Traveling Companions
By Amy Friedman

Once upon a time, two young men who grew up in the same small village decided to travel to seek their fortune. They set off together. As they journeyed, the younger of the two shared his food with his friend. Late one afternoon, the young man reached into his sack for a piece of bread. He discovered every last bit of food was gone. "We'll have to eat your food now, my friend," he said, "at least until we find some work and earn our fortunes."

To the young man's astonishment, his traveling companion held his bag behind his back. "You can't have mine," he said. "I'm better off traveling alone from now on."
Then his traveling companion picked up a rock and threw it at the young man's head and knocked him cold. Thinking he had killed the lad, he set off on his own. As the moon rose that night, the young man awoke. His head throbbed, but he was alive. He blinked, and blinked again. He realized he was blind. For several moments he sat on the damp ground, saddened and afraid, but then he heard the hoot of an owl coming from the top of a nearby tree. "Hoo, hoo," the owl called.

The young man had heard tales of the owl's wisdom. He crawled along the earth, feeling his way for the tree. Reaching it, he climbed to the topmost branches, where he knew he would be safe from wild animals. When at last he found a thick branch, he lay down as carefully as he was able. He listened to the owl's cries, and suddenly he realized he could understand the bird's language. "A good man must always be good. A good man must never lose sight of all that is generous and kind, wise and loving." That was the wisdom the owl offered, and the lad, comforted by this advice, fell fast asleep.

He woke at dawn to the songs of the birds. He could feel the sun warming his face and the soft wind brushing his arms. The tree swayed like a cradle, and the young man felt safe. He remembered the words of the owl, and promised himself he would always be generous, kind, wise and loving. A moment later, he realized he could also understand the language of the birds. They were chattering among themselves.

"You know," they said, "the dew on this earth will cure any man of any ill." "The dew can cure the earth of its troubles, too," the birds cooed. "The dew here is magical, thanks to our blessings." The birds began to gossip about a nearby kingdom. "The king is ill," the birds said. "If only he knew the curing power of our dew." "His land is dying, too," they said. "Perhaps one day he will come and find the dew that may cure all his troubles."

The young man decided to test the word of the birds. He quickly climbed down to the ground and touched his finger to the grass, covering his finger with dew. He touched his finger to his eyes and his sight was restored at once. "I must remember the owl's words," the young man said to himself. Thinking of the ailing king and of his ailing land, he folded leaves into cups and gathered as much dew as he was able. Then he set off to find the nearby kingdom.

Soon he came to a land that seemed parched from thirst. The trees and flowers were wilted and dying. The people walked about with frowns on their faces. "What is wrong?" the young man asked a shepherd. "Drought has ruined our land," the shepherd said. "Our wells are drying up, and our animals are dying of thirst. Soon we will fall ill just like our king."

So the young man poured a leaf full of dew on the ground. Before the astonished shepherd's eyes, the earth beneath his feet grew damp and green. The young man quickly ran to the nearest well and sprinkled several drops of dew inside. At once the well was full again. When he came to the palace, he begged to see the king. "I can cure His Majesty," the young man said to the servants. The servants showed the young man to the king. "Drink this," the young man said, and held a leaf full of dew to the king's dry lips. The moment the king swallowed the dew, he was well again.

"How can I repay you?" asked the king. "You don't need to repay me," the young man said. "I have done what any good man would do." The young man decided to stay in the kingdom, and before long, with the help of his neighbors and friends, he had made himself a fine fortune.

A year passed. One day the young man's traveling companion appeared at his door. "How is it that you have come to have such good fortune?" he asked the young man. "Quite simple," said the honest man, for he had no wish to keep his friend from finding his own fortune. "All I did was climb to the top of the tree where you left me. There I listened to the owl and the other birds, and they told me all I needed to know."

The companion left at once and hurried to the tree. Soon the owl and the birds arrived and perched on the highest branches. Amazingly, the man could understand the birds' speech. "Someone has healed the king and cured the kingdom. Someone was eavesdropping on us. We must find the eavesdropper and punish him for stealing." When they turned, they saw the young man's companion. They flew upon him, pecking at his arms and legs. He fell to the ground, and when he awoke, he had lost his vision