The Bachelor Giant and The Orphan Kitu
The Kingdom and Its Princess
On a beautiful hill stood an even more magnificent castle where the kind king, the queen clad in gold, wise ministers, smart soldiers, and the sweetest little princess lived. Kitu, a young boy from a distant village, could often see this enchanting castle when the fog did not obscure the horizon.
People from faraway villages would often travel in groups to pay their respects to the kind king, marvel at the queen, and greet the princess, who always smiled like a rainbow.
Kitu’s Longing
“Will you kindly take me with you?” Kitu would often ask the travelers. “I want to play with the princess.” In response, the travelers would laugh and explain the dangers of the journey. “We must cross a forest where tigers frolic and a river where crocodiles swim. A princess does not play; she only shines. You should stay and play with your woodpecker!”
A little embarrassed, Kitu would fall silent. He cherished his friendship with the woodpecker but could not understand why people made fun of it. Many in his village were cunning or greedy, yet they mocked his innocent friend. What if the woodpecker was as wise or clever as a man?
A Special Friendship
Near a brook on a small hillock blooming with wildflowers, Kitu had befriended the woodpecker. With no father, mother, brother, or sister to keep him company, Kitu relied on the villagers for food, but that was all. The village children saw him as an outcast, while they enjoyed the comforts of parental love. What could he do except spend his time with the woodpecker?
What the villagers did not know was that Kitu could understand the language of the woodpecker. The bird would soar high into the sky, seeing wonders and sharing tales with Kitu. Though Kitu never witnessed a fire breaking out or an infant eagle soaring for the first time, he felt exhilarated by the stories, as if he had experienced them himself.
Portentous News
One day, while perched on a palm tree, the woodpecker suddenly fell silent in the middle of a sentence. After a pause, he spoke, “I’m afraid a great calamity has befallen the king. I can see a giant confronting him.”
“Kitu, concerned, asked, “A giant? I’ve heard they are cruel. I hope he does not harm the good king.”
The woodpecker replied, “Giants hardly do anything but harm. The king has fled to the castle, and it appears he and all the inhabitants have fainted. The giant has surely cast a spell on them.”
A Call to Action
“That is dreadful! Whatever might have happened to the princess?” Kitu asked. But the woodpecker, ignoring this question, shrieked, “The giant is coming this way! If he continues, he will reach your village before long, and it is well known that giants enjoy gulping down humans!”
“I must warn the villagers!” Kitu exclaimed, running to tell everyone he saw, “A giant is approaching! Beware!” But the villagers laughed at him, saying, “We haven’t heard of any giant since our great-great-great-grandfather’s time!”
However, soon after, woodcutters rushed from the forest, out of breath, reporting a terrible roar and the sound of trees being knocked down. This made the villagers lose no time in abandoning their homes, carrying their children and the elderly, but they forgot about Kitu.
Kitu’s Dilemma
“What should I do?” Kitu asked the woodpecker upon returning to the hillock. “You can’t hide from this giant; he has an extraordinary sense of smell. You must meet him before he finds you,” the woodpecker advised.
“Meet the giant? No, my friend, I’m not willing to do that,” Kitu protested, nearly in tears.
“A woodpecker does not befriend a coward!” the bird declared gravely, prompting Kitu to regain his composure.
The Encounter
The woodpecker then hopped onto Kitu’s shoulder and whispered words that no flower or leaf could hear. Kitu climbed a rock where the giant was relaxing and jumped onto his head, announcing, “Hello, giant, I’m Kitu—a giant just like you!”
“Another giant? But I feel no weight!” exclaimed the giant. Kitu quickly replied, “How could you? I am holding onto a cloud to avoid crushing you!”
When the giant reached to swat Kitu off, Kitu jumped down and deliberately spilled a bag of dust on himself. “Whenever I jump on a rock, much of it turns to dust. That’s my weight!” he explained.
A Unique Proposal
“I must say I don’t understand! You’re so small, yet you claim to be heavy!” said the giant. Kitu replied, “We are a unique species; we remain small for the first hundred years, then grow as big as banyan trees. I am the only child giant, while the others have grown up.”
“But only equals can be friends. I am bigger and stronger than you!” declared the giant.
“Bigger, yes, but not stronger!” Kitu retorted, pinching the giant’s navel. Initially, the giant felt nothing, but suddenly he screamed, as the woodpecker had slipped inside and started pecking.
The Giant’s Plan
“Little giant, I’ve come to this part of the world for the first time,” the giant confessed. “I hope you’ll help me. I’ve heard the princess at the castle would make an excellent bride, but the foolish king won’t agree to my proposal.”
“Listen, bridegroom-giant, the princess is far too small for you!” Kitu exclaimed.
“Ha! Look at my nose; it’s my powerhouse! If I breathe on anyone for seven and a half times, they will grow to my size. Yet, the king’s ferocious dog prevents me from entering the castle.”
A Difficult Choice
“What do you wish me to do?” Kitu asked again.
“If you aren’t afraid of dogs, I will drop you inside. If you can kill the dog, I can steal the sleeping princess,” the giant replied.
“That’s an easy task. Shouldn’t I do this for a friend?” Kitu agreed. The giant expressed his gratitude, and they raced toward the castle. Kitu hung on tight to the giant’s belt.
The Plan Fails
The giant quickly crossed the forest, hopped over the river, and climbed the mountain until he halted before the castle. Kitu, suddenly deft, jumped onto the castle wall before the giant could drop him inside.
“Impressive! You can run as fast as I do,” the giant remarked, amazed.
“Without gasping for breath like you!” Kitu proudly replied.
“Please go inside and do the necessary,” the giant prompted.
Inside the castle, Kitu found everything quiet. However, he soon heard a bark. “There must be weapons nearby. Pick one up and kill the dog!” shouted the giant impatiently.
Instead of killing the dog, Kitu approached it lovingly. The dog stopped barking, recognizing a friend.
The Unexpected Outcome
“The dog is dead, is it? Perfect! Now open the door for me!” shouted the giant, now impatient.
The woodpecker began carving a hole through the door. Once done, Kitu called, “I can’t reach the keyhole. Please breathe on me seven and a half times so I can grow big enough to open it!”
The giant hastily complied, but he inadvertently breathed on the dog instead. The dog swelled to a massive size and clamped its teeth down on the giant’s nose!
The Aftermath
When the castle door finally opened, they found not a dead giant, but a very tiny one. “Without my nose, I’ve lost my stature,” lamented the giant. “I can only wish for a handful of rice and a few boiled potatoes to eat daily.” The state took care of him, keeping him in a sparkling cage until his death, drawing curious crowds.
Kitu’s Triumph
Kitu was hailed as the savior of the royal family and the village. He lived in the finest guest house of the castle, and ten years later, he moved into the inner apartment as the husband of the sweet princess. As a king, Kitu retained his father-in-law’s old ministers, and except for the princess, none realized that his real adviser was the woodpecker who resided in the royal garden.