The Path

Cole Brewer

9^th Grade
Mr. Rhodus

Model Laboratory School, Richmond, KY 40475

In a village near a mountain lived a boy named Pluck. Each night Pluck's mother told him of the treasure on top of the mountain.

“It is mighty," she told him, “and they say it can grant any wish."

Pluck knew if he could find the treasure he could give it to his mother and she could wish for whatever mothers wish for.

The mountain was very tall, with snow on its shoulders, and Pluck feared he would not be able to get to the top, but he knew he must.

One day, after lessons, he made two sandwiches, put them in his pack, and set off for the mountain. He left his mother a note, which said, “I am going to find the treasure on top of the mountain and you will have your wish. Don't worry. I will be back before dinner."

He came upon a river at the base of the mountain, and in the river lived a beast that was part man and part fish. The beast said to Pluck, “I will give you a ride across the river if you can answer my riddle."

Pluck, who was afraid of the beast, said, “I will answer your riddle."

The beast smiled and said, “Listen to me. I am a marble fortress with no doors yet thieves break in and steal my gold. What am I?"

Pluck thought for a moment. Who would build a marble fortress with no doors? It seemed silly, and he knew the beast was trying to fool him. There could be no such building, so what must it be? Marble is white, so what is white and filled with gold but has no doors?

He was afraid. The beast smiled at him and waited, and all Pluck could think of was how hungry he was. It was hours since his breakfast eggs. He had two sandwiches, but it
wasn't time to eat them yet, he didn't think.

“Well," said the beast, “What do you think?"

“Honestly," Pluck said, “I was thinking about eggs."

“And you were thinking correctly," said the beast, frowning and blowing bubbles in the water. “Very well, I shall grant you a ride across the river."

Pluck climbed on the beast's back and held on to his fin. When they got across the river, he climbed off and thanked the beast for his trouble.

Soon he came to a cliff that rose ever up, so high that Pluck could barely make out the top edge. It was also very dark, as if someone had closed curtains over the sky. He was worried because he had promised to be home before dinner.

He thought it was time to eat a sandwich. He could not climb the cliff in such darkness, so he thought he better find some place where he could wait until it was light again. He climbed a very tall tree and found a wide branch where he could spend the night. He ate his sandwich and
hoped his mother was not worrying too much about him. He lay his head on his pack and fell asleep.

The next morning he climbed down out of the tree and saw an ancient staircase carved in the stone of the cliff. He had not seen it in the dark, but here it was, rising away to
the top. He began climbing the steps.

When he got to the top, Pluck found it was very windy. He could barely make it over the edge. By crawling on his hands and knees, he struggled over to a big rock which sheltered him from the wind roaring around him.

Nearby was the entrance to a cave. Pluck got up all his strength and ran from the rock to the cave, almost falling when he reached the entrance but glad to be out of the wind.

As he wandered further into the cave, it became dark, much darker than it had been the night before. Before long he was feeling his way along the floor of the cave, unable to see, and he heard something very large walk by. It smelled strongly, and caused the floor of the cave to tremble, he thought.

Pluck heard the footsteps stop. A voice, large and angry, asked, “Who is it come calling?"

Pluck held his breath. He couldn't move.

“I can see you," said the voice. “I live here in the dark and you are plain as day. Come closer."

Pluck stood up. “My name," he stammered, “is Pluck, and I seek the treasure of this mountain. I can guess by your sound and your smell that you are a giant. Are you the kind of giant that eats people, or are you the kind that does not?"

“I am a giant," said the giant. “And even if I were the kind to eat people, you are much too small to be such a meal. Tell me instead why you seek the treasure of the mountain."

“I seek the treasure so that I can give it to my mother. She says it is able to grant wishes, and I want to give it to her so that she may wish for whatever mothers wish for."

“You do not seek it for yourself?" asked the giant.

“No," said Pluck. “I do not."

“Then you may pass."

The giant lifted Pluck from the floor of the cave and placed him on a ledge that led into a deeper tunnel. Pluck thanked him and continued on his way.

On top of the mountain, with wind and snow blowing all around him, Pluck found a pedestal with a statue on it. The statue was of a dragon and appeared to be made of solid gold. “This must be it," he said to himself as he picked it up and placed it in his pack.

On his way back home, he stopped to thank the giant again and the beast of the river gave him a ride across the water.

When his mother saw him, she cried out and ran toward him. He gave her the dragon and told her she could have any wish that mothers wish.

The end.