However, none understood what she was saying. So, she was arraigned before the king’s palace for an explanation.
“Now, tell us what you mean, Sheepy”, queried Elephant authoritatively,“…by let there be census?”
At this, Sheep giggled foolishly, and apparently became more stupidly bashful! Consequently, there came an impatient angry-spirited uproar from the intolerant crowd, “Sheep is stupid, Sheep is foolish, She, Sheep is stupid; she is a dummy; sheee, sheeee, silly sheepy.”
Gosh! At this riotous moment, the sheep most foolishly fainted. Nevertheless, the Turtle Dove unraveled the seemingly far-fetched puzzle: “Well, I suppose”, she spoke up majestically, “That Sheepy actually meant to suggest that there should be casting of votes…that’s an elect…”,
“SHION!!!,” cut in the Tortoise. “Yes exactly! And quite fantastic…that’s exactly what I was just about to suggest before the sheepish Sheep preempted. O yeah, sure enough and wise enough. You see….”
“Enough of that!” roared the Lion nauseatingly, and Tortie almost lost his breath. In fright, he at once pushed his stony head into himself.
Moreover, having understood the fact of the matter, an electoral panel was set up, and votes were cast. The Animal Brutality Congress {ABC}, lost unreservedly to the Alliance for Contemptible Brats {ACB}, which was so greatly sponsored by the Rats family. Hence, the triumph gave birth to the Fourth Commandment, “You are PROHIBITED to Threats or Torture of any kind.”
Consequently, this provision planted and nurtured the seed of disrespect, extreme contempt, disdaine and a seeming equality of all before all. Hence, on account of this, the Cats, especially Lions were miserable; the Chimps were pitiable, while the Rats went wild most contemptibly! Not even in my wildest dream, could I, the Chronicler, dream of the Hare inspecting the fangs of a sleeping Leopard, or the Rat counting and pulling on the whiskers of the whiskered-Animals.
No sooner than later, the Lion gave vent to his overflowing animosity and killed secretly. Nothing was ever left of his victims, as to forestall any tall tales. The Tortoise one day cornered the Snail and crushed him. Hm! And the Pussies were fed up with the Rats, and went after them; Snakes after the Frogs; the Frogs after the Spiders; the Spiders after the Flies; the latter after the Ants, until it was ALL OF THEM AGAINST ALL OF THEM!
In the intervening time, however, `tis I, the Chronicler who alone beheld these; and I am set to unveil the mysteries of the water in the marrow of the pumpkin’s stem. Just don’t tune off.
And the world indeed so soon became too much for them. Neither the oppressor, nor the oppressed found things trouble-free. Hence, the horrific situation gave birth to the epithets, “THERE’S FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN!” And there were seriously ‘runnings’ hither and yonder. Right from the womb of the dawn, the Lice swept into the Chickens' pen and embraced them; no I mean, began to embarrass them. And so, they crowed and cocked to the point of pecking off their feathers. Oh, my naked poor chickens! Yet, the mischievous lice glued still; while above the trees stooped the Hawks and Kite, quite wide awake and checking out for some madly straying!
Moreover, before the sun rose from slumber, the Cock family had gathered their cradles and swaddled off in a refugee-like flight. Great indeed, and noisy too, was their flight; their wings could not fly high any longer after this historic height they had reached. And what a bane; their predators traced them to the Human Kingdom by the tale of their hysteric quacking and littered fluffs.
However, later in the day, the Elephants were seen charging down the Valley of Peace. So furious was the amok, that trunks of trees fell at the slashes of their irritated trunks. Oops! It was the case, that a swarm of Mosquitoes lost its track and …mmh mh, no, no. The Mosquitoes deliberately swerved into the trunks of the Ele…, just to make the Phants run mad! And indeed, madness gave birth to a sister; and the mountains through the valleys; and the holes through the skies were all a scenic madness!
All of the animals ran down for refuge and therein, each beheld his or her terror; and up they all ran through sneaky routes, and there and wherever too, were snarling fangs. Horror was everywhere! So, some who could forget their feet flew to the skies, only to wallop belly wise to the heart of the valley. The Frogs first learnt to spring; and so over the jungle’s walls, they sprang; the Deers leapt; and the Horses galloped gallantly over and over the vicious circle. The Fish ran into the waters having narrowly escaped the Tiger’s grip. The Spiders spun silky ropes and jumped like George of the Jungle. Everyone was on the run; everyone was dying; yet, everyone wanted to live!
Lo and behold, a new morn dawned with an appearance of dreadful signposts; “Either This or That”, “Who’s Next...”, “My Claws are Blood-Thirsty!”, “Mercy’s Dead & Buried***", “SOULESS Soul", “Crack- down Justice" and "JUNGLE JUSTICE!”
“But whose is this terror?” Was the question on almost the whole of the jungles’ lips; even I, the Chronicler. For it beat my imagination, that this decisive scene evaded awareness; and thus, became the first ever mystery to elude my nimble ink and feathers. Please, bear with my fallibility.
Meanwhile, across the deserts far and wide, and over the waters to the ends of the earth, came the first ever great exodus. The weak of the rats’ family scurried to Humanity; the weak of the cats went after them; the weak of the Dogs, and the weak of the weakest all followed suit in a quest for refuge. And so it was, that once a peaceful jungle is now but a shattered Kingdom. To date, it is as it were; “All of us Against all of Them”, in the secret womb of the jungle.
« return.