A very good afternoon to _________, honorable judges, and all my friends. I’m so excited to tell you the story of The First Well. I hope you enjoy it.

There once was a small kingdom around a lake. One very hot summer, the lake dried up. The people grew anxious and went to the king. “It has not rained for so long. Our fields are barren!” they cried. “Save us from disaster, good King!”

The King sent his four generals in all directions to look for water. The first general went east; the second went south; the third went west; and the fourth followed the North Star.

They searched day and night, night and day; they searched everywhere, but in vain. Three of the generals returned empty-handed. But the general who had gone north did not give up. At last he reached a cold mountain village.

An old woman came by, and the general asked ,”It has not rained in my kingdom for a whole year. Can you help me find water?”

The woman took the general into a cave in the mountain. She pointed at the icicles in the cave and said, “We call this ice. Take some, and your kingdom will never go thirsty again.” The general broke off a huge piece and rushed back home.

By the time he reached the palace, the enormous icicle had melted into a small lump of ice. Nobody had seen ice before, so everyone gazed at it with wonder. “This must be a water-seed!” one of the ministers exclaimed. The King ordered the “water-seed” to be planted immediately.

The farmers quickly dug a hole and placed the seed in it, but before they could cover it up, it had vanished. The farmers grew confused and worried. They dug deeper and deeper into the earth, all night long, looking for the mysterious seed.

At dawn, the King found the farmers fast asleep around a deep hole. Curious, he peeped in and cried out in amazement: “Wake up! The water-seed has sprouted! There is water in the hole!” The whole kingdom was very happy and celebrated.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is how the first well was created. Thank you.