A Story from Wollega

Before you read the story

• Who is a great person?
• Why are they great?
• Which is the greatest of these things:
• The wind? A mountain? A bushrat? The fog?
• Why do you think so?

Now read the story 

The Rat King was very proud.

"The rats are the most wonderful animals in the world," he said.

All the other rats agreed with him.

"You're right," they all said. "We are the most wonderful animals in the world."

"And I'm the most wonderful king in the world," said the Rat King.      

"It's true, it's true," said all the other rats. "You are the most wonderful king in the world."

"And my son is the most wonderful prince in the world," said the Rat King.

"We agree, we agree!" said all the other rats. "Your son is the most wonderful prince in the world."

"We must find a wife for my son," the Rat King said to his elders. "But how? None of the other animals are as wonderful as the rats. And my son must marry the best girl in the world. Where can we find her?"

The rats thought for a long time. Then one of the elders said, "There is one person who is greater than us."

"Who is that?" asked the Rat King angrily.

"Our Creator," the elder said.

"You're right," the Rat King said. "Our Creator is even greater than us. Go and ask the Creator to give his daughter to my son."

So the elders of the rats went up to the sky to see their Creator.  

"Please, sir," they said. "Our prince, the son of the Rat King, is the most wonderful animal in the world. We are looking for a wife for him. Will you give us your daughter?"

The Creator smiled. 

"Is your prince really the most wonderful animal in the world?" said the Creator. "Then he's too good for my daughter. He must marry someone greater than her."

"Who is better than the Creator?" asked the rats.

"The fog is greater than me," said the Creator. "He comes into the sky and covers me. I can't escape from him. I can't send him away. Ask the fog for his daughter."

So the elders went back to their king.    

"The Creator is always right," the Rat King said. "The fog is greater than him. Go and ask the fog for his daughter."

So the elders went to find the fog.  

"Sir," they said. "Our prince is the greatest animal in the world, and he wants to marry your daughter."

"Tell me about him," said the fog.

"He's clever," said the elders, "and handsome, and..."

"Stop!" said the fog. "He's too good for my daughter. He must marry someone greater than me."

"Who is greater than the fog?" the elders asked.

"The wind is greater than me," said the fog. "He blows me away. I can't stand against the wind. Ask him for his daughter."

The elders went back to the Rat King.

"The fog is right," said the Rat King. "The wind is greater than him. Go and ask the wind for his daughter."

So the elders went to find the wind.

"Great wind," they said. "We come from the Rat King. He is the greatest king in the world and he wants your daughter to marry his son."

"Is he really the greatest king in the world?" said the wind. "He's too good for me. Your prince must find someone greater."

"Who is greater than the wind?" the elders asked.

"The mountain is greater than me," answered the wind. "I push against him and blow on him, but he never moves. Go and ask the mountain for his daughter."

The elders went back to their king.

"Yes, yes!" he cried. "The wind is right. Go and speak to the mountain."

So the elders went and spoke to the mountain.

"Is your prince really so great and wonderful?" said the mountain. "Then he is too good for my daughter. He must marry someone better than her."   

"Who? Who?" asked the elders.

"The bushrat is greater than me," the mountain said. "He makes holes inside me and I can't stop him." 

“And the bushrat is my cousin. His daughter will be a very good wife for my son," said the Rat King. 

So the Rat Prince married the bushrat's daughter, and they lived happily for many years.               

Exercises for The Rat King's Son 

Listen to the story: