The Legend of the Waves
Zanco, the Young Musician
Once upon a time, long, long ago, in this city of Novgorod, there lived a young man. He was a boy, actually, just like you! What was his name? His name was Zanco, and he would stroll along this beach, playing his guitar all day long.
Zanco was very poor. He didn't have a single coin, just what people gave him when he played his guitar for them to dance. Zanco grew up and became a strong and handsome young man, but he didn't dare dance with any girl, because he didn't have money to get married, or even to take them out to dinner.
Zanco lived alone with his guitar and would fill his tummy with half a loaf of bread when he couldn't get a whole one. Sometimes, it was just him, his guitar, and the sea. Zanco loved the sea.
The Meeting with the Sea King
It happened one evening that some fishermen asked him to look after their nets on the shore, while they went to sell their fish in the center of Novgorod. Zanco sat down on the shore, on a stone, and took his guitar and began to sing.
— For you I sing, beautiful sea, your waves I watch. Give me a sign, beautiful sea, you are with me here, I love you.
And as he sang, he saw a whirlpool in the sea. And from it appeared a giant man, with blue hair and a golden crown. He knew that man was the Sea King.
Little waves started from him in all directions, as he slowly rose from the water.
— Zanco of Novgorod, you have sung many songs on the seashore. My daughters adore your music, and I have enjoyed it too. Cast a net into the sea and then pull it out of the water, and the waters will reward you for your songs. And if you are pleased with the reward, you must come and sing for us in the depths, in the green palace of the sea.
After that, the Sea King descended back into the sea water. The waves covered him with a splash.
— Well, it wouldn't hurt to try, would it?
The First Reward
He cast a net into the sea, then began to pull it out of the silvery water. Slowly, the ropes emerged, the net rippling and sparkling under the moonlight. There was absolutely nothing in the net.
Then, as the last net approached the shore, he saw something in it, square and black. He pulled it out and saw that it was a chest. He opened the chest, and it was full of precious stones, green, red, golden, sparkling in the moonlight.
He took the chest and put it in a safe place. All night he stayed, watching the nets and playing his guitar. In the morning, the fishermen came and gave him a whole loaf of bread because he had looked after their nets.
— This is my last meal as a poor man.
Zanco Becomes a Rich Merchant
Zanco went into the city, where he sold some of the stones, and with the money he earned, he set up a stall at the market. Small things led to big things, and soon, he had become one of the wealthiest merchants in Novgorod.
Now all the girls in the city looked at Zanco with longing. But despite his wealth, Zanco hadn't changed. His love for the Volkov Sea remained the same. Every day he would take his guitar and sing on the seashore.
— No girl in Novgorod is as beautiful as the sea.
He took a wonderful chain from his neck and threw it into the sea. It was a small gift for the sea he loved so much.
The Storm and the Fulfilled Promise
One day, as he was sailing on a ship on the Caspian Sea, a storm suddenly began.
— That's it! We're done for!
The crew members clung to anything they could grab and trembled with fear. Zanco, however, was calm.
— I remember now an old promise I made, and now it's time to fulfill it.
With his guitar in hand, he jumped from the ship into the blue Caspian Sea. The waves closed over him, and strangely, the storm stopped. The ship sailed on and finally reached port safely.
— And what happened to Zanco?
The Palace Beneath the Sea
— Ah, Zanco!
Zanco descended deep, deep, deep into the water. He finally reached the bottom of the sea. And there, on the seabed, was a palace built of pink wood. Zanco entered through the palace gates.
Inside was a grand hall, and the Sea King sat in this hall, with his golden crown on his head and his blue hair floating around him in the water.
— Ah, Zanco, you took what the sea gave you, but it took you a long time to come and sing in the sea palace. — Great King, forgive me! — Sing now!
And Zanco, with his guitar in hand, began to sing.
— For you I sing, oh mighty King Tsar, yours are the waves and all the sea, all the fish, even the salt. For you I sing, beautiful sea, your waves I have watched, a sign you gave me, beautiful sea, I am happy. I would dance!
The Wedding Beneath the Waves
He rose like a tall tree and began to dance. The entire seabed shook because of the giant King's dance. He danced until he was tired, then he sat down.
— You sang well. I liked it very much. I have three daughters, and you will choose one of them to marry, and you will be the prince of the sea. — With all due respect, I don't believe there is any lady I could love more than the sea.
The King clapped his hands, and the King's three daughters entered. They were very beautiful and graceful. But Zanco was fascinated by the youngest one.
— She is as beautiful as my sea!
She looked at him with eyes that sparkled like stars reflected in the sea. She had black hair, like the sea at night. The Sea King placed his youngest daughter's hand in Zanco's hand, and the two kissed.
When they kissed, Zanco noticed a chain around her neck and realized it was the one he had thrown as a gift for the sea. Zanco was very happy and embraced the King's youngest daughter, and she embraced him in return.
Soon they were married, and the Sea King stayed at the wedding until the palace shook, and the fish scattered in all directions. After the feast, Zanco and his bride went together to her palace.
Before they went to sleep, she said to him:
— Oh, Zanco, will you never forget me? Will you sing for me from time to time? — I will never take my eyes off you, my beautiful one. As for music, I will sing all day long. — Then so be it.
Saying this, she fell asleep. Zanco fell asleep too.
The Awakening and the Legend
In the middle of the night, Zanco stirred in bed and accidentally touched the princess with his left foot. She was cold as ice in January. Zanco suddenly woke up and found himself lying under the Novgorod sky, on the seashore.
— Grandpa, what happened to him after that?
Many stories circulated. Some said he went into the city and became a merchant. But I believe he took his guitar and swam into the middle of the sea. He dove into the depths again, searching for his princess.
It is said that he found her and that he lives even now in the pink palaces on the seabed. And when there are big waves, then you know it's Zanco playing his guitar and the Sea King dancing with his immense body down there, on the seabed, making waves. What do you think happened?
— I think he went back to the princess. — Oh, really? But why? — Because it was a happy ending, and as you said, every story needs a happy ending.
And don't forget! If it's not happy, it's not the end!
