Page 41 - Fables volume 1

How Ten Thousand Termites Escaped from Captivity

Homer dropped the flashlight and gasped. “No! I must be
dreaming! It’s that horrible local beer. Help! Help!”
“Keep calm, you big oaf. You almost kicked the palace over that
time. Now, listen to me.”
“Listen to you? I can’t be talking to a termite!”
“You’re not. I’m talking to you. I am the king here, and I don’t
grant audiences often. However, in view of the circumstances, I have
been urged by my subjects to negotiate with you.”
Homer Henry heard a word he could relate to, and relaxed slightly.
The flashlight beam bounced off a wall and bathed the imperious
insect in a diffuse golden glow.
“Negotiate with a termite? Why should I?”
“Don’t be so arrogant,” said the king. “You have captured and
imprisoned us. We have many casualties and the palace is in shambles.
We must get outside this impervious chamber and start repairs.
Further, our food storage has been destroyed: if we don’t leave now,
we will perish. Therefore I demand to know your terms for our
release.”
Homer’s pulse raced. This was it! A chance to learn the termites’
mud-reinforcing secret from an unimpeachable source. “Well,” he said
slowly, “there is one little thing I would require from you as tribute.”
“Name it,” said the king.
“Oh, just a piece of information. Tell me how you make the top of
your mound—I mean, palace—waterproof.”
“That’s all you want? What possible value could that have to you?
You’re not a termite.”
“Ah, you may be a king,” said Homer confidently, “but I have a
degree in business administration from Iowa State. I will use your
technique to construct strong roofs on our buildings.”
“You will?” The tiny voice sounded skeptical. “I don’t trust you.
How do I know you’ll let us go if I tell you?”
Homer and the king haggled for a few minutes over the terms of
the deal. Finally they agreed that all the termites could leave
immediately except the king; he would remain until he had finished
imparting the knowledge Homer Henry desired.
The human found and opened a floor-level vent. It was covered
with screening, but the termites marched through it in two orderly

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