Sharp-Eared's Gift
Long ago, in a land of olive trees and whispered winds, there lived a boy named Sharp-Eared. No one knew his real name anymore—it was lost beneath the wonder of his gift. For Sharp-Eared could hear what no other soul could hear:
- The drop of morning dew sliding off a leaf.
- The murmur of ants marching underground.
- Even the thoughts of those who dared to whisper in the dark.
He lived with his beloved Uncle Haroun and his gentle mother in a humble home filled with kindness and bread baked on stone.
The Serpent Jinn
But one day, illness crept into their world. Sharp-Eared’s mother fell under a strange spell—a possession. A jinn came to her and said:
"If you want to be healed, you must marry me."
Desperate to live, she agreed. The jinn took the form of a great serpent and slithered into their lives.
Jealousy and Warning
Soon, the jinn grew jealous of Uncle Haroun. He told the woman:
"Fill a sack with wool and let me hide inside. Tell your brother to carry it to the river. When he opens it—I shall bite."
But Sharp-Eared, lying still as stone, heard every word.
The next day, he warned his uncle:
"Do not open the sack. Strike it first."
Death of the Serpent and Mother
And so they did. When the serpent emerged, he was met with heavy blows—and death.
The mother wept, not for joy, but for the jinn. That night, Sharp-Eared heard her plan:
"I’ll poison Haroun’s supper."
When the food was served, Sharp-Eared said nothing. He simply slid the dish back toward her. She ate from her own trap—and passed silently into the next world.
Departure and a Vow
Saddened but unbroken, Sharp-Eared and his uncle left the village. At a fork in the road, they made a vow:
"In one year, we meet again under this green tree. If it stands bare, one of us is gone."
Haroun went east. Sharp-Eared went west.
Uncle Haroun's Fate
Haroun found work at a large estate owned by a cruel man. The master made impossible demands:
- Gather firewood before sunrise.
- Water the entire orchard alone.
- Catch wild birds for the children.
- Race his dog for a crust of bread.
Haroun struggled. His spirit waned. In the end, he collapsed under the weight of it all.
A year passed.
Return and Revenge
Sharp-Eared returned to the fork in the road. The tree stood withered.
"Farewell, Uncle Haroun," he whispered.
Following his uncle’s path, Sharp-Eared found the same estate and offered his labor. The master grinned, thinking, "Another fool."
But Sharp-Eared was no fool.
He beat the dog in every race.
He made the orchard bloom.
He fed the children sweet birds by noon.
Justice, Not Blood
The master grew afraid.
"He’s too clever," he told his wife. "We’ll kill him tonight. A rope, a good knot. While he sleeps."
But Sharp-Eared, from the garden far away, heard their plan.
That night, he crept into the couple’s chamber. He gently moved the rope from his own neck to hers.
At midnight, the husband pulled.
At dawn, Sharp-Eared stood before the grieving man.
"I know what you did to my uncle," he said. "I came not for blood, but for justice. Live with the weight of your deeds. That is punishment enough."
The Hush of Morning Dew
And with that, Sharp-Eared walked into the hills—
The only man who could still hear the hush of morning dew.
