The Crane and the Crab
[Trickery]
Long, long ago, a crane lived near a small pond. Right next
to the pond stood a gigantic tree. A fairy lived in that tree, and he learned
by observing the various animals. In the pond lived numerous small fishes. The crane
would use his beak to catch the fishes and eat them. It happened that there was
a drought in that area. The water level in the pond reduced so drastically,
that it was now easy for the crane to catch the fishes. In fact, he was even
getting a little fat from all that eating!
However, the crane discovered that no matter how much he ate,
he was never satisfied. But he did not learn from this. Instead, he decided
that if he finished eating all the fishes in the pond, he would find true
happiness. “The more the merrier!” he said to himself. In order to capture all
the fishes in the pond, the crane thought up a clever plan. He would trick the
fishes, deceive them into trusting him, and then gobble them up when they let down
their guards. He was very pleased with himself for thinking up such a ploy. Soon,
the crane embarked on his ruse. To get the fishes to trust him, he sat quietly
near the pond, in one position, just like a holy man in the forest. Shortly
after, the fishes swam up and asked: “Sir crane, what are you thinking of?” The
holy-looking crane answered: “Oh my dear fishes, it makes me sad to think of
your future. I am thinking about the impending disaster that will befall all of
you.”
“My lord, what disaster will happen to us?” they asked. “Look
around you! There is very little water left in this pond. You are also running
out of food to eat. This severe drought is very dangerous for your poor little
ones,” replied the crane solemnly.
“Oh dear! What can we do to save ourselves?” “My poor little
children,” answered the crane, “you must trust me and do as I say. If you allow
me to pick you up in my beak, I will take you, one at a time to another pond.
That pond is much bigger than this one. It is filled with water and covered
with lovely lotuses. It is like a paradise!”
When they heard the part about the beak, the fishes became a
little suspicious. “Mr Crane, how can we believe you?” they said. “Since time
immemorial, cranes have never helped us. Cranes only put us in their beaks to
eat us. This must be a trick. Or else you must be joking!”
Raising his head to made himself look as dignified as
possible, the crane said: “Please don’t say that. Can’t you see I am a very
special crane? You should trust me. But if you don’t believe me, send one fish
with me and I will show him the beautiful pond. Then when I bring him back, you
will know I can be trusted.” “This crane looks dignified, and sounds honest.
But to play safe, let us send a useless little troublemaker to go with him.
This will be a test,” they said to one another. They found the little one who
was well-known for skipping school, and pushed him towards the edge of the
pond.
The crane bent his head and picked up the little one in his
beak. Then he spread his wings and flew to a big tree on the shore of a
beautiful big pond. Just as he had said, it was covered with lovely lotuses.
The fish was amazed to see such a wonderful place. Then the crane carried him
back to his poor old pond, just as he had promised. Arriving home, the little
fish described the wonders of the big beautiful pond. Hearing this, all the
other fishes became very excited and rushed to be the first to go.
But the first passenger selected was that same little
troublemaker. Again, the crane picked him up in his beak and flew to the big tree
on the shore of the beautiful new pond. The little one was sure the helpful
crane was going to drop him into the wonderful pond, when suddenly the crane
killed him, gobbled up his flesh, and let the bones fall to the ground. The
crane returned to the old pond, brought the next little fish to the same tree,
and ate him in the same way. One by one, he gobbled them all up!
The crane was so full that he had trouble flying back to the
little pond. He realised there wasn’t anymore fish for him to trick and eat,
but he was still not satisfied! Then he noticed a lonely crab crawling along
the muddy shore. He walked over to the crab and said: “My dear crab, I have
kindly carried all the fishes to a big wonderful pond not far from here. Why do
you want to stay here alone? If you let me pick you up in my beak, I will
gladly take you there. For your own good, please trust me.” “There is no doubt
this crane here has eaten all those fishes. His belly is so full he can hardly
stand up straight. He definitely cannot be trusted! If I can get him to carry
me to a new pond and put me in it, so much the better. But if he tries to eat
me, I will have to cut off his head with my sharp claws,” thought the crab.
Then the crab said: “My friend crane, I am afraid I am much
too heavy for you to carry in your beak. You would surely drop me along the
way. Instead, I will grab onto your neck with my eight legs, and then you can
safely carry me to my new home.” The crane was so used to fooling others, that
he did not imagine he would be in any danger - even though the crab would be
grasping him by the throat. Instead he thought: “Excellent!
This will give me a chance to eat the sweet meat of this
foolish trusting crab.” So, the crane permitted the crab to grab onto his neck
with all eight legs. In addition, he grasped the crane’s neck with his sharp
claws. “Now kindly take me to the new pond,” said the crab. The foolish crane,
with his neck in the clutches of the crab, flew to the same big tree next
to the new pond. “Hey, silly crane, have you lost your way?
You have not taken me to the pond. Why don’t you take me to the shore and put
me in?” The crane answered: “Who are you calling silly? I don’t have to take
that from you. You’re not my relative. I suppose you thought you have tricked
me into giving you a free ride. But I’m the clever one. Just look at all those
fish bones under this tree. I’ve eaten all the fishes, and now I’m going to eat
you too, you silly crab!”
“Those fishes were eaten
because they were foolish enough to trust you. Because you tricked them, you
have become so conceited you think you can trick anyone. But you can’t fool me.
I have you by the throat. If one dies, we both die!” replied the crab. Suddenly,
the crane realised the danger he was in. “Oh my lord crab, please release me. I
have learnt my lesson. You can trust me. I have no desire to eat such a
handsome crab as you,” he begged.
Then he flew down to the shore and continued: “Now, please
release me. For your own good, please trust me.” But this old crab had been
around for a long time. He realised the crane could not be trusted no matter
what he said. He knew that if he let go of the crane, he would be eaten for
sure. So, he cut through his neck with his claws, just like a knife sliced
through a pound of butter! The crane’s head fell to the ground, and the crab
crawled safely into the wonderful pond. Meanwhile, the inquisitive fairy had
also come to the new pond and seen all that had happened. Sitting on the very
top of the big tree, he said for all gods to hear:
“The one who lived by tricks and lies, No longer trusted now
he dies.”
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