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Chapter II: Time to Fool
A couple of days after the friendship celebration, Ikotofetsy and Imahaka met again at the habitual valley and hugged each other warmly.
We are all smart, buddy, Ikotofetsy said once again. I think we should stay close all the time because together, we might achieve some great things.
That's true. Let's start it today and see what happen.
So they agreed that on every occasion, they will use their craftiness together to fool someone.
The weather was cool at that time. Everything was quiet. As they were walking, Imahaka saw a sheep gazing in a field. He looked for its owner but no one was around. Then he took the sheep and was about to run away with it when the owner came.
Excuse me, why do you take my sheep? he shouted at Imahaka.
I'm just weighing it, Imahaka replied calmly as he put down the sheep.
That was the origin of the proverb: Imahaka's way of stealing sheep: if caught he would say 'I'm just weighing,' otherwise he would take it away.
Our two heroes did not give up even if they failed in their first attempt. They continued their stroll in the hope of finding another person to dupe.
At the edge of the valley, they came across an old woman busy watching her sheep. The woman seemed to have caught an eye disease so Ikotofetsy and Imahaka were ready to delude her.
Morning, ma'am, they said as polite as they could.
The old woman looked back over her shoulder, trying hard to recognize them. Who are you? she finally asked.
We live in the same village as you, Ikotofetsy answered. If you want, we can heal your eyes because we are medicine men.
That's very kind of you. I really want it.
All right. Just give us a second to prepare an effective cure for that.
Feeling that their trick will work this time, Ikotofetsy and Imahaka exchanged knowing smiles. They prepared a glue-like substance to put on the woman's eyes.
This ointment is the best remedy for your pain, Imahaka said when the substance was ready. Please, close your eyes and keep still while I put it on them.
The poor woman accepted with good grace. She didn't know they were trying to hoodwink her.
Because of the glue-like substance, she couldn't open her eyes anymore. In addition, the pain turned out to be more intense than before. Please, wipe up your ointment a little, she whimpered. I can't see anything now.
You have to go through it, ma'am, or else your eyes won't be healed, Ikotofetsy replied.
The two crafty men looked at each other. They were satisfied because their trick seemed to work fine.
Ikotofetsy leaned over Imahaka and whispered in his ear, We can take the sheep now.
I'll do it, Imahaka whispered back.
After taking the sheep, they left the poor woman stranded at the valley. She couldn't make it home until someone came up and walked her to the village.
That was the origin of the proverb: Treating an eye disease with medication, you have to go through it or else your eyes won't be healed.
« The Two Crafty Men | Time to Fool (Contd) »
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