Fairy tales for young and old ~ English version

The Great Serpent

(Storytober - Day 12 - Massive)

In the heart of ancient Egypt, where the sun blazed like an unyielding furnace and the winds whispered secrets of a bygone era, there lay a vast desert that stretched endlessly. It was in this arid expanse that tales of the Great Serpent began to circulate among the villagers. This serpent was not merely a creature of flesh and scales; it was a massive being, revered and feared, its coils wrapped around the very essence of a hidden treasure, one that could change the fate of the land.

Akhom, a humble farmer with sun-kissed skin and hands calloused from toil, listened intently as the elders spoke of the serpent.

"Akhom," they warned, "this is no ordinary beast. To approach it is to dance with death."

But Akhom was undeterred. His family suffered under the cruel reign of Pharaoh Khufu, whose heart was as hard as the granite that built his monuments. Night after night, they went to bed with empty stomachs, their dreams crushed beneath the weight of his tyranny.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson, Akhom made a decision.

"I will seek the Great Serpent," he declared to his wife, Nefret.

Her brow furrowed with worry, she replied softly, "But, my love, what if it consumes you? What if the pharaoh finds out?"

"Then I shall be consumed," Akhom said firmly, his eyes blazing with determination. "For in its coils lies the key to our salvation."

With the first light of dawn, he set forth into the desert, armed only with a small dagger and a heart full of hope. The sands shifted beneath his feet like the whispers of the ancients, urging him onward. Days passed, and Akhom faced scorching heat and blinding storms, but he pressed on, guided by the faint echo of the serpent's riddles that danced in his mind.

At last, he arrived at a cavern adorned with ancient hieroglyphs, each telling stories of kings and gods, of life and death. The entrance loomed before him like the gaping mouth of a great beast. As he stepped inside, he felt the air change, thick with mystery and danger. There, in the depths, lay the Great Serpent, its scales shimmering like jewels in the dim light.

"Akhom, the farmer," the serpent hissed, its voice resonating like thunder. "You seek the treasure, but first, you must solve my riddle."

With bated breath, Akhom nodded. "I am ready."

The serpent coiled around him, its massive body a living wall. "It's better than Râ, worse than the evil god Apep. The poor have it, the rich need it. If you eat it, if you drink it, you die. What is it?"

Akhom pondered, his mind racing.

"Nothing," he finally answered, his voice steady. "Nothing is better than the powerful Râ or worse than Apep, the poor have nothing, and the rich need nothing. If you eat or drink nothing, you die."

"Correct," the serpent replied, releasing him from its grasp. "But the path is perilous, and many have failed. Do you still wish to proceed?"

"I do," Akhom affirmed, his voice steady, though his heart raced.

"Then heed my words," the serpent continued, its eyes gleaming with ancient wisdom. "You must face your fears, for only then will you claim what is rightfully yours."

With a flick of its tail, the serpent revealed a path leading deeper into the cavern. Akhom took a deep breath and stepped forward. Shadows danced around him, flickering like the doubts in his mind. He encountered illusions of the pharaoh, taunting him with visions of failure and despair.

"You are nothing, farmer," the shadow hissed. "Turn back before it's too late!"

But Akhom raised his chin, refusing to yield. "I am more than a farmer. I am a father, a husband, and I will not let fear chain me!"

With each courageous step, the shadows receded, revealing a treasure trove of gold and jewels, glimmering in the darkness. And at the heart of it all, a golden ankh radiated with divine light—the symbol of life and power.

"Take it, Akhom," the serpent commanded, its voice now softer, almost reverent. "But remember, true power lies not in riches, but in the love you have for your family and the courage you wield."

Akhom grasped the ankh, feeling its warmth pulse through him. "I will return and free my people from the pharaoh's tyranny," he vowed.

As he exited the cavern, the sun greeted him once more, brighter than before. With the ankh in hand, he journeyed back, his heart filled with hope. Upon his return to the village, he rallied the people, sharing the tale of the Great Serpent and the treasure.

Together, they stood united against Pharaoh Khufu, who laughed at their audacity.

"You dare challenge me?" he scoffed, but Akhom raised the ankh high.

"This is not just gold; it is the will of the gods. We are chosen!"

The pharaoh, taken aback by Akhom's conviction, felt the ground tremble beneath him. The people, emboldened by their newfound strength, surged forward, driving the tyrant from their land.

From that day forth, Akhom was hailed as the rightful leader, a true pharaoh chosen by the gods. He ruled with kindness, ensuring that no one in his realm would ever go hungry again. And the Great Serpent, watching from its lair, smiled, knowing that true power was not about riches, but about love, courage, and the strength of a united people.