Santa and the Ice King

SYNOPSIS: Oonik and Santa have finally found the Ice King, busily grinding out harsh winter storms from his fearful ice castle. When Santa explained that he an Oonik had come as friends, the Ice King stopped his work and suddenly burst into tears.

Chapter Twelve

The Ice King's Story

Oonik marveled to see the Ice King cry. Even the King's tears were made of ice. They rained from his cheeks and clattered to the floor like hailstones on a roof.

"What is it? What is the matter?" cried Santa in alarm.

"Nothing," replied the Ice King kicking away the tears. "It's just that you're the first to ever come here and call himself friend."

Then he told Santa how all his life he had lived alone in his frozen castle where not even a servant would live. How no one ever came to call. How he had no friends and everyone in the whole world hated him because he was Winter itself and brought everyone cold and misery.

"But you are wrong!" protested Santa. "Winter has its proper place. Children love snow and animals love to hibernate and even grownups love to sit before their fires on stormy nights."

The King's face brightened. "Do they really like me?" he asked.

"Of course they do," replied Santa.

"But now," went on Santa sternly, "it is August. For four months the world has waited for spring and summer but still you send your ice and snow and frigid winds. That is wrong. Why do you do it?"

"It's because I am so lonely!" burst out the Ice King. "All winter I can keep busy making storms but in summertime there's nothing to do but sit and mope. So this year I decided I would just keep n making winter forever and that way I'll always be busy and happy too."

Santa shook his head sadly. "And so the whole world will freeze and starve."

The Ice King hung his head and walked away. "I thought since they hate me anyway I might as well be really hateful," he mumbled.

Santa took out his pipe and lit it. For a long while he smoked in silence and then he said, "You must get a wife."

"What," cried the Ice King turning to stare.

"A wife. You must get a wife to love you and care for you and keep your from being lonely or feeling hateful again."

"A wife!" whispered the Ice King and his eyes softened and he began to smile. Then his face clouded over and he burst out bitterly, "Who would ever marry me?"

"There are lonely maidens in the world just as there are lonely men," said Santa. "The trick is to get them together. I have in mind for you a beautiful creature whom I happen to know is in a marrying mood."

"Who?" said the Ice King eagerly?

"The Sun Daughter," said Santa. "She dwells in the East where the sun rises each day." He paused and scratched his head. "Ah," he sighed. "If only I had my reindeer back we could travel there in a single day!"

Oonik, quiet and awe-struck all this time now tugged at Santa's sleeve. "I can get the reindeer," he said. Santa shook his head. "No, my boy, I turned them loose, you remember, and they are far away now hunting for food they could not find up here."

"I am a good reindeer hunter," Oonik bragged. "My father taught me well."

"But even your father has not been able to find any reindeer this summer," said Santa.

"I will not find just any reindeer," insisted Oonik, "I will find your reindeer."

"But how can you?" cried Santa, "when I have turned them free."

"Because", said Oonik with a smile, "They have followed you here all the way."

Next: The Sun Daughter