In very ancient times there lived a noble leader. One day he became seriously ill and everyone thought he would die. Relatives gathered around the leader, and his three sons were already bitterly mourning their father.
But then an old stranger approached the house and asked what was happening. One of the sons replied:
- Our father is dying.
“I know how to help him,” said the old man. “He must drink of the living water.” But it is very difficult to get.
The old man disappeared, and the eldest son thought:
“I will certainly get living water. After all, then I will become my father’s favorite - and he will transfer power to me.”
The eldest son went to his father and asked permission to go for living water.
“No, no,” said the father. “Many dangers await you along this path.” What if you die? It's better for me to die.
But the son insisted on his own and eventually achieved his father’s consent. He took the calabash and went for living water. He walked for a long time, but did not see living water anywhere.
Once a young man was walking along a forest path, and he met a little man.
-Where are you going in such a hurry? - asks.
- What do you care? - the leader’s son answers. - I don’t want to talk to you!
He pushed the little man away and moved on. The young man did not know that he was in the land of the Menehune and that this man was their leader.
The Menehune leader got angry and decided to teach the rude man a lesson. He began to bend the path, confuse it and narrow it. The further the leader's son moved, the narrower the path became, the thicker the thickets became. And in the end the young man had to crawl his way through the thicket. But the vines entangled him, and he remained motionless, as if dead.
The relatives of the eldest son waited for a long time until they realized that something had happened to him. The leader's middle son set off. He only thought that now that his elder brother had failed, he would inherit his father's power.
The young man found himself on the same path along which his brother had passed, and met the same menehune.
-Where are you going in such a hurry? The middle brother was also rude to the little man, pushed him off the path and walked on. And after some time, he, like his older brother, was tightly entangled by vines.
So the younger brother took the calabash and set off on the road. He thought about saving his missing brothers and getting living water for his father. The younger brother also met the Menehune leader:
-Where are you going in such a hurry? The young man told about his father’s illness, that only living water could save him, and asked for help.
“You speak to me kindly,” the menehune smiled, “and you are not rude, like your brothers.” Therefore, I will help you - I will give you a magic wand, and it will lead you to the source of living water. It is located in the house of the god of forests, animals and birds - Kane. I will also give you three tarot bundles. When you enter the house, hold a tarot in one hand and a magic wand in the other. Tap the wall three times with your wand and a passage will open in front of you. Inside you will see two monsters. As soon as they open their mouths, throw them food, and they will calm down. Then quickly fill the calabash with living water and hurry back, because at exactly midnight the passage will close and you will not be able to leave.
The young man thanked the little man, accepted his gifts and continued on his way. He walked for a very long time and finally found himself in an amazing land in front of the house of the god Kane. He struck three times with his magic wand, and a passage opened in front of him. The chief's son entered the house and saw two monsters. As soon as they opened their mouths, he threw food to them, and the monsters calmed down. He walked further and saw several young leaders. They presented the stranger with a war club and a bunch of taro. And then the young man saw a beautiful girl, whom he immediately fell in love with.
“Time will pass, we will meet again and become husband and wife,” said the beauty.
She showed the young man a source of living water and told him to hurry. The chief's son filled the calabash and managed to rush out of the house just at midnight.
With great joy he set off on his way back and kept waiting to see if he would meet that same little man. The Menehune leader seemed to have guessed his desire and soon appeared before him. The young man told the little man about everything that had happened and asked how he could repay him for his help. But the Menehune chief refused the reward. Then the younger brother plucked up courage and said:
“Can I ask you one more favor?”
“You were prudent and treated me with respect,” answered the menehune. - Tell! Maybe I can help you.
“I don’t want to go home without my brothers.” Help me find them!
“They lie dead in the forest,” answered the Menehune chief. - And if you find them, you will only have grief. They are evil people. It's better to stay where they are.
But the good young man insisted on his own, and the menehune showed him the path. The magic wand helped the leader's son find his brothers. He sprinkled living water on them, and they came to life. The younger brother told them how he got living water and how he met the beauty who promised to become his wife. And the older brothers became jealous.
On their way home, the three brothers found themselves in an unfamiliar land. The local supreme leader was fighting the rebels at that time. The land was devastated and the inhabitants were starving. The younger brother took pity on the people and gave them part of the supplies from the house of the god Kane. People ate and became very strong. And the younger brother lent his club to the leader. Soon the rebels were defeated, and peace and order were restored in this land. Then the younger brother helped two other leaders out of trouble.
Finally, the three brothers came out to the seashore of their native land. Here they lay down to rest, but the envious older brothers did not fall asleep. They decided that now they had nothing to fear and that they no longer needed the help of their younger brother. They planned to kill him, but were afraid of the magic club, which was probably protecting its owner. Then they poured living water into their calabashes, and filled the younger brother’s calabash with ordinary sea water. In the morning, all three moved on and reached their home that same day.
The younger brother stepped forward and handed the calabash to his father. The sick leader took a sip of sea water, and he felt so bad that he almost died.
Then the older brothers accused the younger of trying to poison their father, and handed their calabashes to their father. He drank the living water and immediately became strong and healthy.
The leader was angry with his youngest son and drove him away from him. He ordered the young man to be taken far into the forest and let him disappear there. But the man who led him there was kind and therefore helped the young man hide in a safe place.
A lot of time passed, and then three noble leaders arrived from distant lands with rich gifts, whom the younger brother helped during his journey.
They told the old leader what a wonderful son he had, and wanted to express their gratitude to the young man. The father ordered to bring a warrior, with whom he sent his son into the forest to die, and he said that the young man was alive. Immediately his father sent messengers after him.
At the same time, one of the most noble and beautiful girls in the world announced everywhere: if anyone can walk exactly along the line that her sorcerers will draw through the air, and not go astray, that person will become her husband. And the beauty appointed a test day.
All this was already known to the messengers whom the old leader sent in search of his youngest son. As soon as they found the young man in his secret hideout, they told him about it. The young man immediately headed to the land of the beauty, and his older brothers also went, but soon lost their way. After all, the younger brother was driven by love, and he went straight to the girl’s house.
The young man approached the door, and it opened on its own. The girl whom the younger brother had seen on the land of the god Kane ran out of the house, hugged him and ordered him to announce everywhere that her lover had been found.
The older brothers wandered into distant foreign lands and did not return from there. And the younger brother and his beautiful wife began to live peacefully and fairly rule the entire earth. Their subjects were pleased and praised the leader and his wife for their nobility and wisdom.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru