The Wish-fulfiller Shell

All day Kaude worked in his father's rice fields on the terraced mountain slope. His back bent under a hot sun, he planted the green shoots in the muddy soil. From time to time he straightened and looked out at the peaks of the snow mountains, brilliant in the distance.

Kaude and his father were happy together, but they were very poor. They had only a few fields of rice, three chickens, and a small, wooden hut. One day Kaude said to his father, "I must leave our village and go out to seek my fortune. I may have luck and bring back riches. Now Kaude's father had three hundred rupees[1], a small amount he had been able to save. He gave this to the boy, and the two embraced. Then Kaude started on his way.

After several days, Kaude came to a village where he saw a man kicking a cat. "Brother, why do you kick this cat?" Kaude asked. "She steals my yogurt, spills my milk, and eats everything in sight," the man complained.

"If you let the cat go, I will pay you one hundred rupees for your trouble," Kaude said. Gladly the man took the money and let the cat go. Then Kaude continued on his journey, the cat following close behind. Through forests and villages they walked, and up and down mountains.

After several days Kaude came upon a man who was beating a dog. "Brother, why do you beat this dog?"Kaude asked.

"Because he makes too much noise and he dirties my house," said the man.

"I will pay you one hundred rupees if you let him go. "The man was more than happy to get so much money for the troublesome creature.

Now Kaude continued on his way, the cat and the dog following close behind. For several days they walked, past temples and stupas[2], beneath the all-seeing eyes of the Buddha. Soon they came to a village where they saw a man chasing a mouse. "Brother, why do you chase this mouse?"Kaude asked.

"Because he eats my grain and nibbles my clothing," the man complained.

Kaude paid the man one hundred rupees and the mouse was set free. Now Kaude had no money, but the mouse, the cat, and the dog were his friends. They walked on together until the animals were so tired they could walk no more. They lay down beside a pond beneath a pipal[3] tree and quickly fell asleep. Kaude rested beside them.

Suddenly Kaude was startled by a voice from the pond. "I am King of the Nagas[4]," the voice said, "serpent god of the Underworld. I have heard of your kindness to the animals. Now take this magic shell and throw it in the air, and whatever you wish shall be granted."

Just then Kaude felt a small shell in his hand. He was feeling hungry, so he threw the shell in the air, saying, "A delicious rice pudding for everyone." Immediately a large bowl of rice pudding appeared. Kaude could not believe his eyes. He awakened the animals, and they ate until they could eat no more.

Then Kaude said, "I must go home to my father and share my good fortune. Thank you for your company, my friends. I hope all be well with you. But if ever you should fall into trouble, come to me, for I will always help you."

When Kaude arrived home, his father ran out to greet him. The two joyfully embraced. Then Kaude threw the magic shell in the air, saying, "For my father, a magnificent palace." At once an enormous palace rose up before them. The old man could not believe his eyes and thanked his god for the miracle.

The years passed and Kaude grew to be a handsome young man, the richest in the country. Still he showed kindness wherever he went.

One day his father said to him, "I am growing old and would like to see you marry. I have heard the king's daughter is the most beautiful in the land. Shall I ask for her hand on your behalf?" "You may go to the king," Kaude said, "for I have heard that the princess is loving and joyful." The old man went to the palace and found that, indeed, the king had heard of Kaude's great wealth. He readily agreed to his daughter's marriage, but on one condition. "Whoever wishes to marry the princess," the king said, "must pave the streets of the capital with gold." The old man knew that with the magic shell his son could do anything.

"Your wish shall be granted," the old man said.

"Then let it be," said the king, "and your son shall marry my daughter." The prime minister, on hearing the king's words, ran from the room. He had always dreamed that one day his own son would marry the princess. He knew he had to act quickly.

When the prime minister found his son, he said, "A man from another village has dazzled the king with his riches. He will marry the princess unless you act now. Go to this Kaude's house disguised as a peddler, and discover the secret of his wealth." The minister's son did as he was told. Disguised, he ran to Kaude's house and hid in a cupboard in the young man's room.

That night when Kaude entered his bedchamber, he pulled the magic shell from under his pillow and threw it in the air, saying, "Pave the road to the palace with gold." Instantly, the road to the palace was covered with gold. Kaude then placed the shell beneath his pillow and went to sleep, dreaming of the lovely princess. The minister's son waited until he heard Kaude breathing deeply. Then slowly he inched his hand under the pillow until he touched the magic shell. Carefully he removed it and tiptoed from the room.

The minister's son ran from the palace and, when he was at some distance, he threw the shell in the air, saying, "Make Kaude's riches vanish and bring them all to me. Then take me to a mountain top and carry in the princess. "The magic shell did as it was told. The next morning, Kaude and his father awoke to find them- selves back in their old hut, the chickens wandering in and out of the doorway. They were as poor as they once had been. Now Kaude decided he had to once more leave his village and go out in search of fortune. He embraced his father and set out across the valley. For many days, Kaude walked, until one day he came upon his old friends, the cat, the dog, and the mouse. They were delighted to see each other and told each other everything that had happened since they had last been together.

When the animals finished their stories, Kaude told his. After he had finished, he stood up and bade them farewell. The animals watched as slowly he walked down the road, his back bent, his shoulders stooped. "Kaude looks so downcast and weary,"said the dog. "We must try to help him.""Yes," said the cat. "We must find the magic shell."The mouse was already hurrying off. He called back over his shoulder, "Come, friends, we haven't a minute to lose." Quickly the animals traveled through the villages and forests of the foothills. After many days, they came to the mountains. On the top of one, they saw a palace glittering above the snow. They knew this must be Kaude's and that inside lay the magic shell. They began to climb, higher and higher, above the trees to where the snow began. After days of climbing, they finally reached the top. The palace rose up before them. The dog lost no time in rushing to the gates, but the guard kicked him aside and sent him sliding.

"No dogs allowed!" the guard snarled.

Then, meowing sweetly, the cat padded up to the watchman. He looked down at her and said, "Open the gates. She will be good at killing the rats." Quickly the cat padded into the yard and up the steps of the palace. She searched the hallways and passageways until she found the room of the minister's son. The young man was almost asleep, but before closing his eyes, he took the magic shell from his pocket and put it in his mouth. The cat watched carefully, then ran to tell the others.

"I have a plan," said the mouse, when the cat had finished. "When the minister's son is asleep, I will tickle his nose with my tail. He will sneeze, his mouth will fall open, and the shell will come flying out. You, cat, must then pick up the shell and run off with it." The next night, the cat and the mouse approached the palace stealthily. The mouse scurried in under the gate, the cat chasing after. The watchman, looking on, laughed loudly. "See, she is at it al- ready!"he bragged. The two animals ran into the palace and down the long corridor to the room of the minister's son. Soon after, the young man entered his room. He had just finished eating a huge meal and was feeling very sleepy.

"Ahhh, how happy I am," the minister's son sighed. "I am the richest in all the kingdom, and I will always be so. If the princess only loved me, my happiness would be complete. But she waits for Kaude. She has heard he is the kindest in the land. Ah, me. Some day she will forget him and marry me." With that, he popped the shell in his mouth and fell asleep.

"Now!"whispered the mouse, as he swished his tail back and forth under the nose of the minister's son. "Haak chi yummm!"The minister's son sneezed loudly. The shell flew out, the cat picked it up, then ran from the room, the mouse following close behind. The cat and the mouse slipped under the palace gates to where the dog was waiting. Then all three hurried down the mountain until they came to a river. The cat hopped on the dog's back, the dog took the mouse carefully in his jaw and started to swim across.

After a time, the dog, feeling uncomfortable, shifted a little. The sudden movement frightened the cat, who called out, "Take care or I may drown!"As the cat spoke, the shell fell from her mouth. To her dismay, a fish swimming by swallowed it. The disheartened animals reached the other side of the river and sat silently on the bank. After a time the cat spoke.

"It is I who lost the shell, so it is I who must find it."Across the river she spied an otter sunning himself on the bank. "I will ask the otter for his help,"she said. She called and the sleek animal swam to her. After listening to her story, he dived in the river and imme- diately caught the fish who had swallowed the shell. He tossed it up on the bank. Just then a hawk swooped down and, landing on the fish, made off with it. The animals were struck dumb.

After a time the mouse said, "I have a plan. I will lie by the river and pretend to be dead. The hawk will be tempted and will fly down to pluck me up. You, cat, must then pounce on him and hold him tight."

The mouse then lay by the riverbank, and, just as he had predicted, the hawk, circling overhead, spied him and came rushing down. Immediately, the cat pounced on the hawk's back and held him, while the dog cried out, "Give up the fish or the cat will dig her claws in deeper." The hawk, eager to be rid of the sharp-clawed cat, spit out the fish and flew off.

The mouse then turned to the fish, who lay gasping on the bank. "Give up the magic shell or we will leave you to die." The fish quickly gave up the shell, and the dog dropped her back in the river. Now the animals ran for seven days and seven nights, not stopping for food or rest, until they came to the hut of their beloved Kaude. Kaude had returned home, weary from his travels, and once again was working in his father's rice fields. You can imagine his surprise when the cat, the dog, and the mouse appeared before him and dropped the magic shell at his feet.

He had given up all hope of ever seeing the shell again. Imme- diately he threw it in the air, shouting, "Rice pudding for everyone!" The shell did its work. As they ate, Kaude turned to the animals and said, "Dear friends, for all you have done, I will reward you with riches for the rest of your days." Then he threw the shell in the air, saying, "My palace and my stables." On the spot, his wish was granted.

Just then, on a far-off mountain top, the minister's son awoke, his mouth feeling strangely empty. He realized the magic shell had disappeared. Frantically he looked about him, but all he could see were the clouds and the white peaks of the snow mountains. He knew he was alone and with nothing.

Slowly he came down the mountain. When he reached the river, rushing and roaring, he found he was unable to cross. So the minister's son had to live out his days in a strange land.

The princess, who had been asleep in the palace, awoke and looked about her. To her surprise, she saw she was no longer on the mountain top but in a pleasant valley. She stepped from her room into a garden, where she saw a young man walking with three animals. Kaude rushed to her. "I am delighted to see you, "he said. "I am Kaude, and I hope some day we will marry."

"I have heard of your kindness, "said the princess. "I will marry you with great happiness." So on a fortunate day, Kaude and the princess were married.

They lived contentedly for the rest of their lives, bringing joy and good fortune to their subjects and always helping the needy who came to their door.

[1]rupee-a small sum of money

[2]stupa-a Buddhist shrine

[3]pipal-banyan tree

[4]Naga-serpent linked with obscure forces of the underworld which guards the treasures hidden in the womb of the earth and the springs which give it life