It was a quiet morning at the pools of Jusenkyo. The fog has mostly been burned off by the rising sun, but there was still enough to lend a picturesque quality to the scene. Surrounded by the steep granite cliffs of the Byenkolo range on one side, and thick jungle on the other, the pools were rather pretty. The Jusenkyo guide who lived there had seen a thousand mornings like this, and still found the pools relaxing to look at while he ate his breakfast.
He had finished his breakfast, and was heading back to his hut when he noticed someone emerge from the jungle on the far side of the pools. The figure dropped it's backpack, and headed for the pools, looking like it was going to dive in.
"Sir! Very bad you go in spring."The figure didn't seem to hear him.
The guide suddenly noticed which pool the figure was walking towards.
"Sir! No swim! No swim in that pool"
The figure finally noticed him, and stopped at the edge of the pool.
Thanking the gods that someone had finally listened to him, the guide trotted around the pool while the stranger waited for him. As he got closer, he realized the stranger was a westerner.
"Sir, no swim in this pool. This pool all have tragic curse. Whoever swim there take curse on them."
The stranger raised his eyebrows.
"Sorry old man, I don't believe in curses. That jungles got me sweating buckets and I need to cool off."
The Jusenkyo guide shouted and gestured, but couldn't stop the westerner slowly wading into the pool. Finally the guide shook his head sadly, and walked away.
An hour later, the
Jusenkyo guide returned with a drag net, and slowly dragged the pool
for the stupid westerner. The guide carefully pulled the body out,
making sure to not get any of the water on himself, and buried him.
"Very tragic story of
stupid westerner who drown in pool one hour ago". He said sadly.
"Now whoever swims in pool takes body of stupid westerner".