The Tortoise's Retribution
“When I was in a state of indigence, I was subjected to the derision of all,” the Tortoise pondered. “Now they merely feign amity towards me, but I shall impart a lesson unto them.”
The Tortoise proclaimed another grand feast. He extended invitations to all the people and the denizens of the animal kingdom, yet he dispatched his own wife and progeny hence.
Thereupon, upon the arrival of all, the Tortoise commenced to beat upon the drum. Precisely as the Tortoise anticipated, the warriors materialised and assailed all the assembled guests. The Tortoise persisted in his drumming, and the warriors persisted in their attacks.
The Tortoise did not cease his percussive endeavours until all the guests were prostrate upon the ground, emitting groans of acute agony.
“That shall serve to instruct them!” quoth the Tortoise, with a peal of laughter. “They shall no longer dissemble affection towards me!”
The Tortoise and the Enchanted Breadfruit
His Majesty didst reveal unto Tortoise a breadfruit-tree of wondrous enchantment, declaring, “Each morn, this arboreal marvel shall yield its breadfruit, yet thou art permitted but a single harvest per diem, and no more.”
Thus, did Tortoise gather breadfruit each morn, wherefore his household did partake with much felicity.
Tortoise's offspring did inquire as to the provenance of this sustenance, yet Tortoise remained reticent.
Whereupon, the son, in his curiosity, didst perforate Tortoise's sack and fill it with ashes. Following Tortoise's return with breadfruit, the son did trace the ashen trail to the aforementioned breadfruit-tree. Yet, when he reached for a fruit, the tree underwent a transformation into a thornbush of formidable prickliness.
When Tortoise didst return the subsequent morn, the breadfruit had vanished, and naught remained but the aforementioned thornbush.
The Arachnid and the Gossamer
The Arachnid, possessed of a desire to attend the celestial banquet, sought conveyance. 'I shall transport thee,' quoth the Gossamer, whereupon the Arachnid ascended upon the Gossamer's delicate structure.
There, they partook of kola-nuts and honey, delicacies fit for such an august occasion.
'Pray, who facilitated thy arrival?' inquired the Sky-People, their gazes fixed upon the Arachnid.
'That unkempt and aged Gossamer,' the Arachnid retorted, his words laced with disdain.
This impertinence incensed the Gossamer, who promptly absented himself, abandoning the Arachnid to his predicament.
'Assist me!' exclaimed the Arachnid, his tone laced with desperation. 'I shall recompense thee with gold for a passage to the terrestrial realm.'
The Dove, moved by the Arachnid's plight, conveyed him downwards. 'Now, deliver unto me my promised gold!' she declared, her voice firm.
'It doth reside within yonder humble dwelling,' the Arachnid responded, gesturing towards a nearby hut.
As the Dove entered, the Arachnid swiftly secured the portal, ignited the structure, and devoured the Dove in its entirety.
'A veritable feast, indeed!' he proclaimed, his mandibles dripping with the spoils of his treachery.
The Spider's Funeral
Spider, being afflicted with ravenous hunger, did initiate a rumour, proclaiming thus: “Spider is deceased!”
Thereafter, he reclined himself, an axe being situated in close proximity, and did await the unfolding of events.
Elephant imparted this intelligence to Buffalo, who conveyed it unto Hartebeest, who, in turn, did relate it to Gazelle, thence to Duiker, thence to Rabbit, thence to Jerboa, and finally to Francolin.
They approached and did lament over the corporeal form of Spider, exclaiming, “Alas, Spider is deceased!”
However, Francolin did observe a glimmer of vitality within Spider's ocular orb, prompting her to exclaim, “Flee!”
Subsequently, she espied the axe, and with renewed urgency, she cried, “Flee with utmost haste!”
Francolin ascended into the aerial domain, yet Elephant, in his precipitous flight, did trample Buffalo, who, in turn, did trample Hartebeest, who trampled Gazelle, who trampled Duiker, who trampled Rabbit, who trampled Jerboa.
Spider, capitalising upon this fortuitous circumstance, did slay and consume them all.
Francolin alone did elude this calamitous fate.
Anansi the Spider and the Almighty
“I do decree that all narratives shall henceforth be styled Anansi-stories!” Anansi proclaimed with considerable vehemence.
“Agreed,” quoth the Almighty, “contingent upon your procurement and presentation unto me of Bees, alive, confined within a calabash; followed by Snake, and thereafter Leopard.”
Anansi, seizing a calabash, did proceed with alacrity towards the domicile of the Bees.
There, seated upon the ground, he commenced a vigorous shaking of his head, exclaiming, “Verily! It is so!”
“Nay? Verily! Nay?” he continued, alternating his pronouncements in a manner most perplexing.
“Pray, what aileth thee?” enquired the Bees, their curiosity piqued.
“The Almighty doth contend that ye cannot all be accommodated within this calabash,” Anansi responded, “yet I maintain that ye may!”
“Verily!” buzzed the Bees, their enthusiasm palpable. “Verily, we can!” And with that, they did fly en masse into the calabash.
Anansi, having secured the calabash, did convey it forthwith unto the Almighty.
“Now, fetch hither Snake!” commanded the Almighty.