The Mountain of Song and Story

Once upon a time, three routes which crossed three bridges, separated a family of goats from the mountain where the grass grew long, and the flowers were perpetually in bloom. The mountain, it seems, loved songs and stories responding to these by becoming more fecund and productive. The goats loved to make these. Each bridge crossed a fast moving river that none could swim. The water crashed and cascaded down rocks as sharp as razors, a watery desolation inhabited by none.

The goats set out t...