered, and uncovered his chest.
The little ravens flew to him and ate his heart. Full of power of life, the raven´s family
brought the water of life to Fisherman´s family. Fisherman splattered with the water the
grave of his wife, and she rose up as she was only sleeping. Palunko, the fisherman´s son, sat
on raven´s back, and flew into the black castle, to the chamber of Zlatovlaska.
“The kiss of your brother Jiřík who sacrificed himself to save you,” Polunko said kissing her.
– “What has happened with me?” Zlatovlaska whispered and the stars returned back into
her eyes. “You are so fairy and I love you,” Polunko told her gently. “We can defeat evil
Ogres together. May the sacrifice of your brother is not vain.” Zlatovlaska threw out the veil
of her cut golden hair, and it was like the morning has broken. “Let the see go back to the
sky, to the glory of God!” she claimed and began to dance, full of joy, power, hope and love.
She began to smile and the morning dew fall on the flowers like a blessing. And the sun
really was put back on the sky!
“Love! True love! Help!” The ogres screamed dying below the power of Zlatovlaska and
Palunko. The ravens pecked their eyes off and the castle was being fallen into ruines. The
ravens brought Polunko and Zlatovlaska to the Fisherman cottage, put them on Jiřík´s
dapple-grey horse, and sent them home.
One year was over, and Gerceanu, the king if the sea, and Shahzadah, the king of the air,
remembered the meeting on the crossroad. They realized that Jiřík´s knife was rusted-
through. They brought home their wife, the Princess od Mermaids and Princess of Eagles,
but with a feeling of blame that they have not found their sister. But Palunko and
Zlatovlaska got married: the curse was broken because of Jiřík´s sacrifice and Zlatovlaska´s
faith and Palunko´s courage.

45. “My father, I have not found your daughter, but I have found a wife for me,” Gerceanu said,
bowing his head.
“My father, I have not found Zlatovlaska, but I have found a wife for me too,” Shahzadah
said, also bowing his head.
“My father, Jiřík had to die to save me, and he found me the husband,” Zlatovlaska said,
kissing father´s hands and pouring them with tears.
“May his soul find his peace,” the old king cried. “Bless you all: you, Gerceanu, and your
wife, honourable princess of Mermaids, you, Shahzadah, and your wife, princess of the
Eagles. And bless you, Palunko, the new king after me and the husband of Zlatovlaska.”
The old king died in peace. Palunko with Zlatovlaska were clever, and good rulers and they
lived happily ever after.
CROATIA: Croatian fairytale
Storyteller: Once upon a time there was a king called Jiřík who lived in an old castle in
the forest with his daughter Goldilocks. She knew the animal language, so she often spent
her free time walking around the forest. In the forest, she she came across alittle turtle
which was observing passer bys sadly.
(Goldilocks approaching carefully)
Goldilocks: Hey there, little turtle. Why are you so sad? Did anyone hurt you?
Turtle: I’m not sad, I’m just thinking a lot.
Goldilocks: What are you thinking about???
Turtle: About a conversation with a goldfish.
Goldilocks: Share your thoughts with me, if it’s going to make it easier for you.
Turtle: The goldfish told me that all unhappiness would disappear if I solved the secret
of the forest. But she didn’t tell me the secret. Besides, I’m too slow for this kind of venture.
Goldilocks: (smiling) You can’t know unless you try, and I think I can help you out.
Turtle: (coming closer to the girl)
Goldilocks: When I was a little girl, my father told me a story about the secret of the forest,
about the stone of patience. The story which will come true one day and bring back the joy

46. that is missing in this forest. I think that day came and that it’s time for me to pass on the
secret to you.
Turtle: (excited) Tell me, tell me, I really want to know…
Goldilocks: Deep in the forest by an old oak, there is a path that leads to the sea shore. Across
the shore there is an ancient island Krk. You can cross the sea over the Krk’s bridge.
Walking along the south side of the island, you will come across the oldest olive tree. When
you get to it, take a turn onto the Roman road and go straight on. On the highest spot of the
island, you will notice a cave. In that very cave there is the stone of patience. Your mission is
to find it.
Turtle: (with an insecure expression accepts that big responsibility) But it’s a long way to get
there, how will I manage that being so small and slow???
Goldilocks: Don’t you worry about it. You won’t go alone. You will get help for your way.
You'll have ground and air support. Birds, spiders and ants will help you.
Rabbit: (appears from nowhere) And a rabbit, as well!
Turtle: You agree to go with me?
Rabbit: Well, of course, this is my forest too, you know!
Turtle: I hope we’ll make it... What do you think, what are our chances?
Rabbit: I don’t want to talk about success nowadays. Have you seen the decrease of
the value of Euro and the state of the stock market?
Turtle: Yeah, that’s true. And how about the loans in Swiss francs... And the global
warming...
Rabbit: And then the wars between countries, crisis and many other troubles...
Turtle: But I don't want to talk about it! There are more important things to us. Like school,
teachers, maths, sine and cosine, literature…
Rabbit: Huh, I wish those were our biggest problems right now... From all of that talk, I’m
not so sure we’re going to make it at all.
Turtle: But it’s worth trying. It’s about our forest and our home.
Storyteller: The very next day, the turtle and the rabbit with their little helpers hit the road.
A lot of walking was ahead of them. They walked through the forest all day long, and in the
evening, right next to the old oak, they found a girl playing the flute and was totally into
what she was doing. She was so into it, that she noticed them only when they came right in
front of her, then she stopped playing.
Turtle: Hey there, girl. What’s your name?
Zora: My name is Zora. And what are you doing here in this deadly nightshade?
Turtle: We’re travelling in pursuit of a cave of magic stones. Do you by any chance know
which way should we take from this crossroad?
Zora: If you follow your heart, you will find the right way and accomplish your aim.

47. Turtle: And why are you playing the flute here at night? It’s not like anyone’s listening…
even though we like it.
Zora: I’m playing for my beloved Greuceanu. Just to make my time go faster until dawn,
because at dawn, he will be back. And I suggest you to stay here until dawn, then we can all
go together.
Storyteller: While the exhausted animals were sleeping and recovering their energy,
Zora was tirelessly playing the flute when she heard a horse clumping (Tp!, tp!, tp!, tp!)
and she noticed her beloved Greuceanu was coming towards her. When the sun set, they
continued their journey.
When they were passing the Plitvice lakes, a giant ogre came out of nowhere and stood
right in front of them. The ogre smelled like stale cheese and sewer, he was wearing a torn
vest of a brand Like, some old ripped pants and torn shoes.
Ogre: Listen guys, I need lunch. Either you agree who is going to be my lunch or I will
cook all of you together, and give the leftovers to my pets.
Rabbit: Don’t do it, bro’. Look at me, I’m literally skin and bones. You wouldn’t fill your
stomack eating me.
Turtle: Me neither, I guess you’re not going to eat my shell in which I keep stuff like
cigarettes, lighter, iPhone, chewing gums...
Ogre: I don’t wanna hear it... I’ll cook you in sauerkraut after I have the crocodile’s tail for
starter.
Storyteller: After saying those words, the ogre turned upon two little helpless animals,
but witty turtle hid under its own shell and hid the rabbit as well. When the ogre realized
they had outwitted him, he turned to Greuceanu who defended them all. Ogre realized that
he wouldn’t find his desired meal here and continued further through the forest.
Greauceanu, Zora and the animals continued their way. Soon, they reached the shore
coming to the Krk’s bridge.
Greuceanu: Oh boy, this toll is so expensive! It's better we found another way. What do you
think about that boat over there? (pointing his finger to the right side of the coast) Everyone,
follow me.
Storyteller: Down by the bridge, on the pebble beach Selce, the old fisherman Palunko was
sitting and polishing his boat. They decided to ask the fisherman for help, to transport them
on the other side of the coast. When they came to the fisherman, they noticed he was
preparing a new nylon for his fishing rod.
Greuceanu: Hey dude, do you have some time?
Palunko: Well, I’m not quite sure... My buddies are coming for a game of Belot.
Greuceanu: What are you talkin’ about? The destiny of the animals from one forest is
on the line, and you would play belot? Well, I don’t think so!
Palunko: Where do you want to go?

48. Greuceanu: Just to the other side of the coast.
Palunko: Huh, then we have a problem. My route doesn’t go your way. I only travel with
my boat to the southern side of the Adriatic: Zadar, Šibenik, Split, Dubrovnik...
Greuceanu and others (all together): Please, it’s really important.
Palunko: Oh, okay then, if it’s about that... How much are you willing to pay?
Rabbit: How about ten jars of corn? It was for my snack, and since you’re a fisherman,
you could use it as a bait.
Palunko: You see, I like that idea.
Greuceanu: There you go, my friend, we have a deal!
Storyteller: So the gang kept going their way. Palunko directed them to the olive, and
when they passed it, they got on the Roman road toward the cave. On their way there,
a lot of passer bys were surprised by their intention to visit the cave. They were wondering
why animals would even go there. There were some scary stories about the cave.
At the entrance to the cave, the turtle and the rabbit, Greuceanu and Zora could hear
their own footsteps and heartbeats echoing. That sound suddenly became silent and a
voice of furious ogres thundered.
Ogre 1: Where do you think you are going? This is our property and my home. No one
comes in and no one comes out. At least not alive (thunderous laughter)
Ogre 2: You heard my brother. Leave our cave immediately!
Greuceanu: Ooh no, you scared me to death! I am shaking!! We're not leaving out of
here until we get the stone. The stone of patience. (At the Greuceanu’s comment, ogres start
wondering who this fellow is, so brave to stand up and confront them to get the stone.)
Ogre 1: Did that guy who calls himself king Jiřík send you here? If so, tell him I will
give the stone only to a being that can defeat me, and still is smaller than me.
Storyteller: While Greuceanu and the ogres were arguing, the slow and unnoticeable
turtle passed by the ogres , took the stone and got out of the cave. After a few minutes
Greuceanu’s cell phone rang. Riiiing!!!
Turtle: Hey man, I’m here by the olive tree and I’ve got the stone here with me. Run away
while you’re still alive. Okay now, I need to hang up. I need to top-up my cell phone.
(Greuceanu, surprised by the news which he just got, puts his cell phone away and
smiles to the ogres.)
Greuceanu: Oh, actually, why do I need that stone of yours? Here, I just got the call, I
won the jackpot!
Storyteller: Greuceanu headed out, giving Zora and the rabbit a sign, though they
couldn’t understand where that change of mind came from or what was going on. When
they came to the old olive tree and saw the turtle, everything was perfectly clear. They knew
it was time to return home to their forest. When they got to the coast, Zora took out her flute

49. and with its melody she called the fisherman Palunko to return them to the other side of the
shore. Palunko arrived soon and transported them by his boat.
Zora: Thank you, my friend. You did a great deed for these animals. You helped them to save
their home.
Palunko: Anytime. Take care and have a pleasant journey.
Storyteller: When they came to the old oak tree, the turtle and the rabbit continued their
way to the castle. Goldilocks her father Jiřík met them at the gate expecting good news.
Goldilocks: Welcome back, our dear travelers! I hope you have some good news. Have you
brought the stone to us?
Storyteller: The turtle replied with a smile, crawled into its shell and after a few seconds, it
took out the stone of patience!... The turtle then handed it to Goldilocks, in whose hands it
shone impeccably... The forest woke up at that moment, with leaves, blossoms, smells...And
the birds sang their most beautiful aria... The little turtle, all beaming and happy, was
watching the forest.
Goldilocks: I remember... Zora said: If you follow your heart, you will accomplish your aim,
you will be happy.
GREECE: The Strength of devotion
Narrator: “Once upon a time in a far-flung land lived a fisherman, called Plunk, with his
family. His wife, Erasmina loved animals and she liked spending her leisure time with them
every day. They also had a bewitching, kind-hearted stepdaughter Goldilocks who was able
to speak and understand the language of all animals. The fisherman had found
her abandoned on the beach as a baby.”
Plunk: “My dear, you know how much I enjoy the company of both you and our beloved
daughter Goldilocks.”
Erasmina: “I’m aware of it my darling; I feel we’re so fortunate God sent us this wonderful
girl.”
Narrator: “A crisp October morning Plunk was ready to go to his usual labour.”

50. Plunk: “Erasmina I’m going to go for fishing and I’ll be back after five or six hours.”
Erasmina: “Plunk, I think there will be a thunderstorm. Please don’t go in the open sea today.
I have a feeling that something terrible will happen.”
Plunk: “Don’t worry. I am very experienced and I won’t have any problem. (he calmed her
down). After all, you know that our family is the most precious thing to me. If I stay at home
how will I support my family?”
Narrator: “After a while, all of a sudden a terrible thunderstorm broke out and the fisherman
was lost at sea. Time flew and as Plunk still hadn’t returned home his family grew worried.”
Erasmina: “Goldilocks, your father went fishing in this freak storm and he hasn’t come back,
yet. Stay here in case he returns and I’ll go in search of him”
Goldilocks: “No, mother; you won’t go alone. I’ll come with you!”
Erasmina: “No, my dear daughter! Just think that if he comes back and he finds neither of us
here he will panic”.
Narrator: “Meanwhile, the poor fisherman had an accident. His boat turned over and he lost
consciousness. Just then Greuceanu felt sorry for him and took him to the bottom of the sea.
When he came to his senses he realized where he was at the sea bottom! Next to him were
two goldfish taking care of him.”
Plunk: “Where am I?”
Goldfish1: “Don’t worry; everything will be fine!”
Plunk: “Oh! My God… you can speak! Please, tell me what happened to me?”
Goldfish2: “A few hours earlier you had a terrible accident which almost cost your dear
life!”
Plunk: “I must go back home. My wife and daughter will be sick with worry!” (With a
trembling voice)
Goldfish1: “Calm down and if you really want it there is a way to return to your family.”
(Pacified him)

51. Goldfish2: “The only thing you have to do is go to the Prince of the Sea and he will tell you
how you will be rejoined with your family.”
Plunk: “If this needs to be done, it shall be done!” (Answered determinedly)
Goldfish1: “Beware though! The way to the Prince of the Sea is long and rough.” (Warned
him).
Goldfish2: “You will walk for three days and nights; follow your heart and it will show you
the way to the truth!” (They said and they both swam away)
Narrator: “Not knowing what to do, Plunk followed his heart and without losing his faith or
courage for a single minute he kept wandering… At some point he came across a turtle
which was somewhat different from other turtles…. it had a man’s voice.”
Turtle: “What are you doing here? Haven’t you been warned that it is dangerous to be here
all alone?”
Plunk: “Who is talking?” (Plunk asked mystified)
Turtle: “Look behind you.”
(On looking back Plunk was stupefied)
Plunk: “Oh! My God… you can speak!” (He stammered) (Bringing himself together he
asked) “My good turtle, do you know the way to the Dark Palace where the Prince of the Sea
lives?”
Turtle: “Do you know what you’re asking for? No one who went there ever came back.” (The
turtle answered in an awed whisper)
Plunk: “I’m afraid of nothing! I’ll do whatever it takes to return to my family!” (Plunk
snapped)
Turtle: “I warned you! You should know, however, that nothing is as it seems to be. Take this
and when the right time comes the stone of patience use it at will” (the turtle confided
putting in his hand a magic stone - the stone of patience- and disappeared in the dark
ocean.)

52. Narrator: “Plunk wondered for three days and three nights as the goldfish had said and then
he came outside the Dark Palace which was guarded by three fearsome Ogres. Just then he
recalled the advice of the turtle and he figured out that the magic stone was his only help.
On kissing the stone of patience his shadow disappeared; he had become invisible. This way
he went through the gates of the palace unharmed and then he assumed his previous form.
The first thing he discerned was a long, dark hall leading to a golden throne on which the
Young Prince Jiřík reposed.”
Prince Jiřík: “Come closer.”
Plunk: “I want to go back to my family but I’ve lost my way and…”
Prince Jiřík: “I know what you want...” (The Young Prince cut in)
Plunk: “Please help me”
Prince Jiřík: “In order to fulfill your wish you must solve the following riddle or else you
will lose everything.”
Plunk: “I’ll do it.”
Prince Jiřík: “What is it that cracks but doesn’t break…
Hurts but doesn’t talk…
And if it stops it doesn’t restart?”
Prince Jiřík: “I’ll give you the following clue: Just think what you’ve been through.” (The
Young Prince said enigmatically.)
Narrator: “Just then Plunk recalled the words of the goldfish “Follow your heart” and
whispered hesitantly”
Plunk: “It’s the heart.”
Narrator: “All of a sudden a dazzling light blinded him and he lost consciousness... Sometime
later Plunk woke up on the beach having the form of a wounded snake and next to him was
the Prince taking care of him. Shortly after, the Prince heard somebody’s footsteps. He
turned around and saw a beautiful, tall, golden-haired maiden with piercing blue eyes. The
Prince was transfixed by her striking beauty and could not take his eyes off her. The snake