Latest / Sandman Stories Presents / EP 314: Japan- The Happy Hunter and The Skillful Fisher (Ozaki)

Transcript

EP 314: Japan- The Happy Hunter and The Skillful Fisher (Ozaki) · Sandman Stories Presents

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Welcome back listeners to Sandman Stories Presents, a
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folklore podcast where I rate you to sleep or until the next
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story. I'm your host, Dustin.
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And if you want more Sandman, we have Sandman After Dark over on
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the Patreon for absolutely free. But if you want to be a cool
0:47
person like Cheryl or Nick, you can go ahead and throw a few
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bones my way. Big thank you to them for
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signing up for the paid Patreon. And today we are back in the
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book of Japanese folklore written down by Yay Tedoro
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Ozaki. This is a story that I covered
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once before early on on the YouTube channel because it was
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easy enough to do the little woodblock print version of this.
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But that little 10 page tale turned into a 30 page tale with
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Yay Tedorozaki throwing in all sorts of extra stuff.
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So without any extra ado, let's begin Happy Hunter and skillful
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Fisher. Long, long ago, Japan was
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governed by the 4th Mikoto. Because of his unmatched skill
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as a hunter, he was called Happy Hunter of the Mountains.
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His older brother was a very talented angler and he was named
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the Skillful Fisher of the Sea. The brothers LED happy lives,
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the one hunting and the other fishing.
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One day Happy Hunter came to his brother and said, Brother, I see
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you come home with lots of fish. I'm the top hunter in the
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forest, but I'd like to change, if only for a day.
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Skilful Fisher listened to his brother and thought for a
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minute, and at last he answered. Yeah, sure, why not?
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Give me your bow and arrows and I'll go hunt.
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Go ahead and go fish. So they switched jobs and had no
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inkling of what was to come. Unfortunately, Skillful Fisher
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knew nothing about hunting, and Happy Hunter couldn't catch a
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fish. To save his life, Happy Hunter
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took his brother's prize rod and reel and went down to the water.
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He cast it several times, but brought in nothing.
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He spent the whole day like this, sitting on the rocks,
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holding the fishing rod and waiting in vain for a little
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nibble. By that evening, he had not
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caught a single fish. Pulling up his line one last
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time, he found that he had lost the hook too.
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He worried because he knew it was his brother's favorite hook.
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Happy Hunter looked everywhere for the hook, and while he was
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searching, his brother arrived. He hadn't caught anything
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either, and he was in a terrible mood.
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When he saw Happy Hunter searching about on the shore, he
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knew that something must have gone wrong, so he said.
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What are you doing? Happy looked down and kicked at
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some rocks because he was scared of his brother's temper, and he
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said, Oh my brother, I've messed up, what is the matter?
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What did you do? Asked his old brother.
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I have lost your favorite fishhook.
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While he was still speaking, his brother stopped him and shouted.
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Lost my hook. I didn't want to change jobs
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from the beginning, but you insisted.
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I'm not giving you back your bow and arrows until I get my hook
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back. Happy Hunter was mad at himself
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for losing the hook. He went home and took his
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favorite sword and broke it into 5000 fish hooks.
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He took them to his brother, but none of them were good enough.
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His brother wanted his hook and only his hook.
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Happy then made another 5000 hooks and took them to his
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brother again begging for forgiveness.
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Even if you made a million hooks, said skillful Fisher
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shaking his head. I still couldn't use them, and I
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won't forgive you until you bring back my hook.
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Nothing soothed the anger of Skilful Fisher, because in
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reality he just wanted to rule Japan.
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Happy knew this, but he couldn't say anything because he was the
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younger brother. So we went back to the beach and
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looked for the missing hook. While he stood on the beach, an
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old man suddenly appeared. You are the Mikoto, aren't you?
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Asked the old man, What are you doing down here alone?
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Yes, that's me, answered the unhappy young man.
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I was fishing with my brother's hook and I didn't catch a single
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fish and then I lost his lucky hook.
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I've looked everywhere but gosh darn, I can't find it and I'm
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upset. But who are you?
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My name. Is Mr. Yamamoto and I live here?
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I'm sorry to say that the hook is not here.
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It is either at the bottom of the sea or in the belly of some
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fish who has swallowed it. You won't be able to find it
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here. What should I do?
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Asked the distressed man. You had better go down to Rujin,
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the Dragon King of the Sea, and ask him to find the hook for
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you. I think that would be the best
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way. Good idea, said Happy.
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But I can't get to the Sea King's realm because I have
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heard that it's at the bottom of the sea.
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Oh, that is no problem, said the old man.
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I can make you something for that.
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Thank you, said Happy. I'll be very grateful for that.
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The old man made a basket and gave it to Happy.
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He said thank you and climbed in.
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He said goodbye to the old man and told him that he would get
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him a cool souvenir from the bottom of the ocean.
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The old man pointed to the water and told him how to get there,
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and then watched him float out into the sea.
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Happy went as quickly as he could.
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Soon he saw the Sea King's palace.
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He landed and walked up to the gate.
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It was the most beautiful gate he had ever seen.
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Happy had often heard of the Sea King's palace, but nothing
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compared to what stood before him.
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Happy wanted to enter the gate, but he saw that it was closed,
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and so he stopped to think. Beneath the trees he noticed a
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well. Someone would have to come out
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to get water, so he climbed one of the trees and waited.
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Before long, he saw the gate open and two beautiful women
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came out. He had heard that the Dragon
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King's home was full of monsters, so he was glad to see
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these two women. He watched from behind some
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leaves. He saw their golden buckets.
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They stepped up to the well and pulled up some water.
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When they leaned over the side of the well, they saw his face
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reflected in the water. They had never seen a man's face
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and they were frightened and quickly pulled up their buckets.
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But they were curious and looked up into the tree but stayed
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silent. When he saw that he was
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discovered, he leapt down from the tree and said I'm sorry, I
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was very thirsty. I came to the well in hopes of
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quenching my thirst, but I couldn't find a bucket, so I
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climbed a tree and wait for someone to come.
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Then you ladies appeared. Do you have any water for me?
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For I'm a thirsty stranger in a strange land.
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His graciousness overruled their shyness, and they went back to
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the well, drew up some water and poured it into a jeweled cup and
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offered it to the stranger. He took it from them with both
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hands, raising it to the height of his forehead in respect, and
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then drank the water. When he had finished his drink,
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he set the cup down, drew out his sword, and cut off one of
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the jewels from his necklace. He placed the jewel in the cup
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and gave it back to them and said This is a token of my
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thanks. The two ladies took the cup and
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looked into it. They were surprised by the
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beautiful gem at the bottom of the cup.
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No ordinary mortal would give away a jewel so freely.
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Won't you honor us by telling us who you are?
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Asked the older damsel. Certainly said Happy Hunter.
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I'm Hoho Demi. The 4th Mikuto also called in
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Japan. Happy Hunter, are you indeed
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Hoho Demi, the grandson of Amoratsu, the Sun Goddess?
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As the maiden, I'm the eldest daughter of Rujin, the King of
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the Sea, and my name is Princess Taiyotama, the younger maiden
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said. I am her sister, Princess
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Tamayori. Are you really the daughters of
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the Yujin, the King of the Sea? I cannot tell you how glad I am
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to meet you, said Happy Hunter. The other day I went fishing
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with my brother's hook and dropped it.
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It was my brother's favorite hook and unless I find it, he
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will stay mad at me. I've looked all over but I can't
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find it. I want you to ask Eugene if he
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knows where the hook is. Will you be so kind as to take
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me to your father? Asked Happy anxiously.
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Princess Teyatama listened to his story and said that will be
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no problem. My father would love to meet
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such an impressive mortal from the land world.
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Come this way. Said the sisters.
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The younger Princess left her sister and she got into the Sea
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King's palace first. She quickly ran to her father's
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room and told him everything. The Dragon King was surprised at
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the news because it had been in a millennia since the last
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mortal had visited. Eugene clapped his hands and
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summoned his court and let them know that the grandson of
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Amaratsu was coming there. Eugene then dressed himself in
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his ceremonial robes and went out to welcome them.
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In a few moments, Princess Tautama and Happy came to the
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gate and the Sea King and his wife bowed and thanked him for
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coming to see them. The Sea King then LED Happy to
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the guest room and putting him in the highest seat, he bowed
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respectfully and said. I am Rujin, the Dragon King of
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the Sea, and this is my wife. Are you really Rujin?
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The King of the Sea Answered Happy Hunter, saluting his host.
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I am sorry for all the trouble that I'm giving you because of
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my unexpected visit. And he bowed again and thanked
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the Sea King. The Sea King and Happy Hunter
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sat and talked for a long time. At last the Sea King clapped his
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hands, and then a huge retinue of fishes appeared, holding
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trays on which all kinds of sea delicacies were served.
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A great feast was spread before the King and his royal guest.
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The time passed so pleasantly that Happy seemed to forget his
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troubles and why he'd come to the Sea King's realm, and he
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gave himself up to the enjoyment of this wonderful place.
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Who had ever heard of such a wonderful place?
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But then Happy remembered the hook and he said to his host.
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Perhaps your daughters have told you, King Nujin, that I have
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come here to try and find my brother's hook that I lost while
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fishing. May I ask you to ask all your
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subjects if they have seen a lost hook?
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Certainly, said the Sea King, I will bring them here and ask
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them immediately. As soon as he had issued his
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command, the octopus, the cuttlefish, the oxtail fish, the
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eel, the jellyfish, the shrimp, and the flounder, and many other
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kinds of fish all came in and sat down before the Eugene and
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arranged themselves. Then the Sea King said solemnly,
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Our visitor, who is sitting before you all, is the grandson
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of Amaratsu. He is called Happy Hunter.
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While fishing the other day on the shores of Japan, someone
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robbed him of his brother's fishing hook.
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He came all this way down to the bottom of the sea to our
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Kingdom, because he thought that one of you may have taken the
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hook from him as a laugh. If any of you have done so, you
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must return it immediately, or if any of you know who the thief
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is, you must at once tell us his name and where he is.
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All the fishes were surprised when they heard these words and
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were silent for a moment. They sat looking at each other
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and at the Dragon King. At last the cuttlefish came
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forward and said. I think the rosefish must be the
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thief. Why, Asked the king.
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Last night the rosefish wasn't able to eat anything, and it
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seems like he has a sore throat, so I think the hook may be in
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his throat. You had better send for him at
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once. All the fish agreed and said, It
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is certainly strange that the Rose Fish is the only fish who
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has not obeyed your summons. Will you send for him and asked
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about it? Then our innocence will be
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proved. Without waiting for the King's
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order, the cuttlefish started for the Rose Fish's dwelling.
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He brought him in before the king.
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The fish sat there looking frightened, and I'll he
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certainly was in pain, for his red face was now pale and his
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eyes were nearly closed and looked half their usual size.
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Answer, O rose fish, cried the Sea King.
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Why didn't you come to my summons today?
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I have been sick since yesterday, that is why I could
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not come, said the fish weakly. Don't say another word, cried
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out Rujin angrily. Your illness is the punishment
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of the gods for stealing Happy's hook.
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It is true, said the Rose fish. The hook is still in my throat
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and all my efforts to get it out have been useless.
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I can't eat. And I can barely breathe.
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And I feel that it will choke me.
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I didn't mean to. Steal the hook.
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I snapped at the bait in the water and the hook came off and.
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Stuck in my. Throat.
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Please forgive me. Oh please.
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Hurry up and pull it out, cried the Rose Fish pitifully, for he
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felt the pains in his throat. I do want to return the hook to
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happy. All right, Mr. Rosefish, said
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his friend the cuttlefish. And then, opening the fish's
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mouth as wide as he could, he put one of his feelers down the
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rosefish's throat. He took the hook out of the
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large fish's mouth, then he washed it and brought it to the
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king. Eugen took the hook and then
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returned it to Happy, who was overjoyed in getting back his
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hook. He thanked Eugen many times.
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Rujin forgave his subject at once at the request of his
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guest. The fish was so glad that he
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shook his fins for joy. Now that the hook was found,
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Happy had nothing to keep him in the Dragon's palace, and he was
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anxious to get back to his own Kingdom and to make peace with
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his angry brother. But the Sea King begged him not
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to go, but to stay as long as he liked.
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While Happy Hunter was waffling, the two lovely princesses came
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in and join their father in pressing him to stay.
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If he were to say no, it would look very ungracious, so he
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stayed for a while. Happy Hunter found that three
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years went by quickly in this delightful land.
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The years passed swiftly when one is truly happy, But though
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the Sea King's kindness seemed rather to increase than to grow
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less with time, Happy Hunter grew more and more homesick as
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the days passed, and he could not hide his anxiety to know
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what had happened with his brother at home.
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So at last he went to the Sea King and said.
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My stay with you here has been most happy, and I'm very
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grateful for all your kindness to me.
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But I govern Japan, and as delightful as this place is, I
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cannot leave my country for so long.
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I also must return the fish hook to my brother and ask for his
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forgiveness. I'm very sorry to leave you, but
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this time it cannot be helped. With your gracious permission, I
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will leave to day. I hope to a visit again soon
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someday. King Neugen was overcome with
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the sorrow at the thought that he must lose his friend, and his
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tears fell fast as he answered. We are indeed very sorry to part
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with you. Happy, for we have enjoyed your
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stay with us very much. You have been a wonderful guest.
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I hope you will not forget us. Strange circumstances have
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brought us together, and I trust the friendship between the land
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and the sea will last and will grow stronger than it has ever
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been before. When the Sea King finished
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speaking, he turned to his daughters and asked them to
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bring the two tied jewels of the sea.
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The two princesses bowed and left the hall.
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In a few minutes they return, each carrying a flashing gem
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which filled the room with light.
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As Happy looked at them, he wondered what they could be.
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The Sea King said to his guest. We got these gems from our
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ancestors and have held them ever since.
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These two gems are called the Nanju and the Kanju.
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Happy bowed and said. I can never thank you enough for
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all your kindness to me, and please tell me what these jewels
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are. The Sea King answered.
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The Nanju is also called the Jewel of the Flood Tide and
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whoever has it in his possession can command the sea to flood the
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land at any time. The Kanju is also called the
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Jewel of the Epping Tide, and this gem will cause even a tidal
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wave to recede. Then the Eugen showed his friend
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how to use the talismans and handed them over to him.
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Happy was very glad to have these two wonderful gems, the
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Flood Tide Jewel and the Ebing Tide Jewel to take them back
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with him, for he felt that they would come in handy.
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After thanking his kind host again and again, he prepared to
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leave the Sea King and Tayotama and Tamayori and all the palace
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came out to say goodbye. And before the sound of the last
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goodbye had faded, Happy passed the gateway on his way to the
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beach. Here, instead of the basket in
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which he had come in on, a large crocodile was waiting for him.
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He had never seen such a huge creature.
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It measured 8 fathoms in length from the tip of its tail to the
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end of its long mouth. The Sea King ordered the monster
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to carry Happy back to Japan. It travelled faster than any
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Steamboat and Happy Hunter returned to his own land.
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As soon as the crocodile landed, Happy ran to tell Fisher of his
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safe return. He gave him back the fish hook
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that had been swallowed by the Rose fish.
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He bagged his brother's forgiveness, telling him all
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that had happened in the Sea King's palace and the wonderful
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adventures that had led him to the finding of the hook.
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Fisher had used the lost hook as an excuse to drive his brother
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out of the country. When his brother had left him
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that day three years ago, he took his brother's place and had
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gotten rich. Now Happy Hunter stood before
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him, spoiling his riches. Fisher feigned forgiveness
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because he had run out of reasons to kick his brother out,
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but in his heart he was very angry and hated his brother even
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more. At last he could no longer bear
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the sight of him and plan to kill him one day.
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While Happy was walking, his brother followed him with a
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dagger. Happy knew that his brother was
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following him and he felt that now, in this hour of great
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danger, that it was time to use the jewels and prove what the
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seeking had told him was true. He took out the flood jewel from
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his pocket and raised it to his forehead.
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Instantly the sea rolled in wave after wave, over the fields and
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over the farms till it reached his brother's feet.
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Fisher stood amazed and terrified to see what was
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happening. In another minute he was in the
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water and asking his brother to save him from drowning.
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Happy had a kind heart. He put away the flood jewel and
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took out the AB jewel. No sooner did he hold it up,
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then the sea ran back and back, and the farms and the fields and
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the dry land appeared as before. Fisher was frightened at his
20:11
near death experience, and he was greatly impressed by his
20:14
brother. He changed his mind about his
20:17
brother and pledged to faithfully serve his younger
20:19
brother. Then happy Hunter said that he
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would forgive his brother if he would stop his evil ways.
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Skilful Fisher promised and there was peace between the two
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brothers. From this time, he kept his word
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and became a good man and a kind brother.
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Happy Hunter now ruled his Kingdom and there was peace in
20:39
Japan for a long, long time. This is the congratulatory
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ending of Happy Hunter and Skilful Fisher.
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The End. I like the story.
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I covered it once before when I was covering the woodblock
21:14
prints. Of course, Tidor added in an
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extra 10 pages, not exaggerating to make the story sound more
21:21
fancy. I like how the younger brother
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visited the Seadragon's realm and had a good time and a peek
21:27
behind the curtain. Editing this story from the
21:29
original thirtyish pages down to less than 20 took me several
21:32
days of editing. It was a beast.
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Still, I look forward to more stories.
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The podcast shout Out is to the word of mouth.
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This is a show about language and how we use it, and it's
21:41
hosted by the awesome Michael Rosen.
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Go ahead and give it a listen. And the listener shout out is to
21:47
someone special, Mitzi. I added on the shout out to my
21:51
listeners way back in the day. And like most podcasters, I
21:54
never know if people like it or not.
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Well, I went to the Reddit on Wiki Live show and met Mitzi
21:59
face to face. She said she liked the podcast
22:02
Shout Outs, and so I say to her and to the other cool folks that
22:06
I met at the live show Kamzami da Kurugo Chao, thank you and
22:12
sleep well.