The Wretched Stone

                                                                                           Chris Van Allsburg, USA (1949 - )
Summary in English

'The Wretched Stone' is a metaphorical story that critiques on modern TV Culture. It presents the disadvantages of modern TV Culture. The writer says that modern TV set is like the Wretched stone. TV is a curse. In short, this story is a criticism on TV that has caused a great disturbance in working activities.
The voyage starts on May 8 that the captain Randall Ethan Hope is sailing the Rita Anne. The weather is pleasant with clear sky, fair winds and fresh breeze. The crew members are singers, story tellers, musicians, dancers and readers. So, they are fine and interesting people. There is no boredom. The voyage goes on smoothly for few days.
On 5th of June, the captain and his crew members see a strange Island which is not recorded on the map. They hope to get some fresh fruit there. They go there but they could not find any fruit or life in the Island. There are only flavors but not fruits, plants but no life. Water is there but bitter to drink.
On the Island they find an extra ordinary rock: two feet across, grey in color, flat and smooth like glass. It has glowing light and is pleasing to look at. It requires six men to lift it. They take it abroad. The crew members are fascinated to it. They gaze it in silence missing music, storytelling and reading. They seem perfectly happy. They rarely speak. They believe that the captain can sail the boat alone. So, they show some abnormal behavior thereafter.
On 15th June, they encounter a great sea storm. The captain is unable to sail the ship alone. He sees a horrible scene inside. They are not men anymore, but apes, hairy beasts sitting and grinning at the terrible rock. They do not understand the words captain says. They are sitting around the wretched stone. Because of the positive effect of the treatment, the apes come back to human life.
They are sad without the stone. However, the writer is hopeful for a rescue. Gradually, all men return to Hormel condition. Then, they start reading as well. They are saved. A ship appears to resume them and decide to leave the Rita Anne, their ship. Before they leave the ship, they also decided to set fire on the wretched stone. Finally, Rita Anne is burnt along with the wretched stone. They also agree not to tell anybody about the strange events.