A tortoise lived in a pond. He had two good friends — two swans. The three of them lived happily together.
One year, a terrible drought came to that region. The pond began to dry up. The swans said to the tortoise — 'We will have to fly to another lake. But what will happen to you?' The tortoise said — 'Take me with you!'
The swans thought of a plan. They found a long strong stick. Each swan would hold one end in its beak. The tortoise would grip the middle with his mouth. There was one condition — 'Whatever happens, do not open your mouth.'
The tortoise agreed. The three of them rose into the sky. Below stretched fields and villages. Farmers looked up. Children pointed.
A group of children shouted, 'Look! The swans are carrying a tortoise!' Then someone said, 'What a foolish tortoise!'
The tortoise could not bear it. He wanted to shout back — 'Who is the foolish one?' The moment he opened his mouth, he plummeted straight down.
The swans could only watch. There was nothing they could do. One moment of impatience had taken everything away.