Children of Yayoute


 For good reasons now, the Devil was determined to
make an end of Malice in his pot. He had a rare mango
tree in his orchard. He went there and picked every mango
off the tree, except the prettiest one in which he inserted
some poison so deadly that anyone who touched it would
instantly be enveloped by flames. He went home and sent
Malice after the fruit on the tree; but after a short second
Malice returned empty-handed.
 *Well, Comrade, where is the mango?,
 *Oh-oh, papa,* Malice said, <when I got there and saw
the tree so small I did not climb it, for fear it might break
down with me and crush your pretty mango. But I sent one
of your children to get...a
 As Malice said the last word, cries of horror and agony
were heard in the direction of the orchard. The Devils
rushed over and found a second child consumed by fire, the
fruit in his hand.
 In a violent rage now, they wanted to make Malice
into a delicious bouillon aux epinards.
 After they talked it over together, the Devil went into
the orchard again and inserted a different poison, but as
deadly as the first, in a bunch of fig miraine, the smallest,
sweetest, most honey-like banana in the land, and placed
it in the middle of the gateway.
 Now he returned home, sure this time that he was going
to get Malice. He said to his intended victim, *I've left my
machete in the orchard. Please, go after it for me, for it is
too sharp for the children to carry.,
 *Good. I'll bring it back to you in the shake of a lamb's
tail., And Malice went away and soon came back with the
machete.