the second way: he killed his sister by witchcraft, drowning her so he could secretly sell her body to the witches I raised an objection. "They found her body and buried it. Indeed Laertes jumped into the grave to see his sister once more-So, you see, the body was truly there. Hamlet, who had just come back, jumped in after him What did i tell you? The elder appealed to the others. "Laertes was up to no good with his sisters body. Hamlet prevented him, because the chiefs heir, like a chief, does not wish any other man to grow rich and powerful Laertes would be angry, because he would have killed his sister without benefit to himself. In our country he would try to kill Hamlet for that reason Is this not what happened? More or less I admitted " When the great chief found hamlet was still alive, he encouraged Laertes to try to kill Hamlet and arranged a fight with machetes between them. In the fight both the young men were wounded to death. Hamlet,'s mother drank the poisoned beer that the chief meant for Hamlet in case he won the fight. When he saw his mother die of poison, Hamlet, dying, managed to kill his fathers brother with his machete You see i was right! exclaimed the elder. That was a very good story, added the old man, and you told it with very few mistakes. There was just one more error at the very end. The poison Hamlet,s mother drank was obviously meant for the survivor of the fight, whichever it was. If Laertes had won, the great chief would have poisoned him, for no one would know that he arranged Hamlet,'s death. Then, too, he need not fear Laertes witchcraft; it takes a strong heart to kill ones only sister by witchcraft Sometime, concluded the old man, gathering his ragged toga about him you must tell us some more stories of your country. We, who are elders will instruct you in their true meaning, so that when you return to your own land your elders will see that you have not been sitting in the bush, but among those who know things and who have taught you wisdom Return to Web Site Archive, Picks from the Pastthe second way: he killed his sister by witchcraft, drowning her so he could secretly sell her body to the witches.” I raised an objection. “They found her body and buried it. Indeed Laertes jumped into the grave to see his sister once more—so, you see, the body was truly there. Hamlet, who had just come back, jumped in after him.” “What did I tell you?” The elder appealed to the others. “Laertes was up to no good with his sister’s body. Hamlet prevented him, because the chief’s heir, like a chief, does not wish any other man to grow rich and powerful. Laertes would be angry, because he would have killed his sister without benefit to himself. In our country he would try to kill Hamlet for that reason. Is this not what happened?” “More or less,” I admitted. “When the great chief found Hamlet was still alive, he encouraged Laertes to try to kill Hamlet and arranged a fight with machetes between them. In the fight both the young men were wounded to death. Hamlet’s mother drank the poisoned beer that the chief meant for Hamlet in case he won the fight. When he saw his mother die of poison, Hamlet, dying, managed to kill his father’s brother with his machete.” “You see, I was right!” exclaimed the elder. “That was a very good story,” added the old man, “and you told it with very few mistakes.” There was just one more error, at the very end. The poison Hamlet’s mother drank was obviously meant for the survivor of the fight, whichever it was. If Laertes had won, the great chief would have poisoned him, for no one would know that he arranged Hamlet’s death. Then, too, he need not fear Laertes’ witchcraft; it takes a strong heart to kill one’s only sister by witchcraft. “Sometime,” concluded the old man, gathering his ragged toga about him, “you must tell us some more stories of your country. We, who are elders, will instruct you in their true meaning, so that when you return to your own land your elders will see that you have not been sitting in the bush, but among those who know things and who have taught you wisdom.” Return to Web Site Archive, Picks from the Past