The Thief and His Lamp
Once upon a time, a greedy thief named Kaan lived in the narrow streets of an ancient city surrounded by high walls. Kaan had made it a habit to steal the valuable things that people earned with their labour, by taking advantage of the darkness of night. One evening he secretly entered the most magnificent temple of the city and set his eye on a magical lamp covered with gold. He believed with all his heart that this brightly shining lamp would bring him luck and wealth. Hiding the lamp in his bag, he went quickly away towards his dark shelter without being seen by anyone. Reaching his house, Kaan at once lit the lamp he had stolen, sat down in front of it and began to watch it with pride.
Then, looking at the lamp, he said, “If you show me the way in my night robberies, I will offer you the finest olive oils.” Just at that moment the lamp suddenly began to whisper and a trembling light filled the room. The mysterious voice of the lamp, coming from deep inside, began to speak: “What a foolish man you are!” “I am a helpless object that could not even protect itself from the hand of a thief like you,” it said. “How can a lamp that cannot protect its own holy home guide you on a forbidden road?” it asked. Before this striking answer of the lamp, Kaan did not know what to do out of surprise and froze.
Even so, he gave in to his greed, paid no heed to the warning of the lamp and went out that night for a new robbery. But the glow of the lamp he had stolen at once showed his place from a far distance in the pitch darkness. The guards of the city noticed this light that lit up the night and set off after the thief. However much Kaan tried to run, he could not escape being caught because of the light of the lamp that would not go out. While the guards threw him into the dungeon, the stolen lamp in his hand was carried back to the temple it belonged to. Nothing that is gained through injustice ever brings peace and success to its owner. Lies have short legs.