WEBVTT 1 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:20.640 Hello, and welcome back to Sleepy Stories. I'm your host, Lucy, 2 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:24.600 and my friends and I will be reading you a 3 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:31.039 sleepy bedtime story every week to relax you and to 4 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:37.560 help you to drift off into a RESTful sleep. From 5 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:42.000 time to time, we will also read you a relaxing, 6 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:49.079 peaceful meditation that will take you somewhere beautiful and calming. 7 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:54.280 Once we have read the stories, we will then read 8 00:00:54.359 --> 00:00:59.719 them a second time, but this time they will be 9 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:07.599 ready even slower. This will help you to relax even more. 10 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:13.000 Before we begin, I would like you to close your 11 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:21.640 eyes and breathe in and out nice and deeply. Take 12 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:27.359 a few seconds to inhale, and then hold your breath 13 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:35.000 for a few seconds more, and then release and breathe out. 14 00:01:36.359 --> 00:01:40.959 Do this a few times if you need to. While 15 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:45.599 you listen to the music and you listen to my voice, 16 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:53.000 give yourself time to let your body relax and your 17 00:01:53.120 --> 00:02:00.560 mind settle. It's important that we allow time for us 18 00:02:01.480 --> 00:02:10.800 to feel safe, cozy, and completely at ease. And now 19 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:28.360 it's time for this week's story. 20 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:35.560 Long ago, in the warm hills of southern Spain, there 21 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:42.039 stood a small, whitewashed village called Valdeluna. Its houses clung 22 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:47.159 to the hillside. Beneath red tiled roofs. Blue pots of 23 00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:52.759 geraniums decorated every doorstep. Olive trees stretched across the valley, 24 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:57.439 and each evening the scent of warm bread drifted from 25 00:02:57.479 --> 00:03:04.960 the village bakery. Valdeluna was a cheerful place, at least 26 00:03:05.479 --> 00:03:11.439 it had been for three summers. Almost no rain had fallen. 27 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:16.479 The stream that once danced through the village had shrunk 28 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:19.840 to a muddy trickle. The old stone fountain in the 29 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:25.039 square had stopped flowing. The olive trees produced fewer olives 30 00:03:25.080 --> 00:03:29.039 every year, and the villagers had begun to worry that 31 00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:33.520 they would soon have to leave their homes. The mayor 32 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:41.879 Don Matteo held meetings almost every morning. Unfortunately, he enjoyed 33 00:03:41.960 --> 00:03:47.759 meetings much more than solutions. We must form a committee, 34 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:51.680 he announced one day from the steps of the town hall. 35 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:58.080 We formed one last week, said Senora Rosa, the baker. 36 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:04.759 We shall form a larger one. We don't need a 37 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:10.879 larger committee, said Tamas the shepherd. We need water. Don 38 00:04:10.919 --> 00:04:18.040 Matteo stroked his magnificent mustache. Yes, the water committee will 39 00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:22.800 discuss that. At the back of the crowd stood a 40 00:04:22.839 --> 00:04:30.040 girl named Innies Ines was eleven years old, curious, practical, 41 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:34.000 and far more interested in fixing things than discussing them. 42 00:04:35.720 --> 00:04:39.879 She lived with her grandmother, Abuela Mariisol, in a little 43 00:04:39.959 --> 00:04:45.639 house beside the abandoned fountain. That evening, while they ate 44 00:04:45.720 --> 00:04:51.399 tomato soup and stale bread, Ines asked, do you think 45 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:56.959 the stream will ever return? Her grandmother looked towards the 46 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:05.040 dark hills. All rivers begin somewhere. That isn't really an answer, 47 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:11.879 it is the beginning of one. Abuela Marisol believed the 48 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:16.199 stream had once come from a hidden spring high in 49 00:05:16.279 --> 00:05:21.839 the mountains, but many years earlier, after a violent storm, 50 00:05:22.199 --> 00:05:28.000 rocks had fallen across its path. No one knew exactly 51 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:35.560 where the mountain keeps secrets. She said, then perhaps someone 52 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:43.279 should go and ask it. Her grandmother smiled, mountains are 53 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:51.279 slow to answer. Yez decided she would try anyway. Before 54 00:05:51.399 --> 00:05:56.879 dawn the next morning, she packed bread, cheese, two oranges, 55 00:05:57.480 --> 00:06:02.399 and a coil of rope. She had barely reached the 56 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:07.720 edge of the village when the ground trembled. The church 57 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:13.680 bell rang once, though nobody had pulled its rope. Birds 58 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:18.560 rose from the olive groves in a great cloud. Then 59 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:27.160 came a sound from beyond the hills, a tremendous ah 60 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:35.879 inn as froze achew. The sneeze thundered across the valley. 61 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:42.360 Olive leaves flew through the air. A donkey sat down 62 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:48.279 in surprise. Several roof tiles slipped from Don Matteo's house 63 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:54.279 and landed neatly in his fountain. Everyone rushed into the square. 64 00:06:55.959 --> 00:07:01.800 What was that, cried the mayor, storm asked the blacksmith. 65 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:10.839 A cannon asked Seora Rosa abuela Maarsol glanced towards the mountains. 66 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:19.360 That she said, calmly, was a giant. The villagers laughed nervously. 67 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:27.480 Then an enormous head appeared above the nearest ridge. It 68 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:33.199 had tangled black hair, thick eyebrows, and a nose roughly 69 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:39.920 the size of a wine barrel. The head sniffed, Oh dear, 70 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:47.759 it said. The villagers screamed and ran indoors. Doors slammed, 71 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:55.000 shutters closed. Don Matteo climbed into an empty water barrel 72 00:07:55.439 --> 00:08:00.680 and pulled the lid over himself. Only Inez remained in 73 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:06.120 the square. Slowly, the giant rose from behind the hill. 74 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:11.279 He was nearly twenty feet tall and wore a patched 75 00:08:11.319 --> 00:08:16.519 brown waistcoat, trousers tied with rope, and sandals made from 76 00:08:16.600 --> 00:08:21.800 pieces of old cart wheels. He carried a walking stick 77 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:28.680 as large as a tree trunk. He looked frightening until 78 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:34.279 he sneezed again and knocked his own hat off. Excuse me, 79 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:39.879 he said. The giant bent to retrieve his hat and 80 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:45.840 accidentally rested one hand on the village wall. Several stones 81 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:54.279 tumbled loose. Oh no, he carefully put them back. One 82 00:08:54.519 --> 00:09:02.759 was upside down. He turned it around. Then he noticed innes. 83 00:09:04.679 --> 00:09:12.120 The giant immediately stepped backwards. Unfortunately, he stepped into an 84 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:19.200 olive cart. The cart broke with a crack. I'm terribly sorry, 85 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:25.039 he said. You should watch where you're going. Ines replied, 86 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:29.720 I try, but there is quite a lot of me 87 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:35.639 to watch. The giant lowered himself on to the ground 88 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:45.080 outside the village. My name is Diego. I'm inesse. Are 89 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:53.080 you going to scream? I haven't decided that's fair. From 90 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:59.480 inside the houses, the villagers listened. Diego explained that he 91 00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:03.519 lived a in a cave beyond the mountains. He had 92 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:07.000 come down because the spring near his home had disappeared. 93 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:13.799 My goats are thirsty, he said, and I am tired 94 00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:18.519 of washing with one cup of water. You wash with 95 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:27.639 one cup, not very successfully. A shutter opened slightly, then another. 96 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:34.120 Don Matteo climbed out of the barrel. He attempted to 97 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:40.039 look dignified, although a cobweb hung from his mustache. You 98 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:47.240 cannot stay here, he declared. Giants bring trouble. Diego looked 99 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:54.559 down sadly. I usually bring my own lunch. At that moment, 100 00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:59.840 his stomach rumbled so loudly that several pigeons flew from 101 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:05.799 the church roof. Senora Rosa appeared in the bakery doorway. 102 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:13.440 How much do you eat? Not much? What does not 103 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:23.279 much mean to a giant? Diego thought carefully. Perhaps twelve loaves. 104 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:30.360 The baker gasped for breakfast. I don't like to eat 105 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:37.879 heavily in the morning, despite herself, Inez laughed. The villagers 106 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:45.000 remained suspicious, but Abuela Marisol invited Diego to sit outside 107 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:50.519 her house while they decided what to do. Senora Rosa 108 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:56.559 brought him bread. He ate twenty loaves, though he apologized 109 00:11:56.600 --> 00:12:01.679 after every fifth one. When he finished, Ines told him 110 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:07.840 about the vanished stream and the hidden spring. Diego leaned closer. 111 00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:13.159 Perhaps our water is being blocked in the same place. 112 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:20.799 Could you move the rocks? I could try. Don Matteo 113 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:27.200 shook his head. Absolutely not. The mountain path is dangerous. 114 00:12:28.919 --> 00:12:33.200 That is why someone large might be useful, said Inez. 115 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:39.240 A landslide destroyed the old trail years ago, said Tomas. 116 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:44.879 No one has reached the upper valley since Diego looked 117 00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:53.279 towards the mountains. I came over them. Everyone stared, how, 118 00:12:53.919 --> 00:13:02.600 asked the blacksmith. I stepped over the broken part. That afternoon, Innes, 119 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:06.600 Diego and a small group of villages set off towards 120 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:11.840 the hills. Don Matteo followed because he did not want 121 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:16.679 any one to solve the problem without him. The path 122 00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:23.200 wound between olive groves and dry fields. Diego tried to 123 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:28.000 walk carefully, but his feet left enormous prints in the dust. 124 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:32.000 Innes discovered that if she stood in one of them, 125 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:37.600 it reached almost to her waist. You could grow potatoes 126 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:43.240 in these, she said, I once grew a small tree 127 00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:48.080 in my left sandal. Diego replied, I didn't notice for 128 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:53.639 three weeks. As the path narrowed, they reached an old 129 00:13:53.759 --> 00:14:00.600 stone bridge, or rather half of an old stone bridge. 130 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:06.600 The center had collapsed into the ravine below. We must 131 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:12.879 turn back, said Don Mateo quickly. Diego knelt beside the gap. 132 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:20.519 He placed one enormous foot on either side. Walk across 133 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:27.840 my shoe. Nobody moved. It is quite clean, he added. 134 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:36.480 Innaes went first. The others followed slowly, except on Mateo, 135 00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:42.759 who crawled across while gripping Diego's laces. On the far side, 136 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:50.080 the trail vanished beneath thorn bushes. Diego gently pushed them aside. 137 00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:57.200 Behind the thorns lay an ancient path paved with pale stones, 138 00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:03.960 carved into one roo with the words the water follows 139 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:09.279 the song of the mountain. What does that mean, asked 140 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:17.159 Senora Rosa. Don Mateo cleared his throat. It is obviously 141 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:25.799 a complicated engineering instruction. Abuela Marisol shook her head. It 142 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:33.159 sounds like a clue. They continued until sunset. At last 143 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:39.399 they reached a narrow canyon. High above them. Wedged between 144 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:44.919 two cliffs was an enormous wall of fallen rock. From 145 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:49.039 somewhere behind it came the faint sound of rushing water. 146 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:57.559 There it is, whispered in Asee. Diego stepped forward. He 147 00:15:57.679 --> 00:16:04.960 pressed both hands against the large boulder. Nothing happened. He 148 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:10.759 pushed harder. The ground trembled, but the stone did not move. 149 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:18.559 I thought giants were strong, said Don Matteo. We are, 150 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:26.320 replied Diego. The mountain is stronger in is, studied the rocks. 151 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:31.000 A few drops of water trickled from a crack near 152 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:38.120 the bottom. Then she noticed something else. Deep inside the cliff, 153 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:44.080 hidden behind the fallen stones, a soft golden light was flickering. 154 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:49.279 The words carved upon the path returned to her mind. 155 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:56.440 The water follows the song of the mountain. Suddenly, a low, 156 00:16:56.799 --> 00:17:04.640 rumbling voice echoed through the canyon, not Diego's voice, not thunder. 157 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:11.799 The mountain itself seemed to speak, Who comes seeking what 158 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:19.759 has been hidden? Everyone fell silent. Don Matteo fainted neatly 159 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:27.079 into a bush. Diego removed his hat. Ines stepped towards 160 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:33.279 the glowing crack. We come from Valdeluna, she said. Our 161 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:39.000 village is running out of water. The golden light brightened, 162 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:44.200 and what will you give? Asked the mountain for the 163 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:53.920 river's return. Diego looked at Ines. The villagers looked at Diego. 164 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:59.599 Then the stones beneath their feet began to shake, the 165 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:05.799 stones trembled beneath their feet. Tiny pebbles rolled down the 166 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:09.720 canyon walls, and the golden light shining through the crack 167 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:14.680 grew brighter until it bathed everyone in a warm glow. 168 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:21.559 The deep voice spoke again. The river belongs to no one. 169 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:26.319 It flows only for those who care for others before themselves. 170 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:36.119 Nobody dared speak. Even Diego stood perfectly still. At last, 171 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:42.880 Innas stepped forward. We don't want the river just for ourselves. 172 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:50.119 The mountain remained silent. Our neighbors need it. Their olive 173 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:54.039 trees are dying. The sheep have little to drink. The 174 00:18:54.079 --> 00:19:00.640 birds have begun to leave. The light flickered gently. Then 175 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:05.279 Don Matteo, who had recovered from his fainting spell, straightened 176 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:12.240 his waistcoat. I am the mayor, he announced proudly. If 177 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:16.119 you return the river, I shall have a statue built 178 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:23.720 in my honor. The canyon instantly fell silent. Then came aloud. 179 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:25.319 Ha. 180 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:32.359 A tiny shower of dust landed squarely on Don Matteo's head. 181 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:37.880 I don't believe it likes that idea, whispered Senora Rosa. 182 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:44.400 Diego scratched the back of his enormous neck. I don't 183 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:50.599 need anything, he said quietly. If the water returns, I'd 184 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:55.799 simply like my goats to stop looking so disappointed. The 185 00:19:55.880 --> 00:20:01.599 mountain seemed to chuckle. It was a surp risingly pleasant sound. 186 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:08.559 What of you, giant? Diego looked around the dry valley. 187 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:17.440 I've spent many years alone, he smiled, sadly. If helping 188 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:21.480 this village means I might finally have friends, that would 189 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:27.599 be enough. The golden light suddenly blazed across the canyon. 190 00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:35.160 The voice spoke one final time. Then the mountain has 191 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:40.440 heard what it wished to hear. A great crack echoed 192 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:46.119 through the cliffs. The enormous wall of fallen rocks shifted. 193 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:54.759 Everyone stumbled backwards. Even Diego hurried away as the ancient 194 00:20:54.920 --> 00:21:02.640 stones slowly rolled aside one after another. Behind them stood 195 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:08.640 an old marble archway, carved with vines, birds and flowing water. 196 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:19.079 Beyond it, a magnificent spring burst from the mountainside. Crystal 197 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:24.839 clear water rushed down the rocks, sparkling in the afternoon sunlight, 198 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:31.880 before racing joyfully into the dry riverbed below. Within moments, 199 00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:37.200 the little stream was alive again. It hurried through the 200 00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:41.880 valley as though it had been impatiently waiting all these years. 201 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:53.200 The villagers cheered, some laughed, several cried. Don Matteo attempted 202 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:56.559 to give a speech that slipped into the shallow water 203 00:21:57.079 --> 00:22:02.400 before he had reached his second sentence. Even he had 204 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:11.000 to laugh. The journey home was far easier. The stream 205 00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:17.279 flowed beside them all the way back towards Valdeluna. Wherever 206 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:25.119 it passed, thirsty grass stood taller, wildflowers lifted their heads. 207 00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:32.359 Tiny frogs appeared, as if by magic. Birds returned singing 208 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:38.680 loudly from the olive trees. Diego smiled so broadly that 209 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:42.599 the shepherd's sheep kept wandering over to see whether he 210 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:47.519 had any bread. When they reached the broken bridge once more, 211 00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:53.319 Diego looked thoughtfully at the crumbling stones. This won't do. 212 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:59.599 Before anyone could ask what he meant, he disappeared into 213 00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:05.799 the near by hills. He returned carrying two enormous slabs 214 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:13.519 of smooth rock, balanced easily upon his shoulders. Carefully, very carefully, 215 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:18.839 he lowered them into place. Then he spent the next 216 00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:22.960 hour fitting each stone together like pieces of a puzzle. 217 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:29.559 The bridge became stronger than it had ever been. The 218 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:35.559 villagers crossed it one by one. Not a single stone moved. 219 00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:44.119 Tomas stamped twice. It'll outlast all of us, Diego smiled, 220 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:51.559 I've had quite a lot of practice moving rocks. Life 221 00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:59.519 in Valdeluna changed quickly. The fountain flowed once more, children 222 00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:05.680 splashed in its cool water every afternoon. The olive trees 223 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:14.240 became greener than anyone could remember. The vineyards flourished. Even 224 00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:23.440 Don Matteo's magnificent mustache seemed happier. Diego decided to stay nearby. 225 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:27.359 Instead of living alone in his cave, he built himself 226 00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:34.119 a comfortable stone cottage on a gentle hill overlooking the village. Well, 227 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:41.400 cottage was perhaps not the correct word. Its chimney was 228 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:46.319 taller than the church bell tower, its front door was 229 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:50.440 large enough for three wagons to drive through side by side, 230 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:57.559 and its teacups were made from polished barrels. Still, Diego 231 00:24:57.640 --> 00:25:05.119 insisted it was cozy. The villagers slowly realized how useful 232 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:11.400 a giant could be. Whenever storms knocked over ancient trees, 233 00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:17.839 Diego moved them. When winter snow blocked the mountain pass, 234 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:23.880 Diego cleared it with a giant wooden shovel. He helped 235 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:27.480 raise the beams for a new schoolhouse in a single afternoon. 236 00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:36.200 He carried church bells that normally required twenty men. Once 237 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:40.839 he even rescued Senora Rosa's cat after it had climbed 238 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:46.960 into the tallest cypress tree. The cat was completely ungrateful. 239 00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:53.599 It hissed at Diego all the way down. I think 240 00:25:53.640 --> 00:26:00.000 it was embarrassed, he said. Of course, being a giant 241 00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:06.279 and occasionally caused amusing problems. One morning, Diego tried to 242 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:12.359 help hang washing, he accidentally pegged every blanket onto the 243 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:18.960 church tower instead. Another time, he sneezed while watering his 244 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:26.200 vegetable garden. The watering can flew into the air, sailed 245 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:32.599 gracefully over three olive groves, and landed perfectly inside Don 246 00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:39.160 Matteo's empty barrel. For weeks afterwards, children asked him to 247 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:44.319 sneeze on purpose. I'm afraid it doesn't work like that, 248 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:52.759 Diego laughed. The children weren't convinced. They began shouting pepper 249 00:26:53.759 --> 00:27:01.559 whenever they wanted entertainment. One summer afternoon, Princess Isabella of 250 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:07.119 Spain happened to visit Valdeluna while traveling through Andalucia with 251 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:14.119 her parents, King Alfonso and Queen Catalina. The royal family 252 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:18.880 had heard remarkable stories about a giant who had saved 253 00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:28.079 an entire village. The king expected to meet a fearsome hero. Instead, 254 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:34.000 he found Diego sitting outside his cottage, trying very carefully 255 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:39.720 to knit an enormous woolen scarf. It was going badly. 256 00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:49.000 I always lose, count, Diego admitted. Princess Isabella burst into laughter. 257 00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:57.480 My father can't knit either. I've made one sleeve seven times. 258 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:06.359 You've knitted sl leaves into a scarf. Apparently the princess 259 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:13.119 liked Diego. Immediately that evening, the royal family joined the 260 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:19.519 villagers for supper. Beneath strings of lanterns. In the village square, 261 00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:28.200 long tables overflowed with bread, roasted vegetables, olives, oranges, cheeses, 262 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:34.119 and great steaming bowls of stew. Diego sat at the 263 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:40.160 very end. His bowl happened to be an old copper bathtub. 264 00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:48.599 No one thought this unusual anymore. During the feast, King 265 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:54.319 Alphonso stood I came expecting to reward a giant for 266 00:28:54.400 --> 00:29:03.200 his strength. He smiled towards Diego, but strength alone never 267 00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:10.880 saved this village. He turned towards Inners. It took curiosity 268 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:18.880 to find the hidden spring towards Abuela Marisol. It took 269 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:25.799 wisdom to understand the mountain towards the villagers. It took 270 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:31.799 kindness to welcome someone who looked different. Finally, he looked 271 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:36.480 at Diego, and it took a gentle heart to move 272 00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:43.319 a mountain. The king presented Diego with a magnificent silver medal. 273 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:50.759 Diego admired it for a moment, then quietly hung it 274 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:55.759 around the neck of the village donkey, I think he 275 00:29:55.880 --> 00:30:02.960 looks more important than I do. Everyone laughed, even the king, 276 00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:11.680 especially the donkey, who looked extremely pleased with himself. Years passed, 277 00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:20.599 Valde Luna became famous throughout Spain. Travelers arrived to cross 278 00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:25.200 Diego's bridge, drink from the restored fountain, and hear the 279 00:30:25.319 --> 00:30:34.319 tail of the gentle Giant. Many expected to find someone fierce. Instead, 280 00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:40.599 they discovered a giant who waved enthusiastically, loved baking almond biscuits, 281 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:45.839 apologized whenever he sneezed, and somehow still couldn't knit a 282 00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:52.240 proper scarf. Children climbed onto his shoulders to watch sunsets 283 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:58.079 over the golden hills. Old villagers played chess with him 284 00:30:58.319 --> 00:31:05.440 beneath the olive trees. Princess Isabella visited every spring, always 285 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:09.519 bringing fresh wool, in the hope that this year Diego 286 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:15.960 might finally finish his scarf. He never did, but by 287 00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:23.000 then nobody minded, for the people of Valdeluna had learnt 288 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:27.440 something far more valuable than how to move great stones. 289 00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:33.799 They discovered that the biggest hearts are often found in 290 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:38.920 those who are judged before they are known, and that 291 00:31:39.079 --> 00:31:43.519 true greatness is not measured by how tall someone stands, 292 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:48.400 but by how gently they help others rise beside them. 293 00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:53.880 And if you ever wander through the golden hills of 294 00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:58.480 southern Spain, where olive trees shimmer beneath the afternoon sun, 295 00:31:59.319 --> 00:32:03.359 you may come across an old stone bridge so perfectly 296 00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:08.680 built that it has never needed repairing. The villagers will 297 00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:13.400 smile and tell you the same story, it was built 298 00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:18.119 by a giant. Then they'll pause with a twinkle in 299 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:23.359 their eye, and add, who could move mountains with his hands, 300 00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:51.119 but one heart's simply by being kin. Long ago, in 301 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:55.079 the warm hills of southern Spain there stood a small, 302 00:32:55.160 --> 00:33:01.640 whitewashed village called Valdeluna. Its houses clung to the hillside 303 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:08.400 beneath red tiled roofs. Blue pots of geraniums decorated every doorstep. 304 00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:13.799 Olive trees stretched across the valley, and each evening the 305 00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:19.720 scent of warm bread drifted from the village bakery. Valdeluna 306 00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:26.720 was a cheerful place, at least it had been. For 307 00:33:26.839 --> 00:33:32.480 three summers. Almost no rain had fallen. The stream that 308 00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:36.160 once danced through the village had shrunk to a muddy trickle. 309 00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:39.920 The old stone fountain in the square had stopped flowing. 310 00:33:40.799 --> 00:33:45.440 The olive trees produced fewer olives every year, and the 311 00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:48.720 villagers had begun to worry that they would soon have 312 00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:54.680 to leave their homes. The mayor, Don Matteo held meetings 313 00:33:54.759 --> 00:34:02.839 almost every morning, unfortunately, and enjoyed meetings much more than solutions. 314 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:08.760 We must form a committee, he announced one day from 315 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:13.639 the steps of the town hall. We formed one last week, 316 00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:20.039 said Signora Rosa, the baker. Then we shall form a 317 00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:25.519 larger one. We don't need a larger committee, said Tomas 318 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:34.840 the shepherd. We need water. Don Matteo stroked his magnificent mustache. Yes, 319 00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:39.880 the water committee will discuss that. At the back of 320 00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:45.599 the crowd stood a girl named Innes Ines was eleven 321 00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:51.119 years old, curious, practical, and far more interested in fixing 322 00:34:51.199 --> 00:34:57.519 things than discussing them. She lived with her grandmother, Abuela Mariisol, 323 00:34:57.920 --> 00:35:03.039 in a little house beside the abandon and fountain. That evening, 324 00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:07.679 while they ate tomato soup and stale bread, Inez asked, 325 00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:14.000 do you think the stream will ever return? Her grandmother 326 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:22.199 looked towards the dark hills. All rivers begin somewhere. That 327 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:26.599 isn't really an answer, it is the beginning of one. 328 00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:32.840 Abuela Marisol believed the stream had once come from a 329 00:35:32.920 --> 00:35:38.199 hidden spring high in the mountains, but many years earlier, 330 00:35:38.679 --> 00:35:43.280 after a violent storm, rocks had fallen across its path. 331 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:51.360 No one knew exactly where the mountain keeps secrets. She said, 332 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:58.840 then perhaps someone should go and ask it. Her grandmother smiled, 333 00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:07.800 mountains are slow to answer yes, decided she would try anyway. 334 00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:15.480 Before dawn the next morning, she packed bread, cheese, two oranges, 335 00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:21.000 and a coil of rope. She had barely reached the 336 00:36:21.159 --> 00:36:26.320 edge of the village when the ground trembled. The church 337 00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:32.280 bell rang once, though nobody had pulled its rope. Birds 338 00:36:32.400 --> 00:36:37.159 rose from the olive groves in a great cloud. Then 339 00:36:37.400 --> 00:36:45.000 came a sound from beyond the hills. A tremendous ah 340 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:54.440 inners froze, are chew. The sneeze thundered across the valley. 341 00:36:56.119 --> 00:37:00.960 Olive leaves flew through the air. A monkey sat down 342 00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:06.880 in surprise. Several roof tiles slipped from Don Matteo's house 343 00:37:07.239 --> 00:37:12.920 and landed neatly in his fountain. Everyone rushed into the square. 344 00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:20.400 What was that, cried the mayor. A storm, asked the blacksmith. 345 00:37:21.800 --> 00:37:28.039 A cannon asked Seora Rosa abu e La Marrisol glanced 346 00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:34.480 towards the mountains that she said, calmly, was a giant. 347 00:37:36.079 --> 00:37:42.960 The villagers laughed nervously. Then an enormous head appeared above 348 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:49.920 the nearest ridge. It had tangled black hair, thick eyebrows, 349 00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:53.519 and a nose roughly the size of a wine barrel. 350 00:37:55.360 --> 00:38:02.199 The head sniffed, Oh dear, it said. The villages screamed 351 00:38:02.239 --> 00:38:12.000 and ran indoors. Doors slammed, shutters closed. Don Matteo climbed 352 00:38:12.039 --> 00:38:16.000 into an empty water barrel and pulled the lid over himself. 353 00:38:17.719 --> 00:38:23.559 Only Inez remained in the square. Slowly, the giant rose 354 00:38:23.639 --> 00:38:28.199 from behind the hill. He was nearly twenty feet tall 355 00:38:28.760 --> 00:38:33.280 and wore a patched brown waistcoat, trousers tied with rope, 356 00:38:33.679 --> 00:38:38.840 and sandals made from pieces of old cart wheels. He 357 00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:42.519 carried a walking stick as large as a tree trunk. 358 00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:49.639 He looked frightening until he sneezed again and knocked his 359 00:38:49.760 --> 00:38:56.599 own hat off. Excuse me, he said. The giant bent 360 00:38:56.800 --> 00:39:00.760 to retrieve his hat and accidentally rested one hand on 361 00:39:00.840 --> 00:39:09.440 the village wall. Several stones tumbled loose. Oh no, he 362 00:39:09.559 --> 00:39:16.840 carefully put them back. One was upside down. He turned 363 00:39:16.880 --> 00:39:24.679 it around. Then he noticed in is The giant immediately 364 00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:33.159 stepped backwards. Unfortunately, he stepped into an olive cart. The 365 00:39:33.199 --> 00:39:38.559 cart broke with a crack. I'm terribly sorry, he said. 366 00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:45.639 You should watch where you're going. Ines replied, I try, 367 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:49.119 but there is quite a lot of me to watch. 368 00:39:51.079 --> 00:39:57.239 The giant lowered himself on to the ground outside the village. 369 00:39:57.719 --> 00:40:04.679 My name is Diego, I'm inesse. Are you going to scream? 370 00:40:06.239 --> 00:40:13.239 I haven't decided that's fair. From inside the houses, the 371 00:40:13.360 --> 00:40:19.199 villagers listened. Diego explained that he lived alone in a 372 00:40:19.280 --> 00:40:23.440 cave beyond the mountains. He had come down because the 373 00:40:23.480 --> 00:40:29.119 spring near his home had disappeared. My goats are thirsty, 374 00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:33.679 he said, and I am tired of washing with one 375 00:40:33.800 --> 00:40:40.719 cup of water. You wash with one cup, not very successfully. 376 00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:49.719 A shutter opened slightly, then another. Don Matteo climbed out 377 00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:55.079 of the barrel. He attempted to look dignified, although a 378 00:40:55.119 --> 00:41:00.719 cobweb hung from his mustache. You cannot stay here, he declared. 379 00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:09.280 Giants bring trouble. Diego looked down sadly. I usually bring 380 00:41:09.360 --> 00:41:15.280 my own lunch. At that moment, his stomach rumbled so 381 00:41:15.519 --> 00:41:21.480 loudly that several pigeons flew from the church roof. Senora 382 00:41:21.559 --> 00:41:26.880 Rosa appeared in the bakery doorway. How much do you eat? 383 00:41:28.519 --> 00:41:34.039 Not much? What does not much mean to a giant? 384 00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:46.719 Diego thought carefully. Perhaps twelve loaves. The baker gasped for breakfast. 385 00:41:47.880 --> 00:41:52.679 I don't like to eat heavily in the morning, despite herself, 386 00:41:53.239 --> 00:42:01.840 Inez laughed. The villagers remained suspicious, but Abuela Mariisol invited 387 00:42:01.880 --> 00:42:05.840 Diego to sit outside her house while they decided what 388 00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:13.280 to do. Senora Rosa brought him bread. He ate twenty loaves, 389 00:42:13.960 --> 00:42:18.719 though he apologized after every fifth one. When he finished, 390 00:42:19.159 --> 00:42:23.239 Ines told him about the vanished stream and the hidden spring. 391 00:42:24.880 --> 00:42:30.840 Diego leaned closer. Perhaps our water is being blocked in 392 00:42:30.920 --> 00:42:36.880 the same place. Could you move the rocks? I could try. 393 00:42:38.639 --> 00:42:44.679 Don Matteo shook his head. Absolutely not. The mountain path 394 00:42:44.880 --> 00:42:50.840 is dangerous. That is why someone large might be useful, 395 00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:56.599 said Inez. A landslide destroyed the old trail years ago, 396 00:42:57.039 --> 00:43:00.760 said Tomas. No one has reached the upper v since 397 00:43:02.440 --> 00:43:12.039 Diego looked towards the mountains. I came over them. Everyone stared, how, 398 00:43:12.519 --> 00:43:21.159 asked the blacksmith. I stepped over the broken part. That afternoon, Innes, 399 00:43:21.519 --> 00:43:25.199 Diego and a small group of villagers set off towards 400 00:43:25.239 --> 00:43:30.400 the hills. Don Matteo followed because he did not want 401 00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:35.800