" Then she was much troubled, and went to her father
and mother and asked if it was true that she had had brothers, and what
had become of them? The parents now dared keep the secret no longer,
but said that what had befallen her brothers was the will of Heaven,
and that her birth had only been the innocent cause. But the maiden
took it to heart daily, and thought she must deliver her brothers. She
had no rest or peace until she set out secretly, and went forth into the
wide world to trace out her brothers and set them free, let it cost what
it might. She took nothing with her but a little ring belonging to her
parents as a keepsake, a loaf of bread against hunger, a little pitcher of
water against thirst, and a little chair as a provision against weariness.
And now she went continually onwards, far, far to the very end of
the world. Then she came to the sun, but it was too hot and terrible,
and devoured little children. Hastily she ran away, and ran to the moon,
but it was far too cold, and also awful and malicious, and when it saw
the child, it said, "I smell, I smell the flesh of men.
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