“The Lad Who Went in Search of His Luck”
They say in order to survive in this world, one needs two things: Brains and Luck. It just so happened there were two brothers, the elder who had neither, and the younger who had the lion’s share of both. The younger brother was very successful in his endeavors through life, but the elder was never able to make anything of himself. One day the Lad decided to change that, and set out in search of his Luck.
See, in those days, all things, even ideas, had a physical being, so one’s luck was among many things a person possessed which could be found in the world.
On the first day of his journey, the Lad came across a Lion, howling in pain on the ground.
“What ails you, Lion?”
“My stomach aches so badly, I have not been able to eat in days,” the Lion replied, as humans could commune with the beasts and plants of nature, in those days.
“Well,” said the Lad, “I am on my way to find my Luck; he will surely be wise beyond measure. I will ask him what ails you!”
The Lion thanked the Lad, whom went merrily on his way.
On the second day of his journey, the Lad came across a Tree by the side of the road. A wretched, withered looking thing.
“What ails you, tree?” The Lad thought aloud.
“There is a great ache in my roots,” she replied, “and I have not been able to drink in weeks.”
“Well then,” said the Lad, “I am on my way to find my Luck; he is surely wise beyond measure. I will ask him why you are so withered!”
And just as did the Lion, the Tree thanked the Lad, whom went merrily on his way.
On the third day, the Lad came across a Horse, hobbling weakly to the side of the road.
“Horse! What causes you to hobble so? I am on my way to awaken my Luck, and surely he will know the solution!”
“My back aches horribly, and I’ve not been able to gallop in months,” replied the Horse, “If you were to find out what’s wrong with me, I’d be in your debt.”
So the Lad went on his way, and before too long, he arrived at the cave where his Luck dwelled. Coming upon his Luck, the Lad cried:
“Lazy wretch! My life has been nothing but trouble because of you. Wake up and lend me your power!”
“You wouldn’t know what to do with it if you had it,” his Luck growled drowsily, “but if that is what you wish I am obliged to obey.”
The Lad thanked him, and turned to leave, but then remembering his promises, he turned back,
“Oh, and one more thing: I encountered a Lion, a Tree, and a Horse in my journey here. What ails them?”
“Well,” the Luck mused, scratching his beard, “To remedy himself, the Lion must devour a fool; beneath the roots of the Tree is a chest of gold, which if removed will allow her to drink again; and the horse will be healed if he should find a rider.”
The Lad thanked him once more, and went on his way.
Before long, the Lad came back upon the Horse. He told the Horse what his Luck had said, to which the Horse replied,
“Well then your Luck has shined upon his both! I give myself to you, and you shall be my rider!”
“I do not need you, Horse: my Luck has awakened, and soon I shall have hundreds of horses. You will need to find someone else to be your rider.”
The next day, the Lad came once again upon the sickly Tree, and relayed what his Luck had told him.
“Splendid!” said the Tree, “I have no use for gold, so if you were to dig up the treasure from beneath my roots, it would be yours for the taking!”
“I have no need for your treasure, for now that I have Luck, I will surely have the treasure of kings! Someone else will have to take your treasure.”
On the last day of his journey, the Lad came across the Lion, and once more relayed the Luck’s information.
“If that is the case, then Luck has shined upon me indeed! I’ve heard word of your travels, and after hearing what fortune you have squandered, truly you are a fool worthy of my appetite!”
And with that, the Lad was promptly devoured.
(Source: coolguyfawkes)
