Once upon a time, in a land far away, lived a young boy called Amuko. He had a wonderful life, for the land was verdant, so rich with fruits and berries, nuts and vegetables, all kinds of game - pheasant, deer, wild pig, antelope, goats and more besides - that there was scarcely any need to plant crops, or herd cattle.
Amuko was a spirited lad who enjoyed playing with his friends, teasing his neighbours, and running everywhere from dawn to dusk, 'chasing his shadow' as the people of that land said of such energetic children.
Now Amuko thought he was familiar with all the animals that lived in the land, but one day he chanced upon a strange beast which lay sleeping in the long grass. It looked a little like the pet cat he had, a charming creature whom he would tease by pulling its tail. But it was striped like a badger. Even more puzzling to Amuko the colour of the stripes were like the tawny brown of the antelope, and the almost black that surrounded the eyes of the deer, making them look so surprised.
Well badgers, and deer, and antelope, and pet cats were not dangerous creatures, so Amuko felt quite safe, Then he chuckled to himself, for he thought how amusing it would be to pull the tail of this beast and startle it out of its sleep.
And that was how young Amuko came to be eaten by the Tiger called New Silk Ark. Everyone agreed this was a shame, as Amuko had shown such promise of growing into a valued member of the community. On the bright side the story mothers and grandfathers and aunts told to the children about young Amuko's foolish tail pulling doubtless stopped several others from being eaten by tigers. For while a sleeping tiger may have the form of a playful animal, and the colouration of inconsequential creatures, or the patterning of those that hide from man, when its tail is pulled it is quite a different beast altogether.
