The culprits

It was a nasty year for the fishes in all the bodies of water in the jungle.The approach of dry season which naturally dries up the swamps and brooks and leaves streams standing in pools made preying on fishes by both humans and animals very easy.As birds and animals pick fishes effortlessly in puddles,humans waded into them to kill the fishes and even dig up more in underground pools beside the banks.1

Then the dry season ended and the rain returned - water gradually filling up its various passageways.Surviving fishes emerged from deeper hideouts and to their chagrin realized multitudes of their relatives were missing.The magnitude was frightening and the fishes had thought if they didn't do something urgently and in good time and pass the message round to their relatives in other bodies of water round the globe that their race would soon become extinct.In various chats they had had with one another they were consenting that very soon a conference of all the fishes in all the waters of the jungle - brooks,streams and fast-running rivers - should be called and suggestions of general security sought and that the best proposal be adopted to see that every kind of fish is protected from the destructive hands of their predators,humans especially.A representative was asked of each fish family.2

At the appointed time and place, representatives of the fish families arrived bringing with them the thoughts of their families over the matter.3

Electric fish spoke first:'Our family have decided to be the sole protectors of the entire race of fishes.We intend to use our abundant high voltage of electricity along the banks to shock any intruder,whether animals or humans.We only need your permission and this we would start right away!'4

Etok inua,the long-mouthed fish,said:'It's a good idea but trust humans - you would soon see them wading into the water all clothed in plastic suits!'5

All the other fishes agreed with etok inua over this point.They then asked for something better.6

Mud fish came in:'Let it be a joint thing.We would contribute our slipperiness,electric fishes their electric shocks,sticklebacks their spikes,asats their fangs - just every weapon everyone possesses.Then we would blend all of these and make them really effective for our collective security - defence and counter-attack.'7

'It's a good idea,'minnow said.'With such an arrangement, we are one hundred per cent protected!'8

'And we have our contributions too to make - our pincers!'Crab grinned.'Blend these with what all the fishes have got and our security is watertight.'9

'Are crabs too fishes?'etok inua asked disdainfully.'Who invited this one too?'10

Crab was shocked.His eyes popped out and he looked at himself and then at the others.The great difference showed like white sand at the bottom of a clean brook.But to lessen the intensity of the embarrassment he suffered,he said:'But we are talking of the collective security of all that take the water as home.'11

'Even if the water of contention meanders that way,'etok inua came in again,'do crabs live here or on land?'12

Crab,sensing the trickiness of the question,quickly answered:'Our home is here but we search the banks sometimes for food.'13

'You're home,'etok inua said,'is debatable and none of us would dare trust any of you for that!Simply put,you're not one of us!Our security cannot be any of your business - we do not need spies planted in our midst!'14

Crab stood up angrily and stared at etok inua.15

'This meeting cannot continue with you standing and staring at our backs - you better leave now and leave us alone to mind our business!'etok inua said cheekily.16

Crab, after a long thought,mellowed down and said:'Look,when I heard a meeting of fishes is being held to thrash out things about our great yearly losses,I decided to come over and share our security tips too.This thing is about all of us who stay in water - none of us is safe!And I would wish every good idea should be adopted no matter who gives it.'17

The other fishes thought over all the nice things crab had said.They looked generally at the life of crabs and agreed the security situation concerned them as well.Their pincers would be - the fishes consented - great security assets too.Crabs were about to be adopted as members of the race of fishes.18

'I think crabs have great assets that could be beneficial to all of us - I mean our security network,'minnow said.19

'It's you who would adopt crabs as your siblings and I'm not surprised,smallie!'etok inua spat.20

'All you've got is your long,foully mouth!'minnow spat back.'And I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes the only obstacle to our great plan for collective security.'21

'I won't take insults from you or anyone else for that matter!Anyone arranging for the security of fishes with crabs should count me out!'etok inua fumed.22

'Now,what do you have against these crabs?'mud fish asked.'Tell us!'23

'It's simple.Crabs aren't fishes,staying in water notwithstanding!Why don't you make alligators fishes too?'24

The fishes looked at one another.There was suddenly no clear-cut agreement on how to treat crab.25

But electric fish volunteered:'We know they're not fishes - but for our security and theirs,we are adopting them to lend their assets as well to our fight to stay alive.'26

'Then adopt all,'the fight didn't leave etok inua just yet,'adopt the water snakes,the frogs and the scabby toads!Make alligators your kings and queens!I,on my part,would try and walk right - I can't dare trust the sideways walker!'27

'You'll pay dearly for all of these insults,'crab,badly stung now,said and walked off.28

'Look!Look!'etok inua said,pointing at the sideways walk of crab.'Can you trust any being with such a walk!'29

Crab appeared on land and headed off for the direction he thought he could find either alligator or the water snake or both.Sighting them sunbathing on fallen logs in an open space along the bank,he hollered:'Hey,snake!Hey,alligator!There's serious scheming in the water against the two of you.The entire fold of fishes are seriously plotting how to overthrow you both.They want to make all the waters their sole domain!'30

'Damn it!'alligator cursed,thumping the log.'Where are the bastards?'31

'Have the fishes gone bonkers?'snake,seething with rage,blurted.'Take us there and let's deal with the goons!'32

Crab led them off,grinning inwardly.Coming to the edge of the confluence of two broad fast-running sreams,he asked alligator and snake to restrain themselves so they would not scare away the fishes in their rage as it was better they heard personally all the dirty tricks the fishes were planning.Alligator and snake did just as crab had suggested,then they quietly entered the water - coming close to where the fishes converged.They could eavesdrop on all the things they [the fishes] were saying.33

'How do we make a successful security arrangement for the whole water without involving all those that live in it?I think it's advisable we invite everyone to share in this arrangement...'34

'Shut up,you puny thing!'etok inua hollered at minnow.'I will chuck you out if you dare make that silly suggestion again!'35

'Long mouth,you're too full of yourself!And - if I may ask - when did you become a bouncer for the rest of the fishes?'minnow asked.36

A quarrel then ensued,both nastily attacking themselves.37

'Weak breed of things!I wonder what your type came looking for in the water!'etok inua lashed out at minnow.38

'Long mouth!Alligator's belly remains your grave!'minnow replied.39

'Ah!Humans continue to make you sauce for their foods!'etok inua again said.40

'May you be the brother the snake would never love!'minnow fired back.41

'It's all right,you two!'Electric fish stepped in to separate the two quarrelling fishes.'We came here to find solutions to our existing problems,not to create more!'42

'I wonder what they are actually fighting for.Quarrelling can't ever be the solution to a lasting security arrangement,'mud fish added.43

'If these two have ended their fight,now what is the final decision to be taken?'asat asked.'Should we involve the other creatures living in the water with us or not?'44

'We just have to if we must avoid trouble brewing in future between them and us,'minnow said.45

'Keep me out of your arrangement!'etok inua said bitterly.46

'Look!'alligator hollered suddenly at etok inua.'Who appointed this long mouth spokesperson for all other creatures in the water?'Then he turned to the other fishes.'Are the fishes not full of themselves to want to make an arrangement that would affect the water and every being living in it yet not inviting others to make their contributions too?Who put the fishes above all the other water creatures - who made the fishes kings,lords and queens over all the other beings in the water?Is the water not a secular society?Shouldn't laws made in a secular society be liberal - to allow for peaceful co-existence,to avoid intimidation,maltreatment and discontent?A secular society must allow for shades of opinion for peace and harmony to reign.If the fishes have become deaf and dumb to this fact - please disperse now!Disperse now I say!'alligator ordered and swooped on the fishes.47

'Order!Disperse!'snake hissed and slithered towards them.48

As the fishes scattered in all directions,crab yelled across at etok inua:'Long mouth,you're the cause of this chaos!'49

Etok inua stopped abruptly in his path of escape,turned and bitterly replied:'No amount of confusion caused by you,crab,would ever make you a fish!'50

'Long mouth - stubborn fool of a fish!You remain the pain on the back of peaceful co-existence!May your fate visit you!'crab said.51

Just then alligator caught up with the obstinate fish.'There won't ever be true peace and harmony in this our society long as his ilk abounds,'he said and swallowed the long-mouthed fish.'These remain the culprits!'Etok inua's tail disappeared completely between the jaws of alligator.52

The other fishes witnessing the disappearing act of etok inua in alligator's mouth doubled the speed of their flight and are yet to return for another conference.With alligator and snake and crab prowling the length and breadth of the waters to stop further coming together of all the fishes,the conference may never again hold so as to find a lasting solution to the heavy losses fishes suffered annually in the jungle.53

THE END.54