King of the Jungle



Posted: Monday, February 11, 2008

by

Gracious walked the young king over the green grass in search of a nice spot so he could rest for a while. The night has never been so long as this one now that his first baby lion son was born. Everything went just fine, a perfect birth with no complications at all. Mother and child were in perfect health. 'Oh, could it only last an eternity', he thought by himself, '... could it only last.'

Yeah, he knew perfectly well that he had a beautiful kingdom for everyone lived at peace with everyone within it. There was no enmity and violence to be found in it no matter when you went to the south, the north, the east or the west. Everything was quiet and calm. Perhaps too calm to be good he must have been thinking because something clearly worried him, something he couldn't just put aside like that, especially not now. So he therefore went his way in finding himself a nice place of some quiet close to his family just in case, to think about what could come next, in how to progress further from hereon. 'In any case, now was a time to enjoy, to celebrate for a prince was born to his kingdom. It's not a time to worry', he kept telling himself.

And yeah, soon here after did everyone came from close and far across oceans and deserts, oasis and mountain hills. Congratulations flowed like milk & honey allover the place for they knew that the kingdom was secure now that there was an heir to the throne. They also saw the sprinkling in his eyes of pure joy, of a complete happiness in heart and soul. And while his lion's manes moved with the wind as if they were dancing on a music sound only they could hear, all animals of the jungle, as even those from wherever they came were in a jubilant and festive mode, except the snake.

That's what worried him so much these last few hours because he wanted to know it, but no one had seen, nor heard of him since a couple of days. It seemed as if he simple had vanished into thin air. There was no lively sign of him anywhere, just nothing at all. And there otherwise would have gone no day by or the entire world would come to know that he did it again, in that he couldn't resist the temptation of wrecking havoc in an otherwise so harmonious living society wherever you went. It was the king's greatest stain on his crown, as he never till now had succeeded in bringing him to reason, to some senses, to give him sight, and see the beauty all around him, and to start breathing thankfully for it instead of trying to destroy.

The snake hated him and his family for that because it was his nature, and nothing would take that away from him, as he liked it so much. He wanted to rule by his rules. This mumbo jumbo about a soul was just too much for him to accept. So yeah, every other animal knew that they were as water and fire. And when the snake once again couldn't resist the temptation of trying to disrupt the king's life with his poisonous tongue, then everyone in the jungle knew that they better kept a low profile till the heat of the moment would cool down. However, the snake now knew that he better should keep his distance, and certainly not cross the king's path. It surely would be his last days alive if he on such a moment as this would try to mess up things.

So he, sly as he was, went on a simple vacation out of sight. At least it seemed that way because no one had seen him since the king's lioness was about to give birth. It must have been as such everyone thought. Therefore they all tried to calm down the worries of their king and told him to look at it from the bright side of life. And they finally succeeded in bringing some relaxation into his mind, to take some time off. 'By the way', one said, 'he wouldn't dare to come here now. Look at us with how many we have come. It would be foolish of him to show up, to risk the wrath of everyone present.'

Is he thus really gone, or could he be up to something?

No one really knew for sure. 'But heck no, let us not spoil the joy, the fun, the happiness', the lizard spoke. 'At least, now I can without fear for once enjoy along with you guys,' and he bowed down graciously before the king's lioness. All the others followed his example without hesitation because they all on their own alone feared the snake a lot. He always had the nasty habit of showing up when you would it least expect while the meeting often ended in a very dramatic way as well, and in favor of the snake. Only, he did never dared to touch the king. Still, he knew what everyone knew, and that is that when there is no heir to the throne, then there is no kingdom anymore.

Anyhow the king had thus found himself a nice place to rest and to relax a bit. It was a place where he could as well if necessary jump immediately right up when danger would try to disrupt the beauty of the mother and cub laying together side-by-side, the most beautiful sight of all sights. And he had also a very nice view over a large area of all sorts of green leaves that sparkled as diamonds in the early morning hour because of the uncountable dewdrops that gave it its majestic dimension, a royal palace alike. It was a morning like no other morning this time, as he had become a father. He started to gaze in the wide open, and went with his soul to places he never knew they existed.

'Oh what a beautiful morning, nothing in the world will ever disrupt this amazing thing of what life is all about, such a beautiful light', he murmured in himself. The sun was just arising above the horizon towards a sky so blue that he normally would only be able to dream about it in his dreams. Now there it was with one of the most beautiful sunrises he ever had witnessed. It was as if she was of pure gold, a lady so gracious that you would want to touch her if you only would not burn your fingers doing so. What a beautiful start of the day. Nothing could disrupt...ssss...this mo....ssssss.

'No not now. What the heck of the world have I ever done to you to merit your presence again on such a most blessed time?'

'Snake you better come up with a big acceptable excuse or....', said the king.
'Eh eh sire I.. I ..I', uttered the snake.
'YEEESSS', said the king very irritated.
'I.. I want to congratulate you af...after all with your son, and from now on I..I want also to comply with your ru..rules', stuttered the snake, ' so please for..forgive me.'
'Well I'll be d...; okay then', replied the king.

Happy as the snake was he rapidly asked the king if he could see his little bambino cub. And the king agreed, but he said: 'Don't dare to trick me.'

'No no your majesty', answered the snake. 'A nice juicy bambino, hmm', he whispered.

'What you said?', asked the king.

'Oh, eh nothing', smiled the snake.
'I heard you', warned the king, 'be aware that I just have sharpened my nails you know; so don't even try to think it once more.'

'Just sssss joking, just sssss joking your majesty', answered the snake very hastily.

And so both went to see the new heir to the throne in a very cordial manner, even when it had become a bit chilly. Nevertheless, till today no one still doesn't know for whom the other animals really made a step backwards when both descended the hilltop to greet the king's lioness and her cub. However, the cub grew up and became a great ruler.

But what happened to the snake?

Ah yes, how did it eventually went for him?

That's something you may try to find out for yourself when you want. After all, sometimes you have to keep the mystery a bit mysterious, no?

Time has not come yet to reveal that!

The end

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