Once upon a time, in a far-off forest, there lived a little duck. One day, he fell into a sweet sleep under a giant hazelnut tree. At that very moment, a hazelnut broke off from a branch and fell right onto the duck’s head! The duck jumped up in terror. “Oh my goodness! Someone shot at me! I must inform the King immediately!” he cried, and he began to run in a panic.
As he left the forest, he encountered a chicken. The chicken asked, “Where are you going in such a hurry, brother?” The duck replied, “I’m going to the King. Someone shot at me while I was sleeping; I must report it at once!” The chicken said, “Oh, how terrible! But I run faster than you. Let me carry the news!” and she started running too.
A little further on, the chicken ran into a cat. The cat asked, “What’s the matter, sister chicken? Why are you running so fast?” The chicken answered, “I’m going to the King! Bad men have arrived, and they are shooting at everyone!” The cat said, “Is that so? Then I should carry the news, for I am faster than you!” and set off on his way.
A dog sleeping by the roadside suddenly woke up. The dog asked, “Stop, little cat! Where are you going?” The cat replied, “I’m taking news to the King! Hundreds of enemy soldiers have invaded our country and are shooting everyone!” The dog said, “What are you saying? Wait, let me go! I can run much faster than you!” and he began to bolt.
Further ahead, the dog came across a powerful horse. The horse asked, “Why are you running so fast, brother dog?” The dog answered, “I’m going to the King! A massive army has occupied our country and is killing everyone!” The horse said, “Oh, how horrific! I shall carry the news because I am the fastest of all!” and he began to gallop.
Meanwhile, the King of the forest, the Lion, was fast asleep in his beautiful garden. He woke up to the commotion and asked, “What is this fuss? What is happening?” The horse had run so fast that he was out of breath and couldn’t speak. King Lion said, “Drink some water first, then tell me.” After drinking water and regaining his composure, the horse bowed and said, “Your Majesty, the enemy has come! They have seized our country and are killing everyone!”
King Lion roared immediately: “Ring the bells! Assemble my soldiers!” he commanded. Bears, elephants, wolves, foxes… all the soldiers gathered. The King set out at the head of his army. Above them, pigeons were flying. The King asked the pigeons, “What do you see from above?” The pigeons replied, “Your Majesty, we see only a horse and a dog.”
The King turned to the horse: “Did you see the enemies?” The horse replied, “No, Your Majesty, the dog told me.” The King called the dog: “Show me these enemies!” he said. The dog pointed into the distance. The army moved forward. The King asked again, “Did you see the enemies, dog?” The dog replied, “No, Your Majesty, the cat told me. It must be true!”
The King said, “Do not believe everything you hear, children,” and asked the cat. The cat pointed: “The enemies are over there, Your Majesty!” but added, “I didn’t see them either; the chicken told me.” The King gave the same warning and they reached the chicken. The chicken said, “I didn’t see them either; the duck told me.”
Finally, they reached the little white duck. The King asked, “Tell me, duck, where are the enemies?” The duck bowed low: “Your Majesty, I didn’t see any enemies, but someone shot at me while I was sleeping!” The King said, “Show me your head.” There was no wound on the duck’s head. “What exactly happened?” asked the King. The duck replied, “Your Majesty, while I was sleeping under the tree, something fell on my head. I jumped out of fear!”
The King said, “Let’s go see that tree!” and had the duck lead the way. The moment they arrived under the tree, a hazelnut fell right onto King Lion’s head! The King looked up, saw the tree, and began to laugh: “Ha ha ha! This is a hazelnut tree! A hazelnut fell on you too. Did it ever occur to any of you to think about this? You all hurried and exaggerated the news. From now on, do not believe everything you hear. Do not trust what you have not seen with your own eyes!”
Then he turned and said, “Now, it is time for punishment! The chicken shall peck the duck, the cat shall scratch the chicken, the dog shall bite and chase the cat, and the horse shall kick the dog. Finally, I shall bite the horse!”
But as soon as the King returned with his army, everyone turned on each other! The chicken went after the duck, but the duck quickly dove into the water and escaped. The cat chased the chicken, but the chicken flew up and took shelter in the trees. The dog ran barking to catch the cat, but the cat climbed up a tree. Just then, the horse arrived, and the dog began to run away in fear. The adventure ended with a firm kick from the horse.
Everyone escaped and survived, but it was a great lesson for all of them. From that day on, they never believed everything they heard; they decided to think first and see with their own eyes.
The tale ends here, serving as a lesson to those who listen. Three apples fell from the sky: one for the storyteller, one for the listener, and one for those who think before they act.
