All Trunks Aboard!

author: bhavani
category: above 16 yrs

Wari, a small village on this side of this big hill, had only one lake for the entire villages water needs. But with
a bad monsoon, and an indulgent week-long Holi celebration, by April, all the water had dried up. The land
all around it had cracked, with cracks so wide your chappal could fall right in. The trees had lost all their
leaves, the fish were dead and the birds were flying away, leaving this now arid place in search of water.

The people of Wari were stuck here for how could they go anywhere else. This was their land, this was their
home, this was where they had always lived. Their history was tied to this land. The long summer had just
begun, and without water how would they survive the intense heat.

Gushshsh, the head of the villages Public Works Department, went to meet Whargu, the wisest soul in
this town. Oh yes, he was a wolf as you can see in the picture. He had lived for many years, in fact, no
one knew how old he was. The legend in the village was that he had lived forever, but then as legends
go, you never really know if theyre true. I must tell you that his hair was all jet black, but these days you
can use dyes to get that look.

Oh Whargu, summer is here but the lake has dried up. We have no water, how will we manage! Please
help us Wise Whargu.

Whargu thought about it for a long time. He consulted his friend Harey the rabbit, who was even wiser for
Harey had seen so much more. He hopped around very fast, sometimes at 70 km per hour. Harey gave
him an idea, it was a really good one!

Whargu immediately called up Gushshsh, A s k t h e e l e p h a n t s. He spoke slowly, in a low tone,

never hurried, no matter how serious the issue. And he never used any extra words.

Huh? The elephants? But we dont like the elephants! Gushshsh rushed on.

They trample all over our crops. Eat the leaves from the our trees, fruits from our orchards
so we chase them away beating our drums and trumpets! How can we ask them for help?

Whargu interrupted, Gushshsh sh.. sh.. shhh. Forget old fights, there is strength in unity.
Magamuch, a large river on the other side of the hills, is filled with crocodiles. They will will
not let you approach but the elephants and crocodiles are good friends. A s k t h e m .

Gushshsh went to meet the elephants. He was a little scared as he thought they would be
angry with him, as elephants have a very good memory. Purphat, the biggest elephant,
moved her trunk from side to side as she heard him out and then said,
Gushshsh we understand your problem, but we want to make a deal. We will get the water
for you, in exchange, you cannot play your loud drums and scare us away. We will forage in
the jungles, but when we fall short, we will come to your village. You must then help us with
food. Do you accept this condition?

Gushshsh nodded, Yes, yes, Purphat, we accept.

Purphat walked across those big hills you see in the picture above. It took her a long time, almost an
entire day of walking and a little bit of running too, then finally she reached the river MagarMuch.
Magaru, the biggest crocodile on this side of the world, was lying there, warming himself in the summer
sun. Purphat explained the situation. Magaru rolled his eyes and agreed to let the elephants take the
water but on one condition, We miss you LoudFeet (as crocodiles call elephants), you hardly ever come
this side now. You must promise to visit us at least once a month. Id love to catch up!

Purphat and Magaru shook hands on it, as elephants and crocodiles can shake hands! And then Purphat put the
rest of her herd to work.

Do you know how the water got over those tall, big hills to this side?

The magic lies in the elephants trunk! An elephant can hold 4 litres in its trunk, and some of the big bull elephants
can hold as much as 10 litres. All the elephants stood in a long line and passed the water from one trunk to another.
Similar to the way you play passing the parcel only this time the best singer of Wari sang without one pause.

It took a long time as transporting water is not an easy task, some of it tends to drip onto the ground.
But in a day or two, the lake was filled to the brim with water. The animals came back, the birds chirped
loudly, and searched for bugs on the wet banks, and all the villagers of Wari came out and danced.

If you ever visit this village on that side of the big, tall hills, you might just meet elephants and humans
living happily with each other. And those loud drums? Theyve been packed away and are never used
anymore.