The Tortoise and the Vulture

Vulture often visited his friend Tortoise, but Tortoise couldn't visit Vulture.

"I wish I could visit reach Vulture's house!" Tortoise told his wife.

"I have a plan!" she said, and she rolled Tortoise inside some reed-mats.

When Vulture came visiting, she said, "Tortoise isn't here, but he wants you to have these mats as a gift."

Vulture thanked her, grasped the mats, and flew away.

As they neared Vulture's house, Tortoise shouted inside the bundle, "Surprise! I'm coming to visit you!" Vulture was so shocked that he dropped the mats; Tortoise's shell smashed on the ground, and it's still cracked.

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Inspired by: "Why There Are Cracks in Tortoise's Shell" in When lion could fly by Nick Greaves, 1993.
Notes: You can read the original story online. A Barotse (Lozi) story from Zambia.

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