The Singing Bone

Once upon a time in a certain country, there was great concern over a wild boar that was destroying farmers’ fields, killing livestock, and even attacking people. The king of this land promised a great reward to anyone who could rid the kingdom of this terrible beast.

There lived in this country two brothers, sons of a poor man. The elder was crafty and clever, but also jealous and deceitful. The younger was innocent, simple, and kind of heart.

“I will set out to hunt the boar,” said the elder brother to himself. “If I kill it, the reward will be mine alone.”

So he went to the king and offered to hunt the wild boar. The king was pleased and said, “If you succeed, half my kingdom shall be yours.”

The elder brother thought himself very clever. He knew the younger brother was a better hunter, but planned to use this to his advantage. He went to his brother and said, “Let us go together to hunt the wild boar. Two are better than one, and we can share the reward.”

The younger brother, who was trusting and good-natured, readily agreed. “Of course, brother. Together we will succeed where others have failed.”

The king provided them with guides and attendants, but as they approached the forest where the boar was said to dwell, the elder brother said, “Let us go on alone. The fewer people, the less noise we will make, and the better our chances of finding the boar.”

So the two brothers entered the dark forest alone. They walked for hours until they came to a bridge over a swift-running stream. As they crossed the bridge, the elder brother let the younger go ahead. When they reached the middle of the bridge, the elder brother struck the younger from behind with his hunting knife.

As the younger brother lay dying, the elder said coldly, “Now the reward will be mine alone.”

To hide his terrible deed, he threw his brother’s body into the stream below. Then he continued on his way, determined to find and kill the wild boar.

As evening approached, he heard a crashing in the underbrush. The great boar burst forth, its tusks gleaming, its small eyes filled with rage. Though terrified, the elder brother managed to raise his spear and, more by luck than skill, pierced the boar’s heart as it charged toward him.

Triumphant, he dragged the boar’s carcass back to the king’s palace. “I have slain the wild boar that terrorized your lands,” he announced proudly. “I alone have accomplished this feat.”

The king was overjoyed and kept his promise, giving the elder brother half his kingdom and the hand of his daughter in marriage. No one questioned what had happened to the younger brother, for the elder had prepared a story in advance.

“My poor brother,” he told the king with false sadness, “decided to hunt in another part of the forest. I fear he may have been killed by the boar before I could slay it, for he has not returned.”

Years passed. The elder brother, now a prince, lived in luxury and soon forgot his wicked deed. Meanwhile, the stream had carried the younger brother’s body to the bank, where it became covered with soil. Seasons came and went, and from this unmarked grave grew a slender reed.

One day, a shepherd passing by saw the beautiful reed and thought, “This would make a fine flute.” He cut the reed, carved holes into it, and put it to his lips. But instead of ordinary music, the flute sang on its own with a human voice:

“Ah, dear shepherd, you play upon my bone, My brother slew me for the king’s throne, Beneath the bridge my body was thrown, While the wild boar takes the blame alone.”

The shepherd was amazed and frightened. He took the singing bone flute to the king, saying, “Your Majesty, I found this reed by the stream and made it into a flute, but listen to the strange song it sings.”

When the flute sang its mournful song for the king, he was deeply troubled. He ordered the stream to be dragged, and there they found the skeleton of the murdered brother. The elder brother, now a prince, could not deny his crime when confronted with this supernatural evidence.

“What have you done?” demanded the king in horror. “Not only did you murder your own brother, but you have deceived me and my entire kingdom!”

Overwhelmed with guilt and shame, the elder brother confessed to his terrible deed. The king, enraged by this betrayal, pronounced his judgment: “As you have done to your brother, so shall be done to you. You shall be sealed in a sack and thrown from the very bridge where you committed your crime.”

And so justice was served. The elder brother received the punishment he deserved for his treachery and murder.

As for the younger brother, the king ordered a proper burial with all honors. At his grave, they planted the singing bone flute, which grew into a beautiful white rosebush. The roses it produced were said to possess healing properties, as if the kind spirit of the younger brother lived on, continuing to help others even after death.

The king gave the half of the kingdom that had belonged to the elder brother to the shepherd who had found the singing bone, rewarding his honesty and the role he played in bringing the truth to light.

And the story of the singing bone was told throughout the kingdom for generations, reminding all who heard it that truth, no matter how deeply buried, will eventually rise and make itself heard.