As I approached my erstwhile tormentors, watching them writhe in agony, I was surprised to discover that I felt a small amount of sympathy with their plight.  These tender feelings did not, however, serve to divert me from my goal.  I had long since realised that gaining revenge over my siblings was not, by itself, a great enough achievement.  No.  I had to ensure that the torture would at no point begin again.  As I have, on previous occasions, evinced - my intellect was the only part of me which was in any way greater or more significant than that of my kin.  It should come as no surprise, therefore, that my plan had ramifications beyond mere retribution  (although to be fair, that bit was FUN!!!!!).

 

I looked upon them as they lay, pathetically whining; crying; screaming, on the bank of the pool.  I had with me a large jar full of a murky substance which I offered to the largest of my brothers.  He looked at me with a great deal of suspicion - no doubt wondering why I would offer to help him - perhaps fearing that I was instead trying to finish him off.  Little did he know that the poison had already been administered......

 

"Look,"  I stated "I was myself taken ill with these same symptoms and I fear that I would have died had not an old healer happened to be passing the very spot where I lay.  He gave me a draught of this self same potion and within a day I recovered.  He left me the instructions of how to make this medicine - and told me that without it this illness is almost always terminal."

 

My siblings still viewed me with distrust but they were terrified of dying and one by one were persuaded to swallow the draught, grimacing all the while at its foul taste.  I informed them that they could expect to see an improvement over the next day or so.  As a parting shot I gave them to understand that the healer had told me that the disease may well return as it operated in cycles.  I made it terribly clear that no one would be given the recipie of the 'miracle cure'  and that if they hoped to remain safe from the ravages of this evil disease they must remain on my good side or next time I would refuse to treat them.

 

I hopped jauntily away knowing that the poison would run its course over the next 24 hours.  I must also confess, I suppose, to a chuckle at the faces of my brothers and sisters as they drank the draught which I had so lovingly prepared for them.   Of course nothing in it had been in any way toxic - but I had designed it to be as evil smelling and vile to taste as I could possibly manage.  Indeed, i believe, that its noxious aroma was capable of wilting the beautiful flora and fauna in the vicinity of my preparation area.

 

In truth, i justified this last moment of triumph by assuring myself that no one would ever believe in the powers of a medicinal draught that did not taste absolutely repulsive.........................