Part 16: Haftvad and the Worm

A cry went up from the city of Kojaran; they marched out with spear and sword and arrow. Haftvad pressed forward into the front lines, and in the fighting he gave a manly account of himself. He seized the whole city and killed its ruler; many jewels and much treasure fell into his grasp. Crowds gathered around him, and from the city of Kojaran he moved toward the mountain. He built a fortress on the mountain's peak, and the whole town rallied to his side. In that fortress he set an iron gate; it served both as a refuge and as a place of war. There was a spring high on the mountain that flowed down from above into the stronghold. He raised a wall around it so high that no sharp eye could see its top. When the chest grew too tight for that worm, they made a stone basin for it on the mountain. When the mortar and stone warmed in the air, they gently, gently laid the worm inside. Each morning the keeper would go running down from Haftvad's presence. With great care she prepared its feed, and stuffed the worm's body full. Five years passed at this task, and the worm grew like an elephant, with horns and a mane. After some time had passed for Haftvad, the province took the name Kerman from that worm's fame. The cheerful girl became the keeper of the worm, and her father became the warrior commander of the worm. They gave it a minister and a scribe, and its meals of hard labor were honey and milk. Haftvad became the general over the fortress, and the one who judged what was just and unjust. Army, counselor, and chamberlain, and everything a king could need. They arranged all it required, just as they equip kings. His army spread across the land, and his whole realm was set in order. From the Sea of China to Kerman, he spread his troops over the entire face of the country. He had seven sons and ten thousand swordsmen, along with treasure and war gear. Whatever king marched out against him, his army closed in around the worm. Any army that came was broken the moment it heard the news of this legend. Haftvad's fortress grew so famous that even the wind dared not stir around it. Every day his fortune rose higher, and he adorned himself with great splendor. They began to call him king, and the mind of the wise man was dizzied by him. Any commander on the frontier he crushed helpless in war with a single stroke. No one could stand against him in battle, and in this way some more time went by. His fortress filled with treasure and troops; not even the wind could find a way over that wall.