King Goat

The Goat lived by the tree, every day it went to the river to drink. Obviously, thought the goat, because I can go to the river and drink whenever I wish, the river belongs to me. It is my river to do with as I will. I shall call it the river Drink.

One day, the grass near the tree became withered and the goat became hungry.

I shall go along my river to another place where the grass is plentiful, and I will live there with plenty of grass by my river.

And so, the goat walked along the riverbank until eventually it came to a place that the grass was plentiful. Having eaten its fill, it decided to go to the river for a drink.

At the river bank the goat stooped to drink. As it did so it became aware of a small bird that was also taking a drink at the river side.

Excuse me, said the goat amiably, I’m afraid that you cannot drink from this river, the river Drink belongs to me. Please can you go elsewhere to drink.

The small bird continued to drink until it had drunk its fill. Then it said, this is not your river, this is the river Peck. It is this kind of selfish attitude that brings all of the living kingdom into conflict and thence to despair. Can you not see that there is more than enough water for many creatures? Even were there a shortage of water, it would be better for us to share the resource and find a common resolution to the problem than to come to blows, in which case one or both of us might come to harm.

I do not see it that way, said the goat, I own the river and I can do with my river as I wish. With that the goat stamped his hoof and scared the little bird away. The goat continued to drink.

There came a noise like the wind and a huge flock of tiny birds settled on the bank next to the goat and started to drink.

The goat was at a loss, having imagined that everything that it could see was its own.

Just then a wild hog came to the river, scattering the small birds, who flew away a short distance to watch.

This is more complicated than I at first thought, thought the goat.

Excuse me pig, this is my river and I would appreciate it if you ceased to drink my water.

No, replied the pig and continued to drink.

The goat stamped its hoof but the pig did not seem to care.

Just then, a herd of sheep came and, standing along the river in a line, began to take their share of the river.

Well that does it, thought the goat, my whole life model has gone up in flames, I shall have to reassess. Then the goat went to get some shade under a tree.

I see before myself a choice, thought the goat, I can continue with my assumption concerning ownership of the river, which now appears to be an idea that only I hold to be true and therefore an illusion, or I can reassess and come to a more balanced world view.

Or I can build a boat with broken sticks and sail away down the river until I find some other being that might call me a king.

Or I might build some wings with grass and fly up into the airs to the kingdom of clouds where they might call me a king.

After a short while the goat fell asleep.

While he was asleep the birds fashioned him a crown of twigs.