A Persian Legend from the Shah Nameh Retold by Marilyn Bolchunos.
Kai Kaus, Shah of ancient Persia, was not noted for being a great king. In fact, he was said to have been rather foolish. But he will long be remembered for his legendary flight.
From his youth Kai Kaus had been fascinated by the heavens. One fine spring day he sent for his astronomers to tell them of his plan.
“I have thought of a way to fly,” he said, “to see for myself the nature of the sun and moon and how it is that night follows day. I will study the planets and the stars that surround them. Nothing like this has ever been planned until now!” The Shah’s eyes shone with excitement.
His astronomers stared at him in astonishment. Kai Kaus laughed to see their expressions.
Then he said, “I have had four young eagles stolen from their nest and raised to be large and strong. My carpenter has built a framework of aloe wood. I will sit in it, and the eagles will carry me to heights no one has seen before.”
The first astronomer spoke. “Your Majesty, even if this would work, you will go neither high nor far.”
“We can’t know that, can we?” said Kai Kaus angrily.
“You’ll be dragged,” said the second astronomer. “Have someone else try this flight first.”
“No,” replied Kai Kaus. “I want to be the first to fly!”
The third astronomer stroked his beard. “People were not meant to fly,” he said haughtily.
“Silence,” ordered the Shah. “I have heard enough.”
A few days later one of Queen Sudaveh’s handmaidens looked out the window of the women’s quarters. “My Queen,” she said, “the Shah is preparing to take flight.”
Sudaveh looked out. What she saw caused her to lift her skirts and run down the stairs to the courtyard. She pushed her way through a gathering crowd.
この記事は Cricket Magazine for Kids の May/June 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Cricket Magazine for Kids の May/June 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
The Tale Of Paddy Ahern
THERE ONCE WAS a lad named Paddy Ahern who trod the green hills of Limerick, Ireland, offering to help farmers with their chores in return for food and lodging.
The Pedestrians
EACH TIME HELGA Estby looked over her shoulder, the big cat was there. Crossing Wyoming’s Red Desert on foot, in the dust and heat of August 1896, was tough.
The Magic Gifts
A Basque Folk Tale
The Dragon's Scales
“THREE YEARS I'VE been waiting, when Torquil promised he’d return them in three days. I’m not waiting three more days to get back what’s mine!” The dragon punctuated his remarks with a smoky snort and a lashing tail.
The Water Bucketre
A Chinese Folk Tale.
Between The Pages
One rainy night, while alone in the castle library with her talking gargoyle, Marcus, Princess Audrey finds a book with the odd title Finding Angel. Meanwhile, in modern times, a girl named Angel is celebrating her thirteenth birthday.
Swim Buddies
I LEAN OVER the side of the catamaran and peer into the crystal blue water. This is my last chance, I think.
The Bushwhackers
I CAN’T ABIDE living one more day in this pigpen!” I groaned and rolled out of bed to pull on my dress.
As American as Appleless Pie!
NOTHING IS MORE American than the humble apple pie. There’s even an old saying to prove it: “as American as apple pie.” So it may come as a surprise that many early settlers who forged the trails of our expanding nation were often without apples to make this most American of desserts. As pioneers headed west in pursuit of territory and gold, they had to leave many things behind, including apples. Not only did life on the trail make fresh fruit like apples hard to carry and keep, apple trees were native only to the east coast, which made finding apples in the West nearly impossible.
The Man Who Built A Better Leg
THE CIVIL WAR was only a few weeks old when seven hundred and fifty Confederate recruits gathered in the fields around Philippi, Virginia. It was early June 1861, and as yet there had been no real battles. The men had eagerly volunteered, but most had no training as soldiers. Their only weapons were the ones they brought from home— old-fashioned flintlock muskets, cap and ball pistols, and a few shotguns.
