Aloha dearest readers,
Guided tours in Hawaii abound with stories of the mongoose. Here is mine, which may, or may not, be the same story.
There is Rat, in the sugar cane, eating. Rat is gnawing, breaking through the husk. His sedulous teeth wear down imperceptibly with his efforts.
They do not see him at first. But he keeps eating. And growing. And now they see him.
This sugar cane is intended for them, and they are upset with Rat. Go away, Rat, they say, but he will not listen. He stays, grows full with sugar, does not stop eating. Chasing him, now with threats, they defend their prized crop. Rat is strong now, immense from his voracity, and again he does not listen.
They are desperate. They turn to stories and legends. A traveler tells them:
Long ago, it is said, Rat wandered far from home. He ate strange foods, stayed out late, met strangers. One of these strangers was Mongoose, who ate him. Simple, no struggle. Mongoose left Rat's bones in the sun to dry, and carried on. Salvation!
They find Mongoose. They bring Mongoose back to Hawaii. Mongoose sleeps, recovering from the journey. They taunt Rat, light fires, feast, and dance. Mongoose wakes up, and searches the island. Rat is hidden, asleep in his burrow. There is Mongoose, in Bird's nest, eating. Mongoose cracks Bird's egg, then sleeps. Rat awakens, and continues to eat the sugar cane.
They put out their fires.
Mahalo,
walter
Guided tours in Hawaii abound with stories of the mongoose. Here is mine, which may, or may not, be the same story.
There is Rat, in the sugar cane, eating. Rat is gnawing, breaking through the husk. His sedulous teeth wear down imperceptibly with his efforts.
They do not see him at first. But he keeps eating. And growing. And now they see him.
This sugar cane is intended for them, and they are upset with Rat. Go away, Rat, they say, but he will not listen. He stays, grows full with sugar, does not stop eating. Chasing him, now with threats, they defend their prized crop. Rat is strong now, immense from his voracity, and again he does not listen.
They are desperate. They turn to stories and legends. A traveler tells them:
Long ago, it is said, Rat wandered far from home. He ate strange foods, stayed out late, met strangers. One of these strangers was Mongoose, who ate him. Simple, no struggle. Mongoose left Rat's bones in the sun to dry, and carried on. Salvation!
They find Mongoose. They bring Mongoose back to Hawaii. Mongoose sleeps, recovering from the journey. They taunt Rat, light fires, feast, and dance. Mongoose wakes up, and searches the island. Rat is hidden, asleep in his burrow. There is Mongoose, in Bird's nest, eating. Mongoose cracks Bird's egg, then sleeps. Rat awakens, and continues to eat the sugar cane.
They put out their fires.
Mahalo,
walter