Hyena and Tortoise
Alice Mulwa
Salim Kasamba
A long time ago, in the village of Mkosi, there lived a greedy Hyena.
In a nearby village, lived a timid Tortoise.
Hyena and Tortoise were friends.
Hyena heard that across the great western river lived bees that made delicious honey. These bees traveled once a year, and were away from their hives for a whole week.
"We must get that honey while the bees are away," said Hyena to Tortoise.
Tortoise was afraid to go. But he was too timid to refuse.
The next morning, the two animals set off for the beehives. Hyena walked very fast but Tortoise dragged behind in fear.
They went up a hill, down into a valley and across the plains.
Then they crossed the great western river, and walked further.
Finally, they saw beehives in trees on a hill. Hyena ran to the trees energetically.
Tortoise almost fainted because he was so tired and hungry.
When Hyena reached the biggest beehive, he wasted no time.
He called to Tortoise, "Quickly, climb up the tree and knock down the hive."
Tortoise struggled slowly up the tree. He knew he could easily slip and fall.
This annoyed Hyena, who started yelling at Tortoise.
When Tortoise touched the beehive, he heard the buzzing of bees. They were still in their hives!
Tortoise was startled and fell out of the tree. The big beehive fell too.
The beehive landed on Tortoise. Honey covered him completely so he was hidden!
Hyena started to lick up the honey. The bees were not pleased.
The bees stung Hyena on every part of his body.
Hyena decided to run for his life but the bees followed him.
Hyena ran down the hill, through the river, across the plains and into the valley.
The bees swarmed around him all the way, stinging him.
Tortoise, still under the big beehive, noticed that everything was quiet.
The beehive and honey had dried on his back.
Soon Tortoise realised that he no longer needed to crawl into a bush to hide.
His hard new shell of honey could protect him.
Hyena was so tired and full of stings that he fainted before he got home.
When he woke up, he discovered that the stings had caused patches in his fur.
This is how the tortoise got his hard shell, and the hyena got his patches.
Hyena swore that he would never again steal. But the hyena and the tortoise are no longer friends.
You are free to download, copy, translate or adapt this story and use the illustrations as long as you attribute in the following way:
Hyena and Tortoise
Author - Alice Mulwa
Illustration - Salim Kasamba
Language - English
Level - First paragraphs
© African Storybook Initiative 2015
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Source www.africanstorybook.org
