A Year Full of Stories by Angela McAllister & Christopher Corr

Author:Angela McAllister & Christopher Corr
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Published: 2020-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

JULY 15TH

ST. SWITHIN’S DAY

ELEPHANT AND THE RAIN SPIRIT

AN AFRICAN BUSHMAN STORY

Elephant was very proud of being the largest, strongest animal.

“I am the greatest in the land!” he boasted, and nobody ever dared to argue with him.

One day, the Rain Spirit heard Elephant’s words. “How can you be greater than me?” he asked.

Elephant raised his head. “Look at my mighty trunk and fine tusks,” he cried. “See how the earth shakes when I stamp my feet. It’s obvious that I’m the greatest in the land.”

“But I fill the lakes so that all animals can drink,” said the Rain Spirit. “I water the plants for them to eat. Surely I’m more powerful than you?”

Nobody had ever challenged Elephant before. He flapped his ears in annoyance. “I don’t need anyone to find me food and drink,” he roared. “I can take care of myself.”

Then the sky grew dark and cracked with thunder. “So be it,” said the Rain Spirit. “I’ll leave you to your own fate!” And with a flash of lightning, he disappeared.

Elephant swished his tail and laughed. “Old Rain Spirit has run away,” he said. “I must be the greatest in the land!”

After that, Elephant swaggered about, feeling more pleased with himself than before.

However, when the rainy season arrived, there was no rain to fill the lakes and water the plants. The animals grew hungry and thirsty. They came to see Elephant.

“You are the greatest among us,” they said. “Give us water to drink. Make rain fall on the plants so we can have food to eat.”

Elephant shuffled his huge feet in the dust and frowned. “Ask Crow to make rain,” he said.

Crow flew into the sky and did her best, but she could only produce enough rain to fill a few water holes. The animals soon drank them dry, all except one, which Elephant claimed for himself.

“This is my water hole,” he announced loudly, and he commanded Tortoise to watch over it.

The next day, while Elephant was looking for food, the other animals crept up to the water hole.

“You can’t drink here,” said Tortoise. “This is Elephant’s water.”

“But we’re so thirsty,” sighed the springbok.

“We won’t drink it all,” promised the giraffes.

“Let us just take a sip,” pleaded the zebras.

“No. Not a drop,” said Tortoise firmly.

Then along came Lion.

“You can’t drink here,” said Tortoise, but Lion took no notice. He swept Tortoise away with his paw and sent him tumbling across the sand. Then Lion took a drink and the others followed, slurping and lapping until all the water was gone.

When Elephant returned, feeling very thirsty, he saw the empty water hole and flew into a terrible rage. “Who dared to drink my water?” he roared.

“I tried to stop them!” cried Tortoise. But Elephant was so angry that he picked Tortoise up with his trunk and swallowed him whole.

“It’s all your fault!” shouted Tortoise, inside Elephant’s stomach. He began to stamp and butt Elephant with his hard head.

“Stamp, stamp, stamp,” went Tortoise.

“Ouch!” cried Elephant, rubbing his belly.

“Butt, butt, butt,” went Tortoise.

“Stop!” bellowed Elephant, sinking to his knees.

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