Many animals lived in ancient times in the Pyrenees Mountains, and tales were told about each of them. You already know the fairy tale about the bear Artz, but now listen to a new fairy tale about how a fox named Akeria lived in the Basque region. This is a cunning and smart animal, but let’s not rush. Akeria lived in the mountains, lived his life, and then the day came that he happened to be hungry. The hunt, apparently, was unsuccessful.
Here Akeria sits in a thorn bush - where he usually hid by the road - and thinks what he should do, how to get food, satisfy his hunger. And then a shepherd passed by him. He walks, waving a shepherd's stick with a maquila, driving the sheep into the meadow.
- And lunch fits into my hands! - the fox exclaimed. “But I can’t get it alone.” We need to find the Otsoa wolf.
Found it and says:
“Listen, Otsoa, it wouldn’t hurt for you and me to have some refreshments.” The milk disappears nearby, and you and I are lying in the shade.
“So what if I’m lying in the shade,” Otsoa was offended. – I lie and think. I always think when I'm hungry. And you better not teach me how and what, but tell me quickly where the milk is. It's time for lunch.
“Well, that’s it, Otsoa,” said the fox Akeria. - Go now to the meadow where the sheep are grazing. Just remember: you need to howl when a person has already milked the sheep, poured sheep's milk into pots and is about to take it home. He has a lot to do there, he will definitely leave the meadow for home. The sheep will start nibbling the grass, the shepherd will step on the road - you’ll howl and start. A man will leave milk on the road and run to the sheep, but that’s all you and I want. I’ll steal the pot of milk, you and I will meet and have lunch. Nice idea?
- Nice! – the wolf agreed and trotted towards the meadow.
And everything happened as the fox Akeria said. The man was already on the road, about to bring milk home, when Otsoa howled at the top of his voice. The dogs barked, the sheep bleated, the shepherd left the pots of milk on the road and ran to the herd. Then Akeria calmly walked up to the pots, took as many of them as he could fit in his paws, and carried them away. But not to the meeting place with the Otsoa wolf, but in a completely different direction. He takes one step and licks the cream that lies like a thick coat on the milk; he takes another step and licks it again.
And when he had eaten everything, he filled the pots with dirt, smeared the rest of the milk on top and went to the place where the wolf Otsoa was waiting for him.
He came up and saw Otsoa sitting, waiting for lunch.
- Oh, Otsoa! - the fox Akeria lamented. - Look how awkward it is for you and me! Cream on top of milk is the most delicious thing, and if someone starts eating first, then he will get the best part...
“I don’t need your cream, fox,” Otsoa replies. - Eat them quickly, I'm hungry. I wish I had more milk!
Then Akeria licked the remaining milk from the top and handed the wolf a pot of dirt, what is this? got angry - And the wolf.
“Don’t be angry, Otsoa, don’t be angry, my dear,” Akeria answers him and backs away. - It was the shepherd who deceived you and me, ask him for it!
He said so, but did not wait for the wolf to answer him; he ran into the forest. Only Otsoa saw him!
The time has come, and Akeria is hungry again. He sits in a thorn bush and sees a boy walking along the road, bringing lunch to his father in the field. Then the fox decided:
- Once again, lunch fell right into my paws!
He said so and went to the Blackbird.
“You and I, buddy,” he says, “could have a nice lunch!”
- How? - asks Blackbird.
- Yes, it’s simple! – Akeria answers. “Here a boy passes by us every day, bringing lunch to his father in the field. Jump a little in front of him, fly. The boy will put the basket on the ground and run after you. I'll take the basket, and then we'll meet and have lunch.
- Nice idea! - said Blackbird and flew towards the road.
Then the boy appeared. He walks, whistles a song, and brings lunch to his father in the field.
Blackbird flew out onto the road, pretended that his leg was broken, and with difficulty jumped on the ground in front of the boy. The boy put the basket on the road and ran after the Blackbird. And he - once, jumped - and flew away. The boy was offended by him and almost cried. Came back. And there’s no trace of the basket! It's as if she didn't exist at all!
And at that time the fox Akeria was enjoying someone else’s dinner in his hole. I ate to my fill and went to bed. He woke up and said to himself: “I probably shouldn’t stay here!” The Otsoa wolf became my enemy, and the Blackbird probably waited for me all day yesterday and was offended. If I stay in these places, something bad will definitely happen to me. I need to get to the other side! As he said, so he did. He went to the river, stood by the water, and saw a boat floating.
“Hey,” Akeria shouts to the boatman, “man!” Take me to that shore! For this I will tell you three truths, more truthful than which there is nothing in this world!
“Come on,” says the man. The fox jumped into the boat and said:
– People say that cornmeal bread is as good as wheat bread. This is not true. Wheat bread is better. This is the first truth.
In the middle of the river, Akeria spoke again: “People also say: what a beautiful night!” As bright as day! This is also not true. It is always lighter during the day than at night. This is the second truth.
And the fox Akeria told the third truth to the man only at the very shore.
“Your pants, man, will wear out soon.” And they will definitely get through if you charge everyone the same amount as you charge me! This is my third truth!
The fox said so and ran away into the forest. Only his laughter came from somewhere behind the bushes.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru