Reading Notes: Persian Tales A

Nim Tanak, or Half-boy

The story of Nim Tanak starts with his father. His father was the king and had 4 wives, yet no children. He employed a Holy Man to help get his wives pregnant and so the Holy Man gave the King 4 apples to give to his wives. He gave each wife an apple and all ate it but one. One wife ate half the apple but saved the rest for later, unfortunately a crow carried the other half off before she finished it. Soon, the wives gave birth to the king's children. Two had boys and one had a girl, but the wife who did not finish the apple gave birth to only a half-boy. The king loved his children except the half-boy. The other children were doted on like the princess and princes that they were, but the half-boy had to play with the servant children. As they grew the other children played together and such, and one day the two boys and girl were out hunting. While out a demon flew down and captured the princess.
The king was distraught and sent out an army with one of the princes to retrieve the princess. The demon saw them approaching and asked the princess what the prince was doing. She responded that he was taking a drink sip by sip. The demon laughed saying that their victory was imminent and flew down and defeated the prince bringing him back to his lair.
The army retreated back to the castle and so the king sent out the next prince with the army. The demon once again asked what the prince was doing and the princess responded that the prince was eating grapes one by one. The demon laughed again saying they were sure to win and flew down to defeat the prince, bringing him back as well.
The half-boy knowing that the King would not give him an army set out to help his siblings on his own. The demon saw him coming and asked the princess what he was doing and she responded that he was drinking water from the stream mud and all. The demon was astonished and asked again for her to check but she time she said he was eating grapes bunches at a time including the stalks. The demon was distraught and would not fly down to face the half-boy. When the half-boy reached the lair, he slayed the demon easily and would have finished the job completely had the princess begged he not.
The half-boy, named Nim Tanak, brought his siblings back to the king and the king was forever grateful. He made Nim Tanak his rightful heir and was loved like a son again.

Bibliography: Persian Tales, translated by D.L.R. Lorimer and E.O. Lorimer and illustrated by Hilda Roberts (1919).
Image Info: Half-eaten Apple, Flickr