The Demon and the Axe
The Lost Axe
In a quiet forest, a woodcutter lamented, “People cannot afford to be careless with the tools we use to earn a living.” He had sent his first son into the woods to recover his lost axe, but the boy never returned. The next day, he sent his second son to search for it. Upon reaching the spot where his brother had left the axe, he encountered a demon relaxing with a boulder for a pillow, his legs crossed, caressing the axe close to his hairy chest.
Encountering Danger
The young man mustered his courage and said, “Hello, demon, would you be kind enough to throw that axe at me?”
“Who are you?” asked the demon.
“A man,” replied the young man.
“A man, are you? You have no idea how delicious your kind tastes when sliced by an axe. I already tried it on two men this morning,” said the demon, sitting up straight.
Terrified, the young man turned and ran away, sprinting through the forest like a squirrel until he found safety outside.
A Brave New Resolve
“Hmm,” the woodcutter muttered upon hearing his second son’s report, saying nothing more. Later that afternoon, Latu stood before his father and asked, “Do I have your permission to go into the forest to try to recover the axe?”
The woodcutter gazed at Latu for a long time and said, “Well, you may try if you have the courage!”
The Encounter With the Demon
With nothing but a bag hanging from his neck and a small knife in hand, Latu ventured into the forest. When he encountered the demon, it asked, “Who are you?”
“A human being,” replied Latu.
“What is the difference between a man and a human being?” queried the puzzled demon.
“A human being tastes better, of course!” Latu responded.
“So glad to hear that!” exclaimed the demon, sitting up. “If you come with me to my cave, we can have dinner together, and after you’ve rested for the night, I can eat you in the morning, making lovely slices with this axe!”
“I would love to comply with your request,” said Latu, moving closer to the demon.
A Devious Plan
As the demon prepared dinner on a high slab of stone, Latu saw an opportunity. The spread included various fruits, roots, and meat. He pretended to eat quickly, but for every fruit he chewed, he slipped ten into his bag.
“I see you can eat quite fast!” commented the demon.
“I just want to make myself adequately tasty for your palate,” Latu replied.
When Latu filled his bag, he discreetly slit it open, allowing the food to spill out. “I’m afraid I cannot eat for more than an hour or two,” lamented the demon. “I wish I could feast like you, but my tummy just won’t hold enough!”
The Demon’s Demise
“Whether demon or human, we all have limits,” Latu said. “But why don’t you do what I do? Just slit open your tummy, and the food you swallowed will come out, making space for more!”
The demon, delighted by the thought, lifted the axe and exclaimed, “Why not, indeed? It is a lovely axe!” With that, he brought the axe down on his own tummy and lay dead.
Latu quietly picked up the axe and walked home. The next day, the three brothers gathered to claim the treasures that the demon had collected from his various victims, which lay in his cave.