The Ghosts of Eden

The Tale of the Deceitful monkey

OK, here's another go at the Tale of the Deceitful Monkey. It's the men and women don't get along until Monkey feeds them a pack of lies version. It's cheerier than my last version, with a happy ending for all concerned, so here goes...

In ancient times there was a deep division between the males and the females of the Beekhu race. They lived in separate camps and met only occasionally. When they met they tried to make their peace, for they knew that they had no future apart, but they always came to quarrelling. The great heroes, with all their gifts could not resolve the dispute for the division ran deep. So they lamented the gifts of the Gods, for what use were they if the race was divided and doomed.

Now little Monkey, who dwelt in the forest heard of their problems and came close to listen to their arguments and discussions. So it came to pass that Monkey heard of the gifts that could be found in the home of the Gods and desired such a gift for himself. So Monkey went to the females and asked "Where is the home of the Gods, so that I might go there and find a gift such as the Beekhu have?"

And the great matriarch said to the Monkey "I cannot tell you where the home of the Gods is, but I can tell you where you may find the path to their door. In return I ask that you use your gift to heal the division among our people."

"And what is the nature of this division?" asked the Monkey.

"Our men are lazy" replied the matriarch. "We must hunt and feed our children, and they do nothing to help. They compete with us for the best hunting grounds, and argue among themselves constantly. You must help us to make our peace."

And Monkey agreed, so the great matriarch told him where to find the path to the door to the home of the Gods.

Monkey set off to the home of the Gods, and found the path as the matriarch had said. And so it was that he came to the door to the home of the Gods and found it locked. And try as he might he could not open the door. So he returned to the lands of the Beekhu and went to the males asking "How do I enter the home of the Gods, so that I might find a gift such as the Beekhu have?"

And the great hunter said to the Monkey "I cannot tell you where to go to enter the home of the Gods, but if you can find the path I can tell you how to open the door. In return I ask that you use whatever gift you find to heal the rift between our women and us."

"And what is the nature of this rift?" asked the Monkey.

"The women do not recognise our strength and skill" replied the hunter. "They try to hunt in our lands, and scare off the game. They raise the young to see us as stupid brutes. We need to solve this problem, and it is leading to arguments among ourselves for we cannot see what to do. You must help us."

And Monkey agreed, so the great hunter told him how to open the door to the home of the Gods.

Monkey set off once more, following the instructions of the great matriarch to find the path, and those of the great hunter to open the door. And so he came to enter the home of the Gods. When he returned all could see that he carried with him a gift from the place of the Gods, but they could not see what it was.

And Monkey went to the great matriarch and said "I have been to the home of the Gods, for your instructions were good and true. Since you have helped me I have taken your argument to the males. They have agreed to be your servants, to hunt for you, defend you, to care for the young, and to let you make all the decisions."

And the matriarch said "How can this be so, for we have everything we want and have surrendered nothing - did the males wish nothing in return?"

And Monkey replied "You helped me, so I have made this bargain greatly in your favour. The gift you helped me win has allowed me to do this thing. The only condition is that you do not speak of the details to the males for their egos are very fragile as you well know."

Then Monkey ran to the place where the males were and said to them "I have been to the place of the Gods, and your instructions helped me greatly. Since you have helped me I have used my new gift to settle your arguments once and for all. You are to have all the hunting grounds, and the females will no longer turn the hearts of the young against you. You will never need to argue amongst yourselves again. The females will do all the arguing, for that is all they are good for."

And the great hunter laughed, for they all knew how females loved to argue, but he asked of Monkey "We have everything we desire, and the females have nothing - how did you make us such a deal?"

And Monkey said "I have a gift from the Gods which enables me to do all this and more. Since you helped me I have returned the favour by striking such a good bargain on your behalf. The only condition is that you do not speak of it, and do not remind them of what they have given up for females are very sensitive as you well know."

At this time the great matriarch came, with all the other females and asked of the hunter "I see you are speaking with Monkey again, do you still wish to keep the deal he has struck between us?"

And the hunter replied "Of course we do, for it pleases us greatly."

And the matriarch replied "We should have a celebration to mark the deal, and we must talk to arrange the details of our bargain."

At this Monkey saw that they might discover his trickery and spoke up "We must have a competition, and all the males will strive to prove their skills. And the greatest hunters will join the great matriarch and have the best hunting grounds. Other strong hunters will be allocated to the matriarch's circle of advisors and will also have fine hunting grounds, and so on down to the least of them all."

The males saw that this would arrange all as was needed, with the strongest and most skilful receiving their full reward. The females also saw that this would finalise the details of the deal as the wisest of them would have the finest hunters to serve them. And they turned to Monkey and asked "What is the gift you have gained, that has allowed you to solve all our problems?"

And Monkey grinned and replied "Why, nothing," and left them wondering at his Deceit.