9 – Goa and Kepeke
(I Goa sy i Kepeke)
From the collection of Simeon Rajaon
Retold by Ravalitera, illustrations by Antso Andrianary
(4) Once upon a time in the land of Antandroy, dear children, there were two men who were handicapped. One was blind, but otherwise he was healthy and strong : his name was Goa. The other one however could not walk, but his sight was good and he was extremely cunning. He was called Kepeke.
(6) One day, so people tell, these two men met and they immediately got along very well. Kepeke, was the first to strike up the conversation because he could see and he realized right away what was wrong with Goa.
(8) « My name is Kepeke », he said. « I can’t walk so I have to drag myself around. I can see that you are blind, why can’t we be friends ? We could work together, I could guide you along the way, and you could carry me on your back»
« Fine », said the blind man.
Goa took Kepeke on his back and Kepeke guided the two of them. Thus they set off as a team across mountains and valleys.
(10) « I’m hungry», said Kepeke.
«Over there, there’s a field of corn. I’ll carry you over to it and we’ll pick a lot of corn‐cobs to grill them. »
Goa walked into the field and Kepeke picked the ripe cobs. Before long they had loads of them. Then they made off as fast as they could. But, someone had seen them and reported them to the owner of the corn field.
(12) He called the fokonolona [the village people] and the two men were brought before the village eldest, accused of being thieves. «If the charge is to be believed, these two men are accused of stealing,» he proclaimed. And turning to them, he asked: « What can you say in your defence, against this accusation? What can you put forward, if you are wrongly charged?»
(14) « Can you take an oath that you are not thieves ? »
« Honest to god, we’re not what we are accused of» said Goa « How could I have seen the field ? « “And I’ll be damned if I touched one of those cobs , or if my feet have strod across that field », added Kepeke.
The crowd cried out that these men were telling the truth. And so they were set free.
(16) Once freed, they set off again and roamed the land ahead of them. Then suddenly Kepeke spotted a
straying cow. They drew closer to her, Goa on foot carrying Kepeke.
Kepeke stroked the cow’s belly
tenderly, close to its haunches, and the animal became docile and settled down on the ground, enjoying his caressing.
Then Kepeke tied piece of rope to her and they took her along with them congratulating themselves on their luck, for they had now become rich.
(18) After a while Kepeke noticed the cow was expecting a calf, and so he made up his mind to trick Goa.
« Let me have this cow », he said, « and when we see another one, it is to be yours.»
« That is out of the question», replied Goa, « It’s my cow, because if I hadn’t carried you on my back, even if you’d seen her, you wouldn’t have been able to catch her. »
« But this cow is mine, because I was the first to see her », replied Kepeke. Once again they had to consult a judge.
(20) The crowd and the judge assembled.
« Listen », said the judge. « This cow is in calf. She belongs to both of you. Wait until she gives birth. Perhaps she’ll have twins, then you can have one each, and one of you will have the first born calf and the other one the second. »
« The first born calf is mine then», said Kepeke eagerly.
«Out of the question», replied Goa, «you will have to take the second calf »
(22) The judge tried to calm them down, but neither of them wanted to give in. Goa tried to throw Kepeke onto the ground, but he hung on to his back with all his might. Finally the crowd began to clamour at the spectacle.
(24) « In that case, since you cannot come to an agreement, a double-pointed javelin is going to settle the dispute. Each of you takes hold of one end of the spear and then you try to impale your opponent. The one who survives will be the winner.
« But I’m blind,” said Goa, “he’s going to kill me.»
« But I am crippled,” said Kepeke, « I cannot win, he is too strong, I will have lost from the very start.»
« If you can’t agree, the cow will be the village people’s property” decided the arbitrator.
The crowd cried out in joy, and the two rogues got scared.
(26) « It’s our cow» they said in one voice.
« In that case, be reconciled » replied the judge.
« But why are we arguing, » said Goa. « I’m blind and I need you to guide me on my
way. »
« That’s true, too », Kepeke agreed. « As for me, I’m crippled and I need you and your strength to carry me on your back.»
The two men shook hands on that, and swore that they would remain friends and help each other for the rest of their lives, because neither could do without the other.
The crowd broke out in cries of joy.
Tales, tales....
(950) C, ropf