The Python and His Food

Python stored up nuts, so when famine came, he alone had food. He piled nuts by the road. "Eat!" he told the passing animals. "Then I'll eat you!"

The animals, though hungry, refused.

But Tortoise said, "What if I help you catch the other animals?"

Python smiled. "Then this food is yours!"

As Tortoise devoured the nuts, he said, "Whenever it rains, I'll come here and then walk to an animal's house in the forest. Follow my trail to the feast!"

So Tortoise betrayed the animals one by one.

Now Python feeds on all the forest animals, but never Tortoise.

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Inspired by: "Why a Python Never Swallows a Tortoise" in Ikom folk stories from Southern Nigeria by Elphinstone Dayrell, 1913. Dayrell notes that this story was told by "Abassi of Inkum."
Notes: You can read the original story online. The first part of the story explains the hatred of the python for the other animals: the elephant king humiliated him for being a poor worker on elephant's farm.

Snake by Bicanski at Pixnio