Girl of the Southern Sea by Michelle Kadarusman

Author:Michelle Kadarusman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pajama Press Inc.
Published: 2020-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

The kura kura, sea turtles, gathered before Dewi Kadita—the Sea Queen, as she was now known—to beg for her help.

“It is the evil sea serpent,” they told her. “He raids our nests and eats our eggs. If he is not stopped, we will have no baby turtles. The kura kura will vanish from the seas.”

Dewi Kadita sat on her watery throne and listened. Her loyal pet monkey Nero perched on her shoulder.

“We have not wanted to bother you, our Queen,” they continued, “but the situation has become grave. We fear for our lives. The sea serpent’s greed knows no bounds.”

Dewi nodded. “I know the kura kura are proud and noble. I know that you would not have sought my help unless you were in desperate need.”

The turtles bobbed their heads and bowed at her feet.

“Leave the problem of the sea serpent with me. I promise you that I will stop him. And he will be punished for his greed.”

“Thank you, our Queen,” said the kura kura, “but please hurry.”

Dewi Kadita told the turtles to go back to their nests and not to worry. She knew exactly what to do.

The queen went to her underwater kitchen and cooked up a delicious platter of sautéed frog legs. She knew the sea serpent would never be able to resist such a juicy treat. She added heaping spoonfuls of hot sambal to the dish and smiled to herself.

Dewi Kadita took the steaming plate of sambal frog legs to the sea serpent’s dark cave. Nero threw rocks inside the cave’s entrance to get the serpent’s attention.

“Sea Serpent!” she shouted. “Come and see what I have brought you!”

The sea serpent took a good long while to appear at the cave’s mouth. When he arrived at last, he was irritable.

“Why do you disturb me?” he demanded. “I am busy here with my delicious turtle eggs.”

Dewi Kadita and Nero looked away from the horrible sight of the creature devouring the baby turtles alive. The sea serpent’s mouth was full of the small turtles. He crunched and swallowed and smacked his lips. “Yum, yum, yum,” he exclaimed. “I have more to eat inside.”

“You will be glad for the disturbance once you see what I have for you,” said Dewi. And she held up the plate of sambal frog legs.

“Fresh and juicy,” she said. “I prepared them especially for you.”

The sea serpent sniffed at the plate greedily.

“But wait,” said Dewi, snatching back the plate. “I put sambal in this dish—maybe too much. Perhaps it will be too spicy for you?”

“Hah!” said the serpent. “Too spicy for me? Nothing is too spicy for me! I can eat more sambal than anyone!”

“No. I see that a bland diet of kura kura eggs does suit you better.” Dewi turned to leave. “My apologies for the mistake. I will take the dish to the Octopus King. He enjoys spicy food.”

The sea serpent’s head darted out from the cave, and he gulped down the plate of frog legs. He swallowed and smiled.

Dewi and Nero watched as the sea serpent began to turn bright red.

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