Dragon Soup

DRAGON SOUP

(after Tom McGowen)

There was a kingdom1 and a king who was very fat because

he was fond of food. He began his day with a big breakfast at 8

o’clock and had a snack at 10 and a large lunch at 12. Then he

watched tennis or horses, then he had a small snack at 2 in the

afternoon. At 4 he had sandwiches and at 7 in the evening he

The king had one problem: he wanted to make changes in

every dish. That’s why all his cooks left him because they

didn’t like changing all their recipés.

“We are going to have a contest and the one who tells me

the most unusual recipé can be the royal cook!” the king said The king had one problem: he wanted to make changes in

every dish. That’s why all his cooks left him because they

didn’t like changing all their recipés.

“We are going to have a contest and the one who tells me

the most unusual recipé can be the royal cook!” the king said

one day.The next day all the people who thought they were good

cooks came to the king’s castle. One young man saw that long

line of people and learnt about the king’s contest. He learnt

about the problem that the cooks had with the king. They

didn’t like the king, who told them what to do, put things in

their pots and did cooking himself. So, the young man thought

a little and got into a line. In the afternoon he fi nally came inside the palace. “What’s

your name and recipé?” the king asked. “I’m Klaus

Dinkelspies, Your Majesty1. I’ve got a recipé of a dragon

soup!” The king said, “That’s interesting. What’s in it?” “Oh, I

can’t tell you!” answered Klaus. “It is a secret in my family.”

“I understand,” said the king, “but if we can get a dragon, you

must cook it for me. You are the new royal2 cook now.”

Klaus felt good. When the king wanted any dish, Klaus asked him, “Would Your Majesty tell me exactly1 how you

want this dish cooked?” The king was happy not only to give

him instructions but to cook happilly in the kitchen. Klaus only

kept saying, “Oh, I usually use the same method.” When a dish

was ready, he said, “I thank you for all your instructions, sir.

Now I can invite you to the dinner party!” Time passed. One morning the king shouted, “Surprise!

Now you can cook your special dragon soup. I am not going to

come into the kitchen. I remember it’s your secret!” The

soldiers brought the cage2 with the real dragon. Klaus looked at

it and saw a tear3 on the dragon’s cheek. “Are you going to kill

me?” he asked. “Believe me, dragon,” said Klaus. “I don’t want

to cook you. I just wanted to fool the king and show I was a

cook. I can’t make any soup.” “Oh, it’s easy,” said dragon.

“Can you cook?” asked Klaus. “Well, I’m a good cook,” answered the dragon and Klaus began to smile…

At 7 in the morning the king came to taste Klaus’s

wonderful dragon soup. After four helpings1 he said, “That

is one of best soups I’ve ever eaten!” “You see, the thing

that makes dragon soup so unusual is that it can only be

when a dragon cooks it itself! Let me introduce2 my

assistant!” Klaus called and the dragon came in, wearing a

tall white cook’s hat and an apron3.

So, Klaus was happy to live in the beautiful palace

without working hard. The dragon felt good to be an

assistant of the royal cook. But the happiest of all was the

kitchen helper. He didn’t need to light4 fi re because the

dragon lighted his own stove5 by shooting fi re out of his

nose!

one day.

1a kingdom [9kiNd3m] — королівство

134

happilly sat down to a royal dinner party.

There was a kingdom and a king who was very fat because he was fond of food.

The king began his day with a small breakfast at 8 o'clock.

All his cooks left him because they didn't like his dogs.

Who tells the king the most unusual recipe can be the royal cook.

All the people who thought they weren't good cooks came to the king's castle.

Klaus Dinkelspies had got a recipe of the apple pie.

Klaus became the new royal cook.

One morning the soldiers brought the cage with the real dragon.

The thing that makes dragon soup so unusual is that it can only be when a dragon cooks it itself.

The dragon came in, wearing a tall white cook's hat and an apron.

Klaus wasn't happy to live in the beautiful palace without working hard.

The dragon felt good to be an assistant of the royal cook.