Old Mungo the lion king of the animals is now too old to go out to hunt for
food. He is too weak to chase more agile, much faster and younger animals
through the jungle like he used to do in his younger days.
Crafty old Mungo therefore worked out a plan with his scavenging friend
Kwura the hyena, whereby they can provide themselves with food without
going out to hunt. The food has to come to them.
This caused therefore that the next morning Kwura went out to the jungle
and started announcing to the animals that the old king of theirs is very sick
and dying. He further told them that as his dying wish the king has
requested that they come and visit him one by one. He desires to see them
and give them his blessings before he dies.
Ohh, the animals were quite upset by this disheartening news. They
therefore all went out to the lion’s den to pay the last respect to him. The
hyena however deterred them. He made them each to come at different
times and days. This day it is the antelope, the next the goat, then the
sheep, followed by the chicken, and so forth.
This continued for many days, until it got to the day of the monkey. The
suspicious monkey got to the tree in front of the lion’s lair. He peered at the
entrance and shook his head. He had been untrusting of this lion – hyena
partnership all the while.
Well, come on, hurry up, the king does not have to wait for you all day, he
has others to see you know’ the hyena urged him. Again the intelligent
monkey shook his head. He pointed at the entrance to the den. ‘There are
so many foot prints going into the den, but none coming out’ he pointed
out to the hyena.
Ehm ehm, you see, actually, the fact is — what I am trying to say is ehm’
the confused hyena stuttered on.
Well, obviously the place will be quite filled up with animals. So I will come
and pay my respect to the king when those inside have come out said the
monkey as he swung from that tree to another and off.
Moral:- Look before you leap, for some situations may look harmless, but
to the unwary they may prove fatal.
