The Eagle and The Troll-like Thing: An Unfinished Parable

The troll-like thing backed away as it yelled invectives at the polar bears and the rabbits and the cowboys and the dogs and the hamsters that inhabited this strange world. The troll-like thing was completely unaware that not more than fifty paces behind it was the lip of a vast canyon. Nearer and nearer it came to the cliff's edge. An eagle called out to the troll-like thing. "Stop. You must stop or you will fall."

The troll-like thing replied with more venom. "You shut up, stupid eagle, I'm going to do whatever I want! And by the way, I'm not a troll, so don't call me one!" The troll-like thing continued walking backwards, now only a few yards from the edge. The wise eagle fixed the troll-like thing with it's gaze. "I did not call you a troll, for that would be rude. Now you must stop. You must stop or you will fall."

The angry troll-like thing gestured toward the animals that had gathered to watch. "Why don't you pick on the polar bears and the rabbits and the cowboys and the dogs and the hamsters! It's they who are the trolls, not me!" The troll-like thing was now less than two steps from backing itself directly into the chasm.

The polar bears and the rabbits and the cowboys and the dogs and the hamsters watched, fascinated. Somewhere, a raven cawed.

Instead of repeating the warning, this time the eagle asked a question. "Are you a troll?"

The troll-like thing stopped. It's back foot came to rest a fraction of an inch from the canyon's ledge. Pebbles dropped into the endless depths of emptiness directly behind and below the troll-like thing. The eagle and the troll-like thing stared into each other's eyes. Time stretched. The clouds floated bleakly behind them and the wind died, leaving behind a deep and sullen silence.

In the distance, once again, a raven cawed.