The Secret of the White Cat

Long ago, a great king lived in the City of Clouds, and he had three young sons, all ambitious and brave. The king feared that his sons would compete for the throne before his time, so he wanted to occupy them with a task that showed their skills, and he said to them: "My children, I want to retire from power, but before that, I want a request from you. Whoever brings me the most beautiful and smallest dog in the world, I will give him the crown.” The three princes set out, agreeing to meet a year later in the same place. The younger prince, Bassem, was the most diligent in the search, but he lost his way in a dark forest amid a thunderstorm. As he stumbled among the trees, he saw a distant light, and followed him until he reached the palace of his gates of gold and its walls of sapphire-encrusted concrete. When he knocked, an “invisible” hand opened the doors for him. He went in and found no humans, but rather rows of cats standing regularly, some playing music and some in formal attire. Then the queen of cats appeared: a small and very beautiful white cat, sitting on a small throne and putting a black cover on her head as a sign of sadness. “Bassem, welcome,” she said to him in a tender tone. Don't be afraid, here you will find everything you need. ” Bassem lived in the palace for a whole year in unspeakable luxury; the white cat spoke to him wisely, shared hunting with him (cats hunted mice like organized armies), and fancy banquets were held for him. As the return date approached, Bassem felt sad that he had not found the desired dog. “Don't worry,” the cat said to him, “take this oak, and just open it in front of your father.” Bassem returned to the City of Clouds, and his brothers were mocking him with expensive dogs. But when he opened in the name of the oak, a very small dog came out of it passing through the king's ring! And they all fainted; the king, Who wasn't ready to give up yet, he said, “Bring me a cloth that goes through the sewing needle hole.” Bassem returned to the woods and spent another year with the white cat. Eventually she gave him a nut. When he opened it in front of the king, a cloth hundreds of meters long came out of it, drawn on it the history of the world, and yet it all passed through the hole of the needle! Finally, the king made the most difficult request: “He who brings the most beautiful princess, will be crowned king.” Bassem came back sad, because he genuinely loved the white cat and wanted no other. “Bassem, if you really love me,” the cat said to him on the last night. You have to cut off my head and tail and throw them into the fire. ”Bassem refused vehemently and cried, but she insisted,“This is my only way to survive. ”With a trembling hand, he carried out in the name of her request. Suddenly, the palace was transformed from a cat palace into a royal palace full of humans, and the cat was transformed into a princess who did not see the eye as beautiful as her. She said to him,“ An evil fairy has bewitched me and turned me and my army into cats, and the condition for breaking the magic was that a prince like you kill me in the nobility of his morals. ”They returned to the city of clouds with a majestic procession. When the king saw them, he had no choice but to acknowledge Bassem's superiority. But the princess, who had vast kingdoms, She said to the king, “Save your kingdom for your other sons, and I will give it to you in the name of three of my kingdoms to rule together.” Thus, thanks to his patience and kindness, he received in the name of the throne, love, and fidelity.