Pearlking

Once upon a time there was the King of all Pearls. He lived in the ocean and carried a spear with him wherever he went. This spear was decorated with one thousand beautiful Pearls. And it was deadly sharp. The Pearlking loved Pearls so much, he wanted all of them for himself. In his huge castle made of shiny shells he kept them in a wonderful big vault. Every day he travelled around to find more Pearls for his collection. While he went hunting for Pearls, giant sharks protected his colossal castle. 

One day the Pearlking was riding a white wave to go after some new pearls, when he suddenly saw two brilliant Pearls glowing on the horizon. There! He moved faster like a Dolphin fleeing from a shark riding the waves that seemed to obey him. He came closer. The Pearls were more beautiful than anything he had ever seen. Right there, in front of him, inside this little boy's eyes! He would get them! He desired them. He would grab the little boy and cut his eyes out. But the boy's father was there, holding his kid tight in his arms, while the white waves splashed around the  little wooden boat. The Pearlking started whispering words to persuade the little boy to come with him: " Sweet child. Come with me to my castle. I give you everything you desire! Gold and toys and sweets. You'll sing and dance and be the Prince of my castle! Come with me, sweet, sweet child...".  

The pearl-eyed boy got scared and said: "Father, can't you hear that? The Pearlking came to get me!". "Oh boy", said the father, "it's just the wind". The Pearlking came closer to grab the boy. "Father, father! He's getting me! The Pearlking is grabbing my arm!".  "Sweet child, it's just the shade of the clouds above you. Don't worry", the father answered. The little pearl-eyed boy panicked and started crying. He cried so much he couldn't breathe anymore. The father looked around and suddenly he saw it: A huge shade, a silhouette of something riding the waves. It had gotten dark and the poor father couldn't recognise the Pearlking, but felt a horrible threat. Fear overcame him and regret. He looked at his little son, who had warned him. His little, sweet boy... 

The father started to row desperately, holding his pale boy in his lap. Rowing back home as fast as he could. The boy stopped crying. And breathing. When they arrived at the shore, the little boy fell in the sand like a wet sack of flour. Dead. The father kneeled down, sobbing in the sand. Grieving so much, he didn't look out. 

Suddenly he saw the black shade of something above him.

Two more pearls for the king. And food for the sharks.