Speaker 1: Yeah, Hello, my name's Josephine and this is the Animal
Tales podcast, where you suggest the animals featured in our stories.
There are new tales to enjoy every Monday and Wednesday,
with a third premium only story every Friday. Please continue
to share Animal Tales with your friends and leave us
reviews where you can. Ahana is from Rajasthan in India
and she would like a story featuring a Russell's viper,
a rattlesnake, and a gray wolf. You can learn more
about these creatures in the animal facts after the story. Okay,
are you ready? That's good? Then I'll begin a rainy
day on Artists Walk. There's a pretty alleyway in Rainforest
City called Artists Walk. It winds between the trees and
ancient buildings, allowing visitors to admire the colorful stalls and
studio windows. It's where painters, illustrators, sculptors, embroiderers, quilters, writers, poets,
and musicians find space to make, display and sell their creations.
It's often busy, especially on a sunny day, when people
are looking to be entertained and perhaps buy something truly unique.
But today was not a busy day because it was raining.
If there was anything guaranteed to keep people away, it
was a downpour. The usually vibrant and bustling alley stood
empty and gray, but not completely empty. There was one
visitor walking steadily from window to covered stool. She was
a gray wolf called Ahanna, and she was protected from
the drizzle by a wide, purple umbrella. Ahana's attention was
soon captured by a bright display of paintings in a window.
They were of exotic fruits and blooms, each one painted
as if bathed in sunshine with vivid colors. Do you
like them? Asked a voice from the shop's doorway. It
was a snake, a Russell's viper with a striking pattern
across his skin. They're all my own work. They're very nice,
Ahanna said. May I ask what brings you out on
such a glum and gloomy day, The snake wondered, hopeful
of making a sail. I have a little money to spend,
explained Aharna. I thought i'd buy something to brighten up
my room. The Russell's viper's eyes sparkled at the mention
of money. Is there anything here that you like? The
snake asked, hopefully, they're all lovely, said Aharna. I especially
like the one of the dragon fruit and the one
of the orchid. The viper tried to hide his smile.
It looked as if he was going to make a
sale here for sure. Do you erh have much money
to spend? He asked, somewhat rudely. I've thought everything I have,
replied Aharna. The snake couldn't believe his ears. She'd brought
all her money. The dragon fruit painting is one of
my favorites, he hissed smoothly. But the orchid one is
also a very good choice, thank you, said Ahhna, suddenly
turning away. But I think I'll keep looking. The Russell's
viper couldn't believe it. He thought he'd as good as
made a sail. But somehow the wolf was leaving, along
with all her money. He watched as she crossed to
the window opposite, where depressingly, his rival was watching. He
was a rattlesnake, and his window displayed his sculptures and carvings. Frustratingly,
the rattlesnake had overheard their entire conversation and now looked
very pleased, indeed, that the wolf and her money was
heading his way. Good morning, greeted the rattlesnake with an
oily voice. I understand your looking to buy, that's correct,
said Aharna. I'm after something that will look nice in
my room. Your carvings of butterflies are very nice. Oh
they are, nodded the rattlesnake. And the one of that
beetle is really good too, Ahanna added. And such a
wonderful price, grinned the rattlesnake. He was very pleased to
see that the wolf was so interested. If he was lucky,
perhaps she would buy one of each. So what's it
going to be? Butterfly or beetle? I'm not so sure
I could choose, smiled Ahanna as she turned to leave.
But thank you for showing them to me. Are you
going already? Blurted out the rattlesnake. The thought of the
wolf leaving along with her money was quite a shock.
Ahanna had intended to carry on a long artist's walk,
but found her way blocked by the Russell's viper. Unlike
when she'd first seen him, he was now splattered in
paint and clutching a paint brush with the end of
his tail. Ah there you are, he panted, a Um
was hoping to run into you. You're the painter of
the fruit and flowers, stated the surprised wolf. That's right,
said the viper, as he guided a Hanna towards his studio.
I've got something to show you. Ahnna was intrigued, so
went with him into the dry leaving her umbrella by
the door. Inside, the walls were covered in even more paintings,
but it was the easel at the center of the
room that the wolf was guided to. On it was
a large canvas showing a delightful painting of both a
drag and fruit and an orchid. What do you think,
asked the Russells viper. Did you un just paint this,
wondered Aharna. Er I might have done, admitted the snake guiltily.
Do you like it? It's beautiful, said Ahhna. The snake
looked very pleased to hear this and grinned greedily. He
was so determined to get the wolf's money that he'd
hastily painted the masterpiece. Then perhaps you might like to
um buy it, he asked. It does combine my two
favorite things from the paintings in your window, nodded Ahnna.
It does, said the viper eagerly, and it would look
very nice in my room. Aharna added, oh, it would,
agreed the snake, but I'm just not sure it's for me,
Ahna said politely, thank you, though all the same the
Russell's viper was stunned. He'd rush to get the painting done,
feeling sure he'd get the Wolf's money, but it was
heading out of the door along with its owner. Mahanna
was already opening her umbrella in the rain. She only
made it a few steps before she was intercepted again,
this time by the Rattlesnake. Miss Wolf, I thought I'd
missed you, he hissed, clearly out of breath. I couldn't
possibly let you go without showing you something very special,
something special, repeated Aharna. Well, if you say so, She
allowed herself to be led through the Rattlesnake's doorway. The
inside of the little studio was a mess. On an
ordinary day, the sculptures and carvings would have been neatly
arranged to best show them off. But today was no
ordinary day. The Rattlesnake had been working few curiously on
a new carving, and had clearly done so in a hurry.
There were tools and wood shavings all across the floor,
and dust on every surface. Ahhna found herself stepping over
chunks and splinters as the rattlesnake directed her to his
newest creation, a large carving of a beetle and a butterfly.
What do you think, he asked, with a flick of
his tongue. Oh I like that very much, replied the wolf.
Did you just do this? Can you tell? Asked the rattlesnake,
looking worried only by all the mess, said Aharna. The
actual carving is stunning. The rattlesnake was very pleased to
hear this. The Wolf's money was as good as his.
It would be my pleasure to sell it to you,
he grinned. It is tempting, admitted Ahnna. After all, it
does include both the butterfly and the beetle that I
liked from your other carvings. Good good, nodded the rattlesnake.
And it would look very nice in my room, Ahhna added,
of course, agreed the snake. Oh though I'm not sure
it's for me, Aharna said, politely, but thank you for
showing it to me. The rattlesnake was so surprised that
he couldn't even shake his rattle. He'd worked at a
crazy pace to get that carving done so quickly, confident
that he'd make the sale, but the money in the
Wolf's bag was leaving with her. Once more. She was
under her umbrella in the rain, where she immediately ran
into the Russell's viper. Hello, miss Wolf, he blurted out desperately.
Before you go, I just thought you might like to
admire my window one more time. The window, once busy
with a selection of paintings, now had only one, the
still wet painting of the dragon fruit and the orchid.
It does look wonderful there, acknowledged Aharna from beneath her umbrella.
And if I may just direct you to the price,
said the snake, pointing with the tip of his tail
towards a hastily written price tag. It was for a
lot of money. Now hold on just one moment, shouted
the rattlesnake, as he too slithered out into the rain.
That's no way to treat a visitor to artists. Walk.
You can't go being all pushy like that. Ahnna was
relieved that the rattlesnake had come to her rescue. Until
that is, he used his coils to direct her attention
towards his own window. Take no notice of that, talentless viper,
said the rattlesnake. I'm quite sure that you'll agree that
my window is far superior. He had cleared out all
of his carvings and sculptures in order to display his
butterfly and beetle carving. Oh my, that looks even better there,
admitted Aharna. And if you look carefully, i'm sure you'll
see that it's a very generous price, he said. Like
the painting, it too, was a lot of money. Now
listen here, you stinker. I saw her first. She doesn't
want your dreadful carving, snapped the Russell's viper. Ha bit
back the rattlesnake. I'm sure she's more interested in my
fine craftsmanship than your blobs and splatters. How dare you,
shrieked the viper. She said, my painting was beautiful. Clearly
she's going to buy it. That goes to show what
you know. You arty, farty fraud, bellowed the rattlesnake. She said,
my artwork was stunning. It's obvious, she's going to buy
my carving. No, no, no, protested the Russell's viper. It's
me that's going to get all her money. Don't be
such a dunderhead, yelled back the Rattlesnake. All her money,
she'll be coming to me, No me, hollered the viper.
Me me, me, me, me, granted the Rattlesnake. Oh, please
stop your arguing, insisted Ahanna. I think they're both really special,
but I just cannot afford to buy them. Just one
of them is too much for me. Look, miss Wolf,
it's been raining for days. An artist's walk has been
very quiet, began the Russells Viper. Perhaps I've been a
little greedy in what I've priced my painting at me too,
me too, said the Rattlesnake urgently. Look you said you
brought all your money. Yes, that's right, confirmed Ahnna. Then
I'll accept whatever you've got, he said triumphantly. Surely that
offer would seal the deal. I'll accept the same, announced
the viper. Suddenly, but I can't choose between them, said Aharna. Honestly,
I really do think I should look elsewhere. It pains
me to suggest this, grumbled the rattlesnake desperately, But how
about this, Give me half of all your money and
the carving is yours. As far as he was concerned,
half of all someone's money was better than none at all.
Yeaya a good idea, nodded the viper frantically. And for
the other half, you can have the painting. Are you sure?
Asked a Hannah in surprise. It seemed too good to
be true. Shake on it, offered the rattlesnake, presenting the
rattle tip of his tail. All he could think about
was getting hold of the wolf's money, even if it
was just half. Very well, said Ahhna, and shook on
it with both snakes. I'd best pay you, she said,
rummaging in her bag for money. Half of all your money,
said the viper, greedily, and the other half for me,
giggled the rattlesnake. Of course, said Ahnna. She pulled out
just two small coins. With such little money, she had
only expected to get something very small for her room,
But here she was getting two outstanding pieces of art
for next to nothing. It was just as well it
was raining, because as she gave each snake their coin,
it made it harder to notice their tears of frustration.
But a deal is a deal. This done, Ahanna gathered
her purchases beneath her umbrella and went home to display them.
Animal fact. The Russell's viper is found throughout in Pakistan,
Bangladesh and into Sri Lanka and Nepal. It is very
venomous and so it is a very good idea to
keep well away from one. Rattlesnakes are found throughout North
and South America from Canada to Argentina, made up a
thirty six different species. The mussels that shake their rattle
are incredibly quick, moving up to fifty times a second.
The gray wolf is found across the top of North
America and over much of Europe and Asia. Females give
birth to four to six pups, raising them in a den.
Those were great suggestions, Ahana. We hope you enjoyed the story,
and thank you to all of you across the world
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Join us next time for another great animal tale. Goodbye,