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THE SHORT STORIES OF ZAKARIA TAMER of your friends.” Troubled, the hedgehog asked: “What is this danger?” The dove: “There is a flood coming toward you like a lunatic. You must warn your friends the rabbit, the cat, and the lamb, so they might live.” The dove prepared to fly away, so the hedgehog asked: “Where are you going?” She replied: “To warn the other forest residents.” She flew away, leaving the hedgehog shaking in fear. 156 BANIPAL 53 – SUMMER 2015
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13 STORIES FOR CHILDREN “If I leave the tree,” the hedgehog said to himself: “and go to the house to warn my friends, the flood might overtake me and I’ll die. But if I stay in this tree, I won’t be in danger, and I can make sure I escape the flood.” The hedgehog did not leave the tree. He stayed, and he waited for the flood. After a little while the flood came. It came roaring through ¬– powerfully, violently – sweeping away and destroying everything in its path. The hedgehog watched the flood break his house to pieces and drown the rabbit, the cat, and the lamb. When the flood had passed, he left the tree, but he did not feel sad from all the death. The white dove returned and rebuked the hedgehog: “Your friends are dead because of your fear and because you cared only to save your own life.” The hedgehog chuckled and said: “My life is the only thing worth caring about.” When the hedgehog uttered these words, his beauty disappeared and his body became covered in dense spikes. He ran to hide in the tall grass. Since that day he has lived alone, ugly, and full of shame and regret. Long Live the King Atyrannical king commanded the wise men of his realm to design an invention so that he would not have to use his feet to walk. He promised them an excessive amount of money if they succeeded, but if they failed then they would have to say a final goodbye to their families as they would never see them again. After a week, the king’s wise men approached him. Along BANIPAL 53 – SUMMER 2015 157

THE SHORT STORIES OF ZAKARIA TAMER

of your friends.”

Troubled, the hedgehog asked: “What is this danger?” The dove: “There is a flood coming toward you like a lunatic. You must warn your friends the rabbit, the cat, and the lamb, so they might live.”

The dove prepared to fly away, so the hedgehog asked: “Where are you going?”

She replied: “To warn the other forest residents.” She flew away, leaving the hedgehog shaking in fear.

156 BANIPAL 53 – SUMMER 2015

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