In ancient times, when animals could still take human form to coexist with men and teach them respect for nature, there was a young man as handsome as the brightness of the moon. His delicate face, his eyes full of mystery, and his soft smile stole the glances of all who came across him. He wore a long black coat, of a fabric so fine that it seemed to absorb the sunlight, and a high-crowned hat that accentuated his elegant bearing. Every day, he stood at the train station, a place of passage between the world of men and the world of the beings that inhabit the valleys and mountains.
Although many tried to approach him, the young man never let anyone get too close to him. No one knew of his life, nor of his origin, nor of his secrets. His presence was an enigma, as if he came from a distant place where time did not mark his passing.
One day, a young woman, with a haughty demeanor and a determined attitude, decided that she would be the one to conquer the heart of that mysterious man. Despite his indifference, the young woman approached him and began to speak sweetly. “While you work,” she said with a mischievous smile, ”I’ll bring you lunch. And in return, I only ask for some jewelry, which I’m sure you can give me, since you are such an elegant and distinguished man.”
The young man, who lived alone, accepted the offer without much thought. It seemed good to him that someone should take care of him, although he did not understand why the young woman insisted so much on ornaments and jewelry. Thus the days passed, and the young woman brought him lunch, while he remained seated, doing nothing that looked like work. She thought that, being so fine and rich-looking, he must be the head of some great work or business, but she never saw anyone else around him, and her curiosity began to grow.
One day, after receiving neither a jewel nor the fine dresses he had promised her, the young woman decided to confront the young man. “When will you give me what you promised me?” she asked him in a defiant tone. “I have not seen you work a single day.”
The young man, his smile intact, replied, “I have been working very hard, but my work is special. If you wish, you can come to see me from six o’clock in the evening, when I am in the middle of my work.”
The young woman, impatient and anxious, accepted the proposal, convinced that she would find the evidence of the work he claimed to do. When she arrived at the site in the late afternoon, she was surprised to find the place empty. There was no one working, not even traces of effort. The next day, he complained to the young man, who insisted that he had indeed been working. “There was a cave-in yesterday and I was working all night to fix it,” he told him. “I was so tired I could hardly rest.”
The young woman, puzzled, remembered something she had seen the night before. Although the young man did not seem to have worked, she had observed some beetles moving quickly from one side to the other, carrying food in their small shells. That spectacle of nature had puzzled her, but there was something in the back of her mind that would not leave her alone. In her curiosity, she began to annoy the beetles, placing stones on them and blocking their path, enjoying watching how they struggled to get around their obstacles.
Suddenly, the young woman understood what was happening. The young man was no ordinary man; he was the Carrilano, a being who took human form to watch over and protect the beetles and their vital work. The beetles were not mere insects, but beings fundamental to the balance of nature, and the young man, in his black coat, was their guardian.
Terrified that she had disturbed the little creatures he protected, the young woman realized that her beautiful appearance was nothing more than an illusion. The Carrilano was not a common man, but a creature of nature, who had adopted human form to teach men respect for the smallest and humblest beings.
With a heart full of regret and fear, the young woman fled, wishing the Carrilano that evil would come to him for his deceit. However, the young man, with a calm smile, never pursued her. He knew that the fate of every being was sealed by his own actions.
From that day on, the Carrilano continued his work, caring for the beetles and nature, while the young woman walked away, knowing that her ambition had cost her more than she had imagined.
Moral: Beauty and outward appearance can be deceiving, but the deepest secrets of life lie in the connection with nature. Those who seek profit without respect for others, even the least of these, will sooner or later learn that the balance of life cannot be disturbed without consequences.
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