. THE CASTLE IN THE LAKE (Tibet)
Long ago in Tibet there was a very beautiful lake, surrounded by gorgeous hills and mountains. When the sun was high up in the sky it cast the shadow of the mountains so neat and clear on the lake that it seemed a gorgeous castle lay in the lake, surrounded by its rippling waters.Strange stories were told about the lake.
One such story was that indeed there was a castle in the lake. In the castle was a king. He had many retainers who had unfortunately fallen into the lake or were captured walking on the shores and were made to serve the king.
One day Rinchen a young herdsman was tending his yaks by the lake. Wishing to refresh himself and eat his lunch Rinchen went down to the water’s edge, and splashed some cool water on his face and sat down by a large rock to eat his cheese and barley bread.
Slowly munching his food Rinchen reflected on his life with his mother who was unkind to him. She was selfish and arrogant. She bade Rinchen work hard all day and made him eat scraps of food, gave him no new clothes except for cast-off rags, while she ate all the good food and wore sumptuous clothes. Unconsciously tears rolled down Rinchen’s eyes and he began to sob. He tried not to give in to his bundle of woe, rubbed his face and was about to pack his lunch bag away when turning around he saw a man standing wearing a black chuba. His clothes were dripping as if he had just come from the lake. Rinchen was scared as he recalled the stories he had heard about the castle in the lake and the king and his retainers.
“Why are you sobbing?” Asked the man gently. The tone of his voice was soft and touching, banishing Rinchen’s fears and Rinchen walked up to the man standing by the shallow waters of the lake. The man questioned him again and Rinchen disclosed to him of his sorrows.
“Come with me into the lake,” the man beckoned to Rinchen. “The king is a kind hearted man, he will help you,” said the man.
Rinchen hesitated, for his fears about the lake and the stories he heard about it came crowding in his mind. The man sensing the boy’s reluctance, spoke to him with gentle words driving his fears away and persuaded Rinchen to accompany him to the castle.
“Don’t be afraid,” said the man, “I am one of the king’s retainers and I will see that you get back safe.” He patted the boy on his shoulder
.
“Well I have nothing to lose. If I go back it will be to bondage to work for my mother as a slave. Its better I get away even if I have to face death.” The boy made up his mind and followed the man to the lake.
The king’s retainer asked him to close his eyes as he led him through the water to the castle. When he opened his eyes Rinchen was in a large hall lavishly decorated in shining silver and gold. At the far end was a throne, on which sat an old man the king.
“Why did you come here?” Rinchen heard the king’s voice like thunder in his ears. Once again the boy repeated the story and the king took great pity on the lad.The King then motioned to one of his retainers, whispered in his ears and gave him some instructions. The man went and retuned in a few minutes with a dog.
“Take this dog with you and take care to feed him before you feed yourself,” said the king. Rinchen now took the dog and was led away to the shores of the lake by the retainer who asked him to close his eyes and when he opened his eyes Rinchen found himself alone with the dog on the shores of the lake.
The lad took the dog home and from that day everything turned out to be perfect. When he woke up in the morning, his food was on the table, chest was full of money and he had fresh clothes to wear. Rinchen was very happy and took great care of the dog as it was instructed by the king.
Rinchen’s mother was curious and anxious to know the secret of his plenty. So she decide to go out with the yaks to discover the source of the great boon.
While his mother was away, Rinchen watched the dog carefully, anxious to know how it produced all the riches. He watched the dog as it entered through the door and walked over to the hearth. Then it vigorously shook itself. Suddenly its skin fell to the ground revealing an extraordinary beautiful woman. Rinchen was astonished. His eyes filled with wonder, he could not contain himself anymore; so he rushed and caught hold of the skin and threw it in the fire.
The woman was deeply grieved and begged him to stop it from burning. But it was too late and the skin turned to ashes. Frightened that if the village chieftain’s son sees her, he will take her away Rinchen rubbed soot on her face and made her look ugly and kept her in the house away from the eyes of the village folk.
By and by Rinchen got very rich. Soon he shed all his fears about the beautiful woman. “I am richer and more powerful than the chief’s son. Why should I worry? He will not dare to take her away from me,” thought Rinchen.
Rinchen washed her face of the dirt and took her to the village to show everybody how proud he was of her beauty.
The chief’s son set his eyes upon the woman and determined to take her. He requested the help of some villagers and captured the woman. Rinchen was very sad. He went down to the lake as before and sitting by the rock started to moan and weep.
The king’s retainer appeared as before, and asked, “Why are you weeping again?”
I have lost my beautiful woman,” replied Rinchen. The retainer took him to the king again and this time the king gave him a small box.
“Take this box and go to the top of a hill and call out for the chief’s son to come to war. When the chief’s son assembles the men at the foot of the hill hold out the box and shout ‘Fight!’”
Rinchen thanked the king and took the box and did as the king had instructed. As he called out to the box “Fight!” thousands of soldiers came charging out and defeated the chief’s son’s men.
Rinchen rescued the beautiful woman and took her to be his wife. He took half of the chief’s son’s lands became rich and was very benevolent towards the people, and they appointed him as their leader. Rinchen thereafter lived a happy and a fruitful life among the people.
Text from (SPOOKY TALES FROM THE ORIEN)
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