The Prince and the Zombie Read Online Free PDF Page B

crossing the great barren plain, Ngödrup Dorje began speaking to him in a very sweet and soothing voice:
    â€œIn this desolate region, there are no people and you will not find a place to rest, not even a place the size of a prairie-dog dropping. So to make this long journey a little more pleasant, I propose two solutions. Either you, who are a living being, tell me a story, or I, who am a dead being, will tell you one.”
    The prince, who was very much on his guard, did not utter a word, and so the zombie picked up where he had left off telling the adventures of the guitar player and his friends.

8
    The Traveling Guitar Player and the Power of Friendship

    A FTER HOURS OF WALKING, the guitar player, the cat, and the dog stopped on the bank of a broad and deep river that they would have to cross somehow in order to reach the next village. The dog, who was the only one who knew how to swim, proposed swimming across the river with the cat on his back and pulling the musician behind, holding fast to his tail. Being the one good swimmer among them, the dog also proposed to keep the precious ring, the gift of the naga princess, in safe keeping during the crossing. The musician, relieved, consented to this, and to his surprise, the dog quite simply stuck the ring in his mouth.
    Proceeding according to plan, the three friends were doing fine until they got to the middle of the river. That is when the cat saw that the dog had a little bit of dried yak meat stuck to his muzzle. Suddenly experiencing a big empty feeling in its stomach, the cat could not resist licking its friend’s muzzle to get that little bit of leftover meat. “Ah ah ah choo!” went the dog, sneezing hard. At once the precious ring shot out of its mouth and fell into the deepest waters of the river. Hardly believing what had happened, the three friends tried their best to catch a glimpse of it, but to no avail.
    The cat and the prince were unable to swim and the dog was getting weaker and weaker; it had to keep swimming if it were to get to the far shore. Once the dangerous crossing was over, the prince got angry at his two friends.
    â€œIt’s your fault that we’ve lost the princess’s precious gift. Oh, how awful! Poor me, poor me!”
    Still completely out of breath, the dog tried to console its friend.
    â€œWoof, woof! The lucky part is that the life of the princess is not in danger because the river is part of the realm of the nagas . So the ring will soon end up back on the princess’s finger.”
    But the cat, who was filled with remorse for what it had done, said in a very small voice, “Meow, meow. Dear friends, I am terribly sorry. My hunger pushed me to give in to temptation. I never thought it could have such consequences. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
    Seeing the cat’s sadness and his big tears, the guitar player forgave it.
    â€œSince the ring has surely returned to its owner, the princess of the nagas , her life is not in danger. Let’s forget what has happened and continue on our way.”
    Very happy that the musician had forgiven them, his two four-footed friends nevertheless expressed their wish to return to their respective families. The goodbyes were long and sad, but the three promised to stay in touch.

    Moved by this touching friendship, Prince Dechö Zangpo once again let his attention lapse, and the following words escaped his lips: “What a strong friendship!”
    Instantly, the sack on the prince’s back opened up all by itself and released its prisoner, Ngödrup Dorje. Gloating hugely, the zombie declared, “Here’s the blow you deserve for talking back!” and he disappeared in a puff of wind.
    Too late, the prince realized his fatal error. For the third time, he was left all alone in that desolate place with an immense feeling of remorse and failure. “ Nga kugpa! What an idiot I am!” he cried, full of anger toward himself. But