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One Good Turn
by Margo Fallis
The water in the lake was very smooth. There were no waves or even
ripples. It looked like glass, reflecting the tall mountains surrounding it. A
man was in a small boat, fishing. He threw out his net and sat patiently,
waiting a while before pulling the net in.
Genji, Manchu, and Mingmei were flying across the mountains. "Look at the
lake!" Manchu said. "It is so still and so smooth. I think we can find a lot of
fish there."
"Should we land near the water’s edge? I see a pine tree near the shore,"
Genji asked.
"I’m feeling hungry. The water is so smooth that we can see the fish as they
swim about under the water," Mingmei said.
The cranes descended to the lake. "I see fish. I see a lot of fish!" Manchu
exclaimed. He stuck his bill in the water and stabbed a huge carp. He
swallowed it. "Ah, that was delicious." He ate another, and another, until he
was full. Mingmei and Genji did the same.
As they waded in the shallow water they noticed the man in the boat.
Mingmei said, "The water is starting to get a little rough. Do you think that
fisherman will be all right?"
Genji replied, "He’s pulling in his net. He caught many fish."
"The water is getting rough. The waves are lapping at the side of his small
boat. I fear for him," Mingmei said again.
Just then the wind began to blow. It ruffled their feathers and blew needles
off the pine trees into the rough water. They heard the man calling to them.
"Help me! Help me! I cannot swim."
"That man is going to drown. Water is getting into his boat. It’s heavy
because of all the fish he caught," Manchu said. He was very worried.
"It is sinking," Genji squawked. "We must save him. The water is very
rough."
The three cranes flew towards the man. He was standing in his boat. Water
poured in and was up to his ankles. "Help me!" he shouted. His hands were
in the air, waving to the birds.
"Grab our legs," Manchu called. The fisherman grabbed hold of one of
Manchu’s legs and one of Genji’s legs. The cranes flew back to the shore,
carrying the man.
They dropped him into the grass. "Thank you for saving my life." He
watched in sadness as his boat sunk under the water with all his fish.