The monkey jumped from place to place for a long time until he finally found a fig tree strewn with berries on the river bank. She climbed high up a tree to taste the fruit. She ate and ate, but then one berry rolled out of her paws and fell into the water. The Monkey heard the sound of a falling berry, and she really liked it. Then she began to throw every second berry into the water. And I must say that the Turtle lived in that river, and she got all the berries thrown by the Monkey. The Turtle thanked the Monkey for the delicious food, and complete agreement and love were established between them. Since then, the Turtle began to often visit the Monkey. But Turtle's husband didn't like it. He went to his neighbor, told him what was wrong and asked for advice.
-How unreasonable you are! - answered the neighbor. - Since your wife has become such friends with the Monkey that she no longer loves you as before, then you should call in sick and go to bed. When your unfaithful wife returns from the Monkey, then answer all her questions with one answer: that you feel, they say, severe pain in your chest. Then she will ask if you turned to your neighbors for help, answer that you did, and they said that there is an excellent cure for the disease, but it is very difficult to get. If she finally asks what medicine it is, you tell her that it is the heart of a Monkey.
The wife returned home and asked her husband what was wrong with him, he told her so, as his neighbor had taught him.
“Oh, it’s as easy as shelling pears,” answered the wife. “I’ll go to the Monkey and invite him to visit.” When she comes, we will kill her, take out her heart, and you will eat it.
And the Turtle immediately went to the Monkey. A friendly conversation began between them again, and at the end the Turtle Monkey thanked him for his attention and care and said:
“You have always been hospitable and kind to me, I beg you, do me the honor and finally visit my home.”
The Monkey thanked her for the sincere invitation and promised that she would come soon, because return visits, in her opinion, are a manifestation of friendship and love. Then she asked where Turtle's house was.
“My house is across the river,” answered the Turtle and smiled.
- What should I do, because I don’t know how to swim?
“Don’t worry,” replied the Turtle. “I’ll carry you across the river on my back.”
So the Monkey succumbed to the deception. The Turtle put her on her back and swam across the river. In the very middle of the river, the Turtle suddenly began to gradually sink into the water. The Monkey saw this, got scared and asked what was the matter. Take the turtle here and tell her everything that she agreed on with her husband. Then the Monkey decided to outsmart the Turtle and said:
- Oh my sister! Oh my friend! Why didn't you tell me about this earlier? After all, everything could have been arranged so easily. Let's go back to my house and I'll give you my heart.
- Well, what are you saying?! Isn't your heart with you?
- That's the point, no. I left it at home. This is a habit we monkeys have: when we go somewhere, we make sure to leave our hearts at home. And now I did the same.
The Turtle believed the Monkey's words and said:
- Well, let's go back, we'll come to your house, and you'll give me your heart.
They swam back, and the Turtle landed the Monkey on land.
- Oh, you insidious traitor! - exclaimed the Monkey, as soon as she found herself on the shore. “Does it really happen that some animal, leaving the house, hides its heart there, and remains alive?”
She said this, spat in the Turtle's face and left. Since then, the Monkey and the Turtle have become sworn enemies.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru