Hayrettin And The Phoneix Island [by Mesut Çiftçi]

In the old times, there was a seaman whose name was Hayrettin. Hayrettin was a very clever, strong and helpful man. Everybody thought that he was the best seaman in the world. Hayrettin had a ship which name was “STORM”. He and his team had experienced lots of adventures.
One day the king of the country invited Hayrettin to his palace. The King said; “ Hayrettin, I know. You are the strongest man in the world. I want you to do that you’ll find a treasure which is in the Phoneix Island. But, you must be careful because of the horrible giant. If you accomplish this job, you can marry with my girl. But if not, you’ll die.”
Hayrettin got ready his journey. After three months and three days finally they arrived the island. The island was very extraordinary. There were a lot of apple trees. But those trees were so high. Also, there were so many bones on everywhere. One of Hayrettin’s seaman said “Hey there are a lot of big apples and all of these apples are FREE” and he tried to eat an apple. He ate a piece of it. And, he started to tremble. Then, he fell down. Hayrettin checked the man’s body. The man had died. The apple was poisonous. Suddenly they heard a loud voice “Who are the men who ate my apples?” When they looked the side, that voice came from they saw a horrible giant that had very small silver eyes according its body and a disgusting mouth. Then it caught two of seamen immediately and ate them. Then, it spitted bones. Hayrettin and his seamen tried to fight with the giant. But the giant killed all of the men. Only Hayrettin was able to rescue himself. Because, he had tried to swim to his ship. And the giant couldn’t touch the water incredibly. It was shouting “Come here, I can’t touch the water.” Meanwhile Hayrettin noticed that the giants eyes were so weak points. He tought that if he could shoot the giant’s eyes, it might die. He dived the sea and got out the beach. He found two spears and hurled them to giant’s eyes. The giant screamed terribly. Suddenly it changed to a phoneix. That time Hayrettin said ; “Now I can understand why people called this island Phoneix.”
He started to walk into a big forest that covered with apple trees. He finally found two footpaths. One of them was silver and one of them was golden. He tought that “The giants eyes were silver. So I think this is related with the giant. If I am looking for goldens, I should choose the golden way.”
He walked about three days and three nights on that footpath. Finally he found a golden apple tree. There were a lot of big red apples on it. Suddenly he saw a phoneix which had perched on a branch and had silver eyes. It started to talk. “Hayrettin you are a very strong and intelligent man. If you want, I can bring the king’s girl and you can become this island’s king.” Hayrettin noticed that phoneix was the giant he killed. It might deceive him. So he said that “No this is my job. I have to find the treasure. Can you tell me how I will do this ?” The phoneix smiled and said “Well done. You are a really good and honest person. Many of people would choose other altenative. So, you have deserved some help. I’ll help you. Just eat one of these big red apples and see what will happen.” Then it flew immediately.
Hayrettin picked an apple from a branch and started to eat. The apple was so sweet. When the apple finished, he saw a golden rope which was coming through branches. Hayrettin started to climb it. He climbed, climbed and climbed. It continued about three days and three nights. Finally he found a big chest. And a phoneix was waiting him. That phoneix’s eyes were golden. Hayrettin said “Oh my god. Again phoneix ?” The bird started to talk; “Hayrettin, we were two giant-brothers in this island. My name is Golden and the other’s name is Silver. You saw it. We can change our bodies to a phoneix. Do you remember two footpaths ? If you choose the silver way you would have died now. I’ll ask a quesion if you can guess the right answer you can take away this treasure. You have two rights. You can think for days. Why had your seaman who ate a piece of apple died?” Hayrettin answered immediately “Because the apple was poisonous.” But the phoneix said ; “No. You had eaten an apple when you found the golden tree. But you haven’t died.” Hayrettin started thinking. He thougt why during three days. At the end of three days Phoneix said; “Hayrettin you aren’t able to be finding the answer. Don’t you deserve it?” Suddenly Hayrettin remembered that the seaman had said ‘All of these apples are FREE’. No apples hadn’t been free. Because apples owner was the giant-Silver. And they HADN’T DESERVED apples.” Hayrettin said to phoneix that; “He died because he hadn’t deserve the apple. But I’ve deserved the apple. That’s why he died but I didn’t.” The phoneix smiled and said “Congratulations Hayrettin. You can take the treasure and go your home. Follow your coming way.”
Finally Hayrettin could arrived his county and went to the king’s palace. When the king saw Hayrettin, he was so pleased. Then the king married of his girl with Hayrettin. Hayrettin has never set out a journey again. He and his wife lived happily ever after.