Camel and a loaf of bread.
(Folk tale from Arabia)
A camel was going through a wood along the fringes of a desert. All of a sudden he heard somebody calling from behind, “Hello, Big Brother. Be kind to stop for a while.”
The camel stopped and turned around. There stood behind him a fox and a wolf. “Hi there!” said the camel. “How do you do? What can I do for you?”
It was the wolf that replied, “Our area is infested by hunters. It has become very difficult to live there. We are in search of safer places to live in. May we walk with you?”
“Oh! Sure, why not?” said the camel resuming his walk.
The fox could not suppress his curiosity. He asked, “Usually camels are found in the company of men only. It is quite odd that you are alone.”
“True.” said the camel. “But I had a very cruel master. In fact I am fleeing from him.”
They walked together for some time. After a distance the wolf said, “I am feeling terribly hungry. If only we could reach some inhabited area, we could have caught a chicken or a lamb.”
“Why!” said the camel. “Even these forests and the fields can provide enough for us to eat.”
Soon the camel saw something and said to the others, “There is an oasis ahead. Hopefully we will get something there.”
True to his word, they found a loaf of bread lying there. Probably somebody had left it there. The fox and wolf ran and fetched it.
The camel said calmly, “Let us divide it into three. Although not enough to quench the hunger, it will be enough to prevent starving.”
The fox protested, “I saw it first and I am going to eat it all. No question of dividing at all.”
The wolf started growling. “Let me see how you are going to eat it alone. I will kill you.”
Camel was worried, “What is this my friends? Are you going to fight over a loaf of bread?”
Fox and wolf calmed down. Camel suggested, “Let us see who has done the most good deeds today. He will get the loaf.”
Fox said, “That’s no use. Each will say what he has done is the greatest deed. Instead, let us go for a lucky draw. Let the luckiest get the loaf.”
Camel said, “That way you will give it to the luckiest, not the most deserving. I suggest that the eldest among us should get the food.”
“I agree,” said the fox.
“I too” said the wolf. He added immediately, “I was born seven days before the first man was born on earth. Being so old I get the loaf.”
Fox was very cunning and said, “That is true. I remember the day still. I was already ten years old then.”
Camel knew these were utter falsehood. He decided to teach them a lesson. He picked up the loaf. The fox and the wolf tried to jump up and fetch it from his mouth. Camel placed the loaf on a palm tree beyond their reach and said, “Remember what you called me when you saw me first, you called me BIG BROTHER. So I am older than you both and I get the loaf. “
The crooked ones had no answer. Camel continued, “You, brutes are telling lies and quarrelling just for a little food. I can easily kick you beyond the hill, into the desert. But I am not doing it. But remember, it can be disastrous to take on the clever and righteous fellows. Good bye.”
He threw the loaf to them and walked away alone, majestically.
