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Library: Dragons, Pride, and Understanding, an Allegorical Tale.

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Author: Yari
Date:Nov 2 1995

   One day, a cyclops was stumbling about in a cave that he had 
not yet visited.  He turned a corner and almost ran straight 
into a large dragon!
   "Go away," mumbled the dragon, who was half-sleeping at the 
time, "or I shall eat you."
   "Hum, well, if you insist, Dragon, then I shall.  But you 
really are a grumpy sort, and ought work on that," said the 
cyclops as he turned away.
   "GRUMPY!?" the dragon roared.  "I will show you grumpy!" and 
she reared to her full height, which was impressive indeed.
   "Now, now, Dragon," the cyclops said, in his most soothing 
tone of voice.  "I was merely suggesting that you might get 
better results if you had said 'Hello Cyclops, please go away, 
I am rather sleepy', is all.  No harm meant, really."
   The dragon paused a moment, appearing to think about what 
the cyclops had said.  "Humph, very well.  Now go away.  
Please."  (Ever heard a Dragon using sarcasm?  It's really 
quite impressive)
   "That's it?  Very well?  Heh, hardly the voice of a fierce 
Dragon I hear coming from you.  I must say, you are a curious 
one, indeed.  Someday I should like to find out more about 
you," he said, as he turned to leave.  He stopped, and turned 
back.  "No, I do not think it will be someday, it will be now.  
Do tell, why are you so eager to be rid of me?"
   "Aside from the smell?" the Dragon asked, a slight frown 
making her appear even more fierce, and continued without 
waiting for an answer.  "Because I do not wish to be disturbed, 
I am a fierce dragon and I do not enjoy company."
   "I find that hard to believe, a dragon of your intellect 
would enjoy good conversation, I'd bet.  Do tell, why is it 
that you will not engage me?  It seems a simple request of 
someone of your longevity."  The cyclops sat down on a nearby 
heap of bones.
   "You really wish to know, don't you?  Pest."  The Dragon 
heaved a huge sigh, nearly blowing the cyclops's cape off.  "If 
you must know, I live with pain, pain that you cannot imagine.  
I am a dragon, I must be fierce, it is my nature, and I cannot 
show pain.  You see, I have a sword imbedded in my right hind 
paw, and I cannot dislodge it.(We dragons are not quite that
flexible)  It is most bothersome, and it makes me angry , and 
as you have learned, when I am angry, I am not polite."
   "A sword?  That must be painful," the cyclops said with a 
wince, "perhaps someone of my small stature could remove it?  I 
can at least try."
   "No, I shall dislodge it myself, you are not needed."
   "I know that, but if I can help, I'd like to.  At least 
allow me to inspect it, an examination might discover something 
about your wound that would help you dislodge it yourself," the
cyclops offered.
   "Hmm...as you wish, you may inspect it," the dragon rumbled.
   The cyclops walked around the dragon to find the sword, but 
could not. "Dragon, lift your paw, so that I might see it 
better?" he asked.
   The dragon complied, and the cyclops saw the wound.  It was 
small, and there was something imbedded in the great paw, but 
it was no sword.
   "Dragon, that's no sword at all, it is merely a fire-
nettle!"
   "A fire-nettle?  Indeed.  It feels as a sword..."
   "Fire nettles are nothing to be concerned about, friend
Dragon...they are small and inconsequential, but they have the
ability to feel much worse than they they are.  They grate and 
they grind, but in the end, they are nothing but a thorn.  
Please, allow me to help you remove it?"
   The dragon paused a moment, then set her head on a massive 
paw.  "No, I do not believe I shall allow it.  Nettle, sword,
whatever the case, it's my problem, and mine alone.  Dragons, 
after all, are mighty, and I will manage.  How would it look, a
Dragon, requiring the assistance of a pungent cyclops to remove 
a nettle?  No, that would not do, not at all.  Now please do go 
away, I have a lair to lie in, and I'd prefer to do it alone."  
The dragon closed her eyes, signaling that this conversation 
was over.
   "Yes, I shall leave you to your lair, but if you should ever 
want my assistance, I am only a roar away, your voice carries 
quite well, you know."
   The dragon opened one eye, let loose a mighty snort, and 
closed her eye again.  With that, the cyclops turned and left 
her to sleep.


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