THE ICEMAN

In a jungle of emerald, she loved all that sparkled.

Those who loved her knew this, and so gave her precious stones that glittered in the sunlight.

But their efforts were in vain, for she was enchanted by the jungle.

One man loved her more than any.

To win her heart, he went in search of something really special...and he found it - a piece of ice.

He had never seen a stone with such sparkle.

The iceman took it to her. She loved it, and so noticed him there amongst the others.

The next morning she went to admire her gift.

But it had been stolen!

The thief had left only an icy puddle.

She was heartbroken.

The iceman was also upset - his limelight had been stolen along with the ice.

He set off to find another piece.

This one was even bigger. It twinkled like the morning dew.

That night she placed guards around her precious ice.

But overnight the thief struck again, leaving only an icy pool where the gift had been. Her sadness turned to anger.

The iceman resolved to to find a piece of ice so big that no thief could steal it. He had to journey far.

Finally he came upon an enormous block. This surely was the piece...He set to work.

When he was done, he bagan the homeward journey.

The ice was heavy...and soon the iceman was too tired to move. He collapsed beside the giant block.

The ice stood guard, protecting him from the sun.

After a while it could fight the heat no more.

The water trickled past him, down towards the open plain.

Eventually the stream reached her in the jungle.

Icy to the touch!She knew at its source, she wouldfind the thief.

She followed the stream...leaving the jungle and making her way across the open plain. With every step her anger grew.

How far the thief had travelled.

Finally she reached the last icy trickle. And the he lay.

The thief, the iceman!

A tiny piece of ice remained. It sparkled as she took it in her hands...then melted.

And her heart melted too.

The End