The Three Fish of the Lily Pond (from Kalila and Dimna)

Once upon a time, in a quiet green valley, there was a little pond.

The water was clear and cool. Pink water lilies floated on top, with big round leaves like green plates. Tall reeds grew all around the edges, swaying in the breeze. And at one end, a little waterfall splashed down over the rocks. At the other end, a narrow stream flowed out of the pond and away through the valley.

In this pond lived three fish.

The first fish was orange, like a sunset. Her name was Hazima. She liked to plan ahead. Every morning, she swam around the whole pond, checking that everything was just right.

The second fish was blue, like the sky. His name was Fatin. He was clever and quick. When there was a problem, he always found a way to solve it.

The third fish was green, like the reeds. His name was Kasul. He was sweet and funny, and he loved to nap. His favorite word was "later."

"Kasul, do you want to explore the waterfall?" Hazima would ask.

"Later," Kasul would say, yawning.

"Kasul, do you want to race to the lily pads?" Fatin would ask.

"Later," Kasul would say, snuggling into the soft sand.

The three fish were the very best of friends. They swam together. They played hide-and-seek in the reeds. They blew bubbles at the dragonflies. Blub, blub, blub.

One afternoon, Hazima was swimming near the edge of the pond. She heard voices.

She swam up close to the surface and listened.

Two fishermen were standing on the bank. They had big baskets and long poles. One of them was pointing at the water.

"Look at this pond," he said. "It is full of fish. Tomorrow morning, we will come back with our big nets. We will block the stream with reeds, so nothing can swim out. And then we will scoop up every fish in the pond and take them to the market."

"Tomorrow morning it is," said the other.

And they walked away, whistling.

Hazima swam as fast as she could to find her friends.

"Fatin! Kasul!" she cried, bubbles flying everywhere. "Fishermen are coming tomorrow with big nets! They are going to scoop us up! We have to leave the pond. We have to swim out through the stream, right now, today, before they block it!"

Fatin's fins twitched. "Leave our pond?" he said. "But it is our home."

"I know," said Hazima. "But we can come back when it is safe. Please. We have to go now."

Kasul yawned a big bubbly yawn. "Hmm," he said. "Maybe. But I am so cozy. Can we go later?"

"Later might be too late," said Hazima.

Fatin thought for a moment. "I think you are right to worry, Hazima," he said. "But I am clever. If the fishermen come, I will think of something. I will stay with Kasul."

Hazima looked at her two friends. Her heart felt heavy. But she knew what she had to do.

"I will go first," she said. "And I will wait for you just outside, in the stream. Please come soon."

She swam to the end of the pond. She slipped into the narrow stream. Swish, swish, swish. The water carried her out, past the rocks, past the reeds, into the wide, sparkly water beyond.

That night, Hazima could not sleep. She floated in the stream, watching the moon, and thinking about her friends.

Back in the pond, Fatin could not sleep either. He kept thinking about the nets.

Only Kasul slept soundly, snoring little bubbles. Blub. Blub. Blub.

Early the next morning, the fishermen came back.

First, they went to the end of the pond. They pulled up big bunches of reeds. They pushed them into the mouth of the stream, until it was all blocked up. Now no fish could swim out.

Then they picked up their big nets.

Kasul woke up with a jump. He saw the net dipping into the water. Splash!

"Fatin!" he cried. "The fishermen are here! The stream is blocked! What do we do?"

Now Kasul wished he had not said "later." He wished it very, very much.

Fatin's mind was racing. He looked around the pond. He looked at the net. He looked at the blocked stream.

"Stay calm," said Fatin. "Follow me. Stay close to the bottom, near the stones. Where the net cannot reach."

The two fish swam down low, hiding among the smooth pebbles and the waving water plants.

Splash! The net swept past above them. Splash! It swept past again.

Meanwhile, outside the pond, Hazima was waiting in the stream. She heard the splashing. She saw the reeds blocking the way. And she knew her friends were trapped.

But Hazima had been swimming around all morning, checking everything, the way she always did. And she had found something.

Under the roots of an old willow tree, right next to the blocked stream, there was a tiny gap. It was hidden by the roots. The fishermen had not seen it. It was just big enough for a fish to squeeze through.

Hazima swam to the gap. She poked her head through into the pond.

"Fatin! Kasul!" she called softly. "Over here! Under the willow roots!"

Fatin heard her. His eyes lit up.

"Kasul!" he whispered. "Hazima found a way out! Quick! Stay close to the bottom and follow me!"

Slowly, carefully, the two fish swam along the bottom of the pond. Past the stones. Past the water plants. Under the shadow of the lily pads.

Splash! The net dipped down behind them.

"Faster!" whispered Fatin.

They reached the willow roots. Hazima was waiting there, her orange fins fluttering.

"This way!" she said.

One by one, they squeezed through the tiny gap. First Fatin. Then Kasul, wiggling and wriggling. And then, pop! They were out in the open stream.

The three friends swam together, side by side, out into the bright, sparkling water. Orange, blue, and green.

Back at the pond, the fishermen lifted their nets. They were full of nothing but water lilies and mud.

"Strange," said one. "I was sure this pond was full of fish."

They scratched their heads, picked up their empty baskets, and went home.

The three fish found a new home in the stream, with cool water and soft sand.

The next morning, Hazima swam over to Kasul.

"Kasul," she said, "do you want to explore our new stream?"

Kasul swished his green tail. He smiled a big smile.

"Yes," he said. "Right now."