DIE RÄUBER UND DIE KRANICHE
by Friedrich Giese · from Türkische Märchen
Adapted Version
A very kind man lived. His name was Danadil. He lived in a city. All loved him. Danadil went on a trip. He went to a holy place. He went alone.
Danadil walked in the hot desert. Some bad men stopped him fast. They thought Danadil had money. They wanted to take his things. The bad men were not kind.
Danadil said, "Take my money. Let me go on my trip." They did not listen. They were mean. They decided to hurt him. They wanted all his things.
Danadil felt very sad. He looked up at the sky. Many big birds flew there. They were cranes. Danadil called to the cranes. "Please know what happened!" he said.
The bad men laughed at Danadil. "Birds cannot help you!" they said. They hurt Danadil badly. They took all his things. Then Danadil was gone. He was never seen again.
People in Danadils city heard the news. They were very sad. They missed Danadil much. All loved him. They wondered what happened to him.
Many days passed. The city had a big party. All the people came. The bad men were there too. No one knew they were bad.
Then the same cranes flew high above. They made loud noises. The cranes flew over the bad men. They cried out very loud.
One bad man laughed. He spoke to his friends. "Are the birds asking about Danadil?" he said. He thought it was a funny joke. He laughed at the birds. He was very silly.
A good person stood nearby. He heard the bad man's words. He listened very well. He knew about Danadil.
The good person went to the City Leader. He told the City Leader it all. The City Leader listened well.
The City Leader sent his helpers. They found the bad men. The bad men were caught. They could not run away.
The bad men learned their lesson. Bad things happen to bad people. They could not hurt anyone again. Justice was done for Danadil. The cranes helped too.
Bad things happen to bad men. Justice always finds a way. Even the cranes helped.
Original Story
60. DIE RÄUBER UND DIE KRANICHE
In der Stadt Rakka lebte ein Derwisch, der reich an lobenswerten Tugenden und schätzenswerten Eigenschaften war, mit Namen Danadil. Alle Leute in der Stadt liebten ihn.
Einst entschloß er sich, die Pilgerreise nach Mekka zu machen, und trat ohne Freund und Genossen die Reise durch die Wüste an. Unterwegs beabsichtigten einige Räuber ihn zu töten, da sie bei ihm Geld vermuteten. Als Danadil ihre Absicht merkte, sagte er: „Ich habe nicht mehr Geld bei mir, als gerade für die Pilgerfahrt genügt. Wenn euch das genügt, so nehmt ohne Zaudern alles, was ich habe, aber laßt mich frei, damit ich die Pilgerfahrt beendige und meine Absicht erreiche.“ Die Räuber, die sich fürchteten, ihn am Leben zu lassen, beschlossen, ihn ohne Erbarmen zu töten. In seiner Not schaute der Arme sich nach allen Seiten um, und wie der Ertrinkende sich an einen Strohhalm klammert, so sah er überall nach Hilfe aus. In dieser Einöde war aber kein lebendes Wesen zu erblicken außer einer Herde Kraniche, die über ihnen durch die Luft flogen. Als Danadil sie hörte, rief er aus: „Ihr Kraniche, ich muß in dieser Wüste von den Händen dieser Räuber sterben und außer Gott weiß niemand etwas davon. Ich hoffe, daß ihr mein Blut nicht ungerächt laßt und mich an diesen Blutgierigen rächen werdet.“ Als die Räuber dies hörten, lachten sie und fragten ihn spöttisch nach seinem Namen. Auf seine Aussage, daß er Danadil46 heiße, sagten sie: „Der Name paßt für dich gar nicht, denn wie kannst du Danadil heißen, wenn du nicht einmal weißt, daß die Vögel dich nicht verstehen? Für uns ist es ausgemacht, daß du ganz dumm bist. Und einen Dummen umzubringen, ist keine Sünde.“ Sie töteten ihn und nahmen das wenige, das er bei sich hatte. Als die Kunde seines Mordes in der Stadt bekannt wurde, trauerten alle sehr um ihn und bemühten sich, die Mörder ausfindig zu machen. Schließlich, nach langer Zeit, waren die Bewohner der Stadt bei dem Opferfest auf dem Betplatze vereinigt und die Mörder des Danadil waren auch dabei. Währenddessen flog eine Schar Kraniche über den Köpfen der Mörder und schrie so laut, daß die Leute in ihren Gebeten innehielten. Da sagte einer von den Räubern spöttisch lächelnd zu seinen Genossen: „Diese verlangen wohl das Blut des Danadil?“
Nach Gottes Fügung hatte einer von den Leuten aus der Stadt, der neben ihm stand, dies gehört. Er meldete den Vorfall dem Oberhaupt der Stadt und sofort wurden Wachen und Boten ausgeschickt. Alle Räuber wurden ergriffen und erfuhren die Vergeltung nach dem göttlichen Recht für ihre Untat.
Story DNA
Moral
Even in the most desolate places, justice will find a way, often through unexpected means, to punish the wicked.
Plot Summary
Danadil, a beloved dervish, is ambushed and murdered by robbers in the desert during his pilgrimage to Mecca. Before dying, he calls upon a flock of cranes to avenge him. Much later, at a city festival, the same robbers are present when a flock of cranes flies overhead. One robber mockingly asks if the cranes demand Danadil's blood, a remark overheard by a citizen. This leads to the robbers' arrest and execution, fulfilling Danadil's plea for divine justice.
Themes
Emotional Arc
despair to justice
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story reflects Islamic cultural and religious practices, emphasizing divine justice and the importance of pilgrimage. The setting of Rakka (Raqqa) was a historically significant city in the Islamic world.
Plot Beats (13)
- Danadil, a beloved dervish from Rakka, sets out on a pilgrimage to Mecca.
- He is ambushed in the desert by robbers who suspect he has money.
- Danadil offers his money if they spare his life to complete his pilgrimage, but the robbers decide to kill him anyway.
- In his desperation, Danadil calls out to a flock of cranes flying above, asking them to avenge his death.
- The robbers mock Danadil for believing birds could understand him, calling him foolish, and then kill him, taking his meager possessions.
- News of Danadil's murder reaches Rakka, causing widespread grief and a search for the killers.
- After a long time, the citizens of Rakka gather for a festival, and Danadil's murderers are among them.
- A flock of cranes flies over the murderers, crying loudly, interrupting the prayers.
- One of the robbers, smirking, asks his companions if the cranes are demanding Danadil's blood.
- A citizen standing nearby overhears this incriminating remark.
- The citizen reports the incident to the city's leader.
- Guards are dispatched, and all the robbers are apprehended.
- The robbers face divine retribution for their crime.
Characters
Danadil
A man of average height and build, likely with features consistent with someone from Rakka (modern-day Syria), suggesting a tanned complexion from living in a desert region. His demeanor would be calm and virtuous, not physically imposing.
Attire: Simple, clean, and practical clothing suitable for a desert journey and a holy man. Perhaps a light-colored, flowing thobe (long robe) made of linen or cotton, possibly with a simple sash. He would wear sandals appropriate for travel.
Wants: To complete his pilgrimage to Mecca and fulfill his religious duty.
Flaw: His trusting nature and perhaps a certain naiveté about the true evil of others, leading him to believe his plea to the cranes would be understood by the robbers.
He faces an unjust death but his spirit of justice is upheld through an unexpected intervention, proving that even the voiceless can bear witness.
Virtuous, pious, trusting, calm, and resourceful (in his plea to the cranes).
The Robbers
Rough, hardened men, likely lean and weathered from a life of crime and exposure to the desert. They would appear menacing and unkempt, perhaps with scars or a generally intimidating presence.
Attire: Practical, dark, and worn clothing suitable for desert travel and banditry. Perhaps rough tunics, loose trousers, and sturdy boots, possibly with cloaks to conceal themselves. Their attire would be functional rather than decorative.
Wants: To steal money and eliminate witnesses to their crimes.
Flaw: Their arrogance and overconfidence, leading them to openly mock Danadil and reveal their guilt through their own words.
They commit a heinous crime, believe they have escaped justice, but are ultimately brought to justice by an unexpected turn of events, learning that no crime goes unpunished.
Cruel, greedy, cynical, mocking, and ultimately foolish (underestimating the power of witness).
The Cranes
Large, elegant birds with long legs, long necks, and broad wings. Their plumage would be predominantly grey and white, with distinctive red or black markings on their heads or wings, typical of cranes found in the Middle East (e.g., Common Crane or Demoiselle Crane).
Wants: To bear witness to injustice and, by their actions, facilitate divine retribution.
Flaw: None, as they are instruments of a higher power.
They serve as silent witnesses to a crime and later, through their cries, inadvertently lead to the identification of the culprits.
Observant, silent witnesses, and instruments of divine justice.
The City Head
A figure of authority, likely well-dressed and commanding. He would have a dignified appearance, possibly with a well-groomed beard and a stern but just expression.
Attire: Formal and respectable attire, befitting a leader of a city in the Middle East. Perhaps a finely woven thobe or a kaftan, possibly with a decorative sash and a well-crafted turban.
Wants: To maintain order and ensure justice in his city.
Flaw: None explicitly shown in the story.
He acts as the instrument of justice, bringing the robbers to account.
Just, decisive, and responsible.
Locations
The Arid Desert
A vast, desolate expanse of sun-baked sand and sparse, hardy scrub, stretching endlessly under a clear, hot sky. The ground is uneven, with low dunes and rocky outcrops. The air is dry and still, with a shimmering heat haze in the distance.
Mood: Desolate, dangerous, isolated, hopeless
Danadil is confronted and murdered by robbers here, calling out to the cranes for vengeance.
Rakka City Prayer Ground
A large, open prayer ground outside the city of Rakka, likely a wide, flat area of packed earth or fine gravel, suitable for large gatherings. It is filled with people dressed in traditional Abbasid-era attire, kneeling in rows for the Eid al-Adha (Opferfest) prayers. The city walls or distant buildings of Rakka might be visible in the background, possibly constructed from sun-dried mud brick or local stone.
Mood: Solemn, communal, expectant, then tense
The robbers are exposed by their own words when cranes fly overhead during the communal prayer.