Panchatantra and the CIO: The Fox and the Lion

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Once upon a time there was a jungle. Like most jungles it had a king. The king, a lion, ruled his kingdom with kindness and generosity…except when he was hungry. Then, his highness went out and helped himself to the first subject who came along. Meal was served.

As stories go, there is nothing unusual about this one, so far. Hunger is, and has been, a defining trait of leaders for generations. Leaders have always been magnanimous to their flock till they are hungry.

You might argue that “hunger” is what drives one to seek a leadership position in the first place. Next you will suggest that an oilman with deep connections with the military-industrial complex took us into an unnecessary war! People like you make me sick. That is so un-American that even god will not forgive you.

But we digress!

You see, our king, the lion, who had convinced others that he had been ordained by god herself to rule over all her other creations, was facing the reality of god’s will - he was getting old. Each passing day brought him closer to his impending demise accelerated by age induced frailty that prevented him from hunting. The chosen one was going to die of hunger before he did of old age!

Oh, the cruelty of god’s will!

Well, our king did what comes naturally to most kings - the commander-in-chief appointed himself a deputy. This deputy-dog, actually a fox, was to bring the king fresh meat every day. But there was a condition. Yes, even hapless kings get to set conditions.

Our king’s royal lineage prevented him from accepting someone else’s hunting. The fox was to deliver live animals to the king who would then kill and eat them.

Our wily fox, or Cheney as his friends called him, used his guile and the full force of the king’s office - not to mention illegal wiretaps - to deliver deli fresh delights to his king daily. All foxes get their pound of flesh and our fox’s mamma raised no fool. His formula for success, you ask? Two for me, one for you!

It is also the natural order of things that lame duck kings face waning power. A day did come in our kingdom when all the fox’s guile and the fear of the king failed to put food on the table, as the saying goes. The fox came back to the palace empty handed.

The king was furious. But first, he was hungry! “Get out there and get me something to eat or else,” he roared. The fox ran out, tail between his legs.