The Spider and the Secret of the Tides

Anansi the Spider wanted to know why the tide came in and out, so he could catch the most fish. He knew the secret was held by the Old Woman of the Sea. He went to her underwater home and asked her. "The secret is not for you," she said. But Anansi persisted. Finally, the Old Woman said, "I will tell you, but you must perform a task. You must bring me a creature that is both of the land and of the sea." Anansi thought for a long time. He went to the shore and found a large sea turtle laying its eggs in the sand. "Aha!" he said. "Your children are born of the land, but you live in the sea." He managed to trick the turtle and bring her to the Old Woman. Impressed by his cunning, the Old Woman told him the secret of the tides. Anansi used this knowledge to become the most successful fisherman of all. However, he also learned that some secrets carry a great burden, and his knowledge of the sea's rhythm made him an outsider among both the land creatures and the sea creatures.