Laetitia, the Little Mermaid
(Laetitia, la petite Sirène.)
by Patrick Huet
Below, you will read two versions of that tale.
First : the english version
Second : the french one.
Ci-dessous vous pourrez lire les deux versions de ce conte.
D'abord : la version anglaise.
Ensuite : La version française
Information
This tale was translated from french by the author, Patrick Huet.
(Cette histoire fut traduite par son auteur, Patrick Huet)
Textes and pictures are under copyright. See at the end for more informations.
All rights reserved for all countries.
Copyright
© Patrick Huet 1995
all rights reserved.
The texts (english and french versions) belong to Patrick Huet and the picture belongs to the society Micro-Application.
Publish by : Smashwords edition - 2009
This e-book is licensed for your personnal enjoyment. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you like to share it with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Thank you for respecting the work of the author.
Tous droits de reproduction et d'adaptation réservés pour tous pays.
Reproduction même partielle interdite.
Dépôt légal : décembre 1995 Patrick Huet 73, rue Duquesne 69006 Lyon
Other ebooks : www.smashwords.com/profile/view/patrick
The author : Patrick Huet
73 rue Duquesne 69006 Lyon (France) (33) 04 78 03 22 36.
Beginnning of the tale
(english version)
In a small village near Lyon, lived a most ordinary little girl. Browned, a long silky hair, she went to school every morning. She listened attentively to the teacher and came back home in the evening. In short, nothing distinguished her from the other little girls, except maybe a strange sparkle in her eyes.
It happened to her, from time to time, to get into mischief but it was never something serious. By large, one could consider she was very good.
She was called Laetitia. Her parents, her friends as well as her teacher would be quite suprised to know whom she really was. They didn't suspect, looking at her running by the covered playground, jumping on rocks or kicking a ball, that her large eyes loaded with mysteries hid a still greatest secret.
One day, as her mother had to go out, she found herself alone again at home. As she was a nice little girl, she didn't avail herself to undertake a thousand and one mischiefs No ! She quietly sat to read "the adventures of Archibald the cricket", the last book she had received.
Suddendly, she raised her head. Whoever was present in the the room would hear only the traffic noise, but not Laetitia. In spite of the cars'horns, she perceived a strange slight sound. Slender but very real.
Immediately, she let her book fall down and put on her shoes in a rush.
Leaving hurriedly her abode, she ran toward the river. The more she drew near it, the more the sound which alarmed her became audible.
There was fear in that sound, but also a call for help. Laetitia laid waste by concern, hasted again and more, ran still quicker.
She reached the bank of the river and all at once stopped, struck by stupor. A little girl was standing on the top of a tall rock. Beyond the fact she measured not more than 30 centimeters, her hair was of the most glittering green one could imagine.
She was crying for assistance and attempted to go out of reach of two enormous dogs'fangs. With foam on their lips, they bounded higher and higher in the hope of seizing their prey. No doubt they would succeed, for the green haired girl was exhausted.
She had difficulties to keep her balance on the slippery rock.
"I shall never let them eat up that little girl, thought Laetitia indignant. I must help her ! "
She picked up a big branch and walked toward the mastiffs. She shouted in a loud voice.
" Go back, at once ! Let her on the quiet or you will have a taste of my staff ! "
Surprised, the two dogs ceased their furious barks and turned back to Laetitia. They fixed yellow eyes on her with a wicked look.
Forgeting the tiny green haired girl, They threateningly drew near Laetitia. Their sharpened fangs gleemed in their gaping jaws.
Though she was impressed, Laetitia didn't fall back. She firmely clasped her staff.
She welcome the first dog which attacked her with a big strike on the head. It droped flat down and ran away moaning. She didn't have enough time to move her staff up again that the second one was on her. She drove it back hard and prepared to blow it in the same way that the first dog, when her foot got caught in a root.
In her fall, Laetitia lost her weapon which rolled out of her reach. Taking occasion of that misfortune, the mastiff crouched to leap on her. In desperation, Laetitia cried out.
" River, my friend, will you let that baleful dog devour the last one of your mermaids ? "
A fantastic roaring answered to her words. A gigantic wave rose up from the river and carried away the dog as easily as a feather.
Laetitia jumped on her feet, safe and sound. She was rubing her knees to clean them of the river sand when a green spark catched her eyes. The little girl on the rock.
Blown off balance by the wave's blast, she had slipped from her rock and had fallen into the river. Now, she struggled desperately. She maintained herself with much difficulties upon the billows and her head was seen sinking into the water. She was going to be drowned.
" Courage, shouted out Laetitia, I'm coming ! "
In a quick movement, she took off her shoes and went into the river.
As soon as she had walked into the water, a sudden change happened. Her clothes metamorphosed into scales, supple as ordinary fabric but more resistant than steel. Her long hair floated around her face as sea weeds in a coral sea. Her eyes reflected the mysterious bottoms of the distant seas.
Such was Laetitia, the little mermaid !
Such was Laetitia, dashing in the waters, silvery flash in the blue turquoise of the river !
Within a fraction of a second, she was close to the green haired girl. Laetitia picked her up as she was sinking at the buttom of the river and brought her back to the bank.
The girl spit, coughed and at last could speak.
— My name is Iridelle, I am a sylphid.
— A sylphid ?
— Yes ! I live in the forest; there, it's my domain. Owing to my small size, I remain unseen from the humans and the colour of my hair confound itself with the undergrowth. And you, who are you ?
— My name is Laetitia and I am a mermmaid. Though the water is my natural univers, I live amongst the humans. It's not always easy, for they are noisy and poorly convenient but I try to get used to them. I heard your call and I ran up as far as I could.
— I thank you, Laetitia ! I thank you thousand and thousand times. Twice you saved my life, henceforth I shall be your friend. If one day, you are in misfortune, call Iridelle. Whatever place I shall be, I'll hear you and I'll come.
— I am happy to know you, Iridelle, and me too, I offer you my friendship. The sylphid and the little mermaid separated.
— Good bye, Laetitia, I won't forget you !
— Good bye, Iridelle, see you soon, maybe.
When Laetitia's mum came back home, she found her quietly reading "the adventures of Archibald the cricket".
— Well, Laetitia, she asked, did you behave well ?
— Oh, yes !
— That's fine !
— I'd wanted to ask you a question. Have you already meet a sylphid ?
— A sylphid ? Of course not ! They are imaginary characters, as well as nymphes or mermaids. Everybody knows they did never exist !... And now, go and wash your hands, we are going to cook the meal.
Looking at the tap water flowing between her fingers, Laetitia remembered. She remembered the quivering waves caressing her smooth face when she cleaved through the waters of the river. She remembered the silvery fishes she overtook brisker than a flash. She remembered Iridelle's laugh as she went away into the forest.
Then, Laetitia, the little mermaid, smiled. For her, she did know that sylphid were real and nobody else knew her secret.
Laetitia, la petite sirène.
Tout droit de reproduction et d'adaptation réservé pour tous pays.
Reproduction même partielle interdite.