The People And The Frogs

 This is a work of fiction. Events, names or species are purely fictional.

This is the copyright of Danny Ong. Duplication without prior written permission by Danny Ong is strictly prohibited.

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In a kingdom called Aisyalam, there lived different tribes who just wanted to live in peace and harmony. But, they were ruled by an inept and manipulative amphibian, Prince Berak who overthrew the king and sent the king and some trusted councilors into exile.

 

Prince Berak surrounded his court with amphibian jesters who were even more inept than himself so that no one could overthrow him. Well, whenever the prince went to the toilet (which was often), many of his jesters sharpened their knives secretly.

The humanoid people in the kingdom of Aisyalam were generally a happy lot. They went about their lives earning a living and trying to keep whatever balance left after paying the taxes for their old age.

The people in the court were even happier. They enjoyed the coins collected from the toil and sweat of the people. To make the people think that they were working for the people, they made an occasional (illogical) proclamation.

One dreadful day, a deadly plague engulfed the entire world. Leaders in various kingdoms worked feverishly to battle the plague. People were dying on the streets. It was indeed a dark period.

Out of desperation to control the spiralling deaths, the people were restricted to their own homes. In the meantime, healers started to look for solution. Unfortunately, as the people could not go out to work, their food supplies dwindled.

Wise leaders of some kingdoms started to open up their granaries and treasuries to assist their people. In kingdoms ruled by inept leaders who have been raiding the granary and treasury for themselves, the leaders gave out one grain to each citizen. Then, they proclaimed that they have given aid to the people. They then, decreed that the people were allowed to use their meagre supply of silver coins meant for old age to buy their daily supplies.

As the people were suffering from hunger, the prince and his jesters gorged themselves with luxurious drinks and food.

One day, a stranger arrived at Aislayam. His name was Lobin Hood. He was saddened by the plight of the people.

A few months later, Lobin Hood returned. The number of people had dwindled - by suicide, starvation and the plague. He gathered the surviving people and told them that he has found a fertile forest to seek refuge. It was the Durian Forest. It had many fruit trees to collect fruits from and the ground had herbs and the people could grow food on the fertile land.

The people were afraid. What if the prince and his jesters followed them? Lobin Hood said, no fear, "I have surrounded the forest with Chytrid fungus". No frog shall pass into the Durian Forest. Lobin Hood also promised to train some of the people to fight against the occasional bull frog which may manage to get through.

The people immediately gathered their belongings and followed Lobin Hood into the Durian Forest. They also gathered the various herbs and flowers to make iverherbs to heal those infected with the plague. Over time, the people became healthy and had plenty of food which they shared with each other and also with any traveller who happen to go into the forest.

The prince kept sending his snakes to the forest to destroy the people. All were defeated by thorny durians lobbed by Lobin Hood and his band of merry people. Eventually, the court collapsed as the frogs tried to get at the dwindling coins by killing each other.