'Rain and Fire' from Namibia

Rode, Linda. "Rain and Fire." In A River of Stories, compiled by Alice Curry, 102-103. London: Commonwealth Education Trust Books, 2011.

"Once upon a time Rain and Fire argued about who was the stronger.

“Oh,” boasted Rain in her silvery, watery voice, “I can make so much water fall upon the earth that the rivers are flooded and the houses are washed away completely.”

“Humph,” Fire answered in a smoky, husky voice, “so what? I can burn down woods and trees and houses so that nothing but black ashes remain.”

Rain said: “You’re not as strong as you think. I can quench your flames in an instant. They have no power against water.”

Fire said: “Pooh, I’ll soon dry your little streams with my heat.”

“Let’s see then,” said Rain, and she gathered all the heaviest clouds together. Before long the first big drops began to fall. Fire took a seat on a dry camel-thorn log in the long grass and soon the first little flames were licking at the wood.

Then Wind came past. He looked at Fire and he looked at Rain and he said: “I’ll help both of you. I’ll whip the raindrops from the clouds and I’ll chase along the flames. Then you can decide once and for all which one of you is stronger.”

Rain made the water stream across the veld, but Fire quickly licked up all the water and dried out the veld.

A wise old tortoise that had floated to the top of an anthill said: “In water you can swim and survive, but against fire you can do nothing. Fire burns you to death.”

Rain bowed her head and said: “Yes, that is true.” And she went to hide high up in the clouds.

“Well, that’s how it is then,” said Wind and blew himself far away from Fire.

“I told you I am stronger,” Fire cackled, but took care to call back his flames before they scorched the wise old tortoise."