33
The Quail King and the Hunter
[Unity]
Long, long ago, there was a Quail
King that reigned over a flock of a thousand quails. During that time, there
also lived a very clever quail hunter who knew how to make a quail call. As his
call sounded just like a real quail crying for help, it never failed to attract
other quails. The hunter would then capture them with a net, stuffed them into
baskets, and sold them for a living.
The Quail King was highly
respected by all for he always put the safety of his flock first. One day,
while on the lookout for danger, he came across the hunter and saw what he did.
“This quail hunter has a good plan for destroying our relatives. I must think
of a better one to save us,” he thought. Then he called for a meeting with his
whole nation of a thousand quails. He also invited other quails to attend this
assembly. “Greetings, my fellow quails. We are presently facing a great crisis.
Many of our relatives are being trapped and sold by a clever hunter where they
are then being killed and eaten. I have thought up a plan to save us all.
When the hunter covers us with his net, every single one of us must raise our necks all at the same time and fly away together with the net and drop it on a thorn bush. That will keep him busy, and we will be able to escape.” All agreed to follow this smart strategy. The next day, as usual, the hunter lured the quails with his quail call. But when he threw his net over them, they all raised up their necks at once, flew away with the net, and dropped it on a thorn bush. He could catch no quails at all! In addition, it took him the rest of the day to loosen his net from the thorns - so he had no time to try again! The next day, the same thing happened yet again, and he spent a second day unhooking his net from sharp thorns. He arrived home only to be greeted by acerbic remarks from his wife. “You used to bring home quails to eat, and money from selling quails. Now you return home empty-handed. What do you do all day? You must have another wife somewhere, who is feasting on quail meat at this very moment!” she complained. “Don’t think like this, my darling.
These days the quails have become very unified. They act as one, and raise up their necks all at the same time and carry my net to a thorn bush. But thanks to you, my one and only wife, I know just what to do! Just as you have argued with me, one day they too will argue, as relatives usually do. While they are occupied in conflict and bickering, I will trap them and bring them back to you. Then, you will be pleased with me again. Until then, I must be patient,” replied the hunter.
When the hunter covers us with his net, every single one of us must raise our necks all at the same time and fly away together with the net and drop it on a thorn bush. That will keep him busy, and we will be able to escape.” All agreed to follow this smart strategy. The next day, as usual, the hunter lured the quails with his quail call. But when he threw his net over them, they all raised up their necks at once, flew away with the net, and dropped it on a thorn bush. He could catch no quails at all! In addition, it took him the rest of the day to loosen his net from the thorns - so he had no time to try again! The next day, the same thing happened yet again, and he spent a second day unhooking his net from sharp thorns. He arrived home only to be greeted by acerbic remarks from his wife. “You used to bring home quails to eat, and money from selling quails. Now you return home empty-handed. What do you do all day? You must have another wife somewhere, who is feasting on quail meat at this very moment!” she complained. “Don’t think like this, my darling.
These days the quails have become very unified. They act as one, and raise up their necks all at the same time and carry my net to a thorn bush. But thanks to you, my one and only wife, I know just what to do! Just as you have argued with me, one day they too will argue, as relatives usually do. While they are occupied in conflict and bickering, I will trap them and bring them back to you. Then, you will be pleased with me again. Until then, I must be patient,” replied the hunter.
The hunter put up with his wife’s
complaints for several more days before one morning, when lured by the quail
call, one quail accidentally stepped on the head of another. The quail that was
stepped on immediately got angry and squawked at her. She removed her foot from
his head and apologised: “Please don’t be angry with me. Please excuse my
mistake.” But he would not listen. Soon both of them were squawking and
squawking, and the conflict got even worse! Hearing that the bickering was
getting louder, Quail King said, “There is no advantage in conflict. Continuing
it will lead to danger!” But they just wouldn’t listen. “I’m afraid this silly
conflict will keep them from co-operating to raise the net,” thought the Quail
King. So he commanded that all should escape. His own flock flew away at once.
And it was just in time too! For suddenly, the quail hunter threw his net over
the remaining quails. “I won’t hold the net for you,” screeched the two
squabbling quails to each other. Hearing this, some of the other quails got
emotional and squawked: “Why should I hold the net for anyone else?” The
conflict spread like wildfire. The hunter grabbed all the quails, stuffed them
into his baskets, and took them home to his wife. Of course, she was overjoyed.
And they invited all their friends over for a big quail feast.
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