There once lived a noble wiseman. His name was Mayian.

He had a favourite black and white ox. His ox-name was Mayiankertuut.

He had a big family and many cattle too.

At that time, a family of ogres came to Nuerland looking for food.

The ogre's wife was breastfeeding their twin babies.

The ogres were starving because they had nothing to eat.

Mayian had untied his cattle for grazing.

When the ogres saw the cattle, they chased them, and caught Mayian's black and white ox.

Its ox-bell was heard ringing from far away. The ogres killed the ox and began eating it.

Young people from the village came sprinting to get the cattle.

They saw the ogres eating the ox. They threw spears at the ogres and tried to kill them.

Mayiankertuut arrived. He was holding a shield and weapons.

Mayiankertuut knelt and saw the mother ogre breastfeeding her twins.

He stopped the youths from killing them.

He said, "Leave them, let them eat my ox. It's the hunger of a breastfeeding mother! The better life is ahead of us."

The youths heard the advice of Mayiankertuut. He told them, "Collect the ox-bell and tassels. Take them to the cattle camp. Leave the meat for the ogres to eat."

The ogres were joyful because of what Mayian had done.

After some years, Mayian and five men travelled to a far away land, in search of giraffes.

As they arrived, it started raining heavily. They ran to a cattle byre and slept there.

That cattle byre belonged to an ogre!

The ogre left that night to inform the other ogres.

He told them, "In my byre, there are six men whom God brought to us. Come and cultivate my field. Afterward, we will eat them."

The ogres arrived very early in the morning.

They filled big bowls with boiling water, preparing to eat the men.

Among the ogres who came, was the one who ate Mayian's ox. Mayian saved him and his family long ago.

The ogre who Mayian had saved entered the cattle byre of the owner of the field.

He recognised Mayiankertuut and exclaimed, "Are you Mayiankertuut?"

"Yes, I am!" replied Mayian.

"So, you are the one we were told to eat after cultivating the field," the ogre smiled.

The ogre asked the other ogres, "Is there anyone who doesn't know my twins?"

"No, there is none," said the owner of the field.

The ogre narrated his story, "Long ago, my wife and I ate the favourite ox of this man. When the youths of his village came to kill us, he protected us.

Without the help of this man, my twins, my wife, and I, would be dead."

The ogres freed Mayian and the other five men.

The ogre who Mayian had saved invited them to his home.

The men were served food on new plates and given spoons which had never been used before.

The men and the ogres spent the night chatting.

The ogre asked them, "What brought you to Ogreland?"

They replied, "We came looking for giraffe tails. We use them to make necklaces and bracelets.

Early in the morning, the ogre and his children went hunting for giraffes. They brought many giraffe tails to Mayiankertuut and his friends.

When Mayian was ready to leave, the ogre and his children accompanied them to Nuerland.

When they arrived home, they told everyone about the hospitality of the ogres. These were the same ogres that Mayiankertuut protected long ago, which saved Mayian and his friends today.

Always remember, a better life is ahead of us. That is to say, 'What goes around, comes around.'