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THE TURTLE AND THE COYOTE (Traditional North American Indian story)

T

he turtle was in a right mess. That morning, she’d left the river to take a stroll on dry land, but without realising, she’d wandered too far from the water. The day was getting hotter and hotter and the poor turtle didn’t know if she’d be able to get home.

And that’s when things got worse: a very hungry coyote came across the turtle and said to her: “What luck finding you, little turtle! I’m going to cook you straightaway in a fire and then I’ll eat you.”

“You think,” replied the turtle with a big smile. “My shell is so tough, your fire won’t touch it...”

“Oh, yes? Then I’ll climb the highest tree and drop you from the top of it.

Your shell will break against the rocks and shatter into tiny pieces.”

“Are you kidding?” The turtle laughed. “My shell is harder than rocks. You wouldn’t even scratch me...”

“Right, that does it,” said the coyote, getting angrier by the minute. “I’m going to throw you in the river so that you drown, and then I can eat you.”

The turtle looked frightened and began to cry out.

“No, please, don’t do that. For pity’s sake, don’t throw me in the river...”

Very pleased with his own intelligence, the coyote didn’t listen to the turtle’s pleas. He put her on his back, ran to the riverbank as fast as he could and dropped her into the river. Once in the river, the turtle felt safe.

“Thanks, coyote,” she called to him. “You’ve brought me home. You’ve saved my life.”

Very happy, the turtle swam off while the coyote stared at her from the riverbank, unable to do anything.