Ayusha Erdyneev - Stories about elephant calf Lanchenkar стр 4.

The Tale of Ivan

One day, being in a state of meditation4, Lanchenkar acquired a divine auditory gift, when he could hear all sounds in this world.

 Black?

 No, red.

 And why white?

 Because its green.

After the meditation the Elephant Prince did not forget those phrases. He kept thinking what all that might mean. What things could have so many colors? Lanchenkar asked many wise men but none could give him an answer. It seemed that there could never be such things in this world! But Lanchenkar didnt lose hope and continued his quests.

In this state Lanchenkar could sense things which he otherwise took no notice of.

One day he met a tramp from a faraway Northern land. His name was Ivan. He was a daredevil but kind and openhearted. Lanchenkar asked him to explain those strange words.

Dear Ivan, do you happen to know a thing that could be described as:

 Black?

 No, red.

 But why white?

 Because its green.

Perhaps you have it in your north.

Sure, Ivan replied. Its currants. They grow everywhere where I live. We make stewed fruit from them and give them to children in cold winter. What you heard was a dialogue at a bazaar. There are black and red currants. If red currants are not ripe, they are white, others are green. So this is what you heard.

 Black currants?

 Red currants.

 Why are they white?

 Because they are green, not ripe.

After that Ivan became the main hero of the elephants stories. Speaking about clever people or animals they always added, Wise as Ivan.

Lanchengen

Dad, tell me a tale, Lanchenkar asked his father Lanchenpo, the King of Hindustans elephants.

Listen. Once upon a time there lived an elephant named Lanchengen. He was very curious. When he was still a child, he asked his father:

What will be tomorrow?

Youll be one day older, his father replied.

After one year?, asked Lanchenkar

You will be one year older, answered his father

And eighty years later?

Ill be gone.

And mom?

Shell be gone too.

What about me? Who will play with me, who will put me to bed, who will tell me bedtime stories? asked the offended Lanchengen.

There are no eternal parents and friends. Parting is inevitable when we grow old and die, his father reassured him.

I dont like it, said Lanchengen.

***

Lanchengen pondered over his fathers words. He decided to leave his home and find himself eternal friends. He put his mothers pie in his knapsack, got his parents blessing5 and set out for a journey.

One day Lanchengen saw a Mountain. It was so high that its peak was invisible. Lanchengen came closer.

he asked hopefully.

said the Mountain, emerging from clouds.

The indefatigable Lanchengen continued his way. Finally, he came to the edge of the earth where the boundless Ocean noisily played with blue waves.

asked Lanchengen.

answered the gray Ocean.

Lanchengen continued his way. He met the Wind.

replied the Wind.

Lanchengen asked the Sun shining on tree tops.

the Sun replied.

Lanchengen continued his quests. He had trodden the Earth, the Mountains and the Clouds until he met Heaven.

asked Lanchengen. By now, he almost lost hope of finding immortal friends.

Heaven replied.

said the inspired Elephant and heard this:

Lanchengen fancied his future life on the Earth and realized that the Heaven had offered him the most rewarding way.

***

Lanchengens parents waited and waited for their son. His mother cried her eyes out. When one night she saw a bright star in the sky, she knew that her son had achieved the desired goal.

Thus Lanchengen immortalized himself: he became the brightest star in the sky! It is called the Polar Star or the guiding star because it is stationary and indicates the North. Son, watch the Polar Star in the sky and you will never lose your bearings. These were the words the wise Lanchenpo addressed to his son Lanchenkar upon finishing the tale.