TURTLE EATS MONKEY’S HEART

Once there was a Monkey. Whenever it went to the lakeshore to drink there was also a Turtle there. Eventually they became acquainted, the best of mutual friends, and they played games together.

One day, when they were amusing themselves, playing games on a greensward at the lakeshore, Turtle called Monkey, inviting him into the river, but Monkey was afraid of the water and did not dare. Turtle said, “Ride on my back and shut your eyes. I can carry you.” Monkey was amazed, rode on Turtle’s back, and went into the lake.

Turtle honored Monkey and served him plenty of various sorts of food from the lake, so that Monkey did not even realize how many days and nights had passed. At that time Turtle recalled, “Monkey heart is a medicine good for a hundred diseases.” Wanting to kill Monkey and get its heart, he said, “Friend, my mother’s been stricken by a severe illness. The doctors say monkey heart will help. Now what had I better do?”

 Monkey, knowing what he was thinking, said, “Turtle, a long time has passed since we became friends, and I’ll do whatever is right to help you. But since my monkey heart is hanging on the limb of a tree, we two should cross the river, take my heart and see whether it cures your mother’s disease.”

Turtle agreed to that and carried Monkey to the shore. Then they went to the forest. When they got to the forest, Monkey climbed to the top of a tree and said, “Friend, open your mouth! I’ll throw my heart down.” Accordingly Turtle opened his mouth wide and waited to get Monkey’s heart. Monkey dropped a few shits into Turtle’s mouth from the top of the tree, and then with a big sneer, he said, “Turtle, turtle, if you want monkey heart, you have to eat monkey shit.” Leaping from the top of the tree limb, he went to the center of the forest.

—Mkha' 'gro