Once upon a time there lived a turtle and a swallow. This swallow was not a simple one, but came from the family of the king of birds. The turtle belonged to the family of those who walk on earth and swim in water. And then one day a swallow came to the turtle and said:
“This year you turtles will pay me tribute.”
The turtle was silent for a minute and answered:
- You, swallow, are a bird and fly in the sky, but who are we? We're crawling here on the ground. Can you command us? Why should we pay you tribute?
- Well, just wait! I’ll bring you to court, just know that!
The swallow soared into the sky and went to look for the leaders. And the leaders put her complaint on the list and sent her to the authorities. And the leaders said:
“Whichever of you comes there first with all the necessary papers will be the ruler, and the other will pay him tribute.”
The path was long: even if you walk at a very good pace, the journey will take a week. And the swallow thought: “What do I care, look how fast I fly! But the turtle can barely crawl.”
But the turtle asked her:
“Mistress Swallow, why should you take my papers too?” After all, you will be there much earlier than me.
The swallow agreed. And the turtle returned to his place, but at night he again came to the swallow, woke her up and said:
- Okay, lady swallow, give me my piece of paper. I think I'll be on my way right now. Of course, you will still arrive first. I can barely trudge along. I need ten days to get there, but there’s nothing to do - I’ll have to crawl.
The swallow was happy, lit a fire, took out her travel bag and took out the turtle's papers from it. And the turtle, having clearly noticed the place where the swallow’s bag lay, hid in the tall grass near the hut. The swallow decided that the turtle had gone home, and soon fell asleep again. But the cunning turtle again slowly entered the hut, climbed into the bag and hid.
And the swallow, waking up with the rooster crowing, thought that the turtle had apparently managed to go far, and also hurried off. She took her bag and flew away. Somehow she made it halfway, rested a little and flew on. And finally she arrived at the place where it had to be decided - who should be the leader and who should pay tribute.
And she asks people:
“Didn’t you see that the turtle is already here?”
And they tell her:
“Aren’t you having a dispute with the turtle?”
“Oh, yes,” the swallow answers.
- When did you take off? - they ask her.
“Today at dawn,” the swallow answered proudly.
People were surprised and said:
- How? You flew out this morning and are already here? But the turtle can barely crawl. She has at least three crossings left, so you have time to drink wine.
And so, hearing about the glass of wine, the swallow was as happy as if it were about cassava cakes. And she says to people:
“Guard my bag, and I’ll go and drink some palm wine, which is just waiting for a connoisseur like me to do it justice.”
And she flew to the village. Meanwhile, the turtle, which had been sitting in the bag all this time, slowly got out and went to the judge with his papers. He slapped a seal on them and, when the swallow returned, she heard terrible news:
“And the turtle was here before you, and they appointed her as leader, not you.”
Here the swallow immediately sobered up and never boasted again.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru