A scorpion, not knowing how to swim, asked a frog to carry it across the river. βDo I look like a fool?β said the frog.Β βYouβd sting me if I let you on my back!β
βBe logical,β said the scorpion.Β βIf I stung you Iβd certainly drown myself.β
βThatβs true,β the frog acknowledged.Β βClimb aboard, then!β But no sooner than they were halfway across the river, the scorpion stung the frog, and they both began to thrash and drown. βWhy on earth did you do that?β the frog said morosely. βNow weβre both going to die.βΒ
βI canβt help it,β said the scorpion. βItβs my nature.β
___
β¦But no sooner than they were halfway across the river, the frog felt a subtle motion on its back, and in a panic dived deep beneath the rushing waters, leaving the scorpion to drown.
βIt was going to sting me anyway,β muttered the frog, emerging on the other side of the river. βIt was inevitable. You all knew it. Everyone knows what those scorpions are like. It was self-defense.β
___
β¦But no sooner had they cast off from the bank, the frog felt the tip of a stinger pressed lightly against the back of its neck. βWhat do you think youβre doing?β said the frog.
βJust a precaution,β said the scorpion. βI cannot sting you without drowning. And now, you cannot drown me without being stung. Fairβs fair, isnβt it?β
They swam in silence to the other end of the river, where the scorpion climbed off, leaving the frog fuming.
βAfter the kindness I showed you!β said the frog. βAnd you threatened to kill me in return?β
βKindness?β said the scorpion. βTo only invite me on your back after you knew I was defenseless, unable to use my tail without killing myself? My dear frog, I only treated you as I was treated. Your kindness was as poisoned as a scorpionβs sting.β
___
β¦βJust a precaution,β said the scorpion. βI cannot sting you without drowning. And now, you cannot drown me without being stung. Fairβs fair, isnβt it?β
βYou have a point,β the frog acknowledged. βBut once we get to dry land, couldnβt you sting me then without repercussion?β
βAll I want is to cross the river safely,β said the scorpion. βOnce Iβm on the other side I would gladly let you be.β
βBut I would have to trust you on that,β said the frog.Β βWhile youβre pressing a stinger to my neck. By ferrying you to land Iβd be be giving up the one deterrent I hold over you.β
βBut by the same logic, I canβt possibly withdraw my stinger while weβre still over water,β the scorpion protested.
The frog paused in the middle of the river, treading water. βSo, I suppose weβre at an impasse.β
The river rushed around them. The scorpionβs stinger twitched against the frogβs unbroken skin. βI suppose so,β the scorpion said.
___
A scorpion, not knowing how to swim, asked a frog to carry it across the river. βAbsolutely not!β said the frog, and dived beneath the waters, and so none of them learned anything.
___
A scorpion, being unable to swim, asked a turtle (as in the original Persian version of the fable) to carry it across the river. The turtle readily agreed, and allowed the scorpion aboard its shell. Halfway across, the scorpion gave in to its nature and stung, but failed to penetrate the turtleβs thick shell. The turtle, swimming placidly, failed to notice.
They reached the other side of the river, and parted ways as friends.
___
β¦Halfway across, the scorpion gave in to its nature and stung, but failed to penetrate the turtleβs thick shell.
The turtle, hearing the tap of the scorpionβs sting, was offended at the scorpionβs ungratefulness. Thankfully, having been granted the powers to both defend itself and to punish evil, the turtle sank beneath the waters and drowned the scorpion out of principle.
___
A scorpion, not knowing how to swim, asked a frog to carry it across the river. βDo I look like a fool?β sneered the frog. βYouβd sting me if I let you on my back.β
The scorpion pleaded earnestly. βDo you think so little of me? Please, I must cross the river. What would I gain from stinging you? I would only end up drowning myself!β
βThatβs true,β the frog acknowledged. βEven a scorpion knows to look out for its own skin. Climb aboard, then!β
But as they forged through the rushing waters, the scorpion grew worried. This frog thinks me a ruthless killer, it thought. Would it not be justified in throwing me off now and ridding the world of me? Why else would it agree to this? Every jostle made the scorpion more and more anxious, until the frog surged forward with a particularly large splash, and in panic the scorpion lashed out with its stinger.
βI knew it,β snarled the frog, as they both thrashed and drowned. βA scorpion cannot change its nature.β
___
A scorpion, not knowing how to swim, asked a frog to carry it across the river. The frog agreed, but no sooner than they were halfway across the scorpion stung the frog, and they both began to thrash and drown.
βIβve only myself to blame,β sighed the frog, as they both sank beneath the waters. βYou, youβre a scorpion, I couldnβt have expected anything better. But I knew better, and yet I went against my judgement! And now Iβve doomed us both!β
βYou couldnβt help it,β said the scorpion mildly. βItβs your nature.βΒ
___
β¦βWhy on earth did you do that?β the frog said morosely. βNow weβre both going to die.β
βAlas, I was of two natures,β said the scorpion. βOne said to gratefully ride your back across the river, and the other said to sting you where you stood. And so both fought, and neither won.β It smiled wistfully. βAh, it would be nice to be just one thing, wouldnβt it? Unadulterated in nature. Without the capacity for conflict or regret.β
___
βBy the way,β said the frog, as they swam, βIβve been meaning to ask: Whatβs on the other side of the river?β
βItβs the journey,β said the scorpion. βNot the destination.β
___
β¦βWhatβs on the other side of anything?β said the scorpion. βA new beginning.β
___
β¦βAnother scorpion to mate with,β said the scorpion. βAnd more prey to kill, and more living bodies to poison, and a forthcoming lineage of cruelties that you will be culpable in.β
___
β¦βNothing we will live to see, I fear,β said the scorpion. βAlready the currents are growing stronger, and the river seems like it shall swallow us both. We surge forward, and the shoreline recedes. But does that mean our striving was in vain?β
___
βI love you,β said the scorpion.
The frog glanced upward. βDo you?β
βAbsolutely. Can you imagine the fear of drowning? Of course not. Youβre a frog. Might as well be scared of breathing air. And yet here I am, clinging to your back, as the waters rage around us. Isnβt that love? Isnβt that trust? Isnβt that necessity? I could not kill you without killing myself. Are we not inseparable in this?β
The frog swam on, the both of them silent.
___
βIβm so tired,β murmured the frog eventually. βHow much further to the other side? I donβt know how long weβve been swimming. Iβve been treading water. And itβs getting so very dark.β
βShh,β the scorpion said. βDonβt be afraid.β
The frogβs legs kicked out weakly. βHow long has it been? Weβre lost. Weβre lost! Weβre doomed to be cast about the waters forever. There is no land. Thereβs nothing on the other side, donβt you see!β
βShh, shh,β said the scorpion. βMy venom is a hallucinogenic. Beneath its surface, the river is endlessly deep, its currents carrying many things.βΒ
βYou - Youβve killed us both,β said the frog, and began to laugh deliriously.Β βIs this - is this what itβs like to drown?βΒ
βWeβve killed each other,β said the scorpion soothingly. βMy venom in my glands now pulsing through your veins, the waters of your birthing pool suffusing my lungs. We are engulfing each other now, drowning in each other. I am breathless. Do you feel it? Do you feel my sting pierced through your heart?β
βWhat a foolish thing to do,β murmured the frog. βNo logic. No logic to it at all.β
βWe couldnβt help it,β whispered the scorpion. βItβs our natures. Why else does anything in the world happen? Because we were made for this from birth, darling, every moment inexplicable and inevitable. What a crazy thing it is to fall in love, and yet - Itβs all our fault! We are both blameless. Weβre together now, darling. It couldnβt have happened any other way.β
___
βItβs funny,β said the frog. βI canβt say that I trust you, really. Or that I even think very much of you and that nasty little stinger of yours to begin with. But Iβm doing this for you regardless. Itβs strange, isnβt it? Itβs strange. Why would I do this? I want to help you, want to go out of my way to help you. I let you climb right onto my back! Now, whyever would I go and do a foolish thing like that?β
___
A scorpion, not knowing how to swim, asked a frog to carry it across the river. βDo I look like a fool?β said the frog. βYouβd sting me if I let you on my back!β
βBe logical,β said the scorpion. βIf I stung you Iβd certainly drown myself.β Β
βThatβs true,β the frog acknowledged. βCome aboard, then!β But no sooner had the scorpion mounted the frogβs back than it began to sting, repeatedly, while still safely on the riverβs bank.
The frog groaned, thrashing weakly as the venom coursed through its veins, beginning to liquefy its flesh. βAh,β it muttered.Β βFor some reason I never considered this possibility.β
βBecause you were never scared of me,β the scorpion whispered in its ear.Β βYou were never scared of dying. In a past life you wore a shell and sat in judgement. And then you were reborn: soft-skinned, swift, unburdened, as new and vulnerable as a child, moving anew through a world of children. How could anyone ever be cruel, you thought, seeing the precariousness of it all?β The scorpion bowed its head and drank. βHow could anyone kill you without killing themselves?β
A scorpion, not knowing how to swim, asked a frog to carry it across the river.
βTo be honest,β said the desert rain frog. βIβm the wrong kind of frog for that.β
βOh,β said the scorpion.
βI was hoping to find someone to carry me across, myself.β It admitted.
βOh,β The scorpion said. βWell, we can wait together.β
And they sat, and spoke, and when a turtle happened to pass along, they both ventured together, and the scorpion was too busy sharing words to ever think of stinging.
β
βActually,β said the scorpion, as it climbed onto the frogβs back, βMy sting is harmless.β
βOh really?β Said the frog, as it began to swim.
βYes,β the scorpion waved the small stinger about. βThe poison is useless to anything larger than a beetle. I canβt threaten you with it at all, you see, so you donβt really need to worry about it at all.β
The frog, now freed from the fear of death, began preparing to dive.
βAlthough,β the scorpion continued as it felt the frog slow down, βdo not think me entirely defenceless.β
βWhy not?β Said the frog. βAll you have is your claws. And they arenβt sharp enough to pierce my skin.β
βNo, they are not,β agreed the scorpion, getting a good hold of the frogβs shoulders. βBut they are strong. They need to be, to hold my prey so my weak venom has time to work.β
βBut they will not kill me.β
βNo. But there are other ways to hurt.β The scorpion tightened its grip, letting the teeth of its claws sink into the skin.
βYou will drown me, of course, but my claws will remain locked. My drowned corpse will hang over your shoulders, right here, claws buried in you. And everyone who sees you will see it. And they will see my frail little body, and my weak little stinger. And you will drown me, yes, but for the rest of your life everyone will know that you took the life of a creature that was no danger to you for no greater sin than that you did not want to grant them passage. You will never escape the weight of me on your back, waiting to be carried to the afterlife you delivered me to.β
The frog was silent, for a while, before it continued to swim. βI think I would have preferred you with a stinger that worked.β
The scorpion relaxed its grip. βAnd I would have preferred to not have to use it.β
β
βDo you know how many times weβve done this?β Asked the frog, eyes flicking back to its passenger. βI canβt remember how long itβs been.β
βA million lives.β Purred the scorpion, claws nestled up to the frogβs neck. βA million lives now, with this one. And it never matters until weβre here.β
βIβm glad itβs us.β Said the frog, letting the tide sweep it away. βIβm glad even after a million lives, we always find each other.β
The scorpion clung tight, even as the water seeped into its carapace. βIβd never die with anyone else, my love.β
Hopelessly entangled, they faded into oblivion.
β
A chicken stood at the edge of a road, watching the cars go by.
βIs this all there is?β It asked.
βI donβt know.β Said the fox across from it, brushing some grass from itβs foot.
βBut it might be nice to find out.β
β
-but no sooner had the frog gotten halfway across the river did a great catfish rise up, mouth so wide they could not escape.
βOh, foolish frog and foolish bug.β It said, voice full of pity as it swallowed them both. βYour eyes glued to the most obvious threat, did you never think there were greater things to fear in a river as deep and wide as this?β
And the catfish swam off, to find more frogs to devour.
β
βSorry?β The scorpion paused, confused. βSting you? Why on earth would I do that?
βWell,β said the frog. βItβs in your nature to, isnβt it?β
βNo, not at all!β The scorpion said, voice tinged with insult. βWe donβt run around stabbing everything we see. Thatβs a good way to start a fight you canβt win. A stinger is just for catching food and fending off predators, really. Itβs no more my nature to sting everything as it is your nature to drown everything. And you donβt do that, do you!β
The frog scowled, petulant at the tone. βWell, the scorpion I usually see here almost always stings meβ¦β
βThat seems like youβre projecting problems with one scorpion onto every scorpion you meet.β Said the scorpion. βIβm not really sure I trust you to take me across the river, frankly. Do you know if thereβs another frog who could help?β
The frog grumbled, and slipped into the water.
β
The chicken stood on the banks of the river with itβs children. A fox sat on the other bank, with a bag of corn.
βHoy, chicken.β Shouted the fox. βDo you ever think you might be stuck in a rut?β
βWhatβs it to you?β The chicken said, flapping a wing in annoyance. βMy life is my own business, fox.β
The fox shrugged, pawing at the corn. βI just feel like I canβt get out of this cycle,β it said with a sigh. βLike my life is stuck on rails.β
β
βOn rails?β The scorpion asked. βWhat do you mean?β
βMy whole life is just this river-β
β
βThis road-β
β
βThis boat-β
β
βAnd it feels like it doesnβt change. It feels like Iβm always just here. In the river, with you.β
β
βIs it such a bad place to be?β Asked the fox.
βWith me?β
β
βHow long do you think the river has been here?β Asked the scorpion.
The frog thought about that until the poison had seeped into its bones.
βAs long as us,β it whispered, as its lungs gave out. βAs long as weβve needed it.β
β
βYouβre not swimming right.β Said the scorpion, pinching the frogβs arm.
βYou need to kick round with the back legs, push with the front, like this-β gently, it pushed the frogβs limbs into the correct position.
βOh, thank you.β Said the frog. βIβm no good at this. Iβve never been a frog before.β
βYouβre doing brilliantly, my dear.β The scorpion said, trying to reassure. βI would have taught you earlier if I could have.β
βAnd I would have taught you to walk.β The frog laughed, kicking much stronger now. βIf only Iβd known you didnβt know! I saw you stumbling over the sands there.β
βIβve never had so many legs!β The scorpion wailed. βHow do you manage them all? And the eyes!β
They were not making it across the river very fast.
βI donβt mind only having two eyes.β The frog admitted. βI could get used to it.β
Despite the tutoring, the frog was getting exhausted, weak muscles failing in strong currents.
The scorpion tried to kick at the water, but its frail carapace only dredged in the currents, dragging them both down further.
βOh, weβre no good at it this way around.β The scorpion said with a shake of its tail, claws clinging so strongly to the frogβs gossamer skin that it ripped open, spilling the entrails like ruby ribbons into the depths.
The frog laughed, choking on the water it didnβt know how to breathe. βI canβt swim, and you wonβt sting! Oh, how our natures fail us still!β
And the river claimed them both once more.
β
βDo you remember a time before the riverbank?β Asked the fox.
βDo you remember anything after it?β The Chicken countered, head stuck in the bag of corn as it ate its fill. βIs there anything but the pursuit of what we will never grasp?β
βMaybe we will grasp it,β the foxβs voice was tinged with hope, tail tucked tightly around its legs. βMaybe one day, we will be more than our natures, and we will not have to cross the river again.β
βI like the thrill of it.β Said the chicken. βIβd miss the thrill of it.β
The fox sighed, and lowered its head down to the chicken, already doomed to bite. βBut still, wouldnβt it be nice?β
β
But alas, the rains had been heavy, and the river bank had become swollen and wide.
The frog kicked for what felt like an eternity, the scorpion holding steady on its back.
Eventually it could swim no longer, and its legs seized up, as it gasped for air.
βIβm sorry, my love-β the frog wheezed. βI donβt think I can make it-β
βItβs okay.β The scorpionβs voice was soft with sadness, knowing now that it was doomed to die. βI didnβt know it would be so hard. Iβm sorry I did this to you. Iβm sorry I couldnβt help.β
βItβs not your fault,β said the frog, as the currents began to sweep them both downstream. βI wanted to help, I- I really thought I could get you there, I, we were so close -β
βWe really were, werenβt we?β The scorpionβs hold on the frog was loosening, as its head swam from lack of oxygen. βWe almost made it, we really didβ¦β
The frog wailed in grief as the scorpionβs body was torn away, swallowed by the churning rapids.
β
A scorpion walked across an old riverbed. The smooth pebbles had long laid bare, the river dried up thousands of years ago.
It paused in the middle, overcome with a strange pain in its chest, and decided to turn back.
It felt wrong to cross this river alone.
β
βWhere do you think the cars go?β Asked the fox.
The chicken watched a car drive by, seeing the shadowy shapes move within. βI try not to think about it. I want to be happy with my lot in life.β
β
-and no sooner had the frog gotten halfway across the river when the scorpion tapped its stinger against the frogβs back to get its attention.
βHey,β said the scorpion. βIβm not really in that much of a rush, and itβs a beautiful day. Why donβt we just go up the river instead? Iβve always wanted to try standing on a lilypad.β
βSure, if youβd like.β Said the frog. βI donβt have any plans for the day.
And while the river remained uncrossed, neither of them were unhappy about this.
β
βWhen did you know you loved me?β Asked the turtle, as the scorpion clung onto its back, hiding from the deep currents of the river.
The scorpion winced as a wave shook them. βOh, from the start.β it said, shaking water from its tail. βOr near enough. Iβd never met a frog before. And even though you didnβt know me, you laid your life on the line for me. For hope that the impossible was possible.β
The turtle considered that, thinking back across its many lives.
βI donβt think I knew I loved you until recently.β The turtle admitted, lifting its head from the water so its voice could be soft. βIt took time, I think, to know. But that said, why else would I come back, time and time again to the same spot of the same river?β
βYou have a world of rivers you could be in, my love.β The scorpion agreed. βAnd yet I always wait for you here. And you always come.β
βIβve never been as vulnerable as Iβve been with you.β Even as the water licked up its shell, the turtle continued to swim. βIβd never trust my life to anyone else.β
βHereβs to us,β said the scorpion, raising its stinger. βAnd the river.β
βHereβs to us.β Said the turtle, raising a flipper to sting. βI hope we always find each other.β
β
βWell here we are,β said the frog to the scorpion. βThe other side.β
βHere we are.β The scorpion agreed, slowly climbing off its back. βThank you, for all of this.β
βThank you for choosing me.β Said the frog. βThank you for chaining my lives together. For helping me remember the infinity of Us.β
The scorpion didnβt answer, simply looking up, letting the sun warm its carapace.
βIβve never really left the river.β The frog took another step onto the bank. βItβsβ¦ nice.β
The scorpion turned. For a moment, the frog felt the surge of adrenaline as it felt a pinch on its skin, only to find the scorpion had clasped its claw around their hand. βCome with me.β It pleaded, voice soft with urgency. βCome with me, and donβt say no. I wonβt leave this river without you. We can see the other side together.β
Those claws could slice, but they were only firm. The river was only the river. But from the banks the frog could see a jungle of lush green, vibrant with life beyond its knowledge. It laughed. βIβve always wondered what it was like out there.β
β
And the river was silent, with no moral questions to burden it.
Thatβs because i only added this bit this morning. I think its pretty good
I think itβs beautiful. thank you for making this
[image: a tag: βthis is one of my favorite posts of all time but Iβve never seen this version of itβ]
Official Time Loop Post
