/etc

Swimming Santa Luigi

Long ago in Baldora fields, there was a single scorpion that lived by killing and eating other smaller insects. Then one day a weasel found it and tried to eat it up. The scorpion tried to escape but was finally cornered by the weasel. But right at that moment a well appeared in front of the scorpion and the scorpion fell into the well. The scorpion was unable to get out and began to drown. Just then the scorpion said this prayer:

“Until now I cannot even recall how much life I have taken. And yet when the weasel tried to take my own life I ran away with all my might. And now I am drowning in this well. Why did I not just stay still and offer myself to the weasel. Then at least I would have helped the weasel live another day. Please God; make me not die this way, please find some way to use me for the happiness of others.”

Suddenly the scorpion turned into a red flame, burning through the night, and the scorpion is still burning now.

from ginga tetsudou no yoru by kenji miyazawa