The bat, the thorn, and the kingfisher conspire to trade. The bat managed to borrow money from the birds to buy goods.
So the comrades went overseas and bought all sorts of fabrics. They loaded the goods onto the kingfisher's back and happily set off on their way back across the sea.
But on the way, trouble overtook them - a storm broke out and it began to rain. A whirlwind tore the luggage from the kingfisher's back and threw it into the sea, where it was swallowed by a fish.
The travelers returned home tired and empty-handed.
The bat and the thorn began to blame the kingfisher for everything; everyone wanted him to find the fish that had swallowed the goods and remove it from its womb. The flexible kingfisher did not know where to go from their reproaches.
This is why the kingfisher fishes in the shallows of lakes and rivers. The thorns multiplied everywhere in order to delay the luggage if some kidnapper carried it or someone was wearing clothes from the missing fabric. Therefore, just in case, she sniffs at the dress of every passerby. And the bat hides during the day from the money-lender birds, afraid that they will pounce on it and brutally deal with it.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru