Once upon a time there was a little root

gnome named Tatatuck. He was often alone

and found little companionship with the other
gnomes because he was shy. In the spring and
summer it was his task to smooth and tug at
the underground roots to make the plants and
trees grow well.

Autumn had come and there was less work

to be done. Tatatuck asked the Root Master,
“May I take a field trip and tour around the
underground caves?”

When Root Master assented, Tatatuck packed

a little bag, took hold of his little hammer,
and set out on the adventure of a lifetime.
He saw many wonders and made some very
interesting friends along the way. Won’t you
join him on his journey?

ISBN 978-1-943582-49-5

Tatatuck’s Journey
Jakob
Streit
351 Fairview Avenue
Suite 625
Hudson, NY 12534 9 781943 582495 to Crystal Mountain
 Tatatuck’s Journey
to Crystal Mountain
Tatatuck's Journey
to Crystal Mountain
A Tale of
Gnomes and Trolls

by Jakob Streit

Illustrations
by Christiane Lesch

Translated from the German

by Nina Kuettel
 Printed with support from the Waldorf Curriculum Fund

Published by:
Waldorf Publications at the
Research Institute for Waldorf Education
351 Fairview Avenue
Suite 625
Hudson, NY 12534

Title: Tatatuck’s Journey to Crystal Mountain

Author: Jakob Streit
Translator: Nina Kuettel
Illustrator: Christiane Lesch
Layout: Ann Erwin

© 2020 Waldorf Publications

ISBN #978-1-943582-49-5

First published by Freies Geistesleben with the title:

Tatatucks Reise zum Kristallberg
 Contents
Tatatuck’s Journey Begins 7
The First Mountain 9
The Second Mountain 10
The Third Mountain 12
The Fourth Mountain 14
The Fifth Mountain 16
The Sixth Mountain 20
Crystal Mountain 24
The Scuffle Trolls 29
Ripping Troll 32
Stinky Troll and Sly Troll 34
Wrong-way Troll and His Thorny Woods 36
Rascal Troll 38
The Trolls Are Given Jobs 40
Return to Crystal Cave 42
The Gnome King 43
The Trolls Are Busy Deep in the Earth 48
 Tatatuck’s Journey Begins
Once upon a time, there was a little root gnome named
Tatatuck. He was often alone and found hardly any friendship
with the other gnomes because he was shy. For a long time it was
his task to smooth and tug at the underground roots in the spring
and summer to make the plants and trees grow well.
Autumn came and there was less work. “May I take a field trip
and tour around the underground caves?” Tatatuck asked Root
Master.
Root Master agreed. Because of the nature of his work,
Tatatuck swallowed a lot of sun energy that trickled down from
the meadow blossoms and his gnome heart became braver with
it. He set out alone toward the big crystal cave that was close to
the Gnome King’s crystal palace. Tatatuck knew the most beautiful
crystals gleamed there. Crystals were his great love. Once, last
year, he wanted to look inside this same cave and ask about a
job. But Crystal Master turned him away. “You seem to tap very
weakly with your little hammer. Stick to root tugging!” he said.
Even so, Tatatuck wanted to see the shining crystals again.
Maybe Crystal Master was not at home.
Tatatuck quietly neared the cave’s entrance. A wonderful light
shone out of it. Crystal Master suddenly stood before him. “Well,
what do you know, Tatatuck is back!” he said.“Are you still such a
weak tapper? Listen up, little tot! Since you came my way today,
I am going to give you an assignment. I am going to see if you
have what it takes. I want you to go on a long trip for me, up
the mountain and down the mountain. Walking will make you
strong. Now listen closely: Walk in the direction of the sunrise.
You will come to the Realm of the Seven Mountains. Inside the

7
farthest mountain are the purest and finest crystals in the world. If
you bring back one of them, you may present it to the King for his
crystal cave. He will tell you where to place it. Let me see your
hammer!”
Tatatuck showed Crystal Master. Crystal Master pressed his
thumb into it for a long time so that his insignia was imprinted on
the hammer. “This emblem will make it impossible for anyone to
keep you from going your way,” Crystal Master said. “But you will
have to defend yourself many times. Bad trolls lurk in the dark
and gloomy valleys of the seven mountains. These scallywags will
try to steal your hammer. If you lose it, it will be no use trying to
bring back a crystal. Never carelessly toss your hammer on the
ground. Always keep it close! If things become too terrible with
the trolls, just come back without a crystal. There have been others
before you who have given up. Root Master would certainly let
you return to your work.”
After these words, Crystal Master gave back the hammer,
wished Tatatuck a good journey, and disappeared into the crystal
cave.
Little Tatatuck just stood there. He looked at the thumb imprint
on his hammer and did not know if he should be happy or afraid.
After thinking about it, he decided he was happy. He made a few
little hops in the air and started on his way in the direction of the
sunrise.
Just as Tatatuck was about to leave the forest, Root Master
appeared from behind a tree. He planted himself firmly on the
path in front of the little gnome. “Where do you think you are
going, Tatatuck!?” he thundered. “You are not allowed to leave
the forest. Get back down to the spruce roots!”
Tatatuck had always obeyed this voice. But now he hesitated.
He quickly showed his hammer to Root Master. “I must journey
out into the world, to the realm of the seven mountains,” he said.
“Crystal Master has given me a task. Look, he put his insignia on
my hammer!” Tatatuck showed Root Master the little hammer.

8
 Root Master looked at it carefully and his eyes grew wide.
“Yes, so he did!” he exclaimed. “What are you supposed to do
there?”
“Get a crystal from the seventh mountain and not let the
hammer get stolen,” Tatatuck replied.
Root Master shook his head. “You will not make it past the
second mountain,” he said. “The valley trolls are up to all sorts of
awful things. Well, have a nice trip!” He handed the little hammer
back to Tatatuck. Root Master thought: He will be glad to come
back to root tugging!
Tatatuck walked on confidently. With one hand, he held fast
to his little hammer. It gave him a bit more courage.

The First Mountain

As Tatatuck stepped out of the forest, he saw a tall mountain
rising before him at the end of the valley. A narrow brook flowed
along the valley floor. The little traveler searched for a place to
cross over the water. All at once, he spotted a small bridge in front
of him. He walked to it and said:
“Little Bridge, Little Bridge, make the way clear.
Open your gate as I draw near!”
The bridge creaked and cracked, and at the other end, a
troll stepped into sight. He had one eye open and one pinched
half shut. He smirked when he caught sight of Tatatuck, but he
instantly noticed the little hammer. Trolls do not have hammers
of their own. They are always trying to swipe them from gnomes.
The troll quickly asked Tatatuck his name and started to schmooze
and flatter. “Come over here, Tatatuck! Where are you bound?”
“I am on a walking tour and I would like to continue over the
mountain,” Tatatuck replied politely.

9
 “What a lovely little hammer you have! Show it to me,
please…please!” the troll said in a coaxing voice.
Tatatuck wanted to be mannerly. He pulled the hammer out of
his pocket, but kept hold of it tightly in his hand right where the
thumb sign was imprinted.
The troll ran his icy-cold, spidery fingers over the little hammer.
“Let me hold it in my hand so I can see how well it strikes. Please,
please, oh please!” he cajoled.
When Tatatuck did not let go of the hammer, the rascally troll
suddenly became vicious. He ripped and tore at the little hammer
and tried to pry it out of Tatatuck’s grasp, scratching him with
his fingernails. Tatatuck gave the troll a shove and popped his
clawing hand with the hammer. The naughty rascal cried loudly
and hurried away.
Tatatuck was very upset and disgruntled about the cheeky
fellow. He realized that the thumb insignia gave a lot of power
and force to the hammer. He put it back in his pocket and stepped
onto the trail that led up the mountain.

The Second Mountain

As he climbed the mountain, Tatatuck was in good spirits. He
had made it over the first hurdle. He hiked down the other side
into a narrow valley. There was a waterway streaming through
it with many twists and turns. Would he find another bridge
there? Soon he was surrounded by thick shrubbery covered
with unfriendly-looking vines. Walking became more and more
difficult, and Tatatuck lost his sense of direction. Then he had a
thought. He took the hammer, and put it on the palm of his hand
with the handle pointing upward. He softly spoke the words:
“Little hammer, my dear little hammer,
show me the way!”

10
 The hammer leaned to the left. So Tatatuck started off in that
direction, and he quickly found a way out of the thick, thorny
bushes. He heard the water rushing close by and, once again,
came to a bridge. The bridge was so narrow and rickety that it
swayed back and forth in the breeze. There was nobody about. In
a friendly voice, Tatatuck called out:
“Little Bridge, Little Bridge, your gate open wide.
Let me pass safe to the other side!”
The bridge creaked and cracked as if it wanted to squeeze out
the answer, “Yes.”
Tatatuck carefully, gently, walked over the swinging bridge.
He had just reached the other side when a haggard, curious,
doddering old troll came out of the bushes. Behind him dangled
a long, slim root, which he waved around in the air. He had a
twitchy, fidgety manner of speech:
“Stop-sto-stoooop by my root stick-stick.
I can show you the way, I can-I can-I can.”
Tatatuck thought: He seems like a poor, quaking sort of fellow.
It is nice of him to offer to show me the way to the mountain.
But it was Wrong-way Troll. All the gnomes that he lured with
his root-stick ended up in the Thorny Woods, where they got stuck
on the sharp thorns and they no longer knew the way in or out.
As soon as Tatatuck took hold of the root with his hand, he
was stuck fast. He could not get free of it. Wrong-way Troll gave
a sly smirk and shuddered and shook powerfully as he dragged
little Tatatuck toward the Thorny Woods. Tatatuck had to go along
whether he wanted to or not.
It was a stroke of luck that he had grabbed onto the root-
stick with only one hand. With his free hand, Tatatuck found
the hammer and gave his other hand a sharp smack. Pain shot
through him, but his hand was free of the root-stick. Wrong-way
Troll screamed because he also felt the strike of the hammer—

11
like a tongue of fire in his arms and legs. With great leaps, he
disappeared into the Thorny Woods.
Tatatuck rubbed the bruise on his hand where he had hit it
with the hammer. Now which way shall I turn? he thought.
Aha! He put the little hammer on his hand, which was still
throbbing, and pleaded softly:
“Little hammer, my dear little hammer,
show me the way!”
The upright handle leaned to the right, and soon Tatatuck
found the narrow trail that led away from the Thorny Woods and
over the second mountain.

The Third Mountain

Tatatuck walked lightheartedly down the other side of the
second mountain. He came to another narrow valley with high
cliffs on both sides. He was surrounded by bleak, bare, craggy
rock walls. No trees could make roots here. The trail led down
to a ravine. It was getting dark and it was cold—and it started to
rain. When he came to the third river, there was an old, decaying
tree trunk lying diagonally across the water. Was this supposed to
be the bridge?
I will be polite, Tatatuck thought, and he said:
“Tree Bridge, Tree Bridge, my solid friend,
Will you support me to the other end?”
There was a sound from the far side as if somebody was
pounding a rock against wood. Tatatuck walked cautiously across
the rotting tree trunk. It was a little scary. He held on tight to
the hammer with one hand and balanced himself with his other
arm as he walked along. He reached the other side unharmed.
Raindrops trickled down his little beard.

12
 On the other side, under a rock overhang, a pudgy troll
that Tatatuck had not noticed before suddenly stirred. He was a
grayish-blue color, just like the rocks around him. He had a large
head that housed many strange thoughts because he was Sly Troll.
Sly Troll spotted the little gnome’s special hammer immediately. I
am going to take it! Sly Troll thought.
“Poor traveler,” he greeted Tatatuck. “You are all wet and must
be freezing cold. It will be dark soon. Let me show you to my dry
cave very close by. You may have a restful sleep until morning!”
How nice of him to invite me into his cave to dry off and get
some sleep, Tatatuck thought. He gratefully accepted and pattered
along behind the large-headed troll to his comfortable cave.
“You rest on the left side of the cave; I will take the right,” Sly
Troll explained. “You may leave the little hammer in a cleft in the
wall, so it does not pinch you if you roll onto it in your sleep.” Sly
Troll pointed to a shallow crevice in the wall just above a resting
place. Tatatuck pushed his hammer into the small space and lay
down to sleep. Not far from him, on the other side of the cave, Sly
Troll lay down too, flat on his stomach.
No sooner had Tatatuck stretched out his arms and legs than
thoughts began to churn in his mind. Did not the Crystal Master
say I should never, ever put my hammer aside? he remembered.
Tatatuck got up quietly, carefully took the hammer out of the
crevice and held it close. He fell asleep with his right hand on
the little hammer.
In the middle of the night, while Tatatuck was fast asleep,
Sly Troll got up. With his owl-like eyes he was able to see well
enough in the dark. He quietly crawled to the crack in the wall
where he knew the hammer should be. With this prize loot I can
get out of here and disappear to wherever I like! he thought.
He felt around in the crack with his claw-like hand, up, down,
all around, but—no hammer. Did that foolish gnome take back
the hammer without my noticing? I will pull it right out of his
pocket! he fumed.

13
 Slow as a turtle, he crept over to the sleeping gnome and
searched with his cold hand. Tatatuck was in a deep sleep. Sly
Troll found nothing in Tatatuck’s belt or side pockets. His fingers
rummaged around the gnome’s hands resting upon his chest.
Now half awake, Tatatuck thought a turtle was crawling on
him for real. He let out a loud cry, jumped up, and saw the rogue.
Sly Troll was so shocked and surprised, he scrambled to the cave
entrance and disappeared into the night.
Tatatuck remained sitting up. That miserable little thief! He
tried to rob me! he thought in amazement.
Tatatuck did not dare go back to sleep. But the thieving troll
did not return, and at the break of dawn, Tatatuck continued on
his journey.

The Fourth Mountain

Unbeknownst to Tatatuck, during the night, Sly Troll went
ahead of Tatatuck, over the mountain to find his brother, Stinky
Troll. Together they plotted to swipe the hammer from the traveling
gnome.
Stinky Troll was a filthy, foul-smelling brother. He never
washed himself, never trimmed his fingernails on a filing rock.
He stank worse than hog manure. He was so used to his own odor
he did not even smell himself anymore.
Sly Troll explained to his brother troll how he had missed his
chance to nick the little hammer in the cave. “Tatatuck will surely
come this way. You have to help me! The hammer has a crystal
thumbprint on the handle. I saw it very clearly. We could do all
kinds of magical mischief with it and have lots of fun tormenting
others. When the puny gnome holds it in his hand, he is stronger
than both of us together.”

14
 Stinky Troll spoke his rubbish in a lazy tone. “We could blow
some dust from the brown puffball mushroom into his eyes and
he would be blinded for a while. Huh, huh, it stings! He rubs his
eyes with both hands, and we grab the hammer.”
Tatatuck knew nothing of all this as he cheerfully hiked down
the far side of the third mountain. He hoped there would not be
any trolls in this lonely wilderness.
The narrow, close valley he now entered soon widened into
a marshy moor. The ground was slimy, sludgy mud, and before
long, Tatatuck had trouble moving forward. There was no bridge
in sight, but he saw a place where some large rocks rose out
of the bog. Maybe he could get across there. Tatatuck looked
around cautiously. Nothing moved on the other side of the marsh,
although a curious, stinky odor he could not identify stabbed his
nostrils.
Tatatuck jumped from rock to rock. At the far side, a strange-
looking fellow appeared from behind a tall reed. His hairy body
was covered in thick dirt from top to bottom. He had a runny nose
and a grimace of brownish-yellow teeth. “It is dangerous to hike
around here. The quicksand might swallow you up,” he grunted.
As the troll got closer Tatatuck felt his breath get snatched
away. Just then Stinky Troll made a lightning-fast move and
with the hand that had been hidden behind his back, he threw
mushroom dust into Tatatuck’s face. Almost instantly Tatatuck’s
eyes started to burn with intense pain, and could see nothing.
Tatatuck had only one thought: Hold tight to the hammer!
His eyes began to water from pain, but no yammering or
wailing came from his mouth. Suddenly he heard a second,
familiar voice. Is that Sly Troll? he thought.
Sly Troll was telling his smelly companion, “Let us wait here a
little while. He will soon let his hammer drop!”
When Tatatuck’s tears washed some of the mushroom dust
out of his eyes, he could see a little shimmer again. He made his

15
way to the stream and, with his free hand, rinsed out his eyes that
were still burning terribly. He had his eyesight back! The pain
lessened. He looked around and spied the two trolls peeking out
from behind a large rock, trying to see what Tatatuck was doing.
Let them dare come over. He would hammer on their skulls! But
they did not even budge an inch.
Once again Tatatuck placed the hammer on the palm of his
hand. When it pointed upstream, he headed off in that direction.
Higher up, the boggy moor turned into more solid ground.
Tatatuck could see a faint path that led up and over the mountain.
The two trolls did not dare follow him. “We will wait until he
comes back. Maybe we can push him into some quicksand and
get the hammer off him that way!” Sly Troll said.
Tatatuck climbed over the fourth mountain. Surely there
cannot be any worse trolls than those two, he thought. How
fortunate that he got away from them and his eyes did not sting
anymore.

The Fifth Mountain

Tatatuck continued walking down to the valley. Only two
more mountains to climb before I come to Crystal Mountain, he
thought.
All the while during his trip, Tatatuck had noticed each
mountain was higher than the one before, and each path between
the mountains was longer. Also, it seemed that his legs were
getting stronger from all the walking. He felt cheerful and full of
energy as he strode into the next valley, this one covered in green
forest. The swift water that tumbled along the valley floor broke
into many little waterfalls with churning, foaming water. A strong
wind blew that caused the forest trees to sway alarmingly.

16
 Tatatuck reached the fast-flowing stream and saw no bridge or
any large rocks in the water and no way to hop to the far bank. He
looked upstream and downstream but could see no way across.
Once again, he reached for the hammer. He was amazed when
it pointed straight to the waterfall in front of him that was rushing
down some overhanging rocks. That is impossible! I must have
been holding the hammer wrong, he thought.
Very quietly, he asked:
“Little hammer, my dear little hammer,
is there a way through?
Please show me, please do!”
Goodness! The little hammer pointed right back at the spray of
the waterfall. I have to be tossed about by all this water? Tatatuck
thought.
Nevertheless, he walked toward the waterfall—very slowly.
Suddenly, behind the falling water and under the overhanging
rocks, he noticed a narrow path that led to the other side of the
river. Water elves were dancing in the frothy, misty spray. They
gave him a friendly wave.
He plucked up his courage, held tight to the hammer, and
stepped onto the waterfall path. Oh, how the water roared! The
water elves were dancing and swirling around him so fast he
began to feel dizzy. He wanted to sit down for a minute, but the
little hammer twitched restlessly in his hand, so he pushed on,
step by step, and emerged, thankfully, out onto a meadow.
What a sight! Ripped, frayed and frazzled blooms were
strewn all around the meadow. The leaves of bushes were in
tatters, branches all broken. Ripping Troll lived here. Tatatuck
peered into the forest and saw the fiendish troll stomping on the
beautiful mushrooms that grew between the trees and making
wild noises while he did it. Tatatuck saw a terrified squirrel scurry
up a tree and hide in her nest. Ripping Troll must have seen her,
too. He bellowed and climbed after the little squirrel, tearing off

17
pinecones along the way and chucking them at a little bird sitting
on a branch. The shocked bird flew off with a loud screech.
When flame-red Ripping Troll reached the squirrel’s nest, he
blocked up the entrance and exit with a pinecone, ripped out the
nest out and lumbered back down the tree with it. He greedily
growled and snarled and plucked out pieces of the nest.
Tatatuck watched as the troll yanked on the terrified squirrel,
grabbed her by the neck, and pulled out her fur by the handful.
This was too much! Tatatuck jumped out from his hiding place,
hurried to the cruel torturer, and struck him a blow with the
hammer on his clawing paws, his hunched back, and wherever it
happened to land. Ripping Troll hollered and roared, let go of the
squirrel, and ran howling into the forest, where he disappeared
in the trees.
Tatatuck had never felt such anger before. Exhausted, he sat
down on a rock. In her fear, the little squirrel had run into the
forest, but now she came closer to her rescuer. She sat up on
her haunches, a little distance from Tatatuck. She looked at him
with gratitude in her eyes. “You are good!” she said. The squirrel
moved her front paws as if she was making an appeal.
Tatatuck thought it would be a wonderful thing to have a
companion and friend that he could talk to during his lonesome
journey. When he nodded, the squirrel jumped into his lap.
Tatatuck stroked her fur. The little animal looked at the forest floor
where some torn-out tufts of fur had been tossed about. Luckily,
the Ripping Troll did not get her tail.
Tatatuck said, “I have a long journey ahead of me. I still must
get over two mountains. I would be happy if you want to come
with me. Soon the day will be done. We need to find shelter.”
The squirrel replied, “Ripping Troll used to live much farther
down the valley. Now he has moved up here. But I know of a
quiet cave up on the mountain where we can rest well for the
night.”

18
19
 Tatatuck rose from the ground. As he walked onward, the
squirrel happily frisked along beside him.
The two of them had nearly reached the crest of the mountain.
“Come on, we are going to that cliff. I know the way,” said the
little squirrel.
She led Tatatuck to a small, dry cave. Once, a while ago, she
had hidden some nuts inside. The evening glowed as the two of
them lay down to sleep. Tatatuck kept one hand on the hammer.
With his other arm he made a nice, round space for the little
squirrel to snuggle inside. When they were nicely settled, Tatatuck
asked, “Little squirrel, do you have a name?”
“No,” the squirrel replied. “Nobody ever gave me one.”
“My name is Tatatuck, and I give you the name Husch-Kusch,”
Tatatuck declared. And he proceeded to tell her that he was on
his way to the seventh mountain to get a crystal for the Gnome
King’s crystal palace.
“Maybe I can be of some help to you on your journey,” Husch-
Kusch whispered, already half asleep, although she had no idea
what she could do.

The Sixth Mountain

Tatatuck awakened in the morning when Husch-Kusch
crawled over his arm to the cave entrance to check the weather
outside. She wanted to get a pinecone for breakfast. Tatatuck
got up and had the happy thought: Soon we will get down to
the valley and then over the sixth mountain. I will see Crystal
Mountain before the day is through.
The little squirrel returned with a pinecone and dug out the
seeds. “Will you have something to eat?” she asked Tatatuck.

20
 He laughed and answered, “All summer I milked the roots
of so much yellow sun-nectar that I have enough for the whole
winter.”
Husch-Kusch did not really understand. Well, he is a gnome
after all, and their ways are different, she thought.
Husch-Kusch and Tatatuck quickly climbed out of the cave
and walked the last distance up the mountain, but it was farther
than Tatatuck thought. Reaching the top, the little squirrel scurried
up a tree and looked down in the valley. “The valley below is
grooved like a gorge!” she reported.
Walking down, they saw all the trees had disappeared. The
ground was rocky. Suddenly they heard the boom and rumble of
loose rocks falling from above. “Is that Rumble Troll rolling down
loose rocks?” Husch-Kusch asked.
“I do not see anyone, but we should be careful!” Tatatuck
replied. He held tightly to the hammer. “Husch-Kusch, stay close
to me,” he said. “We must walk sideways on the path so that we
will see the falling rock in time to move out of the way.”
At that moment, the little hammer quivered in Tatatuck’s hand.
What kind of signal was this?
The little squirrel looked up at him and they both stood stock
still. Just then, not far ahead, a big rockslide rumbled past them,
down to the depths below. If they had gone any further, it would
have carried them both with it.
Tatatuck quickly glanced up and saw two trolls running off.
They had triggered the thundering rockslide!
Once the slide settled, Tatatuck continued walking. The
hammer saved us. It will not let me down, he thought. He took
Husch-Kusch on his arm. She was shivering with fear, but Tatatuck
felt new courage.
Once the two of them were in the ravine, they saw a strange
tidal stream. At once, a powerful rush of water came down and

21
then, almost none, then again, suddenly another surge. With
Husch-Kusch on his arm, Tatatuck sat down on a rock on the
riverbank. He watched how the water whooshed down and then
ceased. He observed that the water flooded in six times and then
there was a long pause. There would certainly be time to hurry
across the empty riverbed before a new surge came.
“Husch-Kusch, keep up with me. I am going to run super-
fast!” he said to the little squirrel.
Tatatuck counted six surges, and when the water receded
again, he ran. They had barely reached the other side before the
water swept in behind them.
Tatatuck looked back and saw two trolls, one red and one
green. They were standing on the very rock where he had been
sitting before. With raised fists, they were threatening, blustering
and cursing with dreadful words. But they did not want to risk the
tumbling water to go after Tatatuck. In anger, the two trolls started
going after each other, hitting and tearing at their hair. Bad words
flew, and the two ended up scuffling on the ground.
“What terrible trolls!” the squirrel exclaimed.
“Those are mean-spirited Scuffle Trolls,” Tatatuck said. “They
look for fights and are happy when things get ruined. On top of
that, they scatter about their cursing and bad words! We should
get out of here!”
A plodding path led Tatatuck and Husch-Kusch to the top of
the sixth mountain. As they reached the crest, it was already past
midday. Not a single stone rumbled down on the other side. A
wonderful view met their gaze. The seventh mountain, powerful
and beautiful, rose out of a large, clear lake and was mirrored in
the deep-blue water. Here and there, a mysterious, glinting light
flashed. Tatatuck’s heart was overjoyed. “That must be the crystal
caves!” he said.
To Husch-Kusch the lake looked enormous. “Tatatuck, how
will you get across the big lake?” she asked.

22
 “I do not know yet, but all along the little hammer has helped
me. I hope it will continue that way,” he replied.
They started down the mountain into the valley of the big
lake. It was so quiet, not a breath of air stirred. No waves lapped
the lakeshore. White and pink water lilies bloomed near the
shoreline. Little silvery and gold-glittering fish swam around them.
The trees thinned as they made their way toward the lake. Bushes
and shrubs grew down to the lake edge. The Sun was moving into
late afternoon. Tatatuck was so enchanted with the view that he
did not notice the little squirrel running up and down the shore,
searching for something. He sat on a rock and thought no more
of the adventures he had come through with the nasty trolls. Here
was peace, stillness, eternal light.
Tatatuck saw only the beautiful world. What he did not know
was that a big, dark troll lived at the bottom of the mountain among
the gray, craggy rocks. He was actually a giant who ambushed all
crystal hunters and threw them into the lake. He had a long pole
that he used to sink any boats that came anywhere near.
Suddenly Tatatuck heard the little squirrel making whistling
noises. “What is the matter, Husch-Kusch?” he asked.
“I found a boat, a little boat! Come and see!”
Tatatuck got up and followed. The boat was in a cove
surrounded by flowering bushes. It was pulled halfway on the
shore and full of rainwater. Tatatuck began bailing out the water
with his hands. There were no paddles to be seen. Husch-Kusch
looked around for a paddle but found nothing. When the little
boat was empty, Tatatuck looked for an oar. There was nothing.
“Just get in. I can paddle with my tail at the back of the boat,”
Husch-Kusch said. She sat down and Tatatuck pushed the little
boat on the lake and jumped in after her. Husch-Kusch eagerly
paddled her tail and the boat gently left the shore. The Sun was
close to going down and had painted the clouds a golden glow
that was mirrored in the water.

23
 A raven flew down from the blue mountain. It circled the little
boat. Tatatuck clearly understood these words from its cawing
voice. “Do not go to the mountain! Giant Troll is awake. He
would sink your boat. He keeps watch the whole night and only
falls asleep in the morning sunshine. Caw-caw, do not go to the
mountain now!” Tatatuck waved a “thank-you” to the good raven.
“Husch-Kusch, stop paddling! The mountain is dangerous
right now. We must wait for the night to pass. I think we can sleep
in the boat here in the middle of the lake. You must be tired from
all the paddling,” he said.
The little squirrel lay down in the boat. She was so tired she
could hardly feel her tail. Tatatuck stretched out to rest and soon
Husch-Kusch was asleep on his arm. As Tatatuck gazed at the
glimmering light in the clouds, he saw the first stars twinkling. For
a long time, he looked at the nighttime mountain and watched
as, here and there, something like starlight flickered out of it.
He knew this was crystal light. A falling star slipped down to the
mountain. It almost reached the top, blazed very bright, and then
was gone. Tatatuck also sank sound asleep into the starry night.

Crystal Mountain
The next morning, Tatatuck awakened with the rising Sun.
The little squirrel on his arm yawned, but then looked intently all
around. “Good morning, Husch-Kusch,” Tatatuck said. “Do you
see anything unusual?”
“No, everything is bright and clear, not a dark troll in sight. I
will paddle toward the mountain.”
As the little boat began to move, Tatatuck looked at the
mountain. He saw steep, dark cliffs below. There was no flat
shoreline to pull the boat onto the beach. Was it possible to land
here? He felt for the hammer, but it gave no signal.

24
 It’s all right, he thought. It’s time for me to be clever myself.
As they came closer to the mountain, Tatatuck saw a rocky
reef. Some of the rocks were dangerously hidden beneath the
water’s surface and could damage the boat. Tatatuck hung his
head over the front of the boat and peered into the clear water
to watch for any sharp rocks before it was too late. Husch-Kusch
paddled slowly. Tatatuck used his hands to steer the boat.
Once they made it safely to the mountain, he clutched the
crag of a rock and pulled the boat onto it. “Husch-Kusch, you
must stay with the boat and keep it here by the mountain. I am
going to climb up the cliff. It will be easier going once I am at the
top. As soon as I find a good crystal, I will come back,” he said.
The little squirrel held tight to the rock with both paws because
there was nothing for tying up the boat. Tatatuck climbed higher
and higher. When he had conquered the steep cliff, the mountain
came into view in all its glorious beauty. Amazing ribbons of
stones in every color curled throughout the deep-blue rock.
Before him, the first crystal cave appeared, full of violet
crystals. They were all clear and perfect. Should he hammer out
a beautiful crystal here and return quickly to Husch-Kusch and
the boat?
No, he thought. I can always go back. I want to see more
crystal caves.
As he climbed higher, he saw wonderful ruby-red crystals.
How gorgeous, he thought. Like burning embers!
He almost started hammering away, but something pulled
him onward and higher. He found a cave that was glowing orange
and gold, bright as sunshine. Shall I take something from here? he
mused.
He grasped the hammer, totally enchanted by the pure beauty
of the light. But a shiver went through him just as he started to
chisel with the hammer. He stopped, put the hammer away, and
hiked still higher.

25
 Tatatuck was so enchanted by the splendor of the crystal
caves that he lost track of the time and forgot about Giant Troll.
He forgot about Husch-Kusch and the little boat. The next cave
held groups of colorless, transparent crystals that looked like
tiny crystal castles. Oh, Crystal Master would be so happy to
have one of these, without the slightest cloudiness! He suddenly
remembered that in his dream he had seen a falling star disappear
way up high on the mountain. Was that a sign? He began walking
up the mountain once again.
It was now late morning. The Sun was high in the sky. A
green crystal cave came into view. The green crystals looked like
they were wearing little pink caps. Next to them were sky-blue
crystals. “These are the most beautiful!” he cried, and reached for
the little hammer.
But was this the highest cave? He looked up and it seemed
like there might be another cave up there. Once again, he put
away the hammer and climbed further toward the mountain peak.
Suddenly, it seemed to him that the mountain had an eye. It was
the crystal cave at the very top. It was still quite a distance to
climb to the top. Should he just be happy to stay here below?
Soon the Sun would be at midday, and Giant Troll would awaken.
He thought about Husch-Kusch in the little boat, clinging to the
rocks. Would she be able to hang on?
But something within Tatatuck made him want to climb
higher. It was there, at the eye of the mountain, he had seen the
flashing dream-star. He hurried toward the top. When he reached
the highest cave, he was rooted to the spot. Groups of crystals
in seven colors were shining inside: first violet, then ruby-red,
orange, golden yellow, green, sky blue and dark blue. They were
arranged next to each other like small, arched crystal crowns.
Tatatuck solemnly stepped closer and whispered:
“Crystal Mountain, give me some stones
That I may bring to the King of Gnomes!”

26
 A warm hum resounded through the cave as if the mountain
crooned, “Help yourself!”
Tatatuck carefully hammered around the arch of an especially
beautiful crystal crown. He must be so careful not to break off
even one point of the crystal! He kept chipping away at the
stone. A crack suddenly appeared right where it would loosen
the crystal. It was as if the mountain was helping. Tatatuck put the
hammer down and carefully wriggled the crystal crown out with
both hands. At last, it lay gleaming on his palms.
Cautiously, he descended the mountain. He must not fall and
risk damaging the crystal. He saw the lake way down below and
the place where the boat lay hidden. Finally, Tatatuck came to
the cliff edge where he could look down. He did not see the little
boat. He realized the Sun was already at midday.
Husch-Kusch had held on for hours, but she grew so tired that
she let go for just a moment to rest… and fell asleep in the boat. A
soft breeze carried the boat further out onto the lake. Tatatuck was
deeply shocked. He looked out over the water and discovered
the boat so far away it seemed no bigger than a nutshell. “Husch-
Kusch!” he cried in a loud, high voice.
The boat wobbled. The little squirrel heard the cry and started
to turn the boat around.
But someone else also heard the cry—Giant Troll! He was
just waking up. He raised his head, looked up the mountain, and
looked over the lake. A cliff ledge hid the little boat from his view.
He did not know from which side he had heard something that
sounded like a shout. “Was it just a crow?” he grumbled, and he
lay back down.
Meanwhile, Tatatuck arrived at the reef. The little boat glided
up to him. Husch-Kusch saw the glimmering crystal crown and
was elated and full of admiration. So much so, she forgot to say
sorry for falling asleep in the boat. She held the boat close to the
rocky reef, and Tatatuck had no trouble climbing aboard. His face
beamed with happiness, just like a crystal.

27
 Husch-Kusch was about to push off when she asked abruptly,
“Tatatuck, where is your hammer?”
Tatatuck placed the crystal in the bottom of the boat, jumped
onto the rocks, and climbed as fast as he could. He had never
run so fast before. Once, he fell and loosened some rocks, which
scattered into the depths below. Giant Troll lifted his head. “Is the
raven scratching for bugs again?” he said to himself. He sat up
and stared at the mountain.
When Tatatuck finally reached the top, he found the precious
hammer and pressed it close. “I will never forget you again!” he
said.
He wasted no time resting up there but climbed down in a
hurry because he thought the rockslide may have betrayed his
location to Giant Troll.
Yes indeed, Giant Troll was bored in the warm sunshine. He
stood up and stretched. He wanted to make the rounds of the
mountain-peak island. The long rod served as a walking stick. It
was just bad luck that he ambled toward the place where Husch-
Kusch waited with the boat. “That is no crow! A rascal, a rogue!”
he grumbled to himself.
Tatatuck sped through the last steep part and had just reached
the bottom when he saw Giant Troll. Tatatuck ran to the reef,
climbed into the boat, and gave it a great shove off the rocks.
Husch-Kusch paddled so fast.
Giant Troll raised the rod and crashed it down into the water.
Waves rippled out on all sides, but the little boat was already
far away, out of reach. Even so, the boat tipped dangerously and
almost capsized. Husch-Kusch paddled still harder.
Giant Troll shouted and pulled in the rod. He grabbed a huge
rock, but he was so angry that his throw went wild and missed. It
plopped into the water a long way from the boat. He yelled again,
scooped a handful of rocks, and threw them into the lake. There
were splashes all around. Finally, he gave up because he saw that

28
the little boat was too far away. With a loud, cracking noise, the
angry troll smashed the wooden rod on the rocks.
The little boat was now out of danger. Husch-Kusch, completely
drained, stopped paddling. She lay in the boat, breathing heavily,
legs outstretched. She thought she might die. Tatatuck stroked her
fur. “Husch-Kusch, I owe you a big wish,” he soothed.
“Always to be with you, Tatatuck!” she whispered softly.
Finally, the little squirrel regained her strength. She paddled
the rest of the way, but slowly. Tatatuck had the crystal on his
knees and admired the rainbow colors. He looked at Crystal
Mountain and saw dark fog swirling around the bottom. The Sun
was moving into evening as the little boat made it safely to shore.
“Husch-Kusch, this evening the boat will be our bed once
again. My arms and legs are still shaking from everything we have
been through today. It was the worst and the best day of my life!”
Tatatuck said. He dragged the boat onto the shore.
Husch-Kusch scampered to go look in the forest for a crunchy
pinecone for her supper. When she returned she found Tatatuck
asleep in the boat. He held the crystal on his chest, covered
with both hands, his hammer tucked away for the night. The Sun
sank behind the blue mountain. The crystal caves glimmered
mysteriously above the fog. The little squirrel curled up in the
boat and thought how the traveling life with Tatatuck was so
wonderful.

The Scuffle Trolls

In the morning, Tatatuck and Husch-Kusch left their sleeping
spot in the boat. As they walked along, they wondered if they
would have an easier time with the trolls on the way back than
they had on the way out. “I will hold the crystal in my hand in

29
front of us. Its light is like no other. Maybe the trolls will like it!”
Tatatuck said.
“If I am not mistaken, you have grown a good bit stronger
on the trip to Crystal Mountain. It must be because of all the
climbing up and down,” Husch-Kusch responded.
It was true. Tatatuck felt he was now much stronger and braver.
The two cheerfully hiked back over the sixth mountain.
Both Scuffle Trolls were loitering in the valley of the narrow
gorge. They were waiting for someone to come along to scuffle
and argue with. “This is a boring life. There is nothing to do and
nobody to scuffle with,” Green Troll said to Red Troll.
No sooner had he said this than he banged Red Troll on the
head with his fist. Red Troll hit back, and soon they were scuffling
on the ground again. They bit each other on the arms and tore
at each other’s hair. After a while, they each cowered away by
themselves and grumbled at each other.
Just then, Tatatuck and Husch-Kusch came to the river without
a bridge, where it floods six times and then pauses. They had
already practiced this and were soon safe and dry on the other
side.
“Someone is coming!” Red Troll yelled.
Green Troll was by him in a flash. Hiding behind a big rock on
the trail below, they prepared to attack with their claw-like hands.
What was that? A strange, colorful, glowing light came toward
them. They had never seen anything like it. They both relaxed
their hands and popped their heads around the rock to get a
better look at the crystal. Their eyes grew wide and their mouths
dropped opened, as if they wanted to swallow the rainbow light.
Tatatuck saw them and how they marveled in amazement. He
stopped and held the crystal a little higher. Both trolls tottered out
from their hiding place. The little squirrel quickly climbed onto
Tatatuck’s back and looked warily at the two fellows. But Tatatuck

30
31
saw that they were enchanted by the crystal light and so he let
them come closer.
“Oh, how beautiful!” blurted Red Troll.
“Beautiful!” Green Troll bleated in agreement.
For the first time in their lives, and that had been a very long
time, they said that something was beautiful.
“May we walk with you for a while?” Red Troll asked Tatatuck.
“Here in the valley it is so boring that we always scuffle with each
another to pass the time.”
“Bor-bor-ring,” Green Troll bleated again.
Tatatuck looked at their claw-like hands. Those hands would
be perfect for plucking at roots, he thought.
“If you will stop scuffling, you may walk with us,” he answered.
“I might know something you can do with your hands that is right
and good!”
Red Troll grinned at Green Troll. “Hey, he knows of something
we can do. We are going with him!” Red Troll said.
That is how it happened that the four of them traveled over the
fifth mountain into the next valley. Tatatuck was in front, Husch-
Kusch by his side, and Green Troll and Red Troll hobbled along
behind, hand in hand.

Ripping Troll
While the odd little group climbed over the crest of the fifth
mountain, Husch-Kusch was very nervous. “Oh no, Tatatuck, we
are getting closer to Ripping Troll. He is the one who tore up my
nest and pulled my fur.”
“Do not be afraid! I popped his hand so hard with the hammer,
it probably still hurts!” Tatatuck responded.

32
 They walked through the woods and came to the disheveled
meadow. Almost all the leaves were ripped from the trees and all
the mushrooms were trampled into the ground.
Ripping Troll heard voices and footsteps. He hid near the path
so he could attack when they walked by. He peeked out from
between two rocks and saw the rainbow crystal Tatatuck was
holding out in front. Ripping Troll slowly emerged from behind the
rock, held out both hands, and walked toward the crystal. Husch-
Kusch whistled in terror and hid behind Tatatuck. But when the
crystal light shone on Ripping Troll’s twisted, claw-like fingers,
they began to relax, stretch, and quiver. His eyes and mouth were
wide open, and he was breathing extremely fast.
Red Troll and Green Troll came forward to grab Ripping Troll,
but he started sneezing alarmingly, so much that he ended up
falling on his nose and held tight to the ground.
That is good for him, Tatatuck thought. He will sneeze out all
the mischief.
Ripping Troll wiped his nose on the grass and sat up.
“Come with us!” Red Troll said to him. “Tatatuck knows of
some work we can do with our hands!”
Once again, Ripping Troll reached out for the crystal. His
hands were shaking less now. “Do you know of something I can
do, too?” he asked Tatatuck.
“Just come with us! Something will turn up,” Tatatuck replied.
So, Ripping Troll took up the rear of the little group and trotted
along. Husch-Kusch walked beside Tatatuck, but every so often
she looked back to see if Ripping Troll’s fingers showed any sign
of anger again. But they never did.
The little group came to the waterfall with the path behind it.
“I cannot go through there!” Ripping Troll suddenly yelled. “The
water elves will trip me into the swirling water. Ooh, ooh, I am
afraid!”

33
 Red Troll took his right hand, Green Troll his left, and together
they led Ripping Troll onto the wet path, following behind
Tatatuck. They were already on their way up and over the fourth
mountain.

Stinky Troll and Sly Troll

In the next valley, the hefty Stinky Troll and slim Sly Troll had
discovered a boggy swamp hole close to the mountain trail. Here
they lurked, waiting for Tatatuck’s return. They intended to throw
him into the bog and take his hammer. Sly Troll covered the hole
with green ferns so it could not be seen. They both watched the
trail where it emerged from the forest and led down to the marshy
valley floor. They had been lying in wait here in the bog since
early morning. They took turns cupping their ears with their hands
so they could hear the slightest noise from the direction of the
trail. It was evening and Stinky Troll was on watch. He perked
his ears. What was that? It sounded like many Tatatucks were
coming toward them. He poked Sly Troll. “Someone’s coming!”
he alerted.
The two trolls ducked behind some reeds and peeked out at
the trail. The wonder-crystal Tatatuck carried shone brighter now
because evening was closing in on the mountain forest. The light
beamed into Stinky Troll’s eyes and he was so frightened, he let
out a muffled scream. He rolled sideways and fell into the covered
bog hole. Sly Troll ran to him and grabbed a hunk of hair just in
time before he sank. Tatatuck stopped short in amazement, but
the three other trolls hurried to the patch of quicksand. Ripping
Troll pulled on Sly Troll, Red Troll pulled on Ripping Troll, and
Green Troll pulled on Red Troll. And that is how they pulled out a
totally mud-covered Stinky Troll.
“Go wash in the river!” Tatatuck called out.

34
 They led Stinky Troll to the bubbling brook. It was so much fun
for the other trolls! Now they had something to do! They splashed,
washed, and scrubbed Stinky Troll with moss and sand. They did
such a good job that all the stink on Stinky Troll disappeared.
“Now your name will be Washed Troll!” Red Troll said.
Sly Troll walked over to Tatatuck to get a closer look at the
crystal light that had frightened Stinky Troll so badly. The wondrous
light beamed into his eyes. There was a curious cracking and
buzzing inside Sly Troll’s head. All his bad thoughts went out of
his head in a trail of smoke. It seemed to Sly Troll that his head
was completely empty. He hobbled sideways to a large rock and
used it to file down his claw-like fingernails.
At the first shout, Husch-Kusch had scrambled up a pine tree.
She could see everything from up there. She could hardly believe
her eyes when she saw what was happening. A little while later,
the five trolls gathered around Tatatuck and looked at the light-
crystal.
“It will be dark soon. I would like to get back over the third
mountain before we stop to rest for the night,” Tatatuck said.
Sly Troll responded, “We are coming to my valley. I know
where there is a comfortable cave. There is room enough for all
of us to rest!”
“Would you like to come with us, too?” Tatatuck asked.
“I would really like that,” Sly Troll answered. “Red Troll told
me you know of something we can do.”
“That is right,” Tatatuck replied. But he did not say what he
was thinking Sly Troll could do.
Tatatuck just now noticed the little squirrel was missing.
“Husch-Kusch, where are you? Come back, we are going further,”
he called loudly.
Husch-Kusch jumped from the pine tree and right onto
Tatatuck’s back. As Tatatuck began to move, dumpy little Washed

35
Troll began to cry, “May I not come along? Hoooo! Nobody will
take me with them! Hoooo! I will start stinking again. Hoooo!”
Tatatuck waved him over, “Come with us. I know of something
for you to do, too.”
So the little group, now two trolls bigger, started out again:
Tatatuck in front with the crystal and Husch-Kusch, and the five
trolls following in a row in the order Tatatuck had found them on
his way back. Plump little Washed Troll waddled along in the rear.
The rainbow-crystal glowed ever brighter as it grew darker
outside. Once on the other side of the mountain, Sly Troll led
them to the sheltered cave. It was here he had tried to steal
Tatatuck’s little hammer a few days ago. The trolls soon fell asleep
in a circle. Tatatuck held the crystal in one arm and Husch-Kusch
nested in the other. But he could not get to sleep for a long time.
Tomorrow we will be in the valley of Wrong-way Troll, and
then Rascal Troll. If only nobody steals the little hammer at the last
minute, or even the crystal! he thought.

Wrong-way Troll and His

Thorny Woods
The next morning, Tatatuck and his companions climbed
down into the valley of Wrong-way Troll. Suddenly, the trail came
to an end. Any way forward was enclosed in thorns. Wrong-way
Troll had arranged that so the travelers would get caught in the
thorny thicket and lose their way. Wherever one tried to step,
there was only a tightly intertwined thorny path.
Tatatuck turned to the trolls. “Now I have a good job for you,”
he said. “Each of you go into the forest and find a sturdy stick. We
will use them to clear a path down to the bridge. There are no
more thorns on the other side of the river.”

36
 Tatatuck did not have to say it twice. The trolls ran, wobbled
and hobbled to find fallen branches to use as clubs. Ripping Troll
was the fastest, then the two Scuffle Trolls, then Sly Troll. Washed
Troll walked behind them and swept thorns and wood chips from
the path with a pine branch. Tatatuck and Husch-Kusch walked
safely and leisurely behind with the crystal, without getting one
scratch.
Suddenly, Ripping Troll was heard from the front. “Tatatuck,
come here!” he called loudly. “There are trolls hung up in the
thorns!”
Curious, everyone stopped beating at the thicket and went to
look. Tatatuck saw that Wrong-way Troll had led a few little trolls
into the thorns where they were now stuck. They must have tried
for an awfully long time to get free because they were exhausted
and hanging like wet rags in a thicket of thorns.
“Be careful getting them out,” Tatatuck commanded. “They
are very weak.”
One little troll after the other was untangled and brought to
Tatatuck, all in all a goodly dozen of them, all freed from the
Thorny Woods. He held the crystal so it shone softly on them—
head, chest, arms and legs. Slowly, they began to move and look
around.
“You may all come along with us if you like. I know of a job
for you!” Tatatuck said. They could only nod their heads because
they had not yet recovered their voices again.
It was a lovely scene when Tatatuck and all the big trolls and
little trolls stepped onto the little bridge, which Tatatuck greeted
the same as before. Ripping Troll grimly scanned in all directions,
looking for a glimpse of Wrong-way Troll. But he had fled the
valley when he saw the thorny thicket being destroyed.

37
 Rascal Troll
The much larger group of travelers climbed over the last
mountain. The little trolls that were freed from the thorns were still
quite weak, but they managed to slowly hobble along. Clearing
the thorns had made all the other trolls very tired, but they had
never felt so satisfied.
“Let us stop here in the valley and rest. The way will be easier
from here,” Tatatuck said. They rested under a linden tree in the
valley meadow.
“I am not tired,” Husch-Kusch declared. “I am going to look
for a nut.”
Tatatuck leaned against the tree trunk and watched as one
troll after the other fell asleep. The crystal was in his lap and the
hammer stuck in his belt.
With all the excitement, Tatatuck had completely forgotten
that Rascal Troll lived in this valley, and he fell asleep, too. Rascal
Troll had seen Tatatuck and the whole group of trolls climb down
the mountain. He crept close to the linden tree, cautiously from
bush to bush. When he was near enough, he instantly recognized
Tatatuck sitting by the tree trunk. He had both hands in his lap
and something was glittering from underneath.
But Rascal Troll was much more interested in the little hammer
in Tatatuck’s belt. Quietly, oh so quietly, he crawled forward. He
pushed the bottom of the handle up with one finger and pulled
from the top with two fingers. The little hammer slowly slid into
his hand. Rascal Troll slipped away with the loot as quietly as he
had come.
He was just about to disappear into the nearby woods when
Husch-Kusch came frisking along. With one glance, she saw the
strange troll had Tatatuck’s hammer in his hand. She let all the nuts
fall to the ground. Lightning fast, she jumped on the troll’s nose

38
and bit into it like it was a nut. Rascal Troll was so shocked that he
screamed, dropped the hammer, and held on to his painful nose.
When they heard the scream, Tatatuck and several of the
trolls jumped up. Tatatuck reached for the hammer. It was gone!
Horrified, he searched under the tree. Nothing! Meanwhile,
Ripping Troll and Red Troll ran in the direction of the scream.
They found Rascal Troll behind a bush, with both hands pressed
against his nose.
Back at the linden tree, Tatatuck was terribly upset. “Where is
the hammer? My little hammer!” he cried.
Washed Troll looked in the tree in case the hammer was up
there. Just then, Husch-Kusch arrived. What was she dragging on
the ground? The missing hammer! She told everyone what had
just happened.
Tatatuck quickly bent down to stroke the dear little animal’s
fur. He put the hammer back in his belt. At that moment, Ripping
Troll and Red Troll came back, dragging Rascal Troll with them.
The trolls gathered around the culprit, making fists and scolding.
“Show me your hands!” Tatatuck said.
Rascal Troll presented his long-fingered hands and Tatatuck
gently placed the crystal on them. Rascal Troll’s eyes grew wide.
“Pretty red, pretty yellow, pretty blue!” he said. He knew only
three colors by name. Suddenly, his fingers began to shake. “Hot!
Hot!” he moaned.
If Tatatuck had not been quick to take the crystal it would
have fallen to the ground. The crystal’s light-energy had burnt the
badness right out of Rascal Troll’s fingers.
“Shall I throw him in the river?” Ripping Troll asked.
“Whichever one of you has never done anything bad may
throw him in the river!” Tatatuck replied.
Not a one of them made a move. All the trolls were ashamed
and stared at the ground.

39
 Tatatuck continued, “He shall come with us. I know of
something he can do, too.”
So, an even bigger group of trolls started out once again. It was
a cheery sight to see: Tatatuck in front with the crystal and Husch-
Kusch, and then—plip-plap-plop—the line of trolls following
behind, all in the order Tatatuck had found them. Rascal Troll
brought up the rear. In his hands he carried a flower that he had
picked along the path.
That’s a good sign, Tatatuck thought. If he finds joy in picking
flowers, he will soon forget about stealing.
And they came to the last little bridge by the waterfall.

The Trolls Are Given Jobs

Tatatuck thought about what he should do with all these trolls.
It occurred to him that he should take them to meet Root Master.
He has loads of things they could do. They could pull and pluck
at big and small roots with those hands and fingers that used to
do so many foolish things. They would not be bored anymore.
And when they see how their work causes beautiful plants and
powerful trees to grow, they will find joy in it.
Tatatuck directed his steps toward the part of the forest where
he knew he would find Root Master. A guard and messenger
gnome sat near a huge oak tree. Tatatuck asked him to announce
to Root Master that he was back. The messenger darted away as
quickly as a bee flies.
Tatatuck called the trolls over to sit among the tree roots.
“Listen carefully, my dear trolls!” he said. “Soon the clever and
hard-working Root Master will be here. I served him for many
years until I undertook the journey to Crystal Mountain. He will
take you into the Earth and show you all the work to be done

40
there. In time, you may be able to earn your own little hammers.
I must travel further on and take my crystal to the King’s castle.”
Tatatuck and the trolls did not have long to wait before Root
Master was seen walking toward them, with his long beard and
knobby cane. When he saw them all there in a long line, his face
lit up with a smile. “Look, it is Tatatuck! What in the blazes do
you have there? Is it a wonderful crystal? You were successful?
Is it from the seventh mountain?”
“Yes, it is,” Tatatuck replied. “And along the way I found all
these trolls. They did not rightly know what they should do in the
world. I brought them to you so they may find joy in working in
the realm of the roots.”
“Their faces look a little pinched. Can they smile?” Root
Master remarked.
“Until now, they could only smirk. You could also teach them
to laugh and be happy!” Tatatuck replied.
At that all the grimacing trolls began to grin. It sounded
mostly like nickering and quacking, but there were a few sounds
of laughter to be heard. “Good,” Root Master said. “They shall
come with me.”
He tapped one of the oak roots three times with the knobby
cane. The ground opened up to reveal a cave entrance. Root
Master stepped inside and beckoned to the trolls. As they passed
Tatatuck, each of them wanted to touch the crystal once more and
shake his hand. Tatatuck promised to visit them in the winter and
report what the Gnome King said about the crystal. Then the trolls
padded and hopped along, following Root Master. When the last
one had gone into the cave, a little hand holding a flower gave
one more wave before the entrance closed.
Tatatuck was alone. Where was Husch-Kusch? He saw her
sitting in a nearby oak tree, looking unhappy. “Husch-Kusch,
what is wrong?” he asked.

41
 “Must I now stay behind, all alone in this unfamiliar forest?”
she responded sadly. “May I not travel with you?”
“But of course, Husch-Kusch!” Tatatuck said. “You saved the
little hammer. You rowed the little boat over the Crystal Lake. I
could never have reached the seventh mountain without you. We
will stay together and be friends forever!”
Husch-Kusch gave a big, joyful jump from the high branch
and sat again on Tatatuck’s shoulder. The two of them set out on
the way to find Crystal Master.

Return to Crystal Cave

To reach the crystal caves of the King’s castle, Tatatuck had to
go underground. His seven-colored crystal shone so wonderfully
that the earth gnomes and crystal gnomes gathered from all over
to admire its light.
A messenger gnome had already gone ahead to announce
Tatatuck’s arrival. That is why Crystal Master was waiting with
curiosity to greet the traveler in front of the grotto. At the first
glimpse of the shining rainbow-crystal, Crystal Master clasped his
hands over his head in amazement. He walked toward Tatatuck
with wide-open arms. Not saying a word, he held out his hands
cupped together like a bowl.
Tatatuck placed the crystal in his hands. “Here, Crystal Master,”
he said. “This is from the very top of the seventh mountain. And,
here, I brought back the little hammer, too.”
Now, for the first time, Crystal Master looked intently at
Tatatuck, whose face was radiant with color. “You have done a
wonderful job, Tatatuck!” he exclaimed. “I have never seen such
a beautiful crystal! This is a King’s crystal! A tourmaline! We must
take it to the King right away.”

42
 Crystal Master directed a messenger to announce his visit to
the King.
“What about the little squirrel sitting on your shoulder?”
Crystal Master asked.
“I could not have gotten the crystal here without her,” Tatatuck
replied. “She was a great help to me and is my friend for life. She
may come with me, right?”
“If she was your helper, then she shall go with you, but not
all the way to the King. Only you and I can be in his presence,”
Crystal Master replied. “Let us be on our way!” And he placed the
crystal back in Tatatuck’s hands. “You found the crystal,” he said.
“You should be the one to take it to the King!”

The Gnome King

Once they were underground again, Tatatuck said to the
squirrel, “Husch-Kusch, you may not go with me to the King’s
Crystal Hall. But go over there by the oak roots that grow down so
powerfully and wait there for me. I will be back in a little while.
I will look for you and tell you about everything I see when we
meet the King!”
The King and his counselors were having a meeting in the hall
when Crystal Master and Tatatuck walked through the castle gate.
Tatatuck carried his shining treasure carefully in his hands. Its
light was much stronger here underground than it was in daylight.
The guards at the gate respectfully backed away as Crystal
Master approached. Crystal Master took his hammer and tapped
three different crystals of different heights with it. Each one
sounded a different tone, like bells. This was Crystal Master’s way
of announcing his presence.

43
 From inside, a servant appeared in an open door. As soon as
he saw Crystal Master, he cleared the way because he knew the
King would welcome Crystal Master at any time.
“Walk close behind me, Tatatuck,” Crystal Master said. “I
want to surprise the King. Once I am standing before the throne,
I will move to the side, and he will suddenly see you with the
rainbow-crystal. He will be so surprised! Then, kneel before the
King and place the crystal at his feet. Then we will wait to see
what will happen next.”
No sooner said than done! As they both entered the big grotto
hall, Tatatuck was amazed at the crystal light shimmering from all
sides. He stayed well hidden behind the Crystal Master.
When King Silver-beard saw Crystal Master he gave him a
friendly wave. “Crystal Master,” he said, “you come at an unusual
time. What brings you here?”
“My King,” he replied, “I bring you a message from Crystal
Mountain. It is something I thought was not possible, but one of
our little gnome brothers made his way there and back. Here is
his token!”
Crystal Master stepped to the side and there stood little
Tatatuck, holding the wonderful seven-colored crystal high in his
hands. The circle of counselors were awestruck. The King slowly
rose from his throne and silently admired the marvelous crystal.
Tatatuck slowly walked toward the King’s throne, just as
Crystal Master had directed, to place the crystal at the King’s feet.
“No!” said the King. “Put it in my hands!”
As the King touched the crystal, he held Tatatuck’s hands in
his and stood like that for a long moment. Tatatuck looked at the
beautiful silver-white face, now lit up in seven colors. The King
gently took the crystal from Tatatuck’s hands and returned to his
throne.
“What is your name, my little gnome brother?” the King asked.

44
 “Ta-ta-tuck!” was the firm reply.
“Tatatuck, tell us how things went on your journey to Crystal
Mountain,” the King said.
At a signal, two servants brought a crystal stool for the
storyteller and set it before the throne. Crystal Master took a seat
and Tatatuck began to tell the King and his counselors about all
his adventures since the day Crystal Master gave him the traveling
task and Root Master gave him some time off.
During the whole story, The King held the rainbow-crystal in
his lap. He seemed especially pleased when he heard how Tatatuck
had used the crystal to soothe all the trolls on his return journey.
Tatatuck reported that the trolls had gone with Root Master to be
trained and to work as root gnomes. When they heard this, all the
King’s counselors tapped for joy on their crystal stools with their
little hammers. Cling-a-ling-ling like bells resounded through
the hall.
Tatatuck finished his story. The King waved him to come
forward, quite close. “Let me see the little hammer!” he said.
Tatatuck put it in his hand. The King put it inside his golden
cloak. As the King drew it back out again, Tatatuck saw that his
hammer was completely covered in gold.
“Crystal Master,” the King said, “It was a good idea to give
Tatatuck this assignment. You chose the right gnome for the job.
So many before him gave up! But you, dear Tatatuck, from now
on you shall be one of my trusted servants here in the castle.
However, for today, I will grant you one wish.”
Tatatuck did not have to think long before he spoke up. “Your
Majesty, my wish is that I may keep my little squirrel friend,
Husch-Kusch, with me always and go with her once every day up
to the forest so she may find nuts and pinecones to eat. Then she
could build her nest down here in the roots of the big oak tree.”
The King smiled and replied, “This wish is granted! I would
like to see your plucky little squirrel. Bring her here.”

45
 Tatatuck was shown the way out by one of the servants. He
carried the little gold hammer in his hand.
Husch-Kusch had been anxiously waiting outside for a long
time. Is he ever coming back? she wondered.
When Tatatuck arrived at the roots of the oak tree, Husch-
Kusch jumped into his arms and twirled for joy. “Husch-Kusch!”
Tatatuck said. “Be brave. I am to take you to see the King.”
The little squirrel was very still while Tatatuck carried her to
the grotto hall. She tucked her little tail around herself. “Tatatuck,
I could not live among these cold rocks,” she said nervously.
“There is not a single nut to be found in here.”
“No, no, you may build your nest in the roots of the oak tree,”
Tatatuck reassured her. “I will dig a little hole for you so you may
come and go as you please and run into the forest whenever you
want.”
Tatatuck arrived at the King’s throne with the little animal.
He knelt on a step so the King could get a better look at Husch-
Kusch. The King gently stroked her fur and spoke kind words to
her. It seemed to Tatatuck that the little squirrel’s fur took on a
golden glow, even though it was still brown.
“Tatatuck,” the King said, “with Crystal Master’s help, your
first job in the castle will be to mount the rainbow-crystal in the
upper middle part of my throne. Its light will bring us joy and
peace from this day forward. Someday, all the different beings
and creatures will learn to get along with each other, just as the
different colors in the crystal shine together in harmony. This
should be our goal in the Gnome Kingdom. Today, however, see
to it that your little squirrel is able to build a good nest in the roots
of the oak tree.” The King raised his hand to signal the end of the
audience and to bid them farewell.
Crystal Master and Tatatuck bowed, Husch-Kusch waved with
her tail, and they all left the Crystal Hall.

46
47
 Once outside, Crystal Master arranged a meeting time with
Tatatuck. “Sunrise tomorrow,” he said, “let your little squirrel go
up to the forest. I will fetch you to start work on the King’s throne.
When the King sits on his throne, the crystal should shine above
him like a rainbow-crown.”
Tatatuck and Husch-Kusch went into the network of oak roots.
Tatatuck did not dig long before he came to a little hollow in the
tree roots. Husch-Kusch could build a cozy little nest here with
some dry leaves. From here she could slide down into the Gnome
Kingdom or climb up into the forest. It could not be better. They
were both very tired and were soon dozing inside the hollow of
the oak roots.

The Trolls Are Busy

Deep in the Earth
After three days, the task was done. The rainbow-crystal was
mounted into the King’s throne and was spreading its gentle light.
Tatatuck was curious how his trolls in the Root Kingdom were
doing. He went to the place where they had parted earlier. He
slipped underground next to a pine tree. Oh, how the little trolls
from the Thorny Woods were pulling and plucking!
Suddenly, he spied Rascal Troll. What was he doing? There
were a few small white pebbles in front of him. He was wrapping
them with delicate little roots so that some white showed through.
When he saw Tatatuck, he said, “Hello!”
“What are you doing?” Tatatuck asked.
“These are my precious white jewels!” Rascal Troll replied.
“I let roots grow around them so that just a little white glimmers.
This way, nobody will swipe them from me. It makes me happy!”

48
 Tatatuck walked on a little further and met Sly Troll. He was
pulling apart one root to make two. “What are you doing?”
Tatatuck asked.
With a crafty squint in his eye, Sly Troll replied, “I can make
two roots out of one, and when I take those two and make two
more, I have four. And when I take each of those and make two
again, I have eight, and so on.”
“Gosh!” Tatatuck exclaimed, “Soon you can count above
ten!”
“No, I have not made it past eight yet,” Sly Troll grinned.
Tatatuck walked on a little further and came to Washed Troll.
He was lying on his back, working at something above him with
his fingers. “What are you doing?” Tatatuck asked.
“Root Master gave me these most delicate little roots to hold,”
Washed Troll replied. “A small white forest lily grows up above.
Maybe in the spring, when it blooms, I will be allowed to go up
and see it! This is fun!”
Tatatuck went on and came to Ripping Troll, who was
surrounded by many roots. “What kind of knots are you making
in those roots?” Tatatuck asked.
“These are the roots of a hazelnut bush,” Ripping Troll replied.
“Root Master told me every time I tie a knot in a root down here,
a nut will grow up above for the little squirrel! It makes me happy
to tie knots for Husch-Kusch.”
Tatatuck went further and came to Red and Green Scuffle
Trolls. Root Master had assigned them to an oak tree’s network of
roots. “What are you doing?” Tatatuck asked.
“The ground around an oak tree becomes hard because the
tree’s wood is hard,” they replied. “We loosen the dirt at the root
tips so they can keep growing. Whichever one of us works the
longest root during the day is allowed to give the other one a
whack on the paw in the evening!”

49
 “Does that not just hurt both of you?” Tatatuck asked.
“Not a bit, it is a lot of fun!” was the grinning reply.
Tatatuck’s little root tour had convinced him that all his trolls
were happily employed. Root Master appeared and Tatatuck
asked him, “How is it going with the trolls? I see that you have
not sent any of them away.”
“No,” Root Master responded. “Things are much jollier around
here since the trolls have been helping in the Root Kingdom. You
can bring me more of their sort any time.”
That evening, in the oak-root nest, Tatatuck told Husch-Kusch
how cheerfully the trolls were working in the Root Kingdom and
how helpful they had become. He was telling her about Ripping
Troll and his root knotting when she interrupted, “I know that
giant hazelnut bush. Hundreds of nuts grow on it. When they are
ripe, I will have enough nuts for the winter.”
Before they dozed off, Tatatuck mused, “When all the leaves
have fallen from the trees in the forest and root pulling comes
to a halt, then winter will be here. Then I will meet up with my
friends, Sly Troll and Washed Troll, Rascal Troll, Ripping Troll
and the Scuffle Trolls, Red and Green. I will take them to see the
wonders of Deep Earth: crystal caves, precious jewels, seams of
silver and gold. Maybe, in midwinter, the King will allow them
to look through the little window into the King’s Crystal Hall and
see the rainbow-crystal on his throne. Yes, in midwinter, look …
through … the … window…”
Tatatuck was fast asleep.

50
 Once upon a time there was a little root
gnome named Tatatuck. He was often alone
and found little companionship with the other
gnomes because he was shy. In the spring and
summer it was his task to smooth and tug at
the underground roots to make the plants and
trees grow well.

Autumn had come and there was less work

to be done. Tatatuck asked the Root Master,
“May I take a field trip and tour around the
underground caves?”

When Root Master assented, Tatatuck packed

a little bag, took hold of his little hammer,
and set out on the adventure of a lifetime.
He saw many wonders and made some very
interesting friends along the way. Won’t you
join him on his journey?

ISBN 978-1-943582-49-5

Tatatuck’s Journey
Jakob
Streit
351 Fairview Avenue
Suite 625
Hudson, NY 12534 9 781943 582495 to Crystal Mountain