Once upon a time, there lived two men - one man was blind in his both eyes while the other was paralyzed from the waist down - as domestic servants. They both had their own masters individually. The masters were so unkind to them and forced them to do the labor very hard without any sympathy for them as handicapped people. The local villagers called them, "A Khvak and A Khven." They both became friends. One day Neay Khven said, "Hmm! We have suffered enough from hardships and been so tired thus far. I could no longer ensure such hard work for our masters, so we should leave now." "What are we supposed to do then?" Neay Khvak said to Neay Khven. "I saw a boat at the other bank of the river, so we can take it and set off tonight," answered Neay Khven.
Reaching an agreement on the plan, they both waited and did not get in the boat until it was very late at night. Unfortunately, they were not able to row it; they both sat facing one another on the back of the boat, trying their best to move it forward. Because it was a dark night, they thought their boat was going on, rather it was moving around in whirling motion. They heard fish eagles crying in the midnight. "Try harder! We're arriving at the chasm of fish eagles," said Neay Khvak. They both continued to row it till it was dawn when the crocks were crowing. "We are now in another village; let's move faster or else we will be chased" said Neay Khven. Khvak and Khven continued to row the boat till the crow of roosters was heard along with the sounds of crying cuckoos. The sun started to shine its red colored ray slowly from the east. "Oh,God! It seems like we are still at a boat crossing near our houses," Neay Khven told Neay Khvak.
When one of the masters came to collect some water from the river in the early morning; she saw the pairs sitting face to face. She got them back home since she believed they must have tried to run away. They both then lived as servants as they had previously did.
Long time later, Khvak and Khven came up with another idea. "I think we should on this occasion set off by road rather than by waterway," mentioned Neay Khvak. "How could we manage to do it while I'm crippled, and you're blind?" asked Neay Khven. "There's no worry, Friend! You just get on my neck and give which direction I should take," said Neay Khvak. In a quiet night, Neay Khvak bent down so that Neay Khven could get on his shoulders, and they set off straight away during the night.
Three days later, they arrived in a village. In the village, there was a ferocious tiger living in a nearby forest. The village children were forbidden by their parents from going out during the night time for fear that they would be preyed by the tiger. Khvak and Khven got to the village in rather late evening. "We are now in this village; we'll do farming here," said Neay Khven. "How could we do that without a plow, rake and cattle?" Neay Khvak asked. Neay Khven got Neay Khvak to step into the village where he met a villager who warned him that, "Oh, young chap! Please do not stay around here as there is a ferocious tiger in this village." Neay Khvak replied, "How could a tiger scare me if I'm not even afraid of Khle, [which is just a play with word]". At that time, the tiger was about to attack people for their flesh in a nearby place. Hearing so, the tiger thought, "I am the only creature that people has once been afraid of but now Khle is more frightened to people; I don't agree; I'll see it with my own eyes."
Moments later, Neay Khven came across a cattle stable. He said to Neay Khvak, "Please go and steal the cow, and I'll take care of your safety. “Neay Khvak put Neay Khven down on to the ground, walked past and felt the tiger. The tiger saw Neay Khvak and dared not move around as it supposed that he was the so-called Khle. Neay Khvak touched the tiger body as he assumed that it was just a cow. He was then in high spirit when he felt the tiger head but found no horn, exulting that, "Wow! This one looks fat and has no horn, so he'll be my calf." He then pulled him out of the stable to get his nose pierced and put a cord through it.
Believing that Neay Khvak was the khle, the tiger just followed him. Getting the tiger out of the stable gate, Neay Khvak asked Neay Khven to pass him the cord to tether his fat cow. Neay Khven saw the tiger and told his mate, “ My Friend, he’s a tiger.” “Just throw the cord to me if you are afraid; I’ll tether him myself and get him to plow the rice paddy,” Neay Khvak replied. Neay Khven handled the cord over to his buddy who pierced the tiger nose right then. The tiger roared painfully and ran away into the forest. Neay Khven almost died of fright, while Neay Khvak kept saying, “It’s a big loss of my fat cow…”
They both continued their journey. Arriving at a rice paddy, Neay Khven eyed a small cottage in which there were such stuffs as rake and a tortoise. "My Friend, I could see a small cottage along the rice paddy, where there is rope and a large, flat basket," Neay Khven told Neay Khvak. "Take all these items," Neay Khvak advised. "For what purpose? They must be heavy," uttered Neay Khven. "Get them all I'm the one who shoulder the burden - not you," Neay Khvak replied.
Neay Khven gathered all the items, including a pot of rice.
Neay Khvak was a healthy strong man. They traveled from dusk till dawn and met a man who was smoking a beehive for its honey. "Wait! I see a man hunting a beehive," said Neay Khven. "Eh! Share beehive with us," Neay Khvak shouted. "Ok! I get its honey and give you the honeycomb," replied the man who gave a container with its lid firmly covered to Neay Khvak.
Later that day, the couple men felt hungry. Neay Khvak told his partner, "We stop here and eat to be strong before continuing our trip." Neay Khvak laid his friend and uncovered the bamboo container lid - but they smelt unpleasant of excrement. Neay Khvak then said, "It smells horrible here; we move to other site." He covered the container and walked toward. A bit long time later he said, ''I'm very hungry now; let's eat rice here." Seeing a tree with large and cool shade, Neay Khven asked his pal to stop there. Neay Khvak then uncovered the container lid and smelt unpleasant again. Touching the excrement inside, he said, "My pal, the man has played a trick with us-he defecated into the container and got it covered before giving it to us." He was very angry and cleaned his hands before eating. After their eating, they both moved to find the man in a bid of taking revenge.
Reaching an agreement on the plan, they both waited and did not get in the boat until it was very late at night. Unfortunately, they were not able to row it; they both sat facing one another on the back of the boat, trying their best to move it forward. Because it was a dark night, they thought their boat was going on, rather it was moving around in whirling motion. They heard fish eagles crying in the midnight. "Try harder! We're arriving at the chasm of fish eagles," said Neay Khvak. They both continued to row it till it was dawn when the crocks were crowing. "We are now in another village; let's move faster or else we will be chased" said Neay Khven. Khvak and Khven continued to row the boat till the crow of roosters was heard along with the sounds of crying cuckoos. The sun started to shine its red colored ray slowly from the east. "Oh,God! It seems like we are still at a boat crossing near our houses," Neay Khven told Neay Khvak.
When one of the masters came to collect some water from the river in the early morning; she saw the pairs sitting face to face. She got them back home since she believed they must have tried to run away. They both then lived as servants as they had previously did.
Long time later, Khvak and Khven came up with another idea. "I think we should on this occasion set off by road rather than by waterway," mentioned Neay Khvak. "How could we manage to do it while I'm crippled, and you're blind?" asked Neay Khven. "There's no worry, Friend! You just get on my neck and give which direction I should take," said Neay Khvak. In a quiet night, Neay Khvak bent down so that Neay Khven could get on his shoulders, and they set off straight away during the night.
Three days later, they arrived in a village. In the village, there was a ferocious tiger living in a nearby forest. The village children were forbidden by their parents from going out during the night time for fear that they would be preyed by the tiger. Khvak and Khven got to the village in rather late evening. "We are now in this village; we'll do farming here," said Neay Khven. "How could we do that without a plow, rake and cattle?" Neay Khvak asked. Neay Khven got Neay Khvak to step into the village where he met a villager who warned him that, "Oh, young chap! Please do not stay around here as there is a ferocious tiger in this village." Neay Khvak replied, "How could a tiger scare me if I'm not even afraid of Khle, [which is just a play with word]". At that time, the tiger was about to attack people for their flesh in a nearby place. Hearing so, the tiger thought, "I am the only creature that people has once been afraid of but now Khle is more frightened to people; I don't agree; I'll see it with my own eyes."
Moments later, Neay Khven came across a cattle stable. He said to Neay Khvak, "Please go and steal the cow, and I'll take care of your safety. “Neay Khvak put Neay Khven down on to the ground, walked past and felt the tiger. The tiger saw Neay Khvak and dared not move around as it supposed that he was the so-called Khle. Neay Khvak touched the tiger body as he assumed that it was just a cow. He was then in high spirit when he felt the tiger head but found no horn, exulting that, "Wow! This one looks fat and has no horn, so he'll be my calf." He then pulled him out of the stable to get his nose pierced and put a cord through it.
Believing that Neay Khvak was the khle, the tiger just followed him. Getting the tiger out of the stable gate, Neay Khvak asked Neay Khven to pass him the cord to tether his fat cow. Neay Khven saw the tiger and told his mate, “ My Friend, he’s a tiger.” “Just throw the cord to me if you are afraid; I’ll tether him myself and get him to plow the rice paddy,” Neay Khvak replied. Neay Khven handled the cord over to his buddy who pierced the tiger nose right then. The tiger roared painfully and ran away into the forest. Neay Khven almost died of fright, while Neay Khvak kept saying, “It’s a big loss of my fat cow…”
They both continued their journey. Arriving at a rice paddy, Neay Khven eyed a small cottage in which there were such stuffs as rake and a tortoise. "My Friend, I could see a small cottage along the rice paddy, where there is rope and a large, flat basket," Neay Khven told Neay Khvak. "Take all these items," Neay Khvak advised. "For what purpose? They must be heavy," uttered Neay Khven. "Get them all I'm the one who shoulder the burden - not you," Neay Khvak replied.
Neay Khven gathered all the items, including a pot of rice.
Neay Khvak was a healthy strong man. They traveled from dusk till dawn and met a man who was smoking a beehive for its honey. "Wait! I see a man hunting a beehive," said Neay Khven. "Eh! Share beehive with us," Neay Khvak shouted. "Ok! I get its honey and give you the honeycomb," replied the man who gave a container with its lid firmly covered to Neay Khvak.
Later that day, the couple men felt hungry. Neay Khvak told his partner, "We stop here and eat to be strong before continuing our trip." Neay Khvak laid his friend and uncovered the bamboo container lid - but they smelt unpleasant of excrement. Neay Khvak then said, "It smells horrible here; we move to other site." He covered the container and walked toward. A bit long time later he said, ''I'm very hungry now; let's eat rice here." Seeing a tree with large and cool shade, Neay Khven asked his pal to stop there. Neay Khvak then uncovered the container lid and smelt unpleasant again. Touching the excrement inside, he said, "My pal, the man has played a trick with us-he defecated into the container and got it covered before giving it to us." He was very angry and cleaned his hands before eating. After their eating, they both moved to find the man in a bid of taking revenge.
During the period of time, a King brought his youngest daughter to serve as food for Ogres, leaving her at a rest hall where people were placed as food for Ogres. It was because that the Ogres intended to eat her, or they'd eat all people across the kingdom. Feeling sympathy for the people and her father, the King's daughter offered to serve herself as the Ogres' food.
On the same day, Khvak and Khven approached the rest hall. "We're now at a rest hall. Would we stop for a while, pal?" Neay Khven said. "Ok! Let's stop for a while," replied Neay Khvak.
Hearing the conversation between the two men, the King's youngest daughter, who was then in a drum, asked, "Why are you both here? This rest hall is where people are served as Ogres' food; they would arrive here in the dusk. I'm the Ogres' food. So, you had better leave here as soon as possible; otherwise, you'll be eaten by the Ogres."
Born blind since birth, Neay Khvak were never afraid of anything and answered, "Oh! Why should I'm afraid of Ogres? I'd cut them to death." Hearing such a reply, she said, "If you can kill the Ogres, all the properties here are for you." Neay Khvak felt very happy to hear that and talked to Neay Khven: "My buddy, give me some rice so that I'm strong enough to kill the Ogres." Neay Khven felt so scared to hear about the Ogres, while Neay Khvak ate the meal and closed the hall door then.
As the sky became dark, the Ogres approached the rest hall in such a rumbling sound. Neay Khven was so extremely frightened, whereas the King's youngest daughter lost her consciousness in the drum. Hearing the strong wind signaling the Ogres’s arrival, Neay Khvak sat courageously at the door, getting ready to confront him.
Seeing the hall door closed upon his arrival, the Ogre shouted powerfully: "Who closed my hall's door?" 'Tve closed my hall's door," replied Neay Khvak. "Where are you from? And, how big is your heart?" Neay Khvak then cast his large, flat basket to the Ogre who thought, "How so big his heart is!" "And, how big is your louse?" asked the Ogre. Neay Khvak then threw the tortoise to the Ogre who assumed that it was the genuine louse, and further asked, "And, how large is your leg hair?" Neay Khvak then cast his rope to the Ogre and said, "Here is my leg hair." Sighting the rope, the Ogre felt extremely scared and ran away at once.
"Princess, the Ogre has escaped, for he was afraid of me - he'd not be" said Neay Khvak. Recovering from her unconsciousness, the King's youngest daughter told Neay Khvak, "Eh man! There is another ogress who will turn out in the midnight." Hearing so, Neay Khvak asked Neay Khven, “My pal, go to find a sharp sword for me”. Neay Khven passed a sword over to Neay Khvak.
When it was late at night the ogress appeared and flew in the air like thunderstorm. Neay Khvak closed the hall door, standing in Preparation behind the door. Arriving at the rest hall, the ogress pushed the door and extended her head into the hall. Hearing the sound of pushing the door, Neay Khvak cut off the ogress's head, and she died immediately at the hall. Realizing that the ogress had died, Neay Khvak and Neay Khven collected all gold and silver and left the scene.
In the next morning, Neay Khven saw a Krasaing spiny tree and told Neay Khvak to take shade there for division of the property. Neay Khven played the role as the property divider, placing precious items before him and asked his mate, "You decide to get the items before you or before me?” Being a wise man, Neay Khvak said, "I decide to get those before you," as he thought his mate must have put less valuable items before him. In response, Neay Khven said, "It's not fair. Let divide them again." He exchahged by putting the precious items before Neay Khvak, and asked, "Which one will you get?" Having touched the items, Neay Khvak said, "I decide to get the items in front of me." Again, Neay Khven told his partner, "It's not fair. Let divide them again." Neay Khvak said, "You're the divider. Why you said 'unfair'?"
While Khvak and Khven exchanged arguments, a fruit of the Krasaing tree fell on Neay Khvak's head who thought he was hit by Neay Khven. "Huh! You dare to hit me besides your verbal attack?" he said and strongly kicked Neay Khven's legs that immediately became straight and able to walk. Being angry with his partner, Neay Khven gave him a punch in eyes that became visible then. The couple men were very surprised with the miracle and lost their irritation – they pursued their trip further.
In the next morning too, people who to witness the surviving King's youngest daughter and the death of the ogress went to inform the King of the event. Arriving at the scene, the thrilled King asked his daughter, "How could you survive, and why did the ogress die?" The King's daughter notified her father of what had happened that night.
Afterwards, the King ordered hi's officers to discover the man who killed the ogress, and he'd marry his youngest daughter off to the man and granted him the throne. The –royal servant announced the news nationwide. The news reached Neay Khvak and Neay Khven who felt extremely thrilled and told the officers, ''I'm the one who killed the ogress; I have items of the ogress to prove. My statement if you don't believe." The royal servant then brought the two men to meet the King.
Arriving at the Royal Palace, Neay Khvak and Neay Khven rushed to have an audience with the King who told them about the story. The King called his daughter in and asked! "My daughter, are these two men who killed the ogress?" "Yes, they are. But, they were once blind and crippled," replied the King's daughter.
The King was well aware of the facts. He married his daughter off to Neay Khvakwho ascended the throne immediately. Neay Khven was nominated the top royal advisor as he's an Neay Khvak's friend and had overcome all hard times together with Neay Khvak. They had enjoyed happy lives ever since.
"Bright eyes are not as good as eyes of desire."
The END
On the same day, Khvak and Khven approached the rest hall. "We're now at a rest hall. Would we stop for a while, pal?" Neay Khven said. "Ok! Let's stop for a while," replied Neay Khvak.
Hearing the conversation between the two men, the King's youngest daughter, who was then in a drum, asked, "Why are you both here? This rest hall is where people are served as Ogres' food; they would arrive here in the dusk. I'm the Ogres' food. So, you had better leave here as soon as possible; otherwise, you'll be eaten by the Ogres."
Born blind since birth, Neay Khvak were never afraid of anything and answered, "Oh! Why should I'm afraid of Ogres? I'd cut them to death." Hearing such a reply, she said, "If you can kill the Ogres, all the properties here are for you." Neay Khvak felt very happy to hear that and talked to Neay Khven: "My buddy, give me some rice so that I'm strong enough to kill the Ogres." Neay Khven felt so scared to hear about the Ogres, while Neay Khvak ate the meal and closed the hall door then.
As the sky became dark, the Ogres approached the rest hall in such a rumbling sound. Neay Khven was so extremely frightened, whereas the King's youngest daughter lost her consciousness in the drum. Hearing the strong wind signaling the Ogres’s arrival, Neay Khvak sat courageously at the door, getting ready to confront him.
Seeing the hall door closed upon his arrival, the Ogre shouted powerfully: "Who closed my hall's door?" 'Tve closed my hall's door," replied Neay Khvak. "Where are you from? And, how big is your heart?" Neay Khvak then cast his large, flat basket to the Ogre who thought, "How so big his heart is!" "And, how big is your louse?" asked the Ogre. Neay Khvak then threw the tortoise to the Ogre who assumed that it was the genuine louse, and further asked, "And, how large is your leg hair?" Neay Khvak then cast his rope to the Ogre and said, "Here is my leg hair." Sighting the rope, the Ogre felt extremely scared and ran away at once.
"Princess, the Ogre has escaped, for he was afraid of me - he'd not be" said Neay Khvak. Recovering from her unconsciousness, the King's youngest daughter told Neay Khvak, "Eh man! There is another ogress who will turn out in the midnight." Hearing so, Neay Khvak asked Neay Khven, “My pal, go to find a sharp sword for me”. Neay Khven passed a sword over to Neay Khvak.
When it was late at night the ogress appeared and flew in the air like thunderstorm. Neay Khvak closed the hall door, standing in Preparation behind the door. Arriving at the rest hall, the ogress pushed the door and extended her head into the hall. Hearing the sound of pushing the door, Neay Khvak cut off the ogress's head, and she died immediately at the hall. Realizing that the ogress had died, Neay Khvak and Neay Khven collected all gold and silver and left the scene.
In the next morning, Neay Khven saw a Krasaing spiny tree and told Neay Khvak to take shade there for division of the property. Neay Khven played the role as the property divider, placing precious items before him and asked his mate, "You decide to get the items before you or before me?” Being a wise man, Neay Khvak said, "I decide to get those before you," as he thought his mate must have put less valuable items before him. In response, Neay Khven said, "It's not fair. Let divide them again." He exchahged by putting the precious items before Neay Khvak, and asked, "Which one will you get?" Having touched the items, Neay Khvak said, "I decide to get the items in front of me." Again, Neay Khven told his partner, "It's not fair. Let divide them again." Neay Khvak said, "You're the divider. Why you said 'unfair'?"
While Khvak and Khven exchanged arguments, a fruit of the Krasaing tree fell on Neay Khvak's head who thought he was hit by Neay Khven. "Huh! You dare to hit me besides your verbal attack?" he said and strongly kicked Neay Khven's legs that immediately became straight and able to walk. Being angry with his partner, Neay Khven gave him a punch in eyes that became visible then. The couple men were very surprised with the miracle and lost their irritation – they pursued their trip further.
In the next morning too, people who to witness the surviving King's youngest daughter and the death of the ogress went to inform the King of the event. Arriving at the scene, the thrilled King asked his daughter, "How could you survive, and why did the ogress die?" The King's daughter notified her father of what had happened that night.
Afterwards, the King ordered hi's officers to discover the man who killed the ogress, and he'd marry his youngest daughter off to the man and granted him the throne. The –royal servant announced the news nationwide. The news reached Neay Khvak and Neay Khven who felt extremely thrilled and told the officers, ''I'm the one who killed the ogress; I have items of the ogress to prove. My statement if you don't believe." The royal servant then brought the two men to meet the King.
Arriving at the Royal Palace, Neay Khvak and Neay Khven rushed to have an audience with the King who told them about the story. The King called his daughter in and asked! "My daughter, are these two men who killed the ogress?" "Yes, they are. But, they were once blind and crippled," replied the King's daughter.
The King was well aware of the facts. He married his daughter off to Neay Khvakwho ascended the throne immediately. Neay Khven was nominated the top royal advisor as he's an Neay Khvak's friend and had overcome all hard times together with Neay Khvak. They had enjoyed happy lives ever since.
"Bright eyes are not as good as eyes of desire."
The END
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