Friday, February 13th, 2009
The Scorpion and the [Insert Animal Here] - A Modern Fable*
Once long ago in the vast lands of the Red State Desert there was a great and vast river that had to be crossed for animals to seek food and water elsewhere in the desert. As it was on this day Donkey had come to the point where it had to cross the Bipartisan River in its travels. As it stood contemplating the best way to cross the river safely Donkey’s life long enemy Scorpion came upon it and began to talk to Donkey.
“Donkey as I was walking along the river bank looking for food I noticed a particularily easy place to cross the river where the water is not so deep and not so swift. As it is I would like to cross over myself also but as I am so small it would be impossible. Would you be willing to take me across if I show you this place to cross the river?” asked Scorpion.
“Why should I take you across? How could I possibly trust you will not sting me on the way across as we have been life long enemies?” asked Donkey.
“Why would I sting you? For if I stung you it would mean you would drown then both of us would die.” replied Scorpion.
Donkey thought this over for a bit while carefully watching Scorpion with a distrustful eye. Eventually Donkey said, “Show me where the place is and I will take you across.”
“First place me on your back and then I will show you. For otherwise you may jump in and leave me behind once I show you.” replied Scorpion.
Donkey thought this over for a bit while carefully watching Scorpion with a distrustful eye. Then walked over to Scorpion and allowed him to climb onto its back. Scorpion directed Donkey to where the river was not so deep nor so swift such that it was a safer place to cross over. As Donkey was swimming across the river and had reached the middle of the river Donkey felt a sharp stinging sensation on its back and realized it had been stung by Scorpion. Donkey cried out, “How could you sting me we shall both drown now?”
Scorpion replied, “It is better we should both perish than that my enemy should live.”
* Cf. The version of the story that forms the base of this post comes from here.
