The Legend of the Waves

Introduction

• A tale set in Novgod about a boy named Zanko.
• He played his guitar on the beach to earn a living as he was poor.

Zanko's Background

• Grew up to be strong and handsome but did not dare to dance with girls due to poverty.
• Lived alone with minimal means, only having a guitar and sometimes half a loaf of bread.

Encounter with the Tsar of the Sea

• One evening, Zanko watched fishermen's nets while singing on the shore.
• A whirlpool appeared, and the Tsar of the Sea emerged, impressed by Zanko's music.
• The Tsar asked Zanko to throw a net into the sea for a reward.

Finding Treasure

• Zanko threw the net and, miraculously, pulled out a coffer filled with precious stones.
• He used the stones to become a wealthy trader in the town.
• Despite wealth, he remained close to the sea, which he loved immensely.

The Gift to the Sea

• He gave a beautiful necklace (a token of his love) to the sea.

The Storm

• While sailing, Zanko faced a storm, and instead of panicking, he remembered his promise to the sea.
• He leaped into the sea with his guitar.
  • As he did so, the storm calmed.

Journey to the Bottom of the Sea

• Zanko arrived at a palace made of pink wood at the seabed.
• The Tsar welcomed him for taking the treasure but expressed disappointment in his delay.

Marriage Proposal

• Zanko performed and danced in front of the Tsar, pleasing him.
• The Tsar offered Zanko to choose one of his three daughters to marry.
• Zanko was captivated by the youngest daughter, attracted by her beauty and resemblance to the sea.

Connection through the Necklace

• During their kiss, Zanko recognized the necklace around her neck as the one he had thrown into the sea as a gift.
• He felt immense joy upon this realization.

Wedding Celebration

• They were married amidst a grand celebration that shook the palace.
• Post-wedding, Zanko’s bride asked him to sing for her, promising to never forget each other.

Transformation & Heartbreak

• In the middle of the night, Zanko touched the princess and found she was cold as ice.
• Woke up to find himself back in Novgod, under the sky near the sea.

Zanko's Quest Continues

• Zanko became a merchant but was believed to have returned to seek his bride in the sea.
• Legend has it he found her and resides in the pink palaces beneath the sea.

Conclusion

• When big waves occur, it is said that Zanko is playing his guitar and singing, and the Tsar of the Sea dances, causing them.
• The narrator comments on the need for a happy ending in every story, emphasizing that if it’s not happy, it’s not the end.