"I have to have it!" He said to the old man who stood beside the magnificent globe. Almost as tall as the old man, it emanated a subtle red light which seemed to penetrate his being, causing a feeling of wonderful lightness and expansion.
"You cannot have it." The old man replied. "The globe must stay here. But do not worry. It will always be here. You can come whenever you want to."
"I have to have it!" He moved to touch the globe. As he placed his arms around it, intending to try and lift it, the globe seemed to expand so that it was now almost twice as tall as the old man who stood next to it with a look of pity on his face. Although he was a young and strong man, there was no way he could lift the globe now. With a look of grim determination he moved away. The old man sighed. He knew this look. He watched as the younger man turned and walked away, vowing to return.
Days later he returned, driving a horse and cart. He stopped by the globe and got down from his seat. Once again he began to feel the light from the globe penetrating every cell in his body. Harmonious vibrations swept through him. For a moment he was still and silent, awe-struck. Then he remembered why he had come.
"I have to have it!" He said once more.
"Please!" The old man begged him. "Do not do this!"
From the cart the younger man fetched a large hammer.
"Stand aside!" He said to the old man.
"Please!" said the old man once more. "It will always be here. You can come any time." His words went unheeded. Standing a few paces from the globe, the young man raised the hammer with two hands above his shoulder and tossed it with all his might against the globe. To his surprise it bounced back hard. He just managed to duck in time to stop it hitting his head, then it clattered to the ground behind him.
He raised himself to his full height again and looked at the globe. At first it looked as though nothing had happened, but then slowly the wonderful light began to fade and he could make out the tiniest of cracks in its surface. The old man began to quietly weep as the crack gradually began to expand and the light continued to fade. Eventually the wonderful light was no more. The crack expanded and divided until it reached the other side of the globe and it divided into four pieces, which broke apart and fell to the ground.
"Don't cry old man, I am a prince of this realm. I can call on the greatest craftsmen it the land." The younger one said as he began to load the pieces onto the cart. "We will have this re-forged and mounted in the Great Hall." His swollen pride was such that he did not notice the tension which now pervaded his body, violently replacing the harmony that had been present minutes earlier.
As he mounted the cart and took up the reins, the old man wiped the tears from his eyes.
"I will be waiting here." He said enigmatically.
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