The Foredoomed Fisherman

''THE FOREDOOMED FISHERMAN'' --ADAPTED VERSION OF CLAIRE HUCHET BISHOP'S //THE FIVE CHINESE BROTHERS// Once upon a time, there were Five Chinese Brothers, and they all looked exactly alike. They lived with their mother in a little house not far from the sea. The First Chinese Brother could swallow the seas. The Second Chinese Brother had an iron neck. The Third Chinese Brother could stretch and stretch and stretch his legs. The Fourth Chinese Brother could not be burned, and the Fifth Chinese Brother could hold his breath indefinitely. [[Continue->The Little Boy]]

Every morning, the First Chinese Brother would go fishing. Whatever the weather, he could come back to the village with beautiful and rare fish which he had caught and could sell at the market for a very good price. One day, as he was leaving the market place, a little boy stopped him and asked him if he could go fishing with him... [[Respond to the Little Boy]] or [[Ignore the Little Boy and head home]]

"No, it could not be done," said the First Chinese Brother. But the little boy begged and begged... [[Continue to refuse to go fishing]] or [[Agree to go fishing]]

Every morning, the little boy pestered the First Chinese Brother to go fishing with him until one day the First Chinese Brother was forced to respond... [[Reluctantly talk to the little boy->Respond to the Little Boy]]

The little boy continued to ask the First Chinese Brother each day if they could go fishing together... [[Reluctantly agree to go fishing->Agree to go fishing]]

Finally, the First Chinese Brother consented. [[Warn the Little Boy of the dangers]] or [[Don't warn the Little Boy->The Next Morning]]

"Under one condition," he said, "and that is that you obey me promptly." "Yes, yes," the little boy promised. [[The Next Morning]]

Early next morning, the First Chinese Brother and the Little Boy went down to the beach. [[Warn the Little Boy]] or [[Don't warn the Little Boy->Begin to fish]]

"Remember," said the First Chinese Brother, "you must obey me promptly. When I make a sign for you to come back, you must come at once." "Yes, yes," the little boy promised. [[Begin to fish]]

Then, the First Chinese Brother swallowed the sea. All the fish were left high and dry at the bottom of the sea, and all the treasures lay uncovered. The little boy was delighted. He ran here and there, stuffing his pockets with strange pebbles, extraordinary shells, and fantastic algae. Near the shore, the First Chinese Brother gathered some fish while he kept holding onto the sea in his mouth. Presently, he grew tired. It is very hard to hold the sea. [[Warn the Little Boy of your tiredness]] or [[Wait a bit longer->Give up on the Little Boy]]

So he made a sign with his hand for the little boy to come back. The little boy saw, but he payed him no attention. [[Continue to warn the Little Boy]] or [[Give up warning the Little Boy->Give up on the Little Boy]]

The First Chinese Brother made great movements with his hands and arms that meant come back, but did the Little Boy care? Not one bit. Instead, he only ran farther away. [[Desparately try to get the Little Boy to safety]] or [[Give up saving him->Give up on the Little Boy]]

Then the First Chinese Brother felt the sea swelling inside of him, and he made desparate gestures to get the Little Boy to come back. But, the Little Boy made faces at him, and fled as fast as he could. The First Chinese Brother held the sea until he thought he was going to burst. All of a sudden, the sea forced its way out of his mouth, went back to its bed, and the Little Boy disappeared! [[Return to town, deeply saddened]]

When the First Chinese Brother returned to the village alone, he was arrested, put in prison, tried and condemned to have his head cut off. On the morning of the execution, he said to the judge, "your honor, will you allow me to go and bid my mother goodbye?" "It is only fair," said the judge. [[Return home and accept your fate]] or [[Swap places with the Second Chinese Brother]]

Then the First Chinese Brother felt the sea swelling inside of him. But, the Little Boy continued farther and farther away. The First Chinese Brother held the sea until he thought he was going to burst. All of a sudden, the sea forced its way out of his mouth, went back to its bed, and the Little Boy disappeared! [[Return to town, deeply ashamed.]]

When the First Chinese Brother returned to the village alone, he was arrested, put in prison, tried and condemned to have his head cut off. On the morning of the execution, he said to the judge, "your honor, will you allow me to go and bid my mother goodbye?" "I would never allow that for someone so careless. You didn't thoroughly warn the child, so obviously his safety was not your priority," said the judge. The First Chinese Brother was promptly sent to execution. All the people were assembled on the village square to witness the execution. The executioner took his sword and struck a mighty blow. Thus was the end of the life of the First Chinese Brother. [[You Lost! Go back to save the boy!->Begin to fish]]

So the First Chinese Brother went home, said his goodbyes, and came back. All the people were assembled on the village square to witness the execution. The executioner took his sword and struck a mighty blow. Thus was the end of the life of the First Chinese Brother. [[You lost! Go back and avoid the overtly harsh death penalty->Return to town, deeply saddened]]

So the First Chinese Brother went home, and the Second Chinese Brother came back in his place. All the people were assembled on the village square to witness the execution. The executioner took his sword and struck a mighty blow. But the Second Chinese Brother got up and smiled. He was the one with the iron neck, and they simply could not cut his head off. Everybody was angry, and they decided he should be drowned. [[Return home and accept your new fate]] or [[Swap places with the Third Chinese Brother]]

On the morning of the execution, the Second Chinese Brother said to the judge, "your honor, will you allow me to go and bid my mother goodbye?" "It is only fair," said the judge. The Second Chinese Brother went home and said his goodbyes. When he returned, the Second Chinese Brother was pushed on a boat which made for the open sea. When they were far out on the ocean, the Second Chinese Brother was thrown overboard. His body washed ashore some time later. Thus was the end of the life of the Second Chinese Brother, who died after saving his First Brother's life. [[You lost! Go back and avoid dying to help your brother->Swap places with the Second Chinese Brother]]

On the morning of the execution, the Second Chinese Brother said to the judge, "your honor, will you allow me to go and bid my mother goodbye?" "It is only fair," said the judge. So, the Second Chinese Brother went home, and the Third Chinese Brother took his place. He was pushed on a boat which made for the open sea. When they were far out on the ocean, the Third Chinese Brother was thrown overboard. But, he began to stretch and stretch and stretch his legs way down to the bottom of the sea. And all the time, his smiling face was bobbing up and down on the crest of the waves. He simply could not be drowned. Everybody was very angry, and they all decided that he should be burned. [[Accept your new fate]] or [[Swap places with the Fourth Chinese Brother]]

On the morning of the execution, the Third Chinese Brother said to the judge, "your honor, will you allow me to go and bid my mother goodbye?" "It is only fair," said the judge. So the Third Chinese Brother went home and said his goodbyes. When the Third Chinese Brother returned, he was tied up to a stake. Fire was set to it, and all the people stood around watching it. In the midst of the flames they heard him screaming for mercy. Thus was the end of the life of the Third Chinese Brother, who died after saving his Second Brother's life. [[You lost! Go back and avoid dying to help your brother->Swap places with the Third Chinese Brother]]

On the morning of the execution, the Third Chinese Brother said to the judge, "your honor, will you allow me to go and bid my mother goodbye?" "It is only fair," said the judge. So the Third Chinese Brother went home, and the Fourth Chinese Brother came back in his place. He was tied up to a stake. Fire was set to it, and all the people stood around watching it. In the midst of the flames they heard him say, "this is quite pleasant." "Bring some more wood," the people cried. The fire roared higher. "Now it is quite comfortable," said the Fourth Chinese Brother, for he was the one who could not be burned. Everybody was getting more and more angry every minute, and they all decided to smother him. [[Finally accept your new fate]] or [[Swap places with the Fifth Chinese Brother]]

A large brick oven had been built on the village square, and it had been filled, all stuffed with whipped cream. The Fourth Chinese Brother was shoveled into the oven right in the middle of the cream. The door was shut tight and everybody sat around and waited. They were not going to be tricked again! So they stayed there all night and even a little after dawn just to make sure. When they opened the door and pulled him out, he had long since passed. Thus was the end of the life of the Fourth Chinese Brother, who died after saving his Third Brother's life. [[You lost! Go back and avoid dying to help your brother. You are so close!->Swap places with the Fourth Chinese Brother]]

On the morning of the execution, the Fourth Chinese Brother said to the judge, "will you allow me to go and bid my mother goodbye?" "It is only fair," said the judge. So the Fourth Chinese Brother went home and the Fifth Chinese Brother came back in his place. A large brick oven had been built on the village square, and it had been filled, all stuffed with whipped cream. The Fifth Chinese Brother was shoveled into the oven right in the middle of the cream. The door was shut tight and everybody sat around and waited. They were not going to be tricked again! So they stayed there all night and even a little after dawn just to make sure. Then they opened the door and pulled him out... and he shook himself and said, "my that was a good sleep." Everybody stared open mouthed and round eyed, but the judge stepped forward and said, "we have tried to get rid of you in every possible way, and somehow it cannot be done. It must be that you are innocent." "Yes, yes," shouted all the people so they let him go, and he went home. And the Five Chinese Brothers and their mother all lived together happily for many years. The End. [[Play Again?->Start]]