We have spoken much about the value of cooperation—that it is the foundation by which any individuals can rise and defend one another, and help themselves as well if they use it in the correct way. The simplest rule of proper cooperation is fairness, whether in how to help during the distribution of tasks, or fairness in distributing the gain if cooperation yields tangible benefits. This is the basis of our story.
In the beautiful forest with its tall trees, stood the cunning fox by nature, accompanied by the small black ant. He said to her that the adjacent land was open and that whoever could plant it and harvest its fruits would certainly win the good fruits. Whoever strives finds, and whoever plants harvests.
The ant thought a little and said to the fox that his words were entirely correct, that God provides for the servant who strives—that every striver has a share, and that God does not waste the reward of those who do good work. Therefore they must work hard and with effort; to the extent of the work, God will provide for them.
Here the fox grew enthusiastic, thinking himself the cleverest. He said to the small ant: “Now, little ant, you are convinced that we must plant that patch of fertile land. What do you think about cooperating with me in planting it, then we share the crop together?” The ant, Namlūlah, agreed after thinking a little. She said to him: “Let us work together and reap the fruits of our work.” The cunning fox smiled with great malice and told her that he agreed.
Days passed, and the ant Namlūlah worked hard and toiled. She placed seeds in the good, fertile earth and continued to care for them every day, watering them from time to time and warning insects to stay away from the wheat seeds she had planted. Meanwhile, the cunning fox kept feigning illness—now saying his leg hurt, and another time claiming his stomach hurt because he had eaten a spoiled meal yesterday. The cunning fox remained in this state until he began to notice that the wheat fruits had started to emerge into the light and that the ant Namlūlah’s efforts had indeed borne fruit. He said to himself: How hardworking that little Namlūlah is! He thought that with his cleverness and cunning he could easily seize her share.
The fox came after the wheat crop had ripened and the ant Namlūlah was about to gather it indeed. The fox told her that a crop that had been so well cared for should be obtained by a single individual. He suggested to her that they run toward the field after standing at the same starting line, and whoever reached first would get the entire crop. The ant Namlūlah thought a little, then smiled and told him she agreed.
The fox and Namlūlah stood at the starting line, then the fox sounded the starting whistle and set off running at full speed, thinking that Namlūlah would never catch up. He sat near the finish line to rest a little, for Namlūlah, with her naturally extremely slow speed, would not be able to run at his pace. But when he came to the finish line, he found Namlūlah greeting him, smiling broadly and asking where he had gone, for she had been waiting for him for a long time.
The fox was astonished and asked her how she had beaten him to the field. Namlūlah answered, laughing, that she had clung to his tail, and when he sat to rest, she jumped from above to reach the finish line barely. When he sat for too long, she had indeed already arrived.