Thread by @Dstoryteller_1

@Gidi_Traffic Good evening good people, let's have tonight's story.

I am sure most of my Twitterians are home, but if you are still on the road, have fun enjoy this for the road.

STORY TITLE : TORTOISE AND THE IGBAKO

#thestory_teller

Back in the days when Tortoise could talk and the animals ruled the forest, famines were frequent and those animals who could not survive the drought would wither and die. There was one such period when the tortoise had become lean.
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He had survived as long as he could on his wit but he soon began to suffer like all the other animals as every available source of food disappeared.

Hah, not every source. Tortoise perked up for he had noticed that Bird still had flesh on her skin beneath her feathers.?

I must find out where she gets her food?, Tortoise thought.

As soon as Tortoise had the opportunity to talk to Bird, he demanded that Bird take him to his food source.

Bird denied having a food source but Tortoise threatened to reveal to all the other animals that Bird was holding out on them, so Bird agreed to take Tortoise to her food source. ?If I show you where I get my food, you must promise never to tell anyone?

Bird told Tortoise and Tortoise readily agreed. Bird lent Tortoise some feathers and they flew together over many rivers until they reached the ocean. There they saw the Water Goddess.

The water goddess was upset with Bird for bringing Tortoise, but nevertheless, she gave Tortoise a magic igbako. You must not reveal the magic of the igbako to anyone outside your immediate family?, the water goddess warned Tortoise. ?Reveal secrets? Me? Never!? Tortoise said.

Okay then, ask the igbako what its duty is?, the water goddess replied before she disappeared into the depths of the sea.

?Igbako, what is your duty?? Tortoise asked the igbako and it responded,

I make huge lumps of iyan,
I make huge lumps of eba,

such that the whole world eats
and yet leaves leftovers.

At this, iyan, eba and various soups, meats and fruits appeared. Tortoise immediately began to attack the food, but no matter how much he ate or how fast he ate, he could not finish all the food.

After he recovered from his binge, he flew back home with the igbako.

When he got home, he called his entire family together and brought out the igbako. Igbako, what is your duty? Tortoise asked, and the igbako replied,

I make huge lumps of iyan,
I make huge lumps of eba,
such that the whole world eats
and yet leaves leftovers.

The Tortoise family feasted for the entire day on the food that appeared. They ate until they could eat no more.

By this time,Tortoise was thinking of the fame the igbako could bring him, he needed to show off his magic to the entire animal kingdom.

So Tortoise went to the palace and told the Oba he had a solution to the famine.

He convinced the Oba to send for every animal in the forest and soon, all the animals were assembled at the Oba?s palace.

Tortoise posed on stage in front of all the animals while he asked the igbako ?Igbako, what is your duty??. The igbako replied as usual,

I make huge lumps of iyan,
I make huge lumps of eba,
such that the whole world eats
and yet leaves leftovers.

A huge feast appeared and all the animals ate until the sun set and they had to go to sleep.

The following day, Tortoise asked the igbako its duty and the feast was repeated. Everyday, the animals ate while they chanted praises of the tortoise. But they were just getting used to eating everyday when the igbako broke and would not respond to Tortoise's question anymore.

Tortoise promised to get another igbako, so he borrowed some more feathers from Bird and flew over several rivers till he reached the ocean where the water goddess lived.

Great One, he called out to the water goddess. My igbako broke and I have come to ask for a new one?.

Perhaps you worked the igbako too hard feeding the entire kingdom, the water goddess said.

Oh no, it was just me and my family. I have no idea how it broke but please give me a new one lest my family starve to death, Tortoise pleaded.

The water goddess gave Tortoise another igbako, but this time, it was a tiny igbako. Remember, share this only with your immediate family, the water goddess reminded him. Of course, I would never do otherwise, Tortoise promised and the water goddess returned to the sea.

Igbako, what is your duty??, Tortoise asked the tiny igbako. The tiny igbako replied,

I make tiny lumps of iyan,
I make tiny lumps of eba,
such that the whole world eats
but is never full.

Miniature pieces of food appeared, perhaps better suited for an ant.

Tortoise nibbled at the little pieces and before he knew it, all the food was gone. He called out for the water goddess but she did not answer. So he picked up his feathers and the tiny igbako and flew back home.

At home, his family gathered as he asked the igbako, ?igbako, what is your duty??. The tiny igbako replied,

I make tiny lumps of iyan,
I make tiny lumps of eba,
such that the whole world eats
but is never full.

The Tortoise family nibbled at what little food there was, but no one was satisfied. Tortoise said, When I had plenty of food, everyone ate of it. Now I have food that does not satisfy, everyone must share in the dissatisfaction.

So he set off for the palace and asked the Oba to assemble all the animals.

When all the animals were gathered, anticipating a huge feast, Tortoise brought out his tiny igbako and said, ?Igbako, what is your duty??. The igbako replied,

I make tiny lumps of iyan,
I make tiny lumps of eba,
such that the whole world eats
but is never full.

The animals grumbled as they struggled for the little pieces of food that appeared. ?Ask igbako to make more food!?, they yelled.

Tortoise asked igbako to do its duty again and again until the tiny igbako broke. And there was still not enough food. The animals were angry. Go back and get another one, they yelled at the tortoise.

For the third time, Tortoise flew with borrowed feathers to the ocean over many rivers to see the water goddess.

He cried out to her Help me, my family starves, igbako is broken again. Please give me another one.

The water goddess came out and asked him, Did you break your promise and share the igbako with others?. Oh no, replied Tortoise, I would never do that. I kept my promise, yet igbako broke.

Well then, I'll give you something else this time a rod built so strong,

it shall not break, said the water goddess. She gave Tortoise a rod and returned into the ocean.

Rod, what is your duty?? asked Tortoise to which the rod replied,

I whip the disobedient
I whip the greedy
Till their skin is white with pain.

And the rod began to whip Tortoise.

I shared my big igbako, I shared my small igbako, I shall not keep this rod for myself, Tortoise said to himself and he picked the rod and his borrowed feathers and flew back home.

When he got home, he gathered his family in the room and asked the rod, Rod, what is your duty. The rod replied,

I whip the disobedient
I whip the greedy
Till their skin is white with pain.

The entire Tortoise family received a good whipping. After that, Tortoise took the rod to the palace where all the animals were waiting for him after their disappointing feast.

Rod, what is your duty, Tortoise asked. Again the rod replied,

I whip the disobedient
I whip the greedy
Till their skin is white with pain.

Every animal present received a whipping as they fled back into the forest.

THE END
Thanks for reading
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