Скачать или смотреть The Curse of Greed: The Tale of Bartholomew Black

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled between a dense forest and a roaring river, there lived a man named Bartholomew Black. He was known far and wide for his insatiable greed. While his neighbors lived modest lives, content with what they had, Bartholomew was never satisfied. He craved more wealth, more power, and more luxuries than anyone could imagine.

One fateful evening, as Bartholomew counted his gold in the flickering candlelight, he heard a knock on his door. A mysterious old man, dressed in ragged clothes, stood outside in the pouring rain. “Good sir,” the old man croaked, “I am a traveler lost in the woods. Might you offer me a bed for the night and a bite to eat?”

Bartholomew, eyeing the stranger’s dirty appearance, wrinkled his nose in disgust. “I have no room for beggars,” he sneered, ready to slam the door in the old man’s face.

But before he could, the old man smiled, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “I see you are a man of wealth,” he said. “Perhaps I could make a deal with you. Let me stay the night, and I will share with you a secret map that leads to treasure beyond your wildest dreams.”

At the mention of treasure, Bartholomew's interest piqued. His greed overcame his disdain, and he allowed the old man into his home. They sat by the fire, and the old man pulled a tattered, ancient map from his cloak. “This map,” the old man explained, “will lead you deep into the Forbidden Forest, to the Cave of Echoes, where the legendary Jewel of Eternity lies. But be warned: the forest and the treasure are cursed. Only the pure of heart can claim it without consequence.”

Bartholomew laughed, dismissing the warning. “Cursed or not, I will claim the Jewel of Eternity for myself!” His eyes gleamed with ambition.

The next morning, armed with the map, Bartholomew set off on his journey. He trekked through the thick forest, ignoring the eerie whispers of the wind and the strange shadows that seemed to follow him. Days passed, and Bartholomew’s obsession with the treasure grew. He dreamt of the riches and power that would come with the Jewel of Eternity.

Finally, he reached the Cave of Echoes, its entrance dark and ominous. The air inside was thick, and his footsteps echoed eerily off the stone walls. As he ventured deeper, he found the Jewel of Eternity resting on a pedestal, glowing with an otherworldly light. It was more magnificent than he had ever imagined.

Without hesitation, Bartholomew grabbed the jewel, but as soon as his fingers closed around it, the ground trembled, and a voice boomed from the depths of the cave. “You have been warned, mortal. The curse of greed shall now be your fate!”

Panicked, Bartholomew tried to flee, but the cave walls shifted and closed in on him. The once-glorious Jewel of Eternity began to burn in his hands, searing his flesh. He dropped it, screaming in agony, but the curse had already taken hold.