Ayusha Erdyneev - Stories about elephant calf Lanchenkar

In this state Lanchenkar could sense things which he otherwise took no notice of.

One day he met a tramp from a faraway Northern land. His name was Ivan. He was a daredevil but kind and openhearted. Lanchenkar asked him to explain those strange words.

“Dear Ivan, do you happen to know a thing that could be described as:

– Black?

– No, red.

– But why white?

– Because it’s green.

Perhaps you have it in your north.”

“Sure,” Ivan replied. It’s currants. They grow everywhere where I live. We make stewed fruit from them and give them to children in cold winter. What you heard was a dialogue at a bazaar. There are black and red currants. If red currants are not ripe, they are white, others are green. So this is what you heard.

– Black currants?

– Red currants.

– Why are they white?

– Because they are green, not ripe.

After that Ivan became the main hero of the elephants’ stories. Speaking about clever people or animals they always added, “Wise as Ivan.”

“Dad, tell me a tale,” Lanchenkar asked his father Lanchenpo, the King of Hindustan’s elephants.

“Listen. Once upon a time there lived an elephant named Lanchengen. He was very curious. When he was still a child, he asked his father:

“What will be tomorrow?”

“You’ll be one day older,” his father replied.

“After one year?”, asked Lanchenkar

“You will be one year older’, answered his father

“And eighty years later?”

“I’ll be gone.”

“And mom?”

“She’ll be gone too.”

“What about me? Who will play with me, who will put me to bed, who will tell me bedtime stories?” asked the offended Lanchengen.

“There are no eternal parents and friends. Parting is inevitable when we grow old and die,” his father reassured him.

“I don’t like it,” said Lanchengen.

***

Lanchengen pondered over his father’s words. He decided to leave his home and find himself eternal friends. He put his mother’s pie in his knapsack, got his parents’ blessing 5 5 His parents approved of his plan and blessed him for his journey. and set out for a journey.

One day Lanchengen saw a Mountain. It was so high that its peak was invisible. Lanchengen came closer.

he asked hopefully.

said the Mountain, emerging from clouds.

The indefatigable Lanchengen continued his way. Finally, he came to the edge of the earth where the boundless Ocean noisily played with blue waves.

asked Lanchengen.

answered the gray Ocean.

Lanchengen continued his way. He met the Wind.

replied the Wind.

Lanchengen asked the Sun shining on tree tops.

the Sun replied.

Lanchengen continued his quests. He had trodden the Earth, the Mountains and the Clouds until he met Heaven.

asked Lanchengen. By now, he almost lost hope of finding immortal friends.

Heaven replied.

said the inspired Elephant and heard this:

Lanchengen fancied his future life on the Earth and realized that the Heaven had offered him the most rewarding way.

***

Lanchengen’s parents waited and waited for their son. His mother cried her eyes out. When one night she saw a bright star in the sky, she knew that her son had achieved the desired goal.

Thus Lanchengen immortalized himself: he became the brightest star in the sky! It is called the Polar Star or the guiding star because it is stationary and indicates the North. “Son, watch the Polar Star in the sky and you will never lose your bearings.” These were the words the wise Lanchenpo addressed to his son Lanchenkar upon finishing the tale.

A long, long time ago there lived a Chinese emperor in his magnificent palace. He had a parakeet that could speak and tell the future.

Many overseas rulers coveted that wonderful bird but the Emperor wouldn’t part with him for all the riches of the world. He kept him in three cages. The golden one which was the Parakeet’s home, was inside the silver one, which, in turn, was inside the iron cage. The Emperor had the keys to the three cages, and ten brave soldiers guarded them day and night.

One day the Emperor fell ill. Neither the court doctor, nor the famous overseas doctors could heal him and he said to the Parakeet:

“O beloved Parakeet, you are my last hope! Tell me how my terrible ailment can be cured, how I can escape clutches of Death. If you help me, I’ll set you free.”

The Parakeet’s heart was throbbing excitedly for it was a good chance to acquire freedom. The Parakeet said these words:

“O, great Emperor! Find the poorest man in your country, shower him with your imperial gifts and your illness will pass of itself.”