On a remote and dark sea, there sat an even more remote island.

The island was unspoiled by human hands, untouched by their cruel tools and burning steel. A single well decorated its shores, full of resplendent fresh waters. For many sailors, it was a popular place to rest and stretch their legs.

However, there lived a monster in the well. A hideous, many-armed monster of an unfathomable shape. It was not known to the sailors whether it built the well, or whether the well was built for it. The well’s stones were pristine, its wood was polished, and the rope was brand-new. To onlookers, it surely appeared as an oddity in the midst of this desolate sea.

The monster guarded the waters of the well. It made its home there, and only came out for food. The sailors did not bother it, and the monster did not bother them either. The few who tried were dragged into the well and devoured whole, never to be seen again.

Then, one day, a ship docked in port. The captain of this ship saw the well, and conspired to obtain its pure waters. They made a bargain with the monster: one gold coin, for a weeks’ worth of water.

Not having seen gold in its short life, the monster gladly took the coin for itself. Playing with it between its many hands, the monster gleefully took to the captain. In its eyes, she had been the first to ever give it a gift. So, in return, it granted her a weeks’ worth of water. The well was slightly more empty, now, but the monster was happy.

A week thereafter, the captain returned. Again, she offered the monster a gold coin in exchange for a weeks’ worth of water. Once again, he accepted the offer. This time, he played with two coins. The beast spoke with the captain, and they got to know each other well. They laughed and they cheered, and for the first time the monster had a friend.

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The next week, the captain returned. They spoke with urgency, for they were gravely sick. “I need two weeks worth of water” they demanded. “Here, have another coin.” they tossed it into the well.

But the monster did not agree. “You give me two coins for two weeks.” it said. The captain’s tone changed. “I cannot give you two coins, for I have only one.” She seemed angry and dissatisfied with the monster. It felt bad for the captain, and so it surrendered two weeks’ worth of water in return for one coin. Although it still played with the third coin, the monster lamented not being able to speak to the captain this week.

Another week passed, and the captain returned for the fourth time. It held up another coin, and tossed it into the well. This time, the monster demanded: “two coins, for one weeks’ worth of water.” The captain scoffed. “Well, give me back my coin, and I’ll get my water elsewhere”. In response, the beast asked: “Do you not need my water anymore?”

The captain replied calmly. “No, I never did. I simply bought it from you because I wanted to. I have many other merchants who sell me water. Did you never wonder why the other sailors never gave up any of their coin?”

The monster lamented. Its well was still dry from the week before. “Well,” said the captain, “if you aren’t going to give me water, you must return my coin to me.” And so, the monster gave her another bucket of water. The well was now dry.

This time, two weeks passed. The monster got lonely in the bottom of its dry, empty well. The stone had cracked, the wood laid rotten on the outside, and the rope had snapped. For the last time, the captain would return.

“Where is your water, monster? I cannot give you gold unless you give me water.”