by Tony Rowe
Once there lived a king who was a small, greedy little man. His people called him King Greedy, because he taxed them so heavily. He collected all their gold, silver, and jewelry - more than he could ever use for himself. And the more he got, the more he wanted.
King Greedy built himself a mighty tower by the palace so he could store all his treasure in it. Every day he would watch with glee as more gold, silver, and precious stones were brought into the tower. He didn’t even notice that his people were so poor they could barely buy food to eat and clothes to wear. He didn’t care about their suffering, but only about his own selfish desires.
One day the king’s tax collector knocked at the door of an old lady, and demanded that she make a payment to the king. She said she had already given everything she had of any value — but he looked around and found an old necklace that had been given to her by her long-dead mother. It was not valuable except for the love and memories within it. Ignoring the woman’s pleading tears, he took the necklace and left. The old woman was not only very sad, but very angry.
As the tax collector drove away in a carriage pulled by six sleek stallions, the old lady screamed after him, “A big fat snake will make his day!” As the words left her mouth, the king, who was upstairs in his treasure tower, turned into a giant snake with a small golden crown perched on his great snake head.
When the people saw the giant snake wrapped around the top of the palace tower, they were frightened. But then they realized it was King Greedy, and they began to rejoice at his misfortune.
The king was angry at having been turned into a snake, and was even angrier when he heard the people laughing at him. He ordered his tax collector to double the taxes, and said that if anyone did not pay, they were to be brought before the king at once and eaten for breakfast!
One day a young man, who happened to have a large hump on his back from birth, was on his way to market to sell some vegetables from his parents’ farm. He was walking through the town square when he heard people talking about the terrible situation with the king, and about how poor all the people were. He had never heard of a Snake King, or of a king who was so completely heedless of the needs of his people.
Dropping his load in a safe place, he walked through the streets of the town to hear what everyone was saying. As he rounded a corner, he came across a young peasant girl who was being pulled along behind the tax collector’s carriage. Although people were watching from their doorways as the young girl cried and screamed, no one moved to help her - they were all too afraid. But the hunchback stepped in front of the carriage. The tax collector was so surprised that instead of simply running the lad down, he pulled the horses to a halt.
“Out of my way!” said the tax collector, “I am on the king’s business!”
“What do you want with the girl?” asked the young man, “Why do you drag her, crying, through the streets?”
“She has not paid her taxes, and must forfeit her life. Now begone with you, you wretch!” the tax collector yelled.
The hunchback thought for a moment and then said, “Let me pay her taxes.”
“The Snake King’s decree is law. If a person cannot pay their taxes, they become food for the king,” growled the tax collector. “This young lady will make him a fine breakfast! Now, out of my way!”
“Wait!” said the hunchback. ”I know of a wondrous diamond which gives its owner power untold. Would your king not trade this poor girl for such a precious jewel? Surely that is worth far more than a meal!”
The tax collector considered for a moment, and then said, “If you can obtain such a jewel it would greatly please the king. Very well, bring the diamond to me by tomorrow morning – before the king’s morning meal – and the girl shall be free. But if you fail, she will be the king’s breakfast... and as for you, you had best not be seen here ever again, unless you, too, wish to end up on the king’s plate.”
As the carriage pulled away, the peasant girl called out to the hunchback, “Thank you for your kindness, sir, from the bottom of my heart. May you and I both live to see one another again!”
The hunchback stood in the street and thought hard. As a boy, he had heard his mother’s tales of a diamond so perfect that whoever gazed upon it would become what was in his heart. The stories said that in order to find it, a person would have to reach for the stars and overcome incredibly difficult obstacles. But was it anything more than just a story? Could there truly be such a wondrous jewel?
As the young man remained deep in thought, an old woman suddenly appeared beside him. Softly, she said, “I know what you desire, and though I would never help the Snake King, it is in your hands to save the girl. Listen to me.” And then she whispered;
The magic of the diamond
Is in your heart,
The Snake King points to where you start.
Where he looks there are no lies,
The path to follow is in his eyes!
The hunchback turned to look at the old woman, but she had vanished. In the distance he could see the palace tower and the giant form of the Snake King. The king was standing, balanced on his tail, staring out over his kingdom towards a high mountain beyond the edge of the city. From the top of the mountain blazed a light that glittered in many colors as it shone into the eyes of the huge snake who gazed upon it.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the young man set off. He would climb that mountain and find the diamond! He walked for hours, and finally came to the base of the mountain. It was so tall that when he looked up, he could see its jagged rocks disappearing into the sky, surrounded by clouds as they climbed higher and higher. For a moment he felt doubt... how could his poor misshapen body climb such a mountain? But a lifetime of struggle had prepared him well; his heart was as strong as a lion’s, and nothing would stop him.
Inch by inch the hunchback crawled up the steep mountain. Several times he slipped, and had to grab onto sharp rocks, cutting his hands badly. Slowly he pulled himself upwards, his bare feet and tender hands sore and bleeding. The weight of the hump on his back slowed him down and exhausted him. Soon the sun disappeared over the horizon, and only the light of the moon and stars helped to guide the faithful lad’s hands and feet over the loose rocks that threatened to send him spinning back down into the blackness below.
As the young hunchback continued on through the night, he knew that time was running out. How could he possibly return to the palace before the king’s morning meal? The rising sun, normally so warm and comforting, sent his spirits crashing. He felt sure he would never have time to find the enchanted diamond and return to the palace to save the girl from the Snake King.
Still, he put in a last mighty effort. With his strength all but gone, he pulled himself up and over the last rock. His eyes met a wondrous sight. As the sun’s light hit the great diamond resting in the rocks at the top of the mountain, the hunchback was bathed in a rainbow of color. For a moment he was filled with joy. Suddenly he felt strong and whole. The weight of the hump dropped off his back, and he stood tall and straight for the first time in his life. He seized the diamond, and with renewed energy and vigor, raced back down the mountain, surefooted and strong.
The young man ran all the way to the palace, bursting into the courtyard just as the peasant girl was being dragged out to be fed to the Snake King. He held up the diamond, triumphantly shouting, “I found it! Leave the girl be! I have paid her fine!”
The Snake King turned his face eagerly to see the diamond, and as his eyes fell upon it, an amazing thing happened. Where there had been a giant snake there was now a little rat, scurrying about on the ground. The tax collector came running to see what had happened. As he stared at the wondrous diamond, he suddenly turned into a vulture. Swooping down on the rat, he grabbed it in his sharp beak and flew away, never to be seen again.
As the young man turned to the peasant girl, he found instead the most beautiful princess, smiling at him with joy and love. He was overcome with embarrassment, and bowed low before her. Here he was, a dirty, barefoot son of a country farmer... in the presence of a princess! As he bowed low, his eyes fell on his feet, and he saw that he was wearing shiny new boots of the finest leather. He stood, and looked into the eyes of the smiling princess. There, as in a mirror, he saw a tall, handsome prince, with a straight and strong back. He recognized himself. The wondrous diamond had done its job well.
The prince and princess were wed that very day. All of the town came to their joyous wedding feast and asked them to live in the palace and be their king and queen. They agreed, and ruled for many years with wisdom and compassion — well beloved by their people.
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