Yatra

The old pond;
A frog jumps in —
The sound of the water.

One sunny day beyond the hazel thicket a frog rested on the banks of the brook. The solar rays greeted him with a kind smile and mind free of task. The frog thought, “It’s grand to be alive,” and he said it twice more. He croaked and rib-bitted a song of splendor to all the life around him.
Nearby, a scorpion nestled under a damp stone heard the song of happiness and sprang to life. He had been restlessly awaiting the return of his bride from across the brook. She went looking for a secluded hatchery that they might raise their children. Sources had informed them that the far side of the brook contained many abundant hide-away’s for scorpion families, away from the scorn of the other forest creatures.
A week had passed since a noble eagle carried the hydrophobic bride across the river. The scorpion could not shake the apprehensions of foul play against his lovely bride.
So upon hearing the frog’s song the scorpion thought that the joyous creature would gladly accompany him across the brook. The scorpion cautiously approached the frog as not to cause alarm. The scorpion hadn’t eaten for six days, and growing increasingly weary, knew that the frog might be his last hope. The scorpion injured his pincers in a fight with a muskrat and his only means of hunting was now his stinger – quite useless from a distance, especially against prey of great speed. If his grief didn’t consume him thus, surely hunger would.
The frog delighted in his singing heard not the stealth of the scorpion. Just as he finished the third stanza the scorpion tapped the frog on the backside with one of his impotent pincers. The frog jumped with fear and exasperation that he had been so easily targeted during such peace. The scorpion shouted to the frog before he could escape, “Please do not flee, I mean you no harm.”
The frog stood at a distance unconvinced. “And what business does a scorpion have with a frog besides for eating,” inquired the frog.
“I have a humble request, fellow frog,” said the scorpion. “If I had intentions of feasting on you, you would not now be talking to me. It would have been swift and lethal.”
The frog thought for a moment and loosened his skepticism. “I believe you, scorpion. You could have very easily stung me with your poisonous stinger, but chose not to. Either you are full from a previous meal or are honest in your request.”
The scorpion pleaded, “I am but a lame hunter. Look at my broken pincers. I am no threat to you. Only my stinger could bring about your demise, and like I said, I did not strike with my opportunity. Please, I beseech you to help me cross the river. My bride went looking for a nest for our young and has not returned for a week.”
The frog replied, “If your wife got across the river then why can’t you swim across also?”
“A bird, a grand eagle, friendly but now I believe deceitful, carried her across,” replied the scorpion. “We scorpions are unable to swim, especially those with lame pincers.”
“How do I know you will not sting me with your stinger when we are adrift,” asked the frog. “Scorpions are known for their treachery and lies. I am scared for my life.”
“If I sting you while in the water then we both shall die. My wife will be deserted and you will no longer sing songs of freedom and bliss. The world would be at a loss without us both,” the scorpion spoke assuredly. “I give you my word. I will not sting you.”
The scorpion’s logic persuaded the frog. “Although I am uneasy about this, my fortune today is well and I will take a risk and trust you, scorpion friend.”
The elated scorpion responded, “You are both courageous and faithful. For that you shall be rewarded.”
The frog thus allowed the scorpion to climb upon his back and began to swim across the brook. As the frog passed the middle of the brook at its deepest point he felt a penetrating injection pierce his back. The frog quickly turned his head around and saw the scorpion withdrawing the stinger from the flesh of his back.
The most extreme sensations of confusion and hopelessness flooded through the frog – preceding the flood of lethal neurotoxin. The distressed frog cried out, “How could you, scorpion? You gave me your word that you would not stick me with your stinger. You cheated me and your bride, and now we are both doomed.”
As the two doomed creatures sank the scorpion rebutted, “I did not cheat you my frog friend. It is of my nature to sting you.”

Part One

Two

Three

Four