The Mountain in Labor

The mountain groaned.

Everyone in the valley heard it. The goats lifted their heads. The bells in the village shook. It groaned again, long and low, and a great rumble rolled down through the fields. "What is the matter with the mountain?" the people asked.

Nobody knew, so they came to see. They came from the farms and they came from the towns. They came on foot and on donkeys, until the valley was packed with people, all staring up.

"It will crack in two!" said a baker. "It will spit out fire!" said a shepherd. "It will bury us all!" said an old woman, and she held on tight to her neighbour's arm.

The mountain groaned louder. The ground shook under their feet. Nobody moved. Nobody spoke. A stone rolled away from the foot of the mountain.

And out came a mouse.