The Shepherds'
Theory of Relativity
by Jon Ye
The valley was
broad and endless.
There was a
shepherd and a flock of sheep. Early in the
morning they used to come here. The old shepherd
came here with his food in a bag while the sheep
came here to seek their food. When the sun set,
he ate up all his food while the sheep made sure
that they would have a good night without feeling
hungry.
Rocks peppered
the valley. Around them grew the grass, which
looked green and delicious. No doubt the sheep
liked to come here; otherwise the old man would
not have kept all the sheep so well.
When they
arrived, the sheep pushed their heads forward,
shredding the grass with their teeth. They no
longer worried about their food or time. They
knew that the valley was very generous and their
owner was very fit for his job.
The shepherd,
however, had to care about the different
directions of the sun in the sky or where the
sheep would head.
It seemed that
the sun was stuck there, so he moved his eyes
down to face the rocks. As a matter of fact, he
was so familiar with the rocks that he could see
them even with his eyes closed. The valley was
empty, no other person and no other sheep.
In the
distance was another shepherd and another flock
of sheep, but they were so far away that he could
not see clearly or shout to be heard. Was he a
young man or just as old?
If only they
could have met to chat. The distance seemed to
make it impossible. Besides, they didn’t
even know each other.
Now the other
shepherd was on his way towards him! He was just
like a small rock! This shepherd told himself
that he would have to wait. So he, as usual, kept
his eyes closed again, without thinking about
anything. However, this time he failed. He saw
another shepherd and another flock of sheep.
Gradually, the steps came into his ears. He shook
his head, for he couldn’t believe his ears.
Oh, it was
true, wasn’t it? He made sure of it and
opened his eyes. There, was another shepherd
walking towards him. He was the first to have
come here for a long time. How excited he was! It
seemed that he had come from the west. He was
also an old man!
“Hi, how
do you do?” the other shepherd said as he
stepped up to him.
“Great
thanks,” he replied.
Obviously they
had the same job so they didn’t talk much
about it.
Just then
there came a fight between the two head sheep
from each side. As everyone knew, they were
struggling for the grass!
“I say,
you have brought your sheep here too?” one
shepherd looked a little angry.
“Sorry,
but every sheep would like to eat good grass!”
the other had a stronger mind.
“Go and
control your sheep!” one shepherd ordered.
“You must
go and separate yours first!” the other
replied.
Both of them
got up and walked fast towards the two sheep.
They took quite a long time to separate them.
Then one shepherd drove his sheep in one
direction and the other shepherd drove his in the
opposite direction. Then they came together again.
“Do you
mind me smoking here? Have you got a match?”
the other shepherd asked.
“No, go
ahead, but I’ve got no match with me!”
one shepherd replied, looking regretful.
“I will
remember to bring a box of matches with me when I
come tomorrow,” he said to himself. “He
has come to see me, but I can’t do this
favour for him. What a shame!”
“Oh, it’s
not serious. I will do without it.” The
other shepherd smiled.
The old man
smiled back.
“What
terrible weather we’re having!” one
said.
“Yes, isn’t
it?” the other responded.
“It is a
very long day!”
“Yes, isn’t
it.”
“Would
you like to stay here longer?”
“As long
as you like.”
So the two old
men sat down on the top of the bigger rock. They
continued talking. Whatever they talked about, no
one could understand.
Soon the two
head sheep came to fight again. This time they
didn’t fight alone; they had brought their
family members.
“Look,
they have come to meet again!” the other
shepherd said surprised.
“I am
sure this time they have come not for the grass,”
this shepherd explained.
“Sure,”
the other replied. “Why, one of our sheep is
standing beside your head sheep.”
“I see.
This time it is a fight for love,” one
shepherd said. “There will be a big fight
here. We must find a way to stop them.”
“You mean
you want to borrow that sheep of ours for the
night?” the other shepherd asked.
“Yes.”
“Thanks.”
“Oh, look,
the sun is trying to hide itself behind the hills.
It is time we left.”
“How time
flies!”
“Let’s
go back home. Tomorrow we will meet here too.”
They went to
gather their own sheep.
The other
shepherd took out his matches to light his
tobacco.
“This
time next year I will be having a strong head
sheep just like his!” one shepherd smiled.
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