The Three Companions

Sham S. Misri

Every year cholera visited a very big city . Her companions were always Death and Fear. One year it so happened that Fear came before Death and Cholera, and the gate-Keeper, who did not Know her, let her go into the city.

When the other two appeared before the gate of the city, the watch man called angrily, “So! You come again to bring sorrow and misery, do you? And how many victims are you going to take this time, cursed Cholera?’’

“Don’t carry on so,’’ Cholera said. “ l won’t take more than five hundred.”

“And you, dreadful Death,” the gate -keeper cried, turning to her, “How many people are you going to take out of city to your kingdom?”

“Oh I’ll take whatever cholera gives me,” Death answered quietly.

“Well,” the gate-keeper muttered, “go in. But watch out, Cholera. “Don’t take more than five hundred victims. You’ve promised? And you, Death, don’t you dare to take more than what Cholera gives you!”

“Gate- keeper,” they said together, “you can rely on our word.” And side by side they passed through the open gate into the city.

Three long weeks they remained there and then they called to the gate- keeper to open the gates again.

“Hum,” the gate – keeper muttered,” how many victims do you take, Cholera?”

“I did my best not to go beyond the promised number,” Cholera answered. “And so l am taking not more than four hundred and ninety.”

“Now, that sounds as if you’re telling the truth,” the gate – keeper said.

He turned towards Death. “And you Death, how many are you taking with you?”

“Oh, I’m taking more than a thousand with me,” Death answered at once.

The gate- keeper was horrified. “How can that be ?” he cried in astonishment. “Cholera herself said she’s taking only four hundred and ninety !”

“Yes,” Death answered, “that’s what Cholera is taking. But most of those who died were taken by Fear, who came unnoticed through your gate. One day you’ll know, old man, that our sister Fear does more harm and causes more deaths than cholera!”