The Three Companions

EVERY YEAR Cholera made a visit to the Holy City of Mecca. Her companions
were always Death and Fear. One year it happened that Fear came before
Death and Cholera, and the gatekeeper, who did not know her, let her go
into the city.
When the other two appeared before the gate of the Holy City, the
watchman called angrily to cursed Cholera if She came again to bring sorrow
and misery and How many victims She was going to take that time?
Cholera said easily not to carry on so, She imagined that She wouldnt take
more than five hundreds
Turning to Death, The gatekeeper cried How many people She was going to
take out of the Holy City to her kingdom?
Death answered quietly that She would take whatever Cholera gave her.
Well, the gatekeeper muttered to go in. But watch out to Cholera that she
took no more than five hundred victims. She promised! And for Death, if She
didnt dare to take more than Cholera gave her.
They said together to gatekeeper that He could rely on theirword. And side
by side they passed through the opened gate and into the Holy City.
Long weeks they remained in the city, and then they called to the
gatekeeper to open the gates again.
The gatekeeper muttered to Cholera How many victims she took ?
Cholera answered that She had done herbest not to go beyond the promised
number and so She was taking no more than four hundred and ninety.
The gatekeeper decided that this sounded as if She was speaking the truth
then
He turned toward Death How many She was taking with her?
Death answered at once that She was taking more than a thousand with her
The gatekeeper was horrified How this could be? He cried in astonishment
that Cholera herself said that She was taking only four hundred and ninety!

Death answered, "Yes This What Cholera was taking. But most of those who
died were taken by Fear, who came unnoticed through Hisgate. That day He
would know that Her sister Fear did more harm and caused more deaths than
Cholera!