The King’s Choice

THERE was once a lion who was king of the
forest. He was big and strong and very fierce.
All the other animals in the forest called him
king. They brought him gifts from every corner of
the forest.
But the more the lion had, the more he wanted.
‘A king must have a court,’ he said to himself
one day.
He called a fox to his side.
“You are known to be a wise and clever
creature, fox,” said the lion. “I want you to be my
adviser.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” said the fox,
bowing low.
bowing low.
The lion next called a leopard to his side.
“You are known to be watchful and swift of
foot, leopard. I want you to be my bodyguard.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” said the leopard,
bowing low.
bowing low.
The lion then called a vulture to his side.
“You are a bird, vulture, and can fly high. You
are to be my messenger.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” said the vulture,
bowing low.
bowing low.
The fox, the vulture and the leopard took an
oath of loyalty to the king. The king promised to
give them food and protection.
For some time all went well in the court of the
lion king. The three courtiers never opposed the
king. His wishes were law. Whenever he roared,
they stood in awe. Whenever he took a walk, they
followed him.
When the lion king went hunting, they found
the animals for him to kill. And after he had

meal, he left the remains for them. So they always
had enough to eat.
One day the vulture came back from a flight.
“Your Majesty, have you ever eaten a camel?”
he asked. “It is very tasty. I ate it once in the
desert.”
The lion had never seen a camel, but he liked
the idea of trying camel’s meat.
“But where can we get a camel?” he asked.
“There is a desert some miles away.” said the
vulture. “I was flying over it when I saw a lone
camel not far away. It looked big and fat.”
The lion looked at his other advisers. They
were wise and experienced. He wanted their opinion.
Now the fox and the leopard did not know the
desert. But they did not want the vulture to seem
wiser than them. So they said, since it was the
vulture’s idea, he should lead the way.
Early next morning the lion and his court
started off on the camel hunt.
They reached the edge of the desert easily. But
after they left the shelter of the forest, the day
became very hot. The sun shone down with fire-hot
rays.

High up in the cooler air the vulture flew.
“Hurry along,” he called, “the camel is not far
off.”
But the lion could not hurry any more. The hot
sand had burned his paws. He could go no farther.
“Stop!” he shouted to the others.
“Let us go back to the forest. I do not care to
try camel meat.”
The lion king’s advisers were frightened. The
forest was far behind them and they did not know
how to get the lion back home.
The leopard wanted to run away.
The vulture wanted to watch and wait and eat
the lion later on.
But the clever fox thought of a plan. Off into
the desert he ran saying, “I will bring some help.”
After running for some time, the fox found the
camel. The camel was indeed surprised to see him.
“Hurry up, friend camel,” said the fox. “Our
king wants you at once.”
“Your king ?” said the camel. “Who is that ? I
do not know any king. I only know my master,
for whom I carry goods across the desert.”
“Our king, the lion, has killed your master,”
said the fox. “Now you are free, and the lion has
invited you to live at his court. Come along.”
The camel followed the fox.
When the fox and the camel reached the lion’s
camp, the vulture and the leopard were surprised.
Even the lion looked pleased, in spite of his burned
paws.
paws.
The camel was presented to the king. He agreed
to serve the lion in return for a home at his court.
“Get on the camel’s back, Your Majesty,” said
the fox. “We will return home.”
The lion at once jumped on to the camel’s
back. His courtiers, the fox and the leopard, jumped
back. His courtiers, the fox and the leopard, jumped

up behind him. And with the vulture flying ahead
as a guide, they set off on the long journey back
to the forest.
When the travellers reached the forest, they
were all tired and hungry.
The fox, the leopard and the vulture looked at
the camel. Then they looked at each other and
smiled hungry smiles.
They had brought the camel for the king’s
dinner. Now it was time for the feast.
The lion king knew what his courtiers were
thinking. He called the camel to him.
“Friend camel,” he said, “I have to thank you
for saving my life. You are welcome to live at my
court as long as you like. I promise you my
protection.”
The lion’s courtiers were shocked. Had they not
risked their lives so that he could try camel meat ?
And the king wanted to let the camel live !
The courtiers were not pleased with his decision.
Yet they could do nothing.
Now the lion’s paws were so badly burnt that
he could not go hunting. But that did not keep him
from growing very hungry indeed.
“Fox ! Leopard ! Vulture !” he shouted.
“Don’t you see that I am ill and hungry ? Go
and get me some food !”
The courtiers had to obey the king. So out they
went. But they did not go far. They sat down in
a safe place and discussed what they could do.
“I know,” said the fox after a while, “we shall
make the camel ask to be eaten.”
He told the others of his plan. They all agreed,
so back they went to the king.
First the vulture stepped forward. “Your
Majesty,” he said, bowing low, “we have found no
food. But we cannot let Your Majesty suffer. I am
a poor creature. Eat me.”