Ijapa's Talking Skull

Ijapa the Tortoise was walking in the forest when he stumbled upon a human skull. He kicked it and said, "What brought you here?" To his utter astonishment, the skull replied, "Talking brought me here." Ijapa was terrified but also excited. He ran to the king's palace. "I have found a talking skull!" he announced. The king was disbelieving and angry. "You are a known liar, Ijapa. I will send my guards with you. If this skull talks, I will make you a rich man. If it does not, I will have you executed for your lies." Ijapa led the guards to the skull. "Speak, skull! Speak!" he demanded. But the skull remained silent. Ijapa begged and pleaded, but the skull said nothing. The guards, following the king's orders, executed Ijapa on the spot. After the guards had left, the skull finally spoke again. "I told you talking brought me here," it said. "You should have listened." The story is a dark and famous cautionary tale about the dangers of a loose tongue and the inability to keep a secret, even a miraculous one.