The Jhakar and The Erdlu. A Dark Sun Fable.

A jhakar one day fell into a deep well and could find no means of escape. An erdlu, overcome with thirst, came to the same well, and seeing the jhakar, inquired if the water was good. Concealing his sad plight under a merry guise, the jhakar indulged in a lavish praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraged him to descend. The erdlu, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he drank, the jhakar informed him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a scheme for their common escape. "If," said he, "you will stand as tall as possible, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards." The erdlu readily assented and the jhakar leaped upon his back. Steadying himself upon the erdlu's back, he safely reached the mouth of the well and made off as fast as he could. When the erdlu upbraided him for breaking his promise, he turned around and cried out, "You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have scales on your hide, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means of escape."