Eric Boesch

The Golden Fish

A long time ago there lived on the coast of the sea an old fisherman and his son. The old father's back was quite bent from the hard work he had done all his life and they were still very poor. All they had was an old leaking boat and a net that was full of holes. But the son, whose name was Tayan, was always of good heart and cheerful. And when he rode his old boat over the waves he used to sing merry songs so that people liked to listen to him.

Now one day the old fisherman went out in the boat and he cast his net out, and when he felt there was something struggling, he thought, "This feels like a big fish." He pulled the net in and what he saw in the big net really WAS a big fish, but it was also a golden fish. The old fisherman thought, "I am really very lucky to have caught a golden fish. I must show this to the King of my country. He will surely reward me very well for it." And so the old fisherman rowed his boat ashore, called his son Tayan and said, "Look at he big golden fish I have caught in our net. I am going to the King and I shall ask him to come and see it and I am sure the King will give me many golden coins for it. But you, my son, stay here and keep watch over our golden fish." And then the old man left to see his King.

Now Tayan looked at the golden fish un the net and he saw how it struggled to get out and back into the sea. And Tayan began to feel terribly sorry for the fish. And suddenly he took the golden fish out of the net and threw it back into the sea. But hardly had the fish disappeared under the waves when the old man came back with the King and many courtiers, lords, and ladies, who all wanted to see that wonderful golden fish. The King said, "Where is the golden fish?" And Tayan bent low before the King and said, "I was so sorry for the poor fish that I thre it back into the sea." And the King became very angry. He shouted, "A golden fish is so rare that no one in my kingdom has ever seen one. And just now, when I could see such a rare fish, you throw it back even before I come! For this you shall be punished, Soldier, take this young man, tie his hadns and feet, throw him into this boat and let the boat drift out to sea!"

Tayan's father, the fisherman, cried and begged the King to forgive his son, but it was in vain. Tayan's hands and feet were tied, he was put into the boat and soon the boat was carried away by the waves. There was no-one to steer it, it was tossed this way and that and Tayan, lying there and unable to move, feared that sooner or later a big wave would come and turn the boat over, it would capsize and he would drown.

But Tayan was very lucky; no big wave came, only little waves and these wee waves carried the boat on and on, right to an island. The waves tossed the boat onto the shore and there, on the beach, it came to rest. Tayan tried to sit up and look around him, and in that moment there appeared a young man. He untied Tayan's feet and hands and helped him out of the stranded boat. Tayan looked at the young man and wondered, because this young man looked so much like himself that he could have been his twin-brother. But he knew he has no brother, and so he asked the young man, "Who are you?"

"I am a friend who has come to help you," said the young man "and you will need my help. On this island there is a castle and in that castle there is a princess. Her father, the King of this island, has put her into the castle because she never speaks ata kk, not a single word. And the King has promised that anyone who can make her speak shall marry her, but anyone who tries this and does nto succeed will lose his head."

And Tayan said, "You think that I, a poor fisherman, should try to gain the princess? But I have no idea how to make her speak." And the young man, who looked so much like Tayan, said, "Do not worry, I shall go into the castle where the Princess is and everything will turn out well!"

And so the two of them set out and after three days journey they came to the castle. At the gate of the castle stood two maidens and they said, "If you have come to make the silent Princess speak, we must warn you: Look up at the walls of the castle: There are the heads of the many who came, tried and failed." But the young man who looked like Tayan only laughed and said, "I am going to make her speak, and my head will not be put on the castle walls!" And he walked in while Tayan stayed by the gate and waited for his friend's return.

The young man who looked like Tayan went into the castle and he came to the room where the Princess was. She was a beautiful as a summer's morning. But her lips were closed and when the young man greeted her, she gave no reply. So the young man said, "Hear the story I am going to tell you."

There were once three brothers. The oldest brother carved a bird out of wood. The second brother went into the wood and collected bird feathers and he put them on the bird as if it were living. But the youngest brother found a magic fountain and he dipped the bird into the water of the fountain and this bird came alive and began to sing. But now the three brothers began to argue among themselves, to which of them the bird should belong: to the brother who carved it, to the brother who gave it feathers, or to the one who made it live? Can you tell me, Princess, to whom it should belong? But the Princess did not answer—she shook her head and put her finger to her lips and said nothing. The young man cried out in anger, "If I am to die because of you, then you shall die too!" and he drew his sword and held it over the head of the Proncess. And the Princess ducked her head and cried out in fear. And as she opened her mouth, a little snake came out and fell to the floor and there it squirmed and hissed. But the young man quickly struck the snake with his sword and cut his head off. And when the snake was dead, the Princess gave a deep sigh of relief and said, "You have rescued me, you have saved me from the snake which made me silent, so that I could not speak. Take this ring and bring it to my father, the King, who will reward you."

The young man took the ring and went out of the castle to Tayan who was glad to see him back. And the young man said to Tayan, "It is time that you know who I am. I am the golden fish whose life you saved out of kindness and pity. Take this ring which the Princess has given men and bring it to her father, the King. I shall now say goodbye to you, but whenever you need me again, go to the sea and call me and I will come and help you. "And with these words the young man dived into the water and disappeared under the waves.

Tayan looked long after him and then he went to the palace of the King and he showed him the ring of the Princess. And the King said, "This ring is the sign that my daughter can speak again, and. as your reward, you shall marry her." And Tayan was given the fine clothes of a Prince and a golden crown, studded with jewels. And the Princess came and there was a wonderful wedding.

Tayan lived with his beautiful wife in the King's palace and had the wonderful life of a Prince, but, after a while, his wife noticed that he looked sad. Often he walked alone to the seashore and looked out over th sea. She asked him, "What is making you sad and why are you always looking out over the sea?" And Tayan answered, "The palace here is very beautiful and it is quite nice to have servants who do all the work for me. But look at my hands,—they are strong hands, made for work. I am longing to be a fisherman againd and to sing as I sail in my boat. But here I can't sing at all! I am longing to be with my father, I am longing to be a fisherman and if you are willing to come with me I would be the happiest man in the world." And the Princess said, "I am willing to come with you and be only a fisherman's wife, but how shall we get across the water? We have no ships or boats on this island." And Tayan turned to the sea and called: "Golden Fish!" And immediately it came up to the surface and said, "I know you want to go back to your home. I will send you a big fish, the biggest you have ever seen. It will open its jaws. Don't be afraid but jump in. Then the big fish will take you home." Then the golden fish disappeared under the waves before Tayan could thank him.

As evening came and it grew darker the sea splashed and a huge fish came swimming to the shore. From its nose came a fountain of water and its tail hit the waves impatiently. The fish opened its jaws. The Princess trembled with fear, but Tayan took her by the hand and they both leaped into the jaws of the fish. And inside they fell asleep, lulled by the rocking of the waves. And while they were sleeping the fish carried them across the water and when they awoke they had reached the shore where the old fisherman's little hut stood. They thanked the fish and went into the hut; the old man cried with joy to see his son again! The three lived together in the old hut and Tayan went happily fishing again. And when he was out in his boat he sang a song of his adventures. Other people heard the song and remembered it and in that far away country where Tayan lived they still sing that song—the song of the story I have told you.