There once was a small kingdom around a lake. One very hot summer, it did
not rain and the lake dried up. People grew anxious and went to the King. “It
has not rained for so long. Our fields are barren!” said the farmers. “There
are no fish to catch. How shall we earn a living?” asked the fishermen. “Save
us from disaster, good King,” urged the women, as their children cried with
thirst.
The King sent his four generals in all directions to look for water. The first
general went east, towards the sunrise; the second went south, to the dust
and heat; the third went west, where the sun sets; and the fourth followed
the North Star.
They searched day and night, night and day; high and low they searched
everywhere, but in vain. Three of the generals returned, empty-handed. But
the general who had gone north was determined not to fail his King. At last,
he reached a cold mountain village.
As he sat at the foot of the mountain, an old woman came by and sat next
to him. The general pointed at the horizon and said, “I belong to a beautiful
kingdom, where it has not rained for a whole year. Can you help me find
water?”