"Friend, why is it that you are not, as usual, seeking your dinner, and why do you utter these tearful sighs?"
"My child," said the Crane, "what you have observed is true. I do, indeed, make my dinner ordinarily of fish, but behold! I have renounced all appetite for food, and intend to let myself die of starvation; so that no matter how near they come to me I shall never eat fish again!"
"Friend, what is the reason for this renunciation of all appetite?"
"My child," said the Crane, "I was born and brought up on the borders of this Pool. I have learned that a terrible calamity threatens it; an absence of rain for twelve years is about to occur."
"How did you learn this?" asked the Crawfish.
"An eminent Astrologer informed me," replied the Crane. "Alas! this Pool is shallow, it holds but little water, and will soon be empty; and when it is dry all those with whom I grew up and played, will perish for lack of water. I have not the courage to witness such a catastrophe. That is why I am fasting thus, until death takes place; and I weep to think that not one of you will escape!"
When the Crawfish heard this she repeated to the other inhabitants the words of the Crane; and all the Fishes, the Tortoises, and other Water-people felt their hearts quake with fear and anguish.
They all gathered around the Crane and cried:
"Friend, is there no way of saving our lives?"
"There is," said the Crane, "not far from here, a fine Lake full of deep water, and embellished with quantities of lotus. Even if Pardjania, the God of rain, should refuse to permit showers to fall for twenty years, that Lake would not become exhausted. If, therefore, any of you care to mount up on my back, I will carry you to that Lake."
Now the Fishes had confidence in these words, and assembled from all sides, calling out:
"Take me!... Take me!... Me first! Me first!"...
The wicked Crane made them climb one after another onto her back, then she flew towards a great Rock situated a short distance off, and threw them all down on it--and devoured them at her ease.
"Friend," said the Crawfish, "it was with me that you had your first friendly conversation--why do you leave me behind, and take the others? Will you not save my life along with the rest?"