Wewb Ch-2

II Weeks became months and Chang still had no better control of the leg situation. He was still walking backwards much to the delight of his rear legs. No matter how hard he tried he just couldn’t get used to the “walking backwards” thing. It just wasn’t right! One thing was better; the monkeys and other animals no longer paid any attention to him and quit laughing at him. But, this almost made it worse because it made him feel even lonelier. One day, many months later, there was another herd of elephants led by a huge, wise, old bull named Chang Nga Yai1 (Yai for short) 1

Chang is Thai for elephant; Nga is Thai for ivory tusk. Yai is Thai for big.

moving through the same jungle. As luck would have it, they would soon cross paths with Chang. Remember the small herd I mentioned earlier? This herd walked normally, not backwards. On this particular day one of the young bulls from this herd, his name was Chang Nga Lek, (Lek for short2) was doing some exploring away from his family. He came to the edge of a clearing and saw the strangest sight. Just a hundred meters away was the weirdest looking animal he had ever seen. It was big like an elephant but looked completely different. It had no head and the smallest trunk he had ever seen. Plus its tail was huge and it had what looked like big ears on either side of its butt. It also tended to be somewhat clumsy, because every now and 2

Lek is Thai for small.

then it would crash into a tree. Normally Lek isn’t afraid of anything, but this creature was almost as big as he was, so he decided to beat a hasty, but quiet, retreat and go back to his herd and report what he’d seen to his father, Yai. Lek found Yai by the river taking a bath and told him what he had seen. “Remember the stories we were told about that herd of elephants that walk backwards,” asked Yai. “Yes, but I thought that was just a myth,” said Lek. “No, unfortunately it’s true. The monkeys and the mynahs have told me we’re the only elephants in Southeast Asia that still walk normally. So far we have been lucky not to have

crossed paths with any of the other herds. It seems the time has come and we will finally meet them.” “I don’t get it. Why are we the only herd not walking backwards?” “Ah, now there is the question!” Just then a big commotion broke out in Yai’s herd and he and Lek went to investigate. Chang had wandered into the same area where Yai’s herd was feeding and bathing. Normally the Alpha bull drives off outsiders. Adoptions and inclusions are very rare. Chang backed to the edge of a clearing and turned around to see and what a sight he saw. He was looking at another herd of elephants and lo and behold, they were walking normally! He

couldn’t believe his eyes! Now he was totally confused. He knew all of the elephants in Asia walked backwards, but, here, before his eyes was a herd of Asian elephants walking correctly, facing forward. They eyed him very suspiciously and a couple of the older bulls in the herd false charged him. These charges stop before actual contact. This was a warning to not come closer. Chang wasn’t sure whether to run away or stay (he wanted to run and greet them), he was so happy to see other elephants and these were normal. But, he knew better than to run towards them. Sometimes the alpha bull will kill intruders, especially if they are aggressive, so

Chang stayed where he was. Yai and Lek came to the clearing and Yai told Lek to stay back. Lek did as he was told and stopped. Yai continued forward towards Chang. Yai didn’t charge Chang, which surprised Chang. The rest of Yai’s herd was surprised also. Yai was huge and his tusks were formidable. Few elephants would ever challenge him and those that did soon regretted it. He stopped 30 meters from Chang. “H-hello sir, my name is Chang.” “The Chang?” “Yes, sir.” “The infamous Chang of Thailand? The Chang of Thailand who has all of the elephants in Asia walking backwards,” Yai asked incredulously.

“You’re not much to look at for somebody who’s caused so much trouble.” The last thing Yai expected was to actually meet Chang himself and now, here was this, this pip-squeak of an elephant standing before him. When he had first heard the news he imagined it would be someone older and bigger, not the one who stood before him now. “Yes sir, I’m afraid so,” Chang said timidly. “What are you doing here?” bellowed Yai. Poor Chang was shaking uncontrollably and nearly lost his bladder. “I, I, I,” stuttered Chang. “Well, speak up, Chang of Thailand,” bellowed Yai.

“I, I, I’ve been forced to leave my family sir and have been wandering alone for many months. It was by chance I came to your place,” said Chang. “Hmm,” said Yai almost to himself, “Maybe.” Yai softened a bit, “What do you want with us?” “Well, since I’m here, can I join your herd?” “Why would you want to join our herd?” “Maybe I could learn to walk forward again.” “Hmm, I suppose that could be possible, hmm, highly unusual, we don’t usually accept strangers and especially known trouble makers.

Let me think about that. You can wait here while I talk to the family and decide.” Minutes turned to hours as Yai talked to his family about Chang. The herd didn’t want Chang to join them. “Just look at what he’s done,” said one, “He’s obviously a trouble maker,” said another. “He can’t see where he’s going and will step on one of the babies,” said one of the mothers, “He’ll make us look like fools, what with his walking backwards and everything. We’ll be the laughing stock of the jungle.” Yai listened and finally made his decision, adding, “As you know I wouldn’t normally even consider his request, but, I think there is a reason he found us, out of all of the herds in Thailand. We will let him join us on the condition it will only be

temporary and at the end of his stay he must promise to go back to his own family.

I will

take full responsibility for him.” Everyone thought about this and in the end agreed to allow Chang to join them. “Okay, I will tell him of our decision and if he agrees to our conditions, he will join us,” said Yai. When Chang heard the news he was excited almost beyond words. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” he cried. “You understand the conditions; your stay here is temporary and when you leave you must promise to go back to your own family...your own family and nowhere else,” Yai said sternly.

“Yes, I promise, I will go back to my family”. “Okay, you may come with me now. It’s late and tomorrow you and I have much work to do. I would suggest you get some rest,” counseled Yai. The other elephants in the herd couldn’t help but snicker as Chang came into the herd backwards. They had never seen anything like this before. Yes, they had heard about this walking backwards thing but, like many things you hear about, it’s hard to picture until you actually see it with your own eyes. That evening Yai talked with his son Lek about Chang. Lek and Chang were about the same age, but Lek was bigger. Lek wasn’t sure

he agreed with his father about letting Chang join the herd. But, Lek always obeyed his father. He had learned the hard way that his father’s council was to be listened to; like the time he wanted to bathe in the adult mud pit and his father said no, he was too small and the mud too deep. He didn’t listen and sunk to his belly. He became hopelessly stuck. It nearly cost him his life. It took hours to get him out and it was only because Yai wouldn’t give up and worked with the other bulls to save him. Lek asked his father what he was going to do. Yai said he wasn’t exactly sure what he would do, but one thing was for sure, he was going to get to the bottom of this walking backwards thing. He wasn’t worried about his own family. They followed the “old ways” and

this has carried them through for more generations than anyone can count. It made them one of the wisest and strongest families in all of Asia. “This is the reason we haven’t fallen to this insanity, to answer your earlier question about why we haven’t walked backwards,” said Yai. The next morning Yai told Lek to keep an eye on things and only call him if there was an emergency. Lek was only too happy to obey, he loved having the responsibility; it made him feel grown up and showed that his father trusted him. Yai found Chang and they wandered off a short distance to talk. “Tell me about this nonsense of walking backwards,” said Yai. “Actually, it’s very simple...”

“Oh really, simple is it?” interjected Yai. “...Um, uh, one morning on the way to the river my front legs turned to go for a bath and my rear legs kept going straight for the mud bath. Then they got into an argument and my rear legs said they wouldn’t move until they got to lead. They said they were tired of always having to follow the front legs and that was that,” said Chang. “I tried everything but the rear legs refused to move unless they got to lead. So rather than starve to death I agreed to their demands. It’s not my fault my legs are stupid.” “I’m not so sure it’s your legs that have the problem. If it’s so simple why aren’t you walking normally? It’s usually a sign of

something very wrong when the mind and body can’t agree. The body usually follows the mind.” “Also sir, I don’t understand how it is your herd walks normally. Everybody knows all of the elephants in Asia walk backwards, but here you do not. I’m very confused.” “Yes, I know,” replied Yai. “And quit calling me sir, my name is Yai.” “Yes sir, I mean yes, okay.” “Right now it’s not important for you to know why we walk normally. Did you hear what I just said about the mind and body?” “Yes, I heard you.” “Why do you let your legs tell you what they will do?

“I didn’t let them, they just took over. Like I said, I don’t see how any of this is my fault.” “Ah, is that so?” “Well, yes, I think,” Chang didn’t finish the thought. “Enough for today. Go eat and bathe and whatever else you do with your day.” Yai went to find Lek and talk to the other elephants about his conversation with Chang. Chang was shy and somewhat embarrassed by his condition so he didn’t exactly mingle with the herd but stayed on the fringes. The herd mostly ignored him anyway. They weren’t rude, just aloof. He thought about what Yai had said about him letting his legs dictate the

way things would be. “But I didn’t let them.”, he thought. “They forced me to go along with them. Yai obviously doesn’t understand. Still, his herd doesn’t walk backwards. I don’t get it!” Yes, truly, Chang didn’t get it! The next morning after breakfast (yes elephants eat breakfast) and a trip to the Meklong River3, Yai and Chang continued their talk. “Do you still think it’s not your fault your legs make you walk backwards,” asked Yai. “Well, yes,” answered Chang. “I see. Do the babies in your herd walk backwards?” “Um, no they don’t.” 3

The Rivers Kwae Yai and Kwae Noi, become the Meklong River after flowing past Kanchanaburi. Kanchanaburi is the location of the infamous bridge in the movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai”. The Thai name is actually Kwae.

“Why do you think that is?” “I don’t know.” “Of course you don’t!” “For you to stay here you must work very hard; probably harder than you have ever worked before. Your work is to answer my question correctly; why don’t the babies in your and the other herds walk backwards?” Chang was very nervous, “O, o, okay,” he said. “Now go and do your work.” Chang backed away and Yai had to turn around and hide his smile, almost a laugh actually. He had to admit Chang walking backwards was pretty funny, if not completely ridiculous, but in another corner it was deadly

serious. Yai saw his challenge as; how to get Chang to understand the natural order of things, everything in the world has its rhythm, its dance, if you will. Yai was sure Chang used to know this, but has now forgotten. The strength of Yai and his family is that they have never forgotten. “This may be hopeless,” thought Yai. “I don’t know if he has the intelligence for this. He seems sensitive though and that is definitely in his favor. Oh well, with time all truths become known.” The next morning Yai and Chang continued their dialogue. “Well Chang, do you have the answer?” “No...I, I, I...” “NO? You are an elephant, you are supposed to be intelligent,” bellowed Yai.

Chang lost his bladder. If an elephant could turn red from embarrassment Chang would have been crimson. “Chang, this is the most important thing you will ever do. Every elephant in Asia is depending on you....NOW! The worst of it is, they have no idea either! Like you, they have accepted this insane condition. It must not be allowed to continue and I will try to teach you to end it. Can you do this?” “Me?” “Yes, you! Can you do this work?” “I, I don’t know, it’s all so much.” “Yes, it is!”

Chang had started to get his composure back and was now beginning to realize the enormity of his responsibility, “I’ll try,” he said. “That will not be enough, you must do; in this there can be no failure!” Chang stood there stunned. The weight of that statement alone almost crushed him. His mind was spinning out of control. His mind whined; yes, no, I can, I can’t...finally his brain screamed Shut Up! He knew if he agreed to do this, his life would change forever and that realization scared him more than anything ever had. “If you cannot do this then there is no point to continue,” said Yai.

“Yes...okay, I will do this.” “Good, now go and work. We will not speak again until you can answer this question; then come see me.” It was now obvious to Chang that Yai was a very special elephant. Chang had never met anyone like Yai before. He knew Yai had taken a special interest in him and he was being treated in a very special way. Almost like a student, no, more like a son. The other interesting thing was Lek didn’t seem to mind that Yai was giving so much attention to him.

Now he knew he must

work very hard, his very life depended on it. Heck, Yai said every elephant in Asia was depending on him, “Oui!”

Chang wandered off to a quiet place in the shade on the edge of the clearing. A day passed; then two, three and four. Chang hadn’t moved from his place on the edge of the clearing for 5 days now. His mind was clogged with thoughts. He couldn’t see anything clearly in his mind. Yai’s herd was actually beginning to worry about Chang. Nobody had seen him eat or drink in 5 days. Yai knew Chang finally understood the gravity of the situation. Lek asked his father if Chang would be alright. Yai said he honestly didn’t know. On the 6th day Chang’s mind quieted. He hadn’t moved in such a long time he looked like a

statue of an elephant, but it faced the wrong direction. On the 7th day Chang suddenly realized the babies, all babies, know how to walk, where to get food, what to eat, when to eat, when to sleep, when to wake up; each according to its need. They know who their mothers are. These things they are not taught. They are born knowing these things. Their minds are pure and uncluttered at birth. They didn’t know any better! From that point forward learning starts to take place and the herd and the world become their teachers. It’s the combination of their personality and their teachers that determine the learning process after birth and that determines what they know and who they will become. That’s why

they don’t walk backwards, they only know their original natural mind! It was late in the afternoon of the 7th day when Chang went to Yai with his revelation: “YES,” said Yai with relief, “Good! Now go eat and rest. The next question I have for you will be very difficult. Come see me in the morning.” “Okay, I’m very hungry.” Chang thought Yai almost smiled, but couldn’t be certain. Chang wasn’t just hungry, he was starved. He felt like he could do major damage to the jungle with just his appetite. He ate, a lot, and then fell into a hard sleep without dreams.