The Wretched Stone
-Chris Van
Allsburg, USA (1949-)
Characters:
ü Randall Ethan Hope (Captain of the Ship)
ü Mr. Howard (the first mate)
ü Other characters are Musicians, Storytellers, Dancers, Sailors,
Avid (greedy) Readers, etc.
ü This story is a logbook. The journey started on May 8 and ended
on July 12 (2 months and 4 Days).
ü The voyage started on 8th May.
ü On 6th June, they reached an island which was not mentioned
on the map. Everything was strange, and the plants were without fruit, and
there was an unpleasant odor.
ü They found a two-foot-long, gray stone with a glowing surface.
The crew took the stone to the ship.
ü They forgot reading, singing, dancing, storytelling, and playing music. They gathered around the stone.
ü On 15th June, a great storm approached the ship and nearly
sank her. (The crew didn't help the captain because they
were spellbound by television. Unfortunately, one night all the crew turned into apes.)
ü When the captain played violin and read books to them, it had a
positive effect on them. Then the crew returned to the previous normal
condition. (They requested the captain to set fire to the ship and sink
her. When the captain promised to do it, they became happy.)
ü Finally, they were rescued by another ship.
Summary of the Story:
The
Wretched Stone begins with a notice reading: "Excerpts from the log of the
Rita Ann. Randall Ethan Hope, Captain." The captain writes about loading
supplies onto the ship at the start of the voyage, and the fine crew that has
been assembled by the first mate, Mr. Howard. He notes that many of the men are avid
readers, musicians, and storytellers, and as the voyage is underway, they are
able to entertain themselves wonderfully.
The
story begins as the ship Rita Anne sets sail. Where she is going is never
made clear. The work is narrated entirely through the ship’s log entries by
Captain Randall Ethan Hope. The crew soon discovers an uncharted (not mapped)
island and decides to explore. The captain records the sighting of an uncharted
island and decides to disembark (set down) with his crew to look for fruit
and fresh water. Then he records their sojourn (temporary
stay/visit) in the island's interior. He describes lush vegetation that
bears no fruit, bitter water, and an overpowering sickly-sweet smell. He also
describes an object the crew found and brought aboard: a gray rock with one
smooth and glowing surface. As the crew sets sail again, the captain describes
their fascination with the stone. All they seem to do is sit and stare into it.
Soon, the captain notes that something is wrong with the crew; they do not speak
or play their instruments anymore. He believes they may have contracted some
sort of fever from the stone, and he plans to throw it overboard. The next day, he wakes to find that the crew members have locked themselves into the hold
with the stone. A storm approaches, and the captain is fearful. How will he
sail the ship alone? He pounds on the door of the hold until finally it swings
open. He is horrified to find that each member of his crew has turned into an ape.
The
next entry records that the storm has passed, though both masts (flag poles)
and the ship's rudder are lost. The mysterious stone has gone dark. The men are
still apes. As the boat drifts and waits for rescue, the captain discovers that
playing the violin and reading to the crew have a positive effect. Discovering
that the stone has begun to glow again, he covers it up. He soon reports that
the men have returned to normal; those among them who knew how to read return
most quickly to their natural forms.
The
final entries record that the captain and crew have been rescued. The captain
decides to burn the boat and sink it, and the stone to the bottom of the sea, and
not to talk about the strange events with anyone. The crew, he reports, is back
to normal, except for one thing: an unnatural appetite for the fruit that was
available there.
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