Week 7 Story: The Dying Sultan

(Vervet monkey; online source, www.wikiwand.com)

     Once upon a time, a renowned sultan in southern Turkey grew very ill in a matter of hours. At night’s fall, he was perfectly healthy. However, the following morning he was far too weak to rise with the sun. He called out for his daughters, who quickly rushed to his aid. With their help, he was able to sit up in bed, propped against several pillows. His oldest daughter pulled the blankets back to cover his lower half and the grave look taking over her face told him something was terribly wrong. “What’s wrong, child?” he asked weakly. She hesitated as her eyes flooded with tears. Unable to speak, she slowly pulled the covers back, revealing a small green succulent covered with dark purple and black spots. They all knew what it was and what it meant. Someone had poisoned the sultan. His death would be certain in no more than three weeks time without a cure. Years of traditional teachings, carried down from generations before had taught him that his only escape from death at that point was to consume the heart of a monkey. Not just any monkey, though. He would have to consume the heart of a Chlorecebus Pygerythrus, better known as a vervet monkey. Unfortunately, vervets weren’t commonly seen in this particular region of the country. 

     At once, the sultan called for every man, woman, child, and animal in the area to gather around. With his daughters’ help, he took a seat on the balcony just outside his bedroom window. The first to bring him this particular monkey, alive and well, would be granted a lifetime of riches. He promised, “If any of you bring me this monkey, you will never worry about finances or where your next meal might come from. Anything your heart may desire, you will have. Finally, I will assure your protection from any enemies to the best of my ability.” With that, most every being around, animals included, set off in search of the much sought after primate.

     As the days passed, the sultan began to lose hope. People from all around brought him monkeys of many different species, none of which were living vervet monkeys. On the fourth morning a lynx appeared at the sultan’s door, carrying a half dead vervet between his teeth. Had he owned the strength, the sultan may have berated the lynx for bringing such a pitiful thing to his door. However, he simply sent him away, warning him not to come back unless he could bring a monkey that was both alive AND well to him. By the eve of the eleventh day, the sultan had effectively given up. He grew weaker everyday. He knew he was going to die soon and he was ready to accept that. His daughters, however, weren’t ready to let go. On the eleventh morning, the eldest called for all to gather around once again.

     She swore to build a house made of gold for the victor. “I’ll surround the house with a spring with the most crisp, clean water one could wish for and anything else that might be desired.” Furthermore, she promised her own hand in marriage to any man that came forth with the desired creature. With a new rush of enthusiasm, they all set out, searching further and wider for a vervet monkey to bring to the sultan.

     With such extravagant gifts at stake, the rivalry became fierce. Men attacked each other in hopes of lessening the competition. Friend and foe alike were left for dead, their conqueror hoping for victory over the thousands of others in the race. The sultan soon saw his country falling apart before his eyes. For what?, he thought, to grant myself another decade or so before I succumb to old age? He decided then what he would do. He mustered up the strength to sit up in bed and scratched out a quick note, explaining his choice the best he could. He didn’t have the strength in his legs to walk to the balcony, so he crawled. His last thought before his death was that he hoped his daughters and his followers would understand this final selfless act. He used the last of his remaining strength to shove his body through the barrier and over the edge. His daughters, standing below, watched in horror as their father’s body fell hard against the ground.


Authors note
In the original story a monkey and a shark become unexpected friends. The monkey feeds the shark delicious fruits from the tree where they first met and the shark eventually tells him he feels bad that he has nothing to give back. So, he convinces the monkey to travel home with him so he can show the monkey all the glorious things his home land has to offer. Then, halfway through the twelve day trip through water, the shark announces that he hasn’t been completely honest with the monkey. He tells him that the sultan of his home is very ill and the only thing that could possibly cure the poor man is to eat the heart of a monkey. The monkey then tells his so-called friend that he’d left his heart at home that day and he would gladly help the sultan if he could go home and retrieve it. Then, once the shark takes him home, he admits that he never intended to allow the sultan to eat his heart and runs away.

The way their unlikely friendship ended made me sad and I wanted to allow the possibility of an alternate ending for them. So, I decided to explain how the sultan became sick and the circumstances surrounding the search for a monkey’s heart. I liked the emotional value of a friendship ending in the midst of the sultan’s illness, so I kept that conflict in my story, although I didn't use the original two characters. Then I chose to have the sultan end the madness by taking his own life in the ultimate self sacrifice, because it would allow for friendships to possibly be mended.

Source
"African Stories from Lang's Fairy Books", by Andrew Lang, online source