THE LONG BLACK EARTHWORM
AND THE FIREFLY

Once upon a time, when there was neither a sun nor a moon, the first creatures in the world were Long Black Earthworm and the bug who carried fire. They became mutual friends and they lived in the dark world. At that time, Long Black Earthworm had a big glowing eye on its forehead, but, other than that, no fire glowed on Firefly’s ass.

So, later on, how did Long Black Earthworm lose its glowing eye, and how did Firefly get glowing fire on its ass?

One time the two friends, resolved to go north to Shambhala in order to search for shining light. This world had no division between night and day, and, in addition to the world’s being covered in darkness, Firefly had no glowing eye. They endured many difficulties and went north toward Shambhala, but they were unable to go far. So they discussed it on the way.

Long Black Earthworm said, “Good brother, if I go first, you can’t see the road, so I have to turn around a lot to light your way. Since it makes us so tardy, will we ever be able to get to Shambhala?”

Sadly, Firefly said, “That’s true, dear friend, but since I don’t have a glowing eye, you have to face many hardships. If we go on like this, we won’t get to Shambhala quickly. So you go ahead!”

“That’ll never do. Listen to my plan, dear friend. Since you’re highly skilled, if we take the glowing light off my forehead and stick it on your ass, you could go first and I could follow you. If we go like that, we can get to Shambhala quickly, and if we get there, there’s no reason for me to need a glowing eye.” Firefly liked the plan. They took the glowing eye out of Long Black Earthworm’s forehead and stuck it on Firefly’s ass.

Then Firefly went first, guessing, and eyeless Long Black Earthworm, guessing, followed. After they had gone a long way, Long Black Earthworm unluckily fell into a long hole. Firefly, not realizing what had happened, continued on. Finally he suddenly realized that Long Black Earthworm was not following him, and he waited at that very place. Calling out to Firefly, Long Black Earthworm insistently crawled up and down in the deep hole.

So even though time has passed from generation to generation and year to year without end, Firefly has waited with Long Black Earthworm’s glowing eye supported in its ass, and Earthworm has crept up and down, searching for Firefly.

Nowadays, these two dear friends have held on to their hopes to get to Shambhala. It is said that Firefly waits on the ground and Long Black Earthworm searches beneath it.

—Rgya gog, Qinghai Folk Literature 3, 1996