Bobino

Once upon a time there lived a lad who was sharp and intelligent and had an insatiable appetite for knowledge. The child was called Bobino and he was so full of questions that soon his father had no answers left to give him. So, the father found a wise master and sent Bobino with them, so that the master might tutor Bobino in a thousand different arts. The lad spent twelve years studying with his teacher and when he became a young man and when he had learnt all that the master could teach him. Bobino returned to his father.

Bobino father: My son! How long have I waited for you! Tell me about all that you have learnt.

Bobino: Father!

Bobino father: Oh! These nasty birds!

Bobino: A storm is coming! Quick father! We must find shelter! There is a cave this way!

Bobino father: There is no, storm coming! The sky is clear!

Bobino: Father, birds and creatures of the forest know the world better than we do... 

Bobino father: What?

Bobino: See father!

Bobino father: How did you know?

Bobino: From the sparrows. One of them told me. It also showed me the way to this cave.

Bobino father: How is that even possible?

Bobino: I know the language of all birds and beasts Father! My master taught me!

Bobino father: What? Your master taught you to become a wizard?

Bobino: It is not like th...

Bobino father: All these years, all that money and the only trade my son has learnt is the language of ghastly creatures? Is that what I shall tell our relatives and friends?

Bobino: What do you expect?

Bobino father: People will come to you to ask them what their dog is saying?

Bobino: But father...

Bobino father: My business is run by humans not animals! What is to become of it now? Go away Bobino! Leave at once and come back to me only after you have learnt something worthwhile! Leave!

And so Bobino left. How he wished he could tell his father that all the knowledge of the world was contained in the wisdom of nature and her creatures! But that was not to be. So, he wandered on. Whenever Bobino was tired he would ask a snake or a bird as to where there was a cave nearby and they would lead him there. When he was hungry, he asked them where to find food and water and they would show him the way. He spoke to them, laughed with them and enjoyed his time in the wilderness. Then one day, he came upon a tribe. When Babino was having lunch with the tribe people, a dog was barking continuously. 

Tribe man1: Why are you barking so? Stay quiet!

Tribe man 2: Let me go and tie him up.

Bobino: No. Wait! What is it little one? The dog is saying that a group of robbers is going to attack the tribe after midnight tonight. There will be a group of four men who will come from the South West.

Tribe man 1: How would you know?

Babino: Because I understand the language of birds and beasts. These creatures perceive the world in a way we humans never can. They talk to the winds and they speak with the sky and they are never wrong.

Tribe man 1: Then we should listen and make arrangements accordingly. 

So that night, the tribals hid behind trees and stacks of grain and waited for the thieves. Sure enough, as the dog had said, four thieves came from the South West but the tribals were ready and fought them off. The startled thieves ran away in fright and thus their village and their belongings were saved. 

Tribe man: Thank you so much Sir Bobino! You saved our tribe!

Bobino: Not I but rather your animals saved your tribe.

Tribe man 2: It is only because of you that we now know what great wisdom our animal possess. Please stay, do not leave!

Bobino: I must yet wander in the forests. But I will visit you again.

So Bobino went into the forest again and wandered for few weeks more. One day he heard frogs croaking louder than he had ever heard frogs croaking before. He went before and sitting on their lotuses, the frogs seemed to be playing catch with a small bottle. The frogs saw him, brought him fruit and nuts to eat and showed him a place where he could rest. The next morning Bobino set out again and came upon a small village. He could hear great crying and moaning from one of the houses. So he went there. 

Woman 1: What is to become of my daughter! 

Woman 2: Please do not despair. A miracle might yet happen!

Bobino: Excuse me Madam! Might I ask you what ails you so?

Woman 2: Their daughter has taken seriously ill. They had got medicine from the next town but the servant dropped the bottle on his way back. Now there is not enough time to bring more medicine to save the poor girl.

Bobino: I know where the bottle of the medicine has fallen in the forest. Send for the servant at once or better, get me a horse.

Man: How would you know where it is?

Bobino: Sir! I shall explain all that later. Do get me a horse.

Man: Yes! Right away!

So Bobino mounted the horse and rode to where the frogs were. 

Bobino: Hey! I found the owner of the bottle, would you please bring it to me?

Frogs given that bottle to Bobino.

Bobino: Thank you.

Bobino took the medicine and gave it to the parents of the sick child. As soon as she had the dose, the child felt better and it was clear that she would now be saved. The family and the village rejoiced.

Man: Thank you! you saved my daughter's life!

Bobino: It is not I but the creatures of the forest who saved her!

Man: It is only because of you that we now know what great wisdom our animal possess. Please stay, do not leave!

Bobino: I must yet wander in the forests. But I will visit you again.

So Bobino wandered in the woods for a few weeks more. And one day he came upon two men. He sat down with them to eat, when a hawk came there and spoke with Bobino.

Bobino: He says that in the town just outside the forest, there is to be an election for their next governor. Tomorrow at the stroke of one in the afternoon, his friend the Eagle will select the next governor and he says that one of us might be the one.

Men 1: An eagle? How weird and how would you know? 

Bobino: It is not weird my friend, it is wise. I know because I understand the language of the birds and the beasts. These creatures perceive the world in a way we humans never can. They talk to the winds and they speak with the sky and they are never wrong.

Men 2: In that case, we must head to the town immediately!

Bobino: You both carry on. I shall join later for I am still a bit tired and sleepy and I want to rest awhile.

Men 2: Very well mate! See you there!

So the two men went into the town where a great crowd had gathered to see who their new Governor would be. When the clock struck one, the eagle flew out from its perch in the oak tree. It flew high watching, encircling the crowd, looking for the next Governor and then suddenly, it swooped to the gate of the town and perched on the shoulder of the man standing there. That man was Bobino. Bobino was shocked until who should he see standing before him but his Master! 

Bobino's Master: And the great eagle has chosen! Bobino shall be the new Governor for this town. For he who understands and shows respect to creatures of the forest, will rule humans too with wisdom and compassion!

So, with great pomp, in a chariot made of gold, Bobino was taken to the mansion of the Governor. Bobino called for his father and finally his father understood that indeed, birds and beasts perceive the world in a way we humans never can. They talk to the winds and they speak in the sky and they are never wrong. And just as the Master had said, Bobino the man who showed respect to animals, ruled his human subjects with compassion and wisdom for the rest of his days!