The tiger people went to their king and said, ‘We’re starving. We’ve had nothing to eat, not a bite, for 15 days and 16 nights. Ajamil has got a new sheep dog. He cramps our style and won’t let us get within a mile of meat.’ ‘That’s shocking,’ said the tiger king. ‘Why didn’t you come to see me before? Make preparations for a banquet. I’m gonna teach that sheep dog a lesson he’ll never forget.’ ‘Hear hear,’ said the tigers. ‘Careful,’ said the queen. But he was already gone. Alone into the darkness before the dawn. In an hour he was back, the good king. A black patch on his eye. His tail in a sling. And said, ‘I’ve got it all planned now that I know the lie of the land. All of us will have to try. We’ll outnumber the son of a bitch. And this time there will be no hitch. Because this time I shall be leading the attack.’ Quick as lightning the sheep dog was. He took them all in as prisoners of war, the 50 tigers and the tiger king, before they could get their paws on a single sheep. They never had a chance. The dog was in 51 places all at once. He strung them all out in a daisy chain and flung them in front of his boss in one big heap. ‘Nice dog you got there, Ajamil,’ said the tiger king. Looking a little ill and spiting out a tooth. ‘But there’s been a bit of a misunderstanding. We could’ve wiped out your herd in one clean sweep. But we were not trying to creep up on your sheep. We feel that means are more important than ends. We were coming to see you as friends. And that’s the truth.’ The sheep dog was the type who had never told a lie in his life He was built along simpler lines and he was simply disgusted. He kept on making frantic signs. But Ajamil, the good shepherd refused to meet his eyes and pretended to believe every single word of what the tiger king said. And seemed to be taken in by all the lies. Ajamil cut them loose and asked them all to stay for dinner. It was an offer the tigers couldn’t refuse. And after the lamb chops and the roast, when Ajamil proposed they sign a long term friendship treaty, all the tigers roared. ‘We couldn’t agree with you more.’ And swore they would be good friends all their lives as they put down the forks and the knives. Ajamil signed a pact with the tiger people and sent them back. Laden with gifts of sheep, leather jackets and balls of wool. Ajamil wasn’t a fool. Like all good shepherds he knew that even tigers have got to eat some time. A good shepherd sees to it they do. He is free to play a flute all day as well fed tigers and fat sheep drink from the same pond with a full stomach for a common bond.