Story of the Tigers on the Tenth Day

The Story of the Tigers on the Tenth Day

Once upon a time, all the creatures of the forest had distanced themselves from the caged tiger, but the tiger couldn't forget them. He glared angrily at the men who encircled his cage, their eyes filled with curiosity rather than fear. One of them, speaking calmly with an air of authority, began to impart his knowledge of taming, but was abruptly interrupted by the others. They declared their dedication to learning the art of taming. The tamer smiled contentedly and then turned to the tiger, sarcastically asking, "How is our dear guest?"

The tiger replied, "Bring me something to eat; it is time for my meal."

Feigning astonishment, the tamer responded, "Do you presume to command me while you remain my captive? How amusing you are, dear tiger! You must understand that I alone hold the authority to issue orders in this place."

"No one commands tigers," retorted the tiger defiantly.

"But, my friend, you are no longer a tiger in the wild; here, within this cage, you are nothing more than a slave who must obey my commands and do as I please," asserted the tamer.

"I will not be anyone's slave," the tiger growled in anger.

"You are compelled to obey me, for I am the one who controls the food," declared the tamer.

"I have no interest in your food," the tiger proclaimed.

"In that case, starve as you wish. I will not coerce you into doing anything against your will," the tamer replied.

Turning to his students, he added, "Observe how he will change. A proud head cannot satisfy an empty stomach."

As hunger gnawed at him, the tiger reminisced sadly about the days when he roamed freely, chasing his prey without any restrictions.

On the second day, the tamer and his students encircled the tiger's cage. The tamer remarked, "Aren't you hungry? Undoubtedly, a hunger that torments and pains you. Admit your hunger, and you shall have all the meat you desire."

The tiger remained silent, and the tamer taunted him, saying, "Do as I say and don't be foolish. Confess your hunger, and you will be immediately satisfied."

"I'm hungry," reluctantly admitted the tiger.

The tamer chuckled and addressed his students, "Behold, he has fallen into a trap from which he won't escape."

He gave his orders, and the tiger received an ample amount of meat to consume.

On the third day, the tamer said to the tiger, "If you wish to be fed today, you must comply with my request."

"I will not obey you," the tiger defiantly responded.

"Do not be hasty, for my request is quite simple. Since you are confined within your cage, when I tell you to 'Stand,' you must stand," explained the tamer.

The tiger contemplated, thinking, "It's indeed a trivial request, and I won't starve by being stubborn."

In a harsh, commanding tone, the tamer shouted, "Stand!"

The tiger immediately froze into a standing position, and the tamer cheerfully exclaimed, "Well done!"

Delighted, the tiger voraciously devoured his meal, while the tamer addressed his students, saying, "In a few days, this mighty tiger will become feeble."

On the fourth day, the tiger approached the tamer and said, "I am hungry. Ask me to stand."

Smirking, the tamer commented to his students, "It seems he now enjoys following my orders."

Continuing, he directed his words at the tiger, "Today, if you wish to eat, you must imitate the meow of a cat."

Suppressing his anger, the tiger thought to himself, "I might as well have some fun by imitating a cat's meow."

He mimicked the sound of a cat's meow, and the tamer disapproved, remarking, "Your imitation is flawed. Is growling considered a meow?"

The tiger attempted the cat's meow once again, but the tamer remained unimpressed, his face etched with disdain. "Silence! Your imitation still falls short. Today, I shall allow you to practice the cat's meow, and tomorrow I shall test you. If you succeed, you will eat, but if you fail, you shall go hungry."

The tamer walked away from the tiger's cage, his steps deliberate, followed by his whispering and laughing students. The tiger let out a ferocious roar, but the forests stood distant, echoing his cries.

On the fifth day, the tamer addressed the tiger confidently. "Come now, my fierce friend," the tamer exclaimed, "if you can successfully imitate the meow of a cat, a grand feast of fresh meat shall be yours!"

Intrigued by the enticing offer, the tiger focused his efforts and skillfully imitated the meow of a cat. The tamer, filled with delight, could not contain his excitement. "Magnificent!" he exclaimed, applauding the tiger's impressive display. "Your meow is as graceful as that of a cat in the month of February." With a flourish, he rewarded the tiger with a sizable portion of delectable meat.

However, the events on the sixth day took an unexpected turn. As the tamer approached the tiger's cage, the beast swiftly imitated the cat's meow, expecting praise and reward. To his dismay, the tamer remained stoic, his brows furrowed in disappointment. The tiger, feeling the need to defend himself, declared, "But I am indeed imitating the cat's meow!"

Unyielding, the tamer responded with an unusual request, "Now, I command you to imitate the bray of a donkey."

Enraged by the demand, the tiger's voice thundered, "I am the mighty tiger, feared by all forest creatures! How dare you ask me to imitate a donkey? I would rather face death than carry out such a demeaning request!"

Without uttering a single word, the tamer silently retreated from the tiger's cage, leaving the beast to ponder his own defiance.

On the seventh day, the tamer approached the tiger's cage, wearing a meek expression. He gently addressed the famished tiger, "Do you not desire sustenance, my friend?"

The tiger, his hunger gnawing at him, responded eagerly, "I yearn to fill my belly."

The tamer continued, his voice tinged with a sense of purpose, "The food you consume carries a price. If you wish to feast, you must bray like a donkey."

Although memories of the forest stirred within him, the tiger realized the gravity of his hunger. With closed eyes, he attempted to summon the call of a donkey, striving to meet the tamer's condition.

Regrettably, the tiger's efforts fell short. Observing this, the tamer acknowledged, "Your attempt at braying is not quite successful. However, out of compassion, I shall still offer you a morsel of meat."

On the eighth day, the tamer said to the tiger, "Today, my dear tiger, I shall deliver a powerful oration. When I conclude, you must exhibit your admiration through applause."

"I shall applaud as you wish," the tiger dutifully replied.

The tamer commenced his speech, eloquently expressing, "Citizens, on numerous occasions, we have vehemently conveyed our unwavering stance on critical matters. This resolute and transparent approach shall not waver, regardless of the conspiracies concocted by hostile forces. It is with unwavering faith that we shall prevail."

Baffled by the complexity of the tamer's words, the tiger confessed, "I regret to admit that I do not comprehend your discourse."

The tamer, insistent on admiration, retorted, "You are to admire and applaud everything I say."

Humbly accepting his own limitations, the tiger acknowledged, "Forgive my ignorance and illiteracy. Your words are truly remarkable, and I shall applaud as you desire."

The tiger clapped dutifully, yet the tamer, averse to hypocrisy and hypocrites, deemed it necessary to punish the tiger for his compliance. "Today, as a consequence of your actions, you shall be deprived of sustenance," the tamer announced sternly.

As the ninth day arrived, the tamer approached the tiger once more, carrying a bundle of grass. He carelessly tossed it toward the tiger and commanded, "Eat."

Confused by the unfamiliar meal, the tiger protested, "What is this? I am a carnivorous beast!"

Unyielding, the tamer declared, "Henceforth, you shall subsist solely on grass."

Driven by hunger's relentless grip, the tiger reluctantly attempted to taste the grass. Initially repulsed by its flavor, he recoiled in disgust. However, driven by his ravenous appetite, the tiger persevered and gradually discovered a newfound appreciation for the taste.

On the tenth day, the tamer, the students, the tiger, and the cage vanished, so the tiger became a citizen and the cage a city. 

Zakaria Tamir