THE QUEST FOR THE PEARL

Hatimtai told Hasn Bano, "Now please tell me the sixth puzzle that I have to solve. My friend must be waiting for me."

Hasn Bano said, "This time you have to get the pearl which is of the same size as a duck's egg. I have one like that with me."

Hasn Bano showed the pearl to Hatim. He said, "Please make a copy of this in silver, so that I bring the right sized pearl."

Hasn Bano gave a silver replica of the pearl to Hatim, and he began his journey to solve the sixth puzzle.

He could not think of any place to start looking for the pearl. So he sat down and wondered what to do. He thought of the magical things he had.

Then an idea struck him. He thought he would put the magic piece of wood between his teeth and see if it helped him.

He put the magic piece of wood between his teeth and suddenly he started hearing many voices around him.

He could hear many things at a time. Trees were talking to each other, and animals were calling each other.

Then he heard a voice above him. He saw two birds, with white and red feathers, sitting on the branch of the tree above him.

He heard a sweet bird asking, "Who is this man?"

The male bird told the female bird, "This man is Hatimtai. He is the brave and strong King of Yemen. He has left his kingdom and is solving the seven puzzles set by Hasn Bano for his friend, Muneer Shah. He has already solved five puzzles."

"Which puzzles is he to solve this time?" asked the female bird.

The male bird told her, "Husn Bano had asked him to get a pearl of the size of a duck's egg. But those peals are not found now."

"If those pearls are not found now, how will this poor man find it?" asked the female bird.

"There are only two such pearls to be found now. One is with Husn Bano. She found it when her servants were digging the earth to build her city, "told the male bird.

"If one of the two pearls is with Husn Bano, where is the other pearl?" asked the female bird.

The male bird said, "There was a queen who found his white she was sitting near a river. That queen had lost her husband in a war and was going to have baby soon. A merchant took her home and took care of the queen like his own daughter. She gave birth to a son who later became a king. Now his family has the pearl. The king has decided that he would give the pearl and marry his daughter to the man who would tell him, where the huge pearl came from."

"But how will this man reach that kingdom? I have heard that there are many demons and giants over there," said the female bird.

The male bird said, "If he takes our red feathers, dips them in water and sprays the water on himself, he can change his form."

"But how will he remain safe?" asked the female bird.