Long ago, along the wind-dancing grass, there lived the king of black water.

 “I have the magic to hold the water for hours,” said the 80-year-old crocodile 

One day, the king of muddy waters swallowed the boy whom the river people had anointed as the king in waiting. On his birthday, a crocodileodile fell from the sky and curled its body around the poles that shape the sacred fire. 

The river people danced every time this heir yawned because his lungs stirred the thirst-quenching water. Even the pigeons’ calls had musically rhymed his name. 

The king crocodileodile hadn’t eaten for two years, and hunger clouded his judgment. The other crocodiles avoided the majestic boy and allowed the royal boy to splash water while standing neck-deep in the river. The crocodiles tickled him by rubbing their scaly tails on his heels. 

All the villagers had crocodileodile scratches on their arms, but this boy’s legs were as smooth as a newborn’s. In a blink, the hungry crocodile spotted a chubby boy, and suddenly, its seaweed-like skin slipped between its million teeth. 

“It was an easy catch, no kicking or screaming,” said the crocodileodile, bragging to the grinding-teeth crocodileodiles. That boy’s heartbeats keep the water from flying out of the river,” said Mama 

Crocodileodile, crying rivers of tears. The crocodileodiles gathered at the sandy beach and groaned about what action the villagers would take. 

The villagers gossiped about draining the river. They brought thatched buckets and twig cups and took turns to drain the water. 

Even breastfeeding babies were given water in milk bottles. Later, the villagers dumped all their jackets into the river, and their skirts filled it up. The crocodiles were panting because the sun baked them alive. 

Soon, pinkie-sized crocodiles died from dehydration. Afterwards, the crocodiles ganged up on the big crocodile. “Let’s tear him into pieces and reclaim the heir,” the crocodiles shouted. 

“That would make us criminals because our razor-sharp teeth might hurt the heir. Did you hear that?” asked Papa Crocodile.

 He could hear the heir screaming inside the belly of the crocodile. The big crocodile said he was sorry and crawled out of the sticky mud river. 

The crocodile vomited the heir and soon chewed dry twigs. He lost so much weight and became a komodo dragon. That night, the boy returned to the palace, but the naked villagers accused him of being a ghost. The Ozombanda River stopped flowing, and today it looks like a tearstained riverbed, getting water during heavy downpours.