Author Unknown

The King and the Village

 

There once was a peaceful village in a quiet, prosperous land. A kindly king lived in the castle on the hill, overlooking the village. His people were happy and content. They always had been, and they always would be, they thought.

A wicked witch lived in a dark cave in the hills, on the edge of the land. She hated the village because its people were so happy. And she hated the king because he was so kind.

One night, the wicked witch sneaked into the village and poisoned the water in the village well.

The next morning, the villagers got up and drank from the well. --All except the king.

All the villagers who drank from the well went insane.

For days the villagers raped, pillaged and killed their own people. The village was torn apart, and thrown into mayhem. The king paced his castle halls and worried. What could he do to save his village?

Finally the villagers arrived at the door to the king's castle. They told him that he had two choices-- he could drink from the well and become like the villagers, or they would kill him. They gave him two days to decide.

The kindly king paced the floors of his castle for two more days and two more nights, trying to figure out what to do. He wanted to somehow save his village. He did not want to die.

On the morning of the third day the king emerged from his castle. He drank deeply from the well. The King went insane along with the rest of the village.

And they all lived happily ever after.

 

The End.