I
n far away Zennla, on the edge of the Crystal Sea, there once lived a most wonderful
man-child named Moo Duk. Moo Duk was very much admired in the villages, for though
little more than a child, already his head was made of iron.
Now it happened that one day, while fishing off the shores of Zennla, Moo Duk chanced
upon a beautiful mermaid frolicking merrily with a group of dolphins. Moo Duk loved
the mermaid, and pleaded with her to leave her dolphin friends and return with him to
the city to become his wife.
"Not so,", answered the lovely sea creature, "for I cannot live on the land, as you,
but must remain in the sea, lest I die.".
For the first time in his life, Moo Duk hung his head to cry at the evil that fate
had heaped upon him, to never be able to live with his true love.
No sooner had he hung his head to weep than the great weight fell off his shoulders,
snapped from his accordian-like neck, and plunged into the putrid, icy black waters
of the Crystal Sea.
Thus was the head of Moo Duk made joyous, for often the mermaid came to talk to him,
and would kiss him with her soft lips.
Alas for the body of Moo Duk. When it returned without the iron head upon its
shoulders, it was no longer regarded as wondrous. The old fishermen took back
their boat and the once proud body of Moo Duk became a penniless beggar.
The End