THE PRINCESS OF ÉLEVÉ

The Troll and the Flying Crab

In the center of this vast expanse of open water, the waves rose as high as those on the open sea. After many hours of paddling across this rough windy waterway, Yuri's small group saw the outline of the shore. It would have been a lonely forbidding journey for Yuri, Pre, and Calypso without the company of the exuberant fun-loving Fins. They finally reached the far shore.

"Boy, am I glad that's over with," Yuri sighed as they paddled onto shore and beached the boat. They checked out the unfamiliar terrain while the Fins waited offshore.

"Goodbye. Thank you again," the three of them called and waved, as the Fins leaped into the air, somersaulting in unison, and disappeared from sight.

Yuri noticed the beach area was bound at one end with a river that rushed into the lake and a bridge over the river. The river emerged from a passageway one reached at the end of a narrow path. A cave at the other end of the beach was overgrown with vines that partially obscured the opening.

"I'll check out the passage," Yuri announced as he went along the river path and disappeared into the tunnel.

"Let's check out the cave," Pre pointed to the overgrown vine-covered cave entrance. "Calypso, follow me." Pre disappeared into the cave.

"I don't know about this," Calypso muttered, as she cautiously entered. "This could be dangerous."

Yuri returned, dragging a small struggling grotesque creature. It had short fat arms and legs, a roly-poly body, and a bulbous misshapen head. It was not at all happy about being dragged into the sunlight of the open beach.

"Etlay emay elphay onyay!" it muttered.

"What? I can't understand you!"

"Eymay amenay siay ollyray," the Creature stopped briefly, then continued, "oh, sorry, my name is Rolly. Let me help you. I'm a friend."

Calypso returned from the cave. She saw Yuri, but did not immediately see the ugly creature hidden behind him.

"Yuri, Pre went into the cave but I couldn't follow him. It's a pretty big one." Suddenly she spied Rolly. "Who are you?"

"I'm Rolly. I want to help you."

"What are you? What kind of creature are you?"

"Oh, I'm a troll," Rolly answered with a smile. "I thought you knew that. I'm a friend. Can I help?"

"We're looking for a giant crab," Yuri responded. "It flies and..." Rolly held up his hands to show Yuri he didn't need to say anymore, and pointed to the small cave entrance where Pre had gone.

"Say no more. It lives in there. I hate that beast!"

"Lead the way." Yuri waved toward the entrance. "We'll follow."

Rolly held back. "I won't go in. It's very dangerous."

"We must go in. I just hope it's not too late." Yuri was determined to go in the cave, no matter what.

Just then Pre came back out, holding his nose. "I found its lair. Smells of crab. Ugh!"

Yuri turned to Rolly, "you said you could help. How?"

"If I get it out in the open, will that help?"

"Yes, I think so," Pre pondered this for a moment. "How will you do that?"

"Wait here." Rolly dashed under the bridge, along the river path and into the tunnel. He came back holding a wafer, a pale green wafer. "Otay ottenray eatmay," he uttered in a chant. The wafer turned into a chunk of old rotten meat, also pale green in color. He put the meat on the end of a long stick. "I'll be back in a minute. Be ready." He ran into the cave where the crab lurked.