Drago and the Shortcut Across the Mountain River
High in the rocky mountain pass, the wind blew cold. Below the tall cliffs, a fast river rushed over grey stones. On one side was a tiny mountain village. On the other side were grassy hills where flocks of sheep walked.
An old man named Drago was the village ferryman. He helped people cross the cold river in a flat wooden boat. He used a long, thick rope tied to big stone posts on both sides. Drago would stand in his boat and pull the rope. Pull, pull, pull. The boat would slide slowly and safely across.
The villagers thought Drago was a silly man. He always smiled and wore his wool vest backwards. Sometimes he would talk to the river or sing to the sheep on the hills.
One sunny afternoon, a young messenger named Niko ran down the mountain path. He had an important letter for the storytelling in the village square. The letter had to arrive before the sun went down.
Niko was in a great hurry. He saw Drago by his boat. “Ferryman!” Niko called. “Take me across right now! I have no time to lose!”
Drago smiled. “Step onto my boat, young traveler. We will go as fast as the rope allows.”
Niko jumped on. Drago took the heavy rope and began to pull. Pull, pull, pull. The boat moved slowly through the water.
Niko tapped his foot. “This is too slow! Look at the water. The river is running so fast today. Why do we need this old rope?”
Drago stopped. “It keeps us from floating away, of course.”
Niko laughed. “But if we cut the rope, the fast river will push us to the other side in a second! It is a perfect shortcut. We will fly across!”
Drago opened his eyes wide. “What a wise mind! I have pulled this heavy rope for forty years. My arms are always tired. I never thought of letting the river do the work. Let us try your shortcut!”
Drago took out a pocketknife. Before Niko could say a word, Drago cut the thick rope. With a sharp snip, the rope fell into the water.
Instantly, the boat shook. It did not go across. Instead, the fast water grabbed the boat and spun it around. The boat began to rush down the river, away from the village.
“We are moving!” Drago said happily. “You were right. We are going very fast!”
Niko turned pale. “Wait!” he screamed. “We are going down the river, not across! Use your paddle to turn us!”
Drago looked confused. “But using the paddle is hard work. If we must work, then this is not a shortcut. Let us just enjoy the ride!”
The boat rushed past the stone bridges and the hillside flocks. “We are going to crash into the rocks!” Niko yelled. “Please, do something! It is your job to keep us safe!”
Drago nodded. “Ah, I see. Even on a shortcut, we must still do the work of staying safe.”
Drago picked up his long paddle. With one strong push, he guided the boat away from the sharp rocks. The boat slid into a quiet pool and bumped into a big pile of wet mud.
They were safe, but they were far downstream. Worst of all, they were still on the same side of the river. The boat was stuck deep in the mud.
Niko sat in the mud. “Now I am late! The sun is setting, and the boat is stuck. My shortcut ruined everything!”
Drago patted the young man’s shoulder. “Do not cry,” Drago said with a warm smile. “We learned something today. If you want to reach the other side of a river, it is always best to stay tied to the rope that goes there.”
Moral: Responsibility means doing things the right way, even when a shortcut seems easier.