The Monkey and the Crocodile

On the bank of a wide river, there was a tree whose branches were heavy with sweet, red fruit. In that tree lived a monkey who had everything he needed: shade, a view of the water and more fruit than he could ever eat. One hot afternoon, a crocodile climbed out of the river to rest under the tree, and the monkey, who liked company, threw him a few pieces of fruit.

The crocodile had never tasted anything so sweet. He came back the next day, and the day after that, and soon the two of them had become friends. Every afternoon the monkey dropped fruit into the crocodile's open mouth. Every evening the crocodile carried some home to his wife, who lived on the other side of the river.

His wife ate the fruit, but she wasn't happy. "If the fruit is this sweet," she said slowly, "imagine how sweet the heart of the monkey who eats it every day must be. I want to taste that heart. Bring your friend to dinner." The crocodile didn't want to hurt his friend, but his wife refused to speak to him until he agreed.

The next day, the crocodile smiled up at the tree. "My wife wants to thank you for all the fruit," he said. "Come to our house for dinner. I'll carry you across on my back." The monkey couldn't swim, but he trusted his friend, so he jumped down and held on tight.

In the middle of the river, where the water was deepest, the crocodile stopped. He felt bad, and he decided to tell the truth. "I'm sorry," he said. "My wife doesn't want to thank you. She wants to eat your heart." The monkey's blood went cold, but he kept his voice calm. "Oh, my friend, why didn't you say so before?" he said. "Monkeys never carry their hearts with them. I left mine up in the tree. Take me back, and I'll get it for you."

The crocodile, who wasn't very clever, turned around and swam back to the bank. The monkey jumped off his back, ran up the tree and climbed to the highest branch. Then he looked down at the water. "You fool," he called. "Nobody can live without a heart. Mine has been inside me the whole time. Go home and tell your wife that a friend who wants to eat you isn't a friend. And you'll get no more fruit from this tree."