"I'm here, waiting!" growled the Monster outside.
"And I'm here also," calmly answered the youth behind the door.
"Very well, then," said the monster. "Where are you from?"
"I'm from the other side of the sea."
"How did you get here?"
"Riding a lame flea(跳蚤)!"
"Then the sea must have been very small?"
"Not at all. Even an eagle couldn't fly across it!"
"Then that eagle must have been a fledgling(刚学飞的幼鸟)?"
"Not at all. The shadow of his wings would cover a whole city!"
"Then the city must have been very small?"
"Not at all. A hare couldn't run from one end of it to the other."
The Monster was speechless. It didn't know what other questions to ask. He stood there silently at the door for some time, then disappeared into the darkness.
The poor worker and his wife were overjoyed. They and the youth celebrated(庆祝) until dawn.
When dawn was breaking, the youth said it was time for him to take his leave.
"Oh, no, we can't allow you to go!" cried the couple. "You saved our lives. Tell us what we can do to thank you." "You don't have to thank me," replied the youth. "I must be on my way." "At least tell us who you are!" begged the worker.
"If you must know," said the youth, "A kindness is never lost, even if you throw it into the water. I am that little talking fish that you threw back into the sea!"
Having said these words, he disappeared.